[0:00] We can turn this one off and get this one on. Well, how's everybody?
[0:12] Good. Anybody remember when this happened on the screen?! Not that.
[0:36] Pass that. There we go. Perfect. That'll work. Thank you. This was called the Christmas Truce. 1914, the Christmas Truce. During World War I, soldiers on both sides of the Western Front did the impossible.
[0:52] On Christmas Eve, British and German troops put down their weapons, climbed out of their trenches, and met in the middle of what they called No Man's Land.
[1:04] That stretch of land in between both sides of the battlefield. They sang Christmas carols. They exchanged gifts. They even played a soccer match.
[1:15] For some of them it was called football, but that's because they don't know what real football is. For one night, the war stopped. Not because the armies had resolved their conflict.
[1:27] It was far from over. But because peace had stepped into the middle of it and interrupted this war. That peace was Christmas. And that is still what Christmas is about today.
[1:41] God's peace interrupting the war within and around us. Our internal battles. The rivalries we cling to. And what Christmas does is calls a truce.
[1:55] Let's go to Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. I pulled these off the internet. Let me see if I can get this thing working. It's a weekly struggle.
[2:08] There we go. Thank you. This one was down in the trenches opening some of the gifts. Those are the German soldiers there in 1914 during World War I that they had exchanged.
[2:21] Would you take me on to the next one? This thing is not cooperating. You know, it might be out of batteries. I don't know if we have any batteries up there. It takes two AAAs because the light's not coming on as usual.
[2:32] I don't know if y'all have any AAAs on hand. Appreciate it. Until then, we'll just try to, if y'all can follow along. And that means the guys on the deck are going to have to pay attention this time.
[2:43] I'm just kidding with you. They always do. But yeah, they played soccer together. This is fun. Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. Let's look at a truce that God is bringing to us in our hearts, in our conflict.
[2:57] A child is born to us. Isaiah chapter 9 verses 6 and 7. A son is given to us.
[3:08] The government will rest on his shoulders and he will be called, can we say it together? Wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.
[3:23] Then his government and its peace will never end. I want to introduce you to this concept called sar shalom. Sar shalom.
[3:35] You take us to the next slide. The word is pronounced sar shalom. It means prince of peace. See on this next slide what shalom means.
[3:48] How many of y'all heard this word shalom before? You take us on up to the next one. Sar shalom. There you go. I know it's twitchy.
[3:58] Here we go. Thank you, Matt. Look at that. Perfect. I got it now. Appreciate y'all technical difficulties. It's a reality. The word is pronounced sar shalom meaning prince of peace.
[4:10] This is one of the names that we read in this. Y'all heard this passage of Christmas time before? Yeah, it's pretty familiar, right? What do we mean by shalom? Often it just gets interpreted as peace, translated as peace.
[4:25] But it's much more than that. Anybody come from a Jewish background in here? Anybody? I was going to say you would be the authority on this. But from what I understand from studying this out, a Jew would tell you shalom means so much more than just peace.
[4:39] It means harmony, completeness, wholeness is probably the key word here. Wholeness. And it could even invoke prosperity, well-being. It means being whole.
[4:50] It means being complete. Being complete. Having everything in your life as it should be. That doesn't necessarily mean that there are no problems. Doesn't necessarily mean that there's no adversity.
[5:03] But it means it is well with your soul. You recognize the wholeness and the completeness found in God. And that is what this shalom comes from.
[5:15] So can you look at the person next to you? Because we like to make it awkward and uncomfortable. Can you look at the person next to you and say, shalom upon you? That was really nice.
[5:28] Probably the nicest thing you've said to anybody all day. Look at that. All right. So we got this idea of sar shalom. So when Jesus says, when Isaiah is writing about Jesus, and then Jesus is called the prince of peace, and he says, I came to bring peace.
[5:45] He's talking about this shalom. Can we say it? Shalom. Yes. So that's who he is. He's here to bring wholeness, completeness.
[5:56] But why do our lives feel incomplete? Why don't we feel whole? This is the foundation of the Christmas season.
[6:11] Christmas is God stepping into this world, our world, your world, my world, to bring real, lasting shalom.
[6:22] So let's see what Paul has to say about this. Can we go over to Ephesians chapter 2? Ephesians chapter 2, we're going to look verses 14 down through 17.
[6:33] As you turn to Ephesians 2, we read an Old Testament passage. Now we're going to a New Testament passage. I want to remind you we're in the second week of our Christmas Advent series called The Gift is Waiting.
[6:47] Anybody remember what Advent theme we talked about last Sunday? Say it loud and proud, y'all. Hope. That's it. We talked about hope. I hope you remember that.
[6:59] Dad joke. All right. Last week, we saw that hope is found in trusting God's timing. Times of waiting are never wasted. This week, we're going to look at the gift waiting for us in peace or shalom that is found in Jesus alone.
[7:16] So Ephesians chapter 2, verses 14 through 17. I'll begin and read. For Christ himself has brought peace, remember, shalom to us.
[7:26] He united the Jews and Gentiles into one people when he, in his own body on the cross, broke down the wall of hostility between us that separated us.
[7:39] He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. Man, in the last series, before we started this Christmas series, we talked about the law and how the law was there for a purpose to show us how we could never be right with God.
[7:53] Isn't that crazy? That's what laws and regulations and rules are there for, to show you how bad you are at obeying them. Sure, it's to keep you, in theory, from breaking them, but rules are made to be broken.
[8:09] There's a reason y'all knew the answer to that. Because oftentimes, well, pretty much all the time, that's what humanity does. You set a rule, somebody's going to break it.
[8:21] Many are going to break it. I know all y'all drive under the speed limit, right? Max, right up, yes. Michael, Ferris, you probably do drive under the speed.
[8:32] Kidding with me. But listen, it is so essential to keep God's laws. It's the only hope we have of peace or shalom in this world.
[8:45] But God gave us those laws knowing we wouldn't be able to. So when Jesus came, it says, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
[8:57] How did you do this? By ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He said it's not about the rules anymore. Now it's about having a meaningful relationship with Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit of God transform you.
[9:12] Not just make you a rule follower. Make you a whole new person. And we talked about a lot of that in our last series. But it applies today in our study of shalom or peace.
[9:24] So it says his purpose in doing all this, in replacing the laws with himself. His purpose was to create, what does it say? In himself, one new people.
[9:38] God wants First Baptist Henrietta to be new people. One new people. Out of the two groups. God's people, the Jews, the Gentiles who were far off.
[9:54] He wants to bring them together. Because the truth was, God's people never pursued God with their whole hearts. They had a hard time keeping those laws.
[10:06] Just like you and I would have a hard time keeping those laws. They could never do it from the heart. So there was really no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles.
[10:17] Because neither of them were following God from the heart. So God made a way for both of them to come together into one new people. And thus make peace.
[10:28] In one body. To reconcile. We love reconciling, don't we? Hopefully if you're going to get together with family that you're not reconciled with before this Christmas holiday.
[10:41] I hope that you're able to reconcile. Either before or while you're there. And make peace. Because often times there can be strife in families. I hope reconciliation can come for you.
[10:53] But that's what God wants for us. In one body to reconcile both of us to God. Because the truth is the relationship was broken. It was fractured.
[11:04] It could not be okay. So everything's okay between me and God. Not unless God has reconciled you to him. Then everything's not okay. That's only through Jesus.
[11:16] So he writes about it here. He says one body. He can reconcile both of us to God through the cross of Jesus Christ. Say why did Jesus die? To pay for our sins.
[11:26] It's so much more than that. It's restoring a broken relationship between man and God. And by which this cross he came and he put to death the hostility between the two groups.
[11:41] He came and preached peace. Shalom. To you who were far away. And peace. Shalom.
[11:53] To you who were near. That brings us to point number one. Jesus brings a truce to the wars inside us. Jesus brings a truce to the wars inside us.
[12:07] Why did we use the word truce instead of peace? Because ultimate peace is only found in Jesus. And that is a lifetime process.
[12:20] Paul describes this war. This conflict within himself. It's his flesh against his spirit. Do you understand that inside you right now.
[12:32] If you are a child of God. Then you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. You carry God with you wherever you go. But then also you still carry your sinful flesh with you wherever you go.
[12:42] And so there's this constant conflict happening. And the longer you walk with Jesus. The more you learn to tune out the flesh voices. And listen to the spirit's voice. But there's a conflict.
[12:55] Remains a conflict through your whole life. Paul walks so closely with Jesus. And he writes in Romans about how hard and difficult this struggle is. How the struggle is real.
[13:06] Paul was saying. It's legitimate. He said I find myself doing the things I know I shouldn't do. And don't even want to do. And yet I find myself doing them. And the things that God wants me to do.
[13:17] I find myself not doing those. Anybody identify with that? Every time I read that passage. They're like yes Paul that right there. I feel seen. I feel heard. Paul gets me. But that's because the struggle is so real.
[13:31] So why does conflict happen between Christians? Because we're a bunch of walking struggle buses. We're a bunch of walking conflicts within ourselves.
[13:43] And then our conflict bumps up against somebody else's conflict. And what you get is a bunch of Christian conflict. So Jesus came to bring a truce to that.
[13:53] In the name of peace. The conflict, the war will ultimately be resolved someday. When we all gather in the presence of Jesus. And we are in heaven forever.
[14:04] In the presence of God. All wars will be stopped. Peace will finally be on earth. But until that day comes. God came to bring a truce to our conflict.
[14:18] He came to bring a stop to the wars. He says you don't have to keep fighting each other. I came to bring shalom. I'm going to help you get to shalom.
[14:29] And we're going to start with a truce. So he came to bring a truce to the wars. I'm not even talking about your conflict with each other. I'm talking about the conflict within us. He came to bring a truce to the wars inside us.
[14:41] Verse 14 talked about it. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. Back in Ephesians chapter 2. Christ himself has brought peace to us.
[14:53] He ended that by the system. He did this by ending the system of law. With its commandments and its regulations. This is what causes the conflict in you.
[15:04] I'm not doing everything I should be doing. I know I'm not the person I should be. Jesus came to bring a truce to them. You ever heard of the angel on one shoulder. And the devil on the other shoulder.
[15:16] And they're both talking to you. You could probably say that the angel over here. There's the conscience that God put in all of us. And then that gets enhanced by the Holy Spirit. After you turn to Christ. And now he's using your conscience.
[15:29] Led and guided by the Holy Spirit. To reveal his will. His guidance. His warnings to you. But you've still got that flesh. Or we put a little devil over there. We like to blame everything on the devil.
[15:40] Because it's easier than realizing that we're the problem. You say the devil told me to do it. No. You did. But the idea is that peace starts in our hearts. Because God brings silence to it.
[15:53] He says no. Both of you be quiet. And you just listen to me. You sit with me. You be still. And know that I'm God.
[16:04] I'm in control. Peace starts in our hearts. And we stop listening to the voices. And we hand over our worries and fears to God. It's not that we've resolved all the problems.
[16:17] It's not that they've suddenly gone away. But we hand off the burden to someone else. So you know what? I can't figure this out. You deal with it. You carry it.
[16:29] I'm done with it. You know what God does? He takes the burdens from you. He's called the burden bearer. He says the burden that I will ask you to carry is light.
[16:44] It's easy. Compared to this burden that you're already carrying yourself. Lay that one down. And take my yoke. Take my burden. So.
[16:57] Give all your worries and cares to God. For he carries to you. For you. That's in 1 Peter. Before we get to 1 Peter. I want to go to John 14. Jesus is teaching himself. At the last supper to his disciples.
[17:09] One of the last times he's ever going to get to speak to them. And he says I'm leaving you with a gift. He'd been warning his disciples. His followers that he was on his way out. Right before his crucifixion.
[17:20] And he says I'm leaving you with a gift. Peace of mind. Peace of heart. And the peace. Remember. Shalom. That I give to you. Is a gift the world cannot give. You won't find this peace anywhere else.
[17:32] You won't find this shalom anywhere else. He says so don't be troubled or afraid. Can I rehash those words. And reiterate those words to you this morning. 1st Baptist Henrietta.
[17:43] Don't be troubled or afraid. Because the Prince of Peace. The Sar Shalom. Is with you wherever you go. And the peace you find from him.
[17:53] Is a peace. A gift the world cannot give. You won't find anywhere else. You won't find in the presence you unwrap. Or the presence you don't unwrap. You won't find in the relationships that are happy and healthy.
[18:05] Or the ones that are broken. You won't find it in anything else. Except the Prince of Peace. 1st Peter chapter 5.
[18:15] Paul was writing to the scattered church. Or Christians. Throughout Turkey. Throughout what is now modern day Turkey. And he's writing to them. Amidst all their persecution.
[18:26] Not being able to gather regularly. As they would love to. Just like we get to do every week. They didn't get to do that. They were scattered by government oppression. And so he says. I'm writing to you. To give all your worries and cares to God.
[18:38] In the middle of this very difficult season. You're trying to be a Christ follower. In a world that doesn't want it. You ever feel like that? Trying to be a Christ follower. In a world that doesn't want that.
[18:49] Doesn't celebrate that. He says. Give all your worries and cares to God. Because he cares about you. Cares about those worries and fears.
[19:01] He wants you to trade them. For shalom. So internal unrest. Anxiety. Striving. These are natural things.
[19:11] And sometimes they're increased. Or enhanced during a holiday season. But Jesus. Wants to interrupt that. Bring a truce. Bring a pause.
[19:21] To the conflict in your heart. And start to introduce peace. When you stop fighting. Inside yourself. You stop striving. You lay down your weapons.
[19:34] Against yourself. Then there's room. For the Holy Spirit. To introduce. Shalom. Into your heart. Peace cannot spread.
[19:47] From me. To Holly and the boys. Unless it starts in me first. Unless it's real in me first. Then they'll feel. The peace. And when it's not there.
[19:59] They feel the conflict. They feel the stress. They feel the stress. They feel the despair. When it's replaced with shalom.
[20:12] Then it's a avenue of peace. That flows out to others. It's a river of peace. That flows out to others. What's going on in your heart? Shalom begins on the inside.
[20:25] Wholeness restored. God stepping into the trenches. Of our heart. And doing work there. We experience this Christmas truce. Internally.
[20:37] When we release our burdens. To the burden bearer. Knowing that he cares. So let me leave you with this. For point one.
[20:47] Peace is not the absence of problems. It's the presence of Jesus. It's the presence of the Sar Shalom. The Prince of Peace. That's where it comes from.
[21:00] I got too many problems to have peace. Unrelated. Can I just throw this at you? Peace is unrelated to your problems.
[21:12] Two different things. Two different things. Peace comes from the Prince of Peace. Problems come from this broken world. But you get to live in this broken world.
[21:25] Not as those who have no hope. But with those who are sons of the Prince of Peace. Point number two. Jesus brings a truce to our rival kingdoms.
[21:37] Jesus brings a truce to our rival kingdoms. He's got to start on the inside with you. With me. But then he can bring peace to the conflict between us.
[21:47] Verse 14. The second part. Back in Ephesians 2. Jesus united Jews and Gentiles. Y'all if there was ever a divide. If there was ever a racial divide.
[21:58] Ever a socioeconomic divide. A religious divide. Just a divide in every way. It was Jews and Gentiles. You couldn't get more divided. Or at odds with one another.
[22:09] As the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus united them. He broke down those walls. He united them into one people. When in his own body on the cross.
[22:20] He broke down the wall of hostility. That separated us. Down in the second part of verse 15. His purpose in doing this. Was to create in himself one new people. Out of the two groups.
[22:31] Thereby making peace. Verse 16. Together as one body. Christ reconciled both groups to God. By means of his death on the cross. And our hostility toward each other. Was put to death.
[22:42] He killed it. Said nope. Hostility cannot live in my people anymore. So why does hostility still live? Among his people.
[22:54] He put it to death. His purpose. Was to bring us together. To unite us. So we would not be hostile. Toward each other.
[23:06] Anymore. This is called good news. Verse 17. He brought this good news. Or this gospel. Of peace. To you Gentiles.
[23:16] Who were far away from him. And he brought the same gospel of peace. To the Jews. Who were supposedly near him. They knew of him.
[23:27] They even worshipped him. In their words. With their lips. With their songs that they would sing. With the scriptures they would read. With the prayers they would pray. They worshipped him.
[23:38] But their hearts were far from him. So he had to bring the same gospel of peace to him. Even though they were closer. They at least knew.
[23:49] And were aware. I think that's where modern day church members often find themselves. Sitting in our pews. We feel like we're closer to God. Than those who are on the outside.
[24:01] God's here to break down that divide. And preach the same gospel of peace to both of us. So we can be united. Under one banner of shalom. Of peace from the pence of peace.
[24:14] So peace extends outward. When we surrender control. Pursue reconciliation. And prioritize our common kinship. Matthew talks about this.
[24:24] Jesus is teaching in the sermon of the mount. And Matthew writes down what Jesus said. And he said. If you are presenting a gift at the altar in the temple. And suddenly remember that someone has something against you.
[24:34] So what do we mean by this? Let's put it in modern day terms. You're worshiping at church. You're giving something in the offering. You're doing the Christian stuff. Okay. The things that are expected.
[24:44] Yep. I'm a good Christian. I go to church. And I go to Sunday school. And I give my gift. And I sing the songs. And all that. So you're doing all that. And you suddenly remember that someone has something against you. Leave your gift there in front of the altar.
[24:57] Jesus doesn't even say. Make a mental note. To go try to make things better with that person. He says stop right where you are. And go fix it.
[25:08] Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your gift to God. Why? Because it's not an act of worship. Unless it's coming from a place of reconciliation.
[25:20] Of peace. Of a truce. It doesn't say you have to convince the person. That you were right. And they were wrong. And until they apologize to you. It doesn't even say you have to finally admit.
[25:33] And say you know what? It was me. It wasn't you. It doesn't mean that a. Everything has to be resolved. But a truce has to come. Where you're no longer hostile toward one another.
[25:44] Say guys. We may not agree on this. We may have to agree to disagree. We may have to lay down our weapons. And just say you know what? We're going to move on past it. Because we recognize that peace.
[25:56] Is more important. The same kind of peace that Jesus brings. So go and be reconciled. To that person.
[26:08] Then God will accept your act of worship. Side note. That's assuming. That the things you were doing. The Christian stuff. Was an act of worship to begin with.
[26:20] And it wasn't just for show. It wasn't just for expectation. It wasn't just to check your box. Or make you feel better about yourself. Like I say that as a lifelong person.
[26:30] Who's been doing all those things. And there are seasons of life. Where sometimes. It's a little bit more for show. It's a little bit more. So everybody pats you on the back. Says you're a good person. Or you feel better about yourself.
[26:41] But if it's truly an act of worship. Then God receives it. As worship. And that he blesses you. As someone who worships him. In humility.
[26:53] And with peace with one another. So he says you can't worship me like this. If you're at odds with each other. Because I came. The whole point of this. Was to bring peace.
[27:04] Between the two sides. So if we have a church. That's at odds. With each other. What's the point?
[27:15] We've got to be united. We've got to be reconciled. We don't have to be in agreement on everything. We can agree on Jesus. 100%. If you don't agree on Jesus.
[27:26] I'm sorry you're not going to fit in here. But we would love to talk to you about Jesus. And give you that good news. So you can agree on him with us. And we can carry that. To the nations.
[27:38] We don't have to agree on everything else. But we've got to lay down our weapons. And be reconciled. So. Proverbs gives us a little bit more advice on that.
[27:50] Solomon's wisdom says. When a person's ways please the Lord. He makes even his enemies. To be at peace. With him. I'm not going to have you raise your hand.
[28:02] But do you have any enemies in your life? Not saying they're trying to hunt you down and kill you. But just people you just don't get along with. And just seem to. Come up against each other.
[28:14] Just. Not a lot of peace there. When our ways please the Lord. God will bring peace. We have to make an effort for reconciliation.
[28:29] We have to make an effort for a truce. So. I want to leave this with you. Passionately. Pursue. Peace. Passionately.
[28:40] Pursue. Peace. Leave the rival kingdoms aside. That's going to take an ego hit. It's going to take a hit to our pride.
[28:52] It's going to take a hit to our need to be right. But rival kingdoms. Are all about our desire to control. Our desire to be right.
[29:03] Or our desire to defend our way. Instead. Passionately. Pursue. Peace.
[29:15] Choosing reconciliation. Or peace. Invites God's wholeness. His completeness. His shalom. Into both lives. And into our daily relationship.
[29:27] And it restores the community. That Paul says. And Jesus said. Was so crucial. In God's people. We must have that community. We need one another. You need the people you're mad at.
[29:39] And they need you. So passionately pursue peace. Not just because God told you. You to. But because you recognize. There's a reason he told you to.
[29:50] Because you need it. And they need it. So passionately pursue peace. This Christmas season. And remember. That the enemy of peace.
[30:00] Is pride. Pride. Will not allow peace. In your life. Peace is not about problems. But you know what the lack of peace is?
[30:11] It's about pride. Peace is not about problems. But it is about pride. If you don't have peace. Could it be an issue of pride? Could it be that we just.
[30:23] Will not admit when we're wrong? Or. We're so dug in on being right. That we refuse to go. And reconcile. To someone else. The enemy of peace.
[30:35] Is pride. Isaiah 2. In verse 4. It's the last passage we'll read today. While you're turning to Isaiah.
[30:46] Chapter 2. In verse 4. The key to peace. Is giving up the keys. To your kingdom. Say that again. The key. To peace. Is giving up the keys.
[30:57] To your kingdom. It's a hard thing to do. Isn't it? We worked hard for that kingdom. We built it over years. We have some measure of confidence in it.
[31:09] It's the thing that holds everything together for us. And we hand over the keys. To God. That's a scary thing. It's a scary thing. We feel like there's going to be cracks in our kingdom. But Jesus says no.
[31:21] I'm going to replace the foundation of your kingdom. With me. I'm going to replace it. With something else. Isaiah 2. In verse 4. He will judge between the nations. And he will settle disputes.
[31:32] For many people. They will beat their swords into plowshares. And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not fight against nation.
[31:43] And they will no longer train for war. Y'all. Let me promise you this. The day is coming. When you're not going to have a choice. There's going to be peace on earth.
[31:54] And there's going to be peace in your heart. And there's going to be peace between people. God's going to legislate it. He's going to make it happen. But you get to have a taste of that right now.
[32:10] When you call a truce. And you lay down your weapons. You say I don't agree with my brother or sister over there. I don't agree with this fellow church member or church attender.
[32:21] I don't agree with this person out in the community. That just. They don't see life the right way. And they're driving me nuts. And I got to get on Facebook and talk about it. Instead you lay down your keyboard.
[32:33] Or you lay down your weapons. And you say no. I'm going to prioritize peace on my earth. On this earth and in my heart. Because I believe in the prince of peace. And I want a truce.
[32:46] And y'all Christmas is a good time to do that. They did it back in 1914. With the Christmas truce. If they could lay down their weapons in a world war. Can we not lay down our weapons against our neighbors.
[32:58] The day is coming. When you will. Beat your swords and weapons into tools for prosperity. Tools of peace.
[33:10] You will beat your spears. Beat all your weapons. Beat your weaponized words. Everything else into something productive. There will be no more fighting.
[33:24] No more training for war. So you can have that now. You can start now. There's a song. That captures the same truth.
[33:35] That war and conflict will someday give way to hope and reconciliation. It's a Christmas carol. And it reminds us that God's peace or his shalom is real. It's powerful. It's active in the world.
[33:45] The same way that those soldiers back in 1914 got a little taste of it. This song says, I heard the bells on Christmas day. Their old familiar carols play. Wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth.
[33:58] Goodwill toward men. But then reality sets in. And he says, In despair I bowed my head. Wait, there is no peace on earth. I said. Hate is strong. It mocks the song of peace on earth.
[34:10] Goodwill to men. I guess he'd been watching the news. He realized there's no peace. But then rang the bells more loud and deep. God is not dead. Nor does he sleep.
[34:22] The wrong will fail. The right will prevail. With peace on earth. Goodwill toward men. Pick up the book of Revelation. You can read about the wrong failing and the right prevailing.
[34:33] But we don't have to wait until then. Every day. Every week. In hearts. In churches. In communities. All around our state. All around this nation. And trust me.
[34:44] All around this globe. The wrong is failing. And the right is prevailing. Through peace on earth. From the prince of peace. From the Tsar Shalom.
[34:55] Peace is prevailing on this earth. We just don't always hear about it on the news. But it happens. In our hearts. When we went out last Wednesday night. A couple of teenagers.
[35:06] Walked by a house. And they were hanging one of the door hangers. To invite that person to church. And she came out. And she said. Am I welcome there? And they said. Yes.
[35:19] Anybody's welcome there. You could see her break. And she said. That's so wonderful to hear. Maybe I'll come visit. And she wrapped her arms around them. And gave them both hugs.
[35:30] Peace. Prevailed. That day. Peace prevailed. In that heart. Wrong failed. Right prevailed. When Jesus brings a truce.
[35:41] To the wars inside us. We find that peace on earth. We find that shalom on earth. When he brings a truce. To our rival kingdoms. We find the good will toward men.
[35:56] Don't just sing it. It's like God make it real for you. Let's lay down our weapons. Let's call a Christmas truce. In Jesus name.
[36:07] Would you bow your heads with me now? God every one of us picks up weapons every day. It's almost like when we wake up. We start arming ourselves for defense throughout the day.
[36:20] And sometimes offense. We see the results of this conflict. We see the results of this conflict. And how we deal with one another. We see it in our attitudes.
[36:32] Our countenances. Sometimes we just have that scowl on our face. And it's because sometimes there's not peace inside. God. I pray that in your name.
[36:47] We would lay down the weapons. We would call a Christmas truce. That we wouldn't just sing the words.
[36:58] Let there be peace on earth. Good will toward men. But that we would hand over the inner conflict to you. So we can experience that peace that you promise on this broken earth.
[37:14] And that we would give over our ego. Our need to be right. In our conflicts with one another. So you can make us whole.
[37:27] You can make us complete. Through your promise of shalom. Jared's going to play. This is a moment. When you can remain seated in quiet prayer.
[37:42] God's working on your heart. Let him work. Let him speak. Let him move. Let him change us. Jared's going to sing this song over you.
[37:55] You need to come talk to somebody. I'm here down front. I'd love to talk with you. You need to talk about joining this church. You need to talk about putting your faith in Jesus. You need to talk about getting right with somebody. If you need to go across the aisle to somebody in this church.
[38:06] And sit and pray with them. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for reconciliation. Do that now. Call a Christmas truce. In Jesus name. I've been walking by troubled waters.
[38:22] Here in the shadow alone. I've been worried about tomorrow.
[38:35] I'm stuck in a world I can't control. I met you as a savior.
[38:47] I found in you a friend. I've seen you as a healer. My help and my defense.
[38:58] God you've been my provider. But right now what I need. Is you to be my prince of peace.
[39:14] Come and be my prince of peace. God that's what we pray for right now. For you to be our prince of peace in our hearts. I've been wrestling with my demons.
[39:36] Fighting this war inside my mind. God that's what we pray for right now. And I've been swallowed by all my problems.
[39:50] I just want to leave them all behind. I met you as a savior.
[40:02] I found in you a friend. I've seen you as a healer. My help and my defense. God you've been my provider.
[40:16] But right now what I need. Is you to be my prince of peace. Come and be my prince of peace.
[40:33] I need you to be my provider. Sing I met you as a savior one more time. I met you as a savior.
[40:46] I found in you a friend. I've seen you as a healer. My help and my defense.
[40:57] God you've been my provider. But right now what I need. Is you to be my prince of peace.
[41:11] Come and be my prince of peace. Peace like a river flow.
[41:24] Peace like a river flow. Peace like a river flow.
[41:40] Peace like a river flow. I met you as a savior.
[41:52] I found in you a friend. I've seen you as a healer. My help and my defense.
[42:03] God you've been my provider. Right now what I need. Is you to be my prince of peace.
[42:17] Come and be my prince of peace. Church would you let me pray over you.
[42:38] God I love this church. I love so many. Stories that I've seen play out in real life. Reconciliation.
[42:50] Of turning from sin and turning to you. We've seen you do real change. And bring real peace. And real people and lives.
[43:01] In this place. Pray that you would keep doing that. In the name of Jesus. I pray against any spirit. Of discord. Of disunity.
[43:13] Strife. Conflict. That would prevent your peace from prevailing. Pray that we would as a church. Experience the wholeness. The shalom.
[43:25] That you desire for us. That you saved us to experience. Let every family be touched by this. Let it be very real. This Christmas time. Before they go to bed at night.
[43:37] When they gather as a family. In their interactions. Throughout the day with each other. With the church. With the community. With the relatives. Let them bring that light.
[43:50] Of shalom. Wherever they go. It's in Jesus name. We ask it all. Amen. Amen.