Luke 2:13-14
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
If it is possible for the retail stores, and secular radio stations to have a “Christmas In July” certainly it is the right of the children of God to have a little Christmas story in July. To our detriment we often only read, teach, and preach the second chapter of Luke during the Christmas season when in fact it’s message is more applicable to our daily existence. The birth of Christ was indeed the greatest gift of Heaven, for without the birth there would be death, burial, and resurrection and therefore no hope! There were other gifts mentioned with the birth of Christ that we often overlook and in fact possibly ignore them when without them our day-to-day lives would be unbearable. Can you recall the times in your life when there was no peace in your heart or soul? The constant desire for fulfillment, satisfaction, love, acceptance, understanding, and fellowship with something greater than yourself! Before the birth of Christ there was no true peace nor good will in the earth! The earth lay in wait for the coming judgment of a righteous God for their sins. The sacrificial blood of animals postponed the inevitable judgment from year to year but it could never remove sins great curse for good. Not having forgiveness or complete redemption no one could have a true inner peace that was provided in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. The peace and good will provided was a gift from the Creator unto His creation and is given unto any who will accept His Son as personal Saviour yet there are still some who will not believe. Some have to out into eternity without ever accepting the gift of salvation, which brings peace and is the good will of the Heavenly Father. In their eternal state of separation from God, the second death, they will never find peace but constant torment in the Lake of Fire.
Let us now consider the gifts given that night and proclaimed by the Heavenly Host unto the earth. My prayer is that we will acknowledge the gift and the giver this night and that no one would be able to leave the service without confronting themselves and accepting the peace and good will of the Father.
Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men.
Peace On Earth: Luke 2:14
Promise of Peace: The Old Testament saint only had a promise of peace.
Jeremiah 33:6
6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
Ezekiel 34:25
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Haggai 2:9
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Peace With God:
Peace with God came in the form of the Lamb of God, Jesus.
Romans 8:7
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
James 4:4
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Ephesians 2:15-16
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Peace In God: The Creator surely can care for the creation.
Psalm 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Peace Of God:
Peace for Living:
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace for Dying:
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Titus 2:13
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Good Will Toward Men: Luke 2:14
Have you ever earnestly considered the will of God in your life? Have you ever thought that it is God’s will that every person ever born on this planet should be saved and not be an enemy to the Father of the universe? After the fall it was not possible to come into fellowship with God. Through the accepted sacrifice of Christ and His imputed righteousness we can now come boldly to the Throne Room of Grace.
Good Will:
2107 { yoo-dok-ee’-ah}
from a presumed compound of 2095 and the base of 1380; TDNT - 2:742,273; n f
AV - good pleasure 4, good will 2, seem good + 1096 2, desire 1; 9
GK - 2306 { eujdokiva }
1) will, choice
1a) good will, kindly intent, benevolence
2) delight, pleasure, satisfaction
3) desire
3a) for delight in any absent thing easily produces longing for it
It was God’s “good pleasure” to offer up His only begotten Son that mankind might be redeemed.
Colossians 1:18-21
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
It is time to accept the good will of the Heavenly Father:
For those who are lost and outside of the grace of God,
would you not like to accept his gift of salvation through His Son Jesus?
There is no peace with the Father until you have believed on the Son.
There is no escape from the fire of Hell without confessing Christ as your personal Saviour.
You remain an enemy with God until bathed in the blood of His precious Son.
For the Christian:
Have you found the peace of God?
In the dark storms of your life have you rested in the peace of God.
Is your soul disturbed?
Are you troubled?
Have you tried to fill the space in you heart with things other than the Godhead?
