"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

The Secret of LIfe -- abundant life is God's peace!
TheCambridge Dictionary defines peace as: "freedom from war and violence, especially when people live and work together happily 
without disagreements"

The Bible offers a different kind of peace -- Shalom -- which means wholeness, health and balance and wholeness in every aspect of life. This is what peace means in the Bible. Psalm 23 is a perfect illustration of Shalom:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever."

God wants to save us and be with us permanently. That is why He created us! If we have God we have God forever. God already sent Jesus so we could be with Him. What is beyond His capability? Nothing. Nothing but we personally can stop Him from being part of our lives.

"The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert,
    his righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
    its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:16-17

In the midst of the chaos, look for the Calm One. We need to be the Calm Ones in this world of Chaos. The ones standing in God's confidence and Quietness. 

Don't panic. God's presence, God's assurance, God's promises -- when God maeks a promise He keeps it. He fulfills it. Three examples:
"
1.  "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:12
2.  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1
3. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" Ephesians 2:8

All these promises are fulfilled in our lives when we say Yes to Jesus; when we take the hand He is offering us; when we say yes we can't do it without Him; when we say Yes we are sinners, You are God and we choose your forgiveness!

God wants us back in the garden hanging out with Him. We have to choose Jesus to get there.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

God's peace will guard our hearts and minds. This is a promise. Live in this peace. We are the Children of God. We are bought and paid for. We need to be the Beacons of LIght this dark and hopeless world needs. Please be the light!

The peace the world offers is temporary. True, lasting peace originates in God.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

First time there was a heavenly host seen all at once by humans. Many still miss Jesus' birth, His arrival.

I. Peace on earth cannot originate with man.

Not peace from war -- although we all want that. Not "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." 

​Not "I'd like to teach the world to sing" eiher.

As humans, we can't even love the ones we love well:
**Every 9 seconds in the USA a woman is beaten.
**Worldwide 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped by a known loved one.
**10 million children witness abuse every day.

We live in a fallen world.

They wanted a political messiah, one who would stop the hardship in life, without understanding that we are the ones creating the strife.

All have sinned and fall short, there will never be peace on earth until Christ returns the second time.

There would have been no salvation if Jesus came as a political messiah first.

Here is the peace the angels talked about:

II. Real Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The arrival of Jesus marked the beginning of God's reconciliation with man.

The means of peace between God and man has entered the world.

Jesus, born as a baby, fully God, fully man.

Born to bear our sins, born to die as the Lamb of God.

God's provision to bring the only possible way to lasting peace -- reunification with God Himself.

Peace provided is peace within.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." Titus 2:11

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, 
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

If you accept Him, You will have peace. Jesus and our relationship with Him is our true peace.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him," 
and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility," Ephesians 2:14

The return of the King is the end:



 "In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
    let us walk in the light of the Lord." Isaiah 2:2-5

The Christmas story is only the beginning.


"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

A great host in Revelation too! 

Love, Joy, Hope and Peace. We are living in the advent of the 2nd Coming of Christ!! Time is short. Act like it. Be prepared. Have your bags packed waiting for heaven.