In the future, the mountain with the LORD's temple will be the highest of all. It will reach above the hills, and every nation will rush to it. People of many nations will come and say, "Let's go up to the mountain of the LORD God of Jacob and worship in his temple." The LORD will teach us his Law from Jerusalem, and we will obey him. He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never again make war or attack one another. Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of the LORD All-Powerful. Others may follow their gods, but we will always follow the LORD our God. The LORD said: At that time I will gather my people— the lame and the outcasts, and all into whose lives I have brought sorrow. Then the lame and the outcasts will belong to my people and become a strong nation. I, the LORD, will rule them from Mount Zion forever. (Mic 4:1-7)
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you… was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2Co 1:18-20)
What does the Peace Jesus brings mean today?
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14)
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace
Carols about Peace
BUT - LOOK AROUND!
Internationally
Interpersonally
Iternally
THE PROPHET MICAH
King Ahaz… did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his father David had done, but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree. (2Ki 16:2-4)
King Hezekiah... And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah… He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. (2Ki 18:3-5)
God;s promises:
“I will surely gather you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel” Micah 2:12
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,… from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,… And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure…. And he shall be their peace. (Mic 5:2-5)
He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never again make war or attack one another. Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of the LORD All-Powerful. (Mic 4:3-4)
Jesus brings teh Peace God promised
In the future… He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never again make war or attack one another. Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of the LORD All-Powerful. Micah 4:1-4
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you… was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2Co 1:18-20)
But how?
1. Know that Jesus has achieved Peace with God for us
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (Eph 2:13-17)
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.(Rom 5:1)
Jesus not only came to bring peace, but accomplished it.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Col 1:19-22)
2. Put yourself in a place to experience this peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The Holy Spirit
For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace… (Gal 5:22)
Choose to!
The Lord is at hand; so do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:5-7)
Two helpful practices
First - practise stillness.
Second - use a ‘breath’ prayer.
“I am your beloved child, In whom you are well pleased”
“I have peace with God, through my Lord and Saviour Jesus”
“Jesus himself is my peace, through Him I am reconciled with God”
3. Express God’s peace in your lives
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18).
4. Remember the ultimate Peace is yet to come. And it is guaranteed!
In the future, the mountain with the LORD's temple will be the highest of all. It will reach above the hills, and every nation will rush to it. People of many nations will come and say, "Let's go up to the mountain of the LORD God of Jacob and worship in his temple." The LORD will teach us his Law from Jerusalem, and we will obey him. He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never again make war or attack one another. Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of the LORD All-Powerful. Others may follow their gods, but we will always follow the LORD our God. The LORD said: At that time I will gather my people— the lame and the outcasts, and all into whose lives I have brought sorrow. Then the lame and the outcasts will belong to my people and become a strong nation. I, the LORD, will rule them from Mount Zion forever. (Mic 4:1-7)
