WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:32.440 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:46.480 Good morning. 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:52.540 We've been asked to read a little scripture to you all, and we're going to be coming from 00:00:52.540 --> 00:00:58.380 Luke chapter 1, verse 26 through 38. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:00:59.600 I'm going to begin. 00:00:59.800 --> 00:01:01.000 Oh, I'm Jason Bush. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:02.400 Sorry. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:08.660 This is my wife, Leah, Avery Bush, Elena Bush, and my man, Adam. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:11.900 All right, let me begin. 00:01:12.300 --> 00:01:13.420 Verse 26. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:22.380 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village 00:01:22.380 --> 00:01:24.980 in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. 00:01:25.520 --> 00:01:31.500 She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 00:01:32.440 --> 00:01:38.620 Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you. 00:01:41.820 --> 00:01:47.220 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:54.140 Don't be afraid, Mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. 00:01:55.140 --> 00:02:00.680 You will receive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus. 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:08.600 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:17.440 The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over Israel 00:02:17.440 --> 00:02:18.060 forever. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:21.380 His kingdom will never end. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.640 Mary asked the angel, But how can this happen? 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.220 I am a virgin. 00:02:32.320 --> 00:02:36.920 The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:37.620 overshadow you. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.600 So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 00:02:42.140 --> 00:02:45.520 What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. 00:02:45.980 --> 00:02:51.200 People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:53.400 For the Son of God will never fail. 00:02:57.760 --> 00:03:00.020 Mary responded, I am the Lord's servant. 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:02.920 May everything you have said about me come true. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:04.820 And then the angel left her. 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:07.080 Amen. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:10.380 Amen. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:19.020 There we go. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.300 Set this right down right over here. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:28.560 So we're doing something a little different as we get into our Christmas season with having 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:34.920 a different family each week come up and read for us the Christmas story. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.320 You know, it's interesting. 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:38.700 We watch a lot of Christmas movies. 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:41.620 We read, some of us, Christmas books. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:47.760 And so it's just wonderful to start off and just remind us of the true, the original, the 00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:49.520 one and only Christmas story. 00:03:49.660 --> 00:03:54.460 So I just want to say good morning to all of you and thank the Bushes for being the guinea 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:55.860 pigs and starting off for us. 00:03:55.880 --> 00:03:57.500 You guys did a fantastic job. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:59.100 We appreciate y'all doing that. 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:02.740 Well, if you've got your Bible, go ahead and open them up to Romans chapter 5. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:10.460 That's where we're going to be as we begin our Christmas series. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.160 Now, last week we had a missionary that was here with us that was able to share. 00:04:14.440 --> 00:04:20.520 And so it feels like we're a little slower than normal of getting into the Christmas season 00:04:20.520 --> 00:04:26.660 around here, even though the trees and the church was decorated, but really beginning our Christmas 00:04:26.660 --> 00:04:29.860 series a week later than how we normally do it. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:34.080 And so I'm excited as we kind of dive in over the course of this series, while we're having 00:04:34.080 --> 00:04:38.580 the traditional story read to us, we're going to do something maybe not as traditional and 00:04:38.580 --> 00:04:43.760 look at some different passages of scripture that remind us about the different aspects of 00:04:43.760 --> 00:04:49.520 the Christmas season and who we are in Christ and what Christ came to do, right, as he was 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:53.680 sent by the Father, born of a virgin, right? 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.120 And so we're going to celebrate those together. 00:04:56.400 --> 00:05:00.400 A couple reminders and one may be kind of something new for you. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:06.340 As we continue our celebration, our Christmas Eve service will be at 5, Christmas Day service 00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:08.580 at 10 a.m., right? 00:05:08.640 --> 00:05:13.380 So Christmas Eve, 5 p.m., Christmas Day, 10 a.m., worshiping together. 00:05:13.380 --> 00:05:17.320 They're identical services for both of those, and we're excited about that. 00:05:17.580 --> 00:05:18.940 But something new that we're doing. 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:22.880 So once every seven years, we have happened what is happening this year, which means Christmas 00:05:22.880 --> 00:05:26.900 Day falls on a Sunday, which also means New Year's Day falls on a Sunday. 00:05:27.340 --> 00:05:33.020 And so several months ago, we began to brainstorm as a staff about that and to see, God, what 00:05:33.020 --> 00:05:33.980 would you have us do? 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:40.540 Do we come out with our normal worship service that we always do as we gather together or something 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:41.080 special? 00:05:41.200 --> 00:05:43.060 And so we begin to pray and think about that. 00:05:43.140 --> 00:05:47.120 And it's where we end up landing with our worship service that's going to look like a prayer 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:47.440 breakfast. 00:05:47.580 --> 00:05:50.540 And so if you look around you, you've got these cards that are going to be there. 00:05:50.700 --> 00:05:54.960 And let me kind of explain to you what our New Year's Day worship service is going to 00:05:54.960 --> 00:05:55.740 look like. 00:05:55.780 --> 00:05:57.460 We're going to gather together a little earlier. 00:05:57.580 --> 00:06:01.000 You can start showing up at 930 that morning, so don't stay out too late, all right? 00:06:01.140 --> 00:06:04.060 You're going to gather together a little bit earlier at 930 that morning. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:07.800 And part of our worship that we're going to have together is going to be a fellowship time, 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:12.080 an extended fellowship time of breakfast together as a church family. 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:14.240 And we are super excited about it. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:17.840 Brian Smith, one of our church members who works for Lizard's Thicket, has been able 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:21.660 to work out and coordinate with us as we're going forward with this. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:25.280 And so Lizard's Thicket is going to cater that for us that morning. 00:06:25.440 --> 00:06:32.320 We're going to have a nice, wonderful carb and protein loaded breakfast of grits, pancakes, 00:06:32.700 --> 00:06:34.660 eggs, sausage, and bacon. 00:06:34.840 --> 00:06:41.640 There's no better way to start off the New Year than the Lord and sausage, bacon, and pancakes. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:41.920 Amen? 00:06:42.280 --> 00:06:43.200 So we're going to have that. 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.480 We're going to come together for a time of fellowship with that. 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:48.020 And so here's what we need for you. 00:06:48.020 --> 00:06:53.440 You'll notice there is a place on a website where you can go and you can register, but there's 00:06:53.440 --> 00:06:55.200 also a little QR code that you can scan. 00:06:55.440 --> 00:06:56.880 And here's why we're asking for this. 00:06:57.200 --> 00:07:02.140 We want a rough number of how many people that we need to plan for and that we need to coordinate 00:07:02.140 --> 00:07:02.460 with. 00:07:02.580 --> 00:07:04.000 So here's what that does not mean. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:04.320 All right. 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:08.000 If you think you're going to be out of town and you're not, we still want you to show up 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.400 that morning. 00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:08.720 Okay. 00:07:08.820 --> 00:07:11.280 Whether you register or not, we want you to be there. 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:16.500 We don't want you to hinder it for you inviting someone to come and to be a part of the service. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:16.780 All right. 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:18.460 So this service is still open. 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:21.560 This is not a ticketed event or RSVP only. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:26.260 We're just hoping that this can give us a rough estimate of who all is going to be there 00:07:26.260 --> 00:07:28.540 so that we know who to plan for with that. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:31.360 But if you know anything about us, there will be plenty of food. 00:07:31.460 --> 00:07:33.360 And so we want to have everybody for that. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.840 Anyway, after we have our time of breakfast together, we're going to come together for 00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:39.000 a time of worship and music together. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:41.460 We're going to come time for opening God's word. 00:07:41.700 --> 00:07:46.760 But the main focus that day of how we respond with the Lord is going to be an intentional 00:07:46.760 --> 00:07:47.500 time of prayer. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:54.500 And that's where the heart of this kind of came for us is when we begin a new year, we 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:55.780 begin a new season. 00:07:55.940 --> 00:07:59.760 We begin to look at all the things, all that we're going to want to do, all that we're going 00:07:59.760 --> 00:08:01.220 to want to accomplish, all that. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:05.340 And that goes from church to your family, to your own personal life of what's there. 00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:11.740 And so what we wanted to begin with is say, you know what, let's just begin this new year, 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:17.160 let's begin this season by coming before the Lord and taking all that he's burdened our 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:23.740 hearts with, all that he's given us to contemplate and to think about, and just begin the year 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:28.280 by bringing them to him and laying them down before his feet. 00:08:28.280 --> 00:08:29.720 So I'm excited that day. 00:08:30.260 --> 00:08:34.280 We should run kind of our normal time, but we'll start, like I said, a little bit early 00:08:34.280 --> 00:08:36.740 at 930, and then we'll go from there. 00:08:36.900 --> 00:08:37.140 All right? 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:39.960 So if you've got any questions afterwards, please grab one of us. 00:08:40.020 --> 00:08:43.200 We would love to answer any questions that you have about that service. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:45.520 So before we get started, let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:49.560 God, I thank you so much for this morning, for this time that we could be here. 00:08:50.880 --> 00:08:56.420 What I thank you for the story that we just heard, and it was a story while recorded, 00:08:56.420 --> 00:09:04.180 while written down, isn't just a story that came from a thought, but it's a story 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:08.560 that comes from fact, from real life, from actual history. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:20.720 So Lord, as we dive into your word this morning, we thank you of the miracle of that first Christmas 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:31.180 season, where our Savior, Jesus Christ, was sent to be born of a virgin, to live a perfect life, 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:35.940 to die on the cross, to be resurrected. 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:48.400 And Lord, today we celebrate because we find our peace, our hope, our joy, and our love in him. 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:50.720 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:51.920 Amen. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:52.440 Amen. 00:09:52.880 --> 00:09:59.120 Before we jump into Romans chapter 3, I want to read to you, probably outside of the Gospels, 00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:05.960 I would say, is the verse that's most attached to, most related to the Christmas season. 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:10.440 It's an Old Testament passage from the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 9-6. 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:16.100 And it says, "'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:24.100 be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:26.340 Father, Prince of Peace.'" 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:29.420 What we just sang together, right? 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:32.620 The Word of God there for us. 00:10:33.140 --> 00:10:38.420 And this is a passage of Scripture that we see all the time during the Christmas season. 00:10:38.880 --> 00:10:44.680 And we see, and it's in this one verse, we understand the Christmas narrative that's going 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:50.780 to unfold, but also within this, the work and the embodiment of who Jesus is. 00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:57.780 And we're given the four titles, four titles of Christ, that he's Wonderful Counselor, he's 00:10:57.780 --> 00:11:00.220 Mighty God, he's Everlasting Father. 00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:04.820 But what I want to focus on this morning, what I want to look at is those, that last title, 00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:08.820 those last three words, Prince of Peace. 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:15.200 I don't know about you, but this season always feels chaotic. 00:11:15.900 --> 00:11:22.400 The balancing of schedules, the parties that we have to go to, whose Christmas gifts do 00:11:22.400 --> 00:11:23.400 we have to get? 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:26.880 Oh yeah, we forgot about that, Ant, we got to make sure that we get that, right? 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:33.200 Like, if you have that moment, we celebrate the fact that as we're driving to a get-together, 00:11:33.380 --> 00:11:38.900 when you remember you didn't get that gift, there's something out there called a digital gift 00:11:38.900 --> 00:11:39.500 card, right? 00:11:39.900 --> 00:11:49.440 But it seems to be, in the hustle and bustle of this season for us, that it feels like peace 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.300 is not there. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:57.120 And so I wanted to open up this series as we walk through the different aspects of Christ 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.560 and talk about that. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:02.920 So what does it mean that Jesus Christ, that he is the Prince of Peace? 00:12:03.660 --> 00:12:06.120 Well, it means that Christ is the embodiment of peace. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:09.960 That when we look at him, this is what we see in his life. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:17.380 It means that as he rules as the Prince of Peace, that his kingdom is one of peace. 00:12:18.020 --> 00:12:25.340 But that for all of us who are searching and looking, he is also the means of peace. 00:12:25.900 --> 00:12:27.560 So he is peace. 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:30.860 His kingdom is one of peace. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:37.820 And if we want peace, if we want true peace, it's only going to happen through Jesus. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:49.480 And so, as we sit here this morning, and as we wrestle with what we see, what we experience, 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:56.800 and oftentimes in our lives even feel, we're like, man, I want that. 00:12:58.140 --> 00:12:58.880 I want that. 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:08.320 I think across the board, if we were to go out and pull 100 people, both believers and 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:13.300 non-believers, if we were to say, do you want peace? 00:13:14.900 --> 00:13:19.860 I'd be willing to bet at least 99 out of 100 would say yes. 00:13:20.880 --> 00:13:24.760 But the question that I have for you this morning is what peace? 00:13:25.900 --> 00:13:29.020 What peace do you want? 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.040 What peace are you looking for? 00:13:33.300 --> 00:13:36.300 Are you looking for the peace of this world? 00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:44.500 Are you looking for this peace that the world provides, that the world tries to sell, which 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.600 is counterfeit peace? 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:55.080 And I would say that this peace, this worldly peace is kind of, when I think about it, it's 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:58.360 three things to describe this peace. 00:13:58.580 --> 00:14:00.780 It's emotionally centered. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:04.920 When we think of worldly peace, it's emotionally centered. 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:09.660 And so we ask ourselves, how do I feel in this moment? 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.600 That's worldly peace. 00:14:12.060 --> 00:14:15.640 I'm going to give an example here in just a second that I think walks us through this. 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:22.580 The second thing about worldly peace is it's not only how do I feel, but it's circumstantial. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:31.400 So it's found in the feeling of the circumstances that you're facing in that moment. 00:14:32.140 --> 00:14:39.700 So it is a feeling, emotionally centered, that's circumstantial, that's found in the experiences 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:44.940 that you have at that time, and it's temporary, right? 00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:48.020 Just as fast as it came, it can leave. 00:14:49.140 --> 00:14:53.700 And so the peace of this world, and that's oftentimes what we're living in and what we're 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.840 thinking through right now. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:57.420 It's emotional, how do I feel? 00:14:58.280 --> 00:15:03.140 It's circumstantial, it's based in the moment, and it's temporary. 00:15:03.880 --> 00:15:05.320 It comes, it leaves. 00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:07.960 Let me give you an illustration of this type of peace. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.860 Y'all remember summer? 00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:11.680 Y'all remember that? 00:15:12.280 --> 00:15:14.660 Before you had to put on sweaters and coats and all those things? 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.900 It was 115 degrees in the shade in South Carolina. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.300 Y'all remember? 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.280 Y'all remember summer? 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:26.740 Here's a life view, I'd like to paint a scenario for you that most of us, if not all of us, 00:15:26.760 --> 00:15:29.700 have probably experienced during the summer. 00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:36.740 I'd like to describe to you a peaceful trip to the beach. 00:15:37.640 --> 00:15:38.500 So think about this. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:43.720 You're out there in the warmth of the sand. 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:46.420 You've got your favorite chair. 00:15:47.520 --> 00:15:52.940 For me, it's one of those that's got the real short legs, you know, where you're all down 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:58.080 into the sand, and you can lay it all the way back, and you don't care if anyone hears 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.340 if you're snoring, right? 00:16:00.380 --> 00:16:09.480 So you're there, you're in your chair, kick back, and you hear the waves just coming up 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.260 onto the shore. 00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:15.120 That's my impression of waves, all right? 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.060 Just get with me on that. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:23.600 And then you hit this moment where you do something you haven't done in a long time. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.540 You relax. 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:36.220 And as the tide comes in, you're feeling the heat of the sun, but the coolness of the water 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:38.800 is coming up and just touching your feet. 00:16:40.140 --> 00:16:53.420 And between the right amount of sun that's touching your feet, but there's still the right amount of sun 00:16:53.420 --> 00:17:02.240 that's keeping your body warm, you enter into this stage where you go in and out of consciousness, 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.980 of sleep. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:08.620 And all that feels good, right? 00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:11.940 Anybody else want to experience that? 00:17:12.020 --> 00:17:12.660 I would. 00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:14.180 Let's do that, right? 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.880 Now, that's peaceful, right? 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:31.780 But then, in that moment, right as you fall asleep, you realize, I got to reapply the suntan lotion 00:17:31.780 --> 00:17:35.560 on my kid that doesn't want me to touch them at all right now, right? 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:41.220 And then, because it's got to set in, like, they've got to sit in the shade for the next 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.000 15 minutes as it absorbs. 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:48.740 Right as you have that thought, the wind picks up from that gradual breeze that's keeping you 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:54.660 nice and content on the beach to all of a sudden it's rolling through like a hurricane's there 00:17:54.660 --> 00:18:00.060 and your umbrella that is buried six feet under the sand so that it wouldn't do this catches 00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:02.840 that and plows in to the people that are next to you. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:13.980 And then, and then if it's not, couldn't get worse, the people next to you break out the 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.180 Bluetooth speaker. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.580 Y'all know, right? 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.500 And they're not playing what you want to listen to. 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:29.160 Whatever it is that you don't want to listen to, that's what they're listening to and they've 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:30.140 got it maxed out. 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:36.860 And then you hear that phrase, I'm bored. 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:40.200 Come from your kids or your husband, right? 00:18:40.300 --> 00:18:43.160 Like, y'all know where we're at, right? 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:47.720 How's that peaceful feeling now? 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.420 Gone. 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:50.920 Gone. 00:18:51.260 --> 00:18:58.920 In a matter of time, that which you felt, that which you were experiencing is removed 00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.460 from you. 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:03.720 And we use this illustration this morning. 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:10.620 But how many times have you woken up and said, I'm going to face today differently. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.840 I'm going to live in the peace of the Lord. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.700 And then you walk into the office and it's gone. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:20.660 How many times have you said, I'm going to have the right mindset. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.400 I'm going to have the right perspective as I go home this morning. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.180 And then you walk in to the chaos of the scene that you face. 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:28.940 Gone. 00:19:30.020 --> 00:19:34.720 How many times have you said, I'm not going to lose my temper and I'm going to be kind to 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.620 everyone I see at Walmart, Target, in the mall. 00:19:39.280 --> 00:19:41.820 And then you walk in and it's gone. 00:19:41.820 --> 00:19:51.680 You know, the problem for us with peace is that we're searching for and longing for the 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:59.540 peace that the world provides, which is a feeling, which is circumstantial, which is temporary. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:11.100 But what we find in the chaos and in the confusion that the people in the story that the Bushes 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:24.580 just read about must have felt as a virgin teenage girl finds out that she's pregnant with the 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.020 Messiah. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.100 But what flows from that is the peace of the Lord. 00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:38.560 Over 429 times in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, peace is talked about in the 00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:38.760 Bible. 00:20:39.760 --> 00:20:42.660 In the Old Testament, it's a word that you've probably heard. 00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:47.200 The word most commonly used for peace is the word shalom. 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:51.440 It's a relational peace that is discussed and is talked about in Scripture. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:57.640 And it is defined as a peace between people, a peace between nations, but most importantly, 00:20:57.800 --> 00:21:00.440 a peace between God and man. 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:05.580 The shalom, the peace of God, used as a greeting. 00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:15.200 In the New Testament, most commonly used is the word arene, which is a state of peace, a state 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.840 of rest, a state of tranquility. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:23.860 And that in this, what we find, this is the peace that Jesus is. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.460 This is the peace that's found in him. 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:28.400 This is the peace that's through him. 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:35.200 And this peace is why he is the prince of peace, as he embodies all this. 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:38.060 So how do we experience this? 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.460 How do we live in this? 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:46.740 How do we, how do we obtain this type of peace that is not dictated by the circumstances, the 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:52.340 feelings, and the peace that won't leave me when it truly rests in me? 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.160 And this is what brings us to Romans 5. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.780 So let's read verses 1 through 10. 00:21:59.540 --> 00:22:00.900 Paul writes and says, 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:12.680 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.320 Christ. 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:22.520 Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and 00:22:22.520 --> 00:22:25.100 we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 00:22:25.780 --> 00:22:32.260 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and 00:22:32.260 --> 00:22:36.300 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:42.380 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:44.980 the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:50.960 For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:55.140 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:59.760 Though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die. 00:23:00.540 --> 00:23:05.160 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:13.120 Since therefore we now have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him 00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.960 from the wrath of God. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:21.480 For if while we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:28.600 how much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life? 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:35.840 So what Paul is writing to, what he begins in verse one, is talking to the group of people 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:38.360 of understanding about their salvation. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:41.580 This is like Jesus is our source of peace. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:47.360 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:54.040 This is what Paul begins with, and then he begins to talk through this passage of scripture. 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:57.260 And so what we're going to do a little bit differently, and I was thinking about this this morning, 00:23:57.520 --> 00:24:02.000 I think I've preached through this passage of scripture at least five times, and every time 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.700 I've preached through this passage of scripture, I work backwards. 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.900 And so here's what it means. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:11.620 We're going to start in verse 10 and work our way all the way back through so that we can 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:14.620 understand the peace of God and the peace with Christ. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:20.400 So in order to understand the peace of God, we have to understand why we lack peace. 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:26.380 We have to understand this desire within us and why it's not satisfied. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:31.680 We have to understand when we talk about biblical peace, why there seems to be a lack of it. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.420 So look at verse 10. 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:43.040 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more, 00:24:43.620 --> 00:24:50.280 now that we are reconciled, we are saved by his life. 00:24:50.520 --> 00:24:52.120 Look at those first few words. 00:24:53.260 --> 00:25:04.740 See, the desperate need for us to gather in a room and read a story about a virgin who gives 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:08.280 birth to this savior named Jesus is this. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:12.280 Now, we were enemies with God before Christ. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:19.920 This is how the Bible describes us, that because of our sin, what we see is that we are alienated 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:21.400 enemies of God. 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:24.080 And this isn't just from Romans 5. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:26.320 This is what we see consistently in scripture. 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:34.260 In Colossians 1.21, it says, and you who were once, who once were alienated and hostile 00:25:34.260 --> 00:25:37.920 in mind, doing evil deeds. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:44.960 Ephesians 2, 1 through 3, and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:51.080 walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:57.200 that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:07.640 So this is the state, this is the condition that Jesus comes in to save us from. 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:11.880 This is the state, this is the condition that Jesus comes in to save us from. 00:26:12.760 --> 00:26:15.400 This is the conflict, this is the turmoil. 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:22.460 This is the circumstance into which peace is brought. 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:37.120 But for us, I think it's sometimes difficult to see our sin in the offensive way that God 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:37.660 sees it. 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:48.840 Sometimes we feel that our sin, that the sinful state of man is less than it truly is. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:57.500 Our sin, as we stand before the Lord, is more than a disagreement. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:04.460 It's more than a misunderstanding or an isolated incident of conflict. 00:27:05.540 --> 00:27:09.300 Our sin removes us from God. 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:14.940 Our sin, what we just read, causes us to pursue the ungodly. 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:22.180 Our sin makes us enemies of God, and our sin condemns us to hell. 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:39.500 And Paul says that apart from Christ, that that's our nature, that that's the nature of mankind. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:51.940 This raging war of godlessness that the creation has with its creator. 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:55.660 And so Jesus came. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:09.840 And Jesus was sent to die so that that conflict can be resolved through him. 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:12.780 Look what Paul says in Romans 5, 6 through 9. 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:22.980 For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.780 Let's just pause there for a moment. 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.660 Who would you die for? 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.660 Who would you die for? 00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:38.820 Well, there's a group of people called my family, right? 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.420 And you probably jumped there with me. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:43.540 Maybe not you for my family, but you're like, no, I'm not for my family. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:43.820 Yep. 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:46.420 Well, then there's those other family, probably not them. 00:28:46.560 --> 00:28:47.440 But you know, for them, yeah. 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:48.620 Right? 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:56.300 Christ, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:59.920 Verse 7, for one will scarcely die for a righteous person. 00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:04.200 Though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die. 00:29:04.520 --> 00:29:12.160 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:26.840 Verse 9, since therefore we now have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:34.100 And so what we see in these few verses is that Christ was sent, right? 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:39.520 What we celebrate, born of a virgin, laid in a manger. 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:43.020 The shepherds will come. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.380 The wise men will journey. 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:54.720 All of this, the angels will proclaim that Christ was sent, but that Christ will die. 00:29:56.460 --> 00:30:00.300 And in that Christ justifies and he saves. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:10.500 You see, if Christ was just sent, but then didn't die, then there'd be nothing for us to celebrate. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:18.880 But he was sent and he died and he justifies and he saves. 00:30:21.760 --> 00:30:27.640 Has somebody ever come up to you and said, hey, let me explain this situation? 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:30.720 And they begin to walk through. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.100 And they begin to walk through a problem that they face. 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:41.780 And immediately what you begin to feel in your bones is the moment I respond, I'm in it. 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:42.360 Right? 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:45.720 And you're like, man, not my problem. 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:46.740 Right? 00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:48.060 You got to figure this out. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.820 Not my problem. 00:30:49.040 --> 00:30:49.240 Right? 00:30:50.260 --> 00:30:51.560 We have a problem. 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.620 And God has the solution. 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:57.480 And so God sends Jesus. 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:01.920 And he doesn't say, not my problem. 00:31:03.260 --> 00:31:03.420 Right? 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.800 But he says, I'm the solution. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:09.400 Jesus was sent to redeem us. 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:12.600 And this required his life. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.940 He came to die. 00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:19.000 The story of Christmas is not just the manger, but it's the manger to the cross. 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:22.060 John 3, 16 and 17. 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:28.340 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:31:28.340 --> 00:31:37.040 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.880 So he sends him. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.580 And he dies. 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:46.920 And then what Christ does, what Paul tells us in Romans, is that he justifies us. 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.780 And this word justifies. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:51.480 It's a legal term that would have been used. 00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:52.840 It's a legal act. 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:59.380 And theologically, here's what it means quickly, is that when Christ comes, that our sins are forgiven. 00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:07.780 When he's our Lord and Savior, our sins, all our past, all our present, all of our future, every sin made clean by the blood of the Lamb. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:09.120 This is who we are. 00:32:10.040 --> 00:32:10.520 Forgiven. 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:24.740 And that in that, that his righteousness, his perfection to every command, every calling from God the Father, every moment of obedience to him, now belongs to us. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:33.520 It's given to us that when we are justified, what makes him right is imparted, is given to us. 00:32:33.520 --> 00:32:40.040 And then as a result of that, we are made righteous in the eyes, in the sight of God. 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.680 This is now who we are. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:48.020 So all the good, all the perfect, all the work, every bit of that is not just there. 00:32:48.320 --> 00:32:55.060 And we can claim it as something we can run up to and hold on to and wave it as a trophy before God. 00:32:55.300 --> 00:33:01.860 But that when God sees us, when we are found in Christ, the righteousness of him rests on us. 00:33:02.020 --> 00:33:06.840 And so he does not see our sin, our depravity, our filth, our evil. 00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:09.740 What he does no longer see is that we were enemies. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:13.400 And what he sees is that we are right-standing children of his. 00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:16.800 The righteousness of God. 00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:20.220 And that Christ saves us. 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:23.400 So we're no longer enemies. 00:33:24.540 --> 00:33:33.760 But the peace that we long for, the peace that we desire, is there. 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:38.620 So how does this peace shake out in our life? 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.640 Because you're like, well, I'm saved. 00:33:43.320 --> 00:33:44.080 I'm saved. 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:48.580 I know without a shadow of a doubt all those things that you just said. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.720 I know all of that. 00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:52.900 But there still feels like there's some chaos. 00:33:54.080 --> 00:33:55.840 There still feels like there's some difficulties. 00:33:57.100 --> 00:33:58.880 So let's read verses 1 through 5 again. 00:34:01.460 --> 00:34:08.940 Therefore, since you have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:10.040 --> 00:34:16.680 And through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. 00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:19.600 And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 00:34:19.600 --> 00:34:26.360 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings. 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:31.320 Knowing that suffering produces endurance. 00:34:32.020 --> 00:34:34.300 And endurance produces character. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:37.080 And character produces hope. 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:50.800 And hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 00:34:52.100 --> 00:34:55.260 And here's how we live in peace. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:59.980 In a restored relationship of peace. 00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:04.140 Paul talks about this in Colossians 1, 21 through 23. 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:20.560 And you who were once 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. 00:35:20.560 --> 00:35:35.320 If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:38.060 So let's talk about this peace for just a second. 00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:46.860 Number one, the peace that Christ gives us does not mean easy. 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.280 It doesn't mean easy. 00:35:52.180 --> 00:36:11.400 There's a false teaching that exists in this world by people who claim to be Christians that promises that with Christ, what is obtained is the ease of life here. 00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:23.060 And that if you have faith, true faith, saving faith, then the struggles or the issues of this world would just disappear. 00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:32.340 So let me kind of ask you all here who claim to be Christians, has that rung true for you? 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:36.080 It didn't ring true for Jesus. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.580 It didn't ring true for Paul. 00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:41.780 It didn't ring true for Peter. 00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:44.020 It didn't ring true for Mary. 00:36:45.080 --> 00:36:46.940 It didn't ring true for any. 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:51.980 So oftentimes what we feel is peace means easy. 00:36:53.560 --> 00:36:58.140 Kick back in our chair, letting the breeze hit and the water touch our toes. 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:07.700 But peace in the relationship with Christ does mean process. 00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:10.880 And this is the goodness of God. 00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:21.340 In Romans, what Paul just told us in chapter 5, is that in this relationship with God, the peace that we now have with God, that there is suffering. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.980 And no one's signing up for that. 00:37:26.060 --> 00:37:28.920 No one's saying, I want that, bring it, right? 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:34.560 But what suffering brings, Paul says, is endurance. 00:37:36.300 --> 00:37:50.100 I think the most damaging thing that we do oftentimes with suffering in the Christian life is that we are so long to get out of the suffering that we miss what God's trying to do in the suffering. 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:55.900 And that God is working in the suffering and God is building in the suffering. 00:37:56.220 --> 00:38:09.240 And what God is doing in that, in the life of the believer, where God continues to have points and places and callings and commands, is he's building in the life of that individual something wonderful called endurance. 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.320 Endurance in this life. 00:38:13.080 --> 00:38:15.120 Because the suffering is going to continue. 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:17.640 The suffering is going to be there. 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:20.180 So it produces something special. 00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:22.460 It produces something unique. 00:38:22.700 --> 00:38:25.320 It produces something wonderful in us. 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:29.460 That what happens is a suffering that produces endurance. 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:38.820 So that in the suffering, when it begins to happen, in our very fiber of our being, when we walk into work, when we walk into home, when we walk in wherever the places are, 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:46.860 where suffering is going to pour onto us, when we get the criticism that comes with this life, when we get the doctor's appointments that come with this life, 00:38:47.060 --> 00:38:55.680 when it all culminates to, and the endurance of that is a character that is built inside of us that is godly and that is good. 00:38:55.880 --> 00:39:04.200 And this is that this circumstance right here does not define the joy that I experience in my heart and that I have the character of Christ that rests in me. 00:39:05.580 --> 00:39:18.960 And so the endurance produces character and that in that moment, because the situation isn't good, the character produces something. 00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:20.480 It produces hope. 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.540 It produces hope. 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:26.800 Now, let's talk a minute about hope. 00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:29.960 Let's look at how we use the word hope. 00:39:31.640 --> 00:39:33.300 You ever been late to work and speed? 00:39:35.080 --> 00:39:35.880 Not me. 00:39:36.180 --> 00:39:37.780 I don't do that. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:45.620 And you think, as you're going down the road, and you see that highway patrol officer, right? 00:39:46.100 --> 00:39:47.920 Or that Lexington County officer there. 00:39:48.160 --> 00:39:48.840 What comes to mind? 00:39:49.280 --> 00:39:50.420 I hope they didn't get me. 00:39:51.020 --> 00:39:52.280 I mean, they probably did. 00:39:52.640 --> 00:39:54.640 But I hope they didn't, right? 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.540 Cut on college football. 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.400 You're going to watch your team. 00:40:00.180 --> 00:40:00.760 You're going to be on. 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:03.260 And I know all too well this feeling. 00:40:04.680 --> 00:40:06.580 Man, I hope we win. 00:40:06.820 --> 00:40:07.860 What do we mean by that? 00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:09.480 I know there's a good chance we won't. 00:40:10.740 --> 00:40:11.860 But I hope we do. 00:40:13.420 --> 00:40:13.700 Right? 00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:19.480 That hope in there is I'm not confident what the outcome will be. 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:27.660 But I can at least hope that the outcome is what I desire for it to be. 00:40:28.080 --> 00:40:30.940 That's not biblical hope. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:40.300 Biblical hope is not that one day I stand before the Lord and I really hope I get in. 00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:42.680 But was he with me on XYZ? 00:40:43.700 --> 00:40:49.560 I really hope I get in, but I don't know if I did enough good works. 00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:56.600 I really hope I get in, but I don't really feel like I know enough scripture. 00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:02.440 That suffering produces endurance. 00:41:03.080 --> 00:41:07.620 And endurance produces character of who we are in Christ. 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:09.920 And character produces hope. 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:14.060 And what Paul says is that this hope does not put us to shame. 00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:16.420 So this hope 00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:19.300 is confidence. 00:41:21.020 --> 00:41:22.060 This hope 00:41:22.060 --> 00:41:23.200 is certainty. 00:41:24.660 --> 00:41:25.720 This hope is 00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:27.480 defined 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:29.440 and divine of who we 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:31.560 are in Christ. 00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:32.840 So I hope 00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:34.060 for the day 00:41:34.060 --> 00:41:35.860 when I stand before the Lord 00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:36.940 because my hope 00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:37.860 is not rooted 00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.740 in me 00:41:38.740 --> 00:41:39.620 but my hope 00:41:39.620 --> 00:41:40.860 is rooted in him 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:42.500 and he has made a way 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.460 through the blood 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:44.480 of Christ 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:45.260 for me 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:46.660 to stand before the Lord. 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.880 And in him 00:41:49.880 --> 00:41:53.020 and in him alone 00:41:53.020 --> 00:41:55.700 do I find my hope. 00:41:57.700 --> 00:41:58.700 And folks 00:41:58.700 --> 00:42:01.280 that's peace. 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:03.360 That's peace. 00:42:06.080 --> 00:42:07.000 That's peace. 00:42:09.140 --> 00:42:10.200 So in the 00:42:10.200 --> 00:42:12.280 moments of chaos 00:42:12.280 --> 00:42:14.280 and the moments of confusion 00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:16.280 and the moments of suffering 00:42:16.280 --> 00:42:19.700 the closer and the more you walk with the Lord 00:42:19.700 --> 00:42:22.260 the more that's produced in you 00:42:22.260 --> 00:42:24.260 as an endurance 00:42:24.260 --> 00:42:27.160 was produced in you 00:42:27.160 --> 00:42:27.940 as a character 00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:31.300 and in that becomes hope. 00:42:33.520 --> 00:42:34.480 I want to read to you 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:34.980 in closing 00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:37.600 the words of Jesus 00:42:37.600 --> 00:42:41.340 in Matthew chapter 11 00:42:41.340 --> 00:42:45.100 because maybe you're here this morning 00:42:45.100 --> 00:42:48.660 and you're not a follower of Christ. 00:42:50.660 --> 00:42:51.680 Maybe I'm in this 00:42:51.680 --> 00:42:52.900 this peace 00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:53.920 that you're talking about 00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:56.320 and there's 00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:58.480 I know that there's more 00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.520 than what I've settled for. 00:43:00.680 --> 00:43:02.040 Here's what Jesus says. 00:43:04.080 --> 00:43:05.100 Verse 28. 00:43:08.120 --> 00:43:09.220 Come to me 00:43:09.220 --> 00:43:12.400 all who labor 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:14.760 and are heavy laden 00:43:14.760 --> 00:43:17.700 and I will give you rest. 00:43:19.800 --> 00:43:21.640 Take my yoke upon you 00:43:21.640 --> 00:43:24.220 and learn from me 00:43:24.220 --> 00:43:26.480 for I am gentle 00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:28.640 and lowly in heart 00:43:28.640 --> 00:43:31.080 and you will find rest 00:43:31.080 --> 00:43:32.000 for your souls 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.720 for my yoke 00:43:34.720 --> 00:43:36.520 is easy 00:43:36.520 --> 00:43:38.820 and my burden 00:43:38.820 --> 00:43:40.340 is light. 00:43:42.620 --> 00:43:43.660 In this 00:43:43.660 --> 00:43:46.740 Jesus describes 00:43:46.740 --> 00:43:49.000 the shalom 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:50.820 found in him 00:43:50.820 --> 00:43:53.940 that it is through him 00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:55.780 and through him alone 00:43:55.780 --> 00:43:58.260 that we can have peace with God 00:43:58.260 --> 00:44:00.940 and that we can even hope 00:44:00.940 --> 00:44:03.060 for peace with another 00:44:03.060 --> 00:44:06.120 but that also 00:44:06.120 --> 00:44:08.300 that in him 00:44:08.300 --> 00:44:10.180 and in him alone 00:44:10.180 --> 00:44:12.140 we find the irony 00:44:12.140 --> 00:44:14.520 through him 00:44:14.520 --> 00:44:16.220 we find the rest 00:44:16.220 --> 00:44:18.500 for our soul 00:44:18.500 --> 00:44:21.160 for all of eternity. 00:44:22.580 --> 00:44:23.620 Would you pray with me? 00:44:27.620 --> 00:44:29.200 God we come to you 00:44:29.200 --> 00:44:29.780 this morning 00:44:29.780 --> 00:44:32.300 Jesus Christ 00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:35.360 you are our prince 00:44:35.360 --> 00:44:36.240 of peace 00:44:36.240 --> 00:44:39.900 Lord we thank you 00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:43.340 that the peace 00:44:43.340 --> 00:44:44.360 that you bring us 00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:46.600 is not a peace 00:44:46.600 --> 00:44:47.540 that fades away 00:44:47.540 --> 00:44:51.060 but it's a peace 00:44:51.060 --> 00:44:51.940 that's everlasting 00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:56.780 it's not a peace 00:44:56.780 --> 00:45:00.440 that comes and goes 00:45:00.440 --> 00:45:01.220 as the tide 00:45:01.220 --> 00:45:04.280 it's not a peace 00:45:04.280 --> 00:45:05.140 that changes 00:45:05.140 --> 00:45:07.580 with a new day 00:45:07.580 --> 00:45:09.300 or a new season 00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:12.840 but it's a peace 00:45:12.840 --> 00:45:14.900 that's found in you 00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:15.720 and you alone 00:45:15.720 --> 00:45:19.440 and moves us 00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:21.900 from enemies 00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.660 to children 00:45:22.660 --> 00:45:25.580 from objects 00:45:25.580 --> 00:45:26.300 of wrath 00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:28.160 to recipients 00:45:28.160 --> 00:45:29.020 of righteousness 00:45:29.020 --> 00:45:35.020 and Lord I pray 00:45:35.020 --> 00:45:35.700 that on this 00:45:35.700 --> 00:45:37.620 day 00:45:37.620 --> 00:45:40.060 when we think about 00:45:40.060 --> 00:45:41.740 the sending 00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:42.700 of your son 00:45:42.700 --> 00:45:47.000 he did not 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:47.620 come into 00:45:47.620 --> 00:45:48.300 a world 00:45:48.300 --> 00:45:50.160 of peace 00:45:50.160 --> 00:45:51.560 he did not 00:45:51.560 --> 00:45:51.960 come into 00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:52.520 a setting 00:45:52.520 --> 00:45:53.680 of peace 00:45:53.680 --> 00:45:57.220 so he came 00:45:57.220 --> 00:45:57.920 as those means 00:45:57.920 --> 00:46:01.720 God I thank you 00:46:01.720 --> 00:46:05.240 that your word 00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:05.860 is true 00:46:05.860 --> 00:46:08.540 stands today 00:46:08.540 --> 00:46:11.480 Lord I thank you 00:46:11.480 --> 00:46:11.840 that while 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:12.560 suffering 00:46:12.560 --> 00:46:14.920 and difficulties 00:46:14.920 --> 00:46:19.040 and persecutions 00:46:19.040 --> 00:46:21.260 are not relieved 00:46:21.260 --> 00:46:21.920 of us 00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:22.900 in this life 00:46:22.900 --> 00:46:25.900 but Lord 00:46:25.900 --> 00:46:26.300 they are 00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:27.760 useful 00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:30.120 and they have 00:46:30.120 --> 00:46:31.160 purpose in them 00:46:31.160 --> 00:46:33.000 and you're 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.140 working in them 00:46:34.140 --> 00:46:36.540 to create 00:46:36.540 --> 00:46:37.220 something 00:46:37.220 --> 00:46:38.020 in us 00:46:38.020 --> 00:46:39.160 that can only 00:46:39.160 --> 00:46:39.920 be found 00:46:39.920 --> 00:46:40.520 in you 00:46:40.520 --> 00:46:40.980 and in you 00:46:40.980 --> 00:46:41.440 alone 00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:43.340 and so Lord 00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:44.260 I lift up 00:46:44.260 --> 00:46:45.140 every single 00:46:45.140 --> 00:46:45.700 person 00:46:45.700 --> 00:46:48.520 in this congregation 00:46:48.520 --> 00:46:49.360 right now 00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:52.620 who is facing 00:46:52.620 --> 00:46:53.660 that battle 00:46:53.660 --> 00:46:54.400 right now 00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:55.680 of the difficulty 00:46:55.680 --> 00:46:56.440 of this world 00:46:56.440 --> 00:46:58.600 and God 00:46:58.600 --> 00:46:59.240 may they know 00:46:59.240 --> 00:46:59.900 through the power 00:46:59.900 --> 00:47:00.640 of your spirit 00:47:00.640 --> 00:47:01.540 that dwells 00:47:01.540 --> 00:47:02.460 in them 00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:04.420 may they know 00:47:04.420 --> 00:47:05.020 the goodness 00:47:05.020 --> 00:47:05.960 of your nature 00:47:05.960 --> 00:47:06.700 that is with 00:47:06.700 --> 00:47:07.140 them 00:47:07.140 --> 00:47:10.160 Lord that they 00:47:10.160 --> 00:47:10.920 can not only 00:47:10.920 --> 00:47:11.620 get through 00:47:11.620 --> 00:47:12.860 this season 00:47:12.860 --> 00:47:16.120 but they can 00:47:16.120 --> 00:47:16.740 endure 00:47:16.740 --> 00:47:18.780 and they can 00:47:18.780 --> 00:47:19.660 be stronger 00:47:19.660 --> 00:47:21.940 and that 00:47:21.940 --> 00:47:23.260 that strength 00:47:23.260 --> 00:47:24.480 will produce 00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:24.960 in them 00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:25.900 character 00:47:25.900 --> 00:47:28.020 godliness 00:47:28.020 --> 00:47:29.920 they'll more 00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:31.020 resemble Christ 00:47:31.020 --> 00:47:32.320 because of what 00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:32.860 they face 00:47:32.860 --> 00:47:33.480 right now 00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:36.980 and then Lord 00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:37.460 what comes 00:47:37.460 --> 00:47:37.920 from that 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:40.040 is hope 00:47:40.040 --> 00:47:43.640 not that I may 00:47:43.640 --> 00:47:47.740 but that I am 00:47:47.740 --> 00:47:51.160 this is who 00:47:51.160 --> 00:47:52.360 I am 00:47:52.360 --> 00:47:53.020 in Christ 00:47:53.020 --> 00:47:56.040 Lord if there's 00:47:56.040 --> 00:47:56.900 anyone here 00:47:56.900 --> 00:47:58.840 this morning 00:47:58.840 --> 00:48:01.920 Lord and they're 00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:02.960 chasing after 00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:05.300 a righteousness 00:48:05.300 --> 00:48:06.180 that's found 00:48:06.180 --> 00:48:07.560 in a train 00:48:07.560 --> 00:48:08.060 of thought 00:48:08.060 --> 00:48:10.300 in a list 00:48:10.300 --> 00:48:10.860 of rules 00:48:10.860 --> 00:48:13.400 in their own 00:48:13.400 --> 00:48:13.940 character 00:48:13.940 --> 00:48:16.160 in their own 00:48:16.160 --> 00:48:16.680 works 00:48:16.680 --> 00:48:20.040 Lord may they 00:48:20.040 --> 00:48:20.540 know 00:48:20.540 --> 00:48:23.120 that peace 00:48:23.120 --> 00:48:23.540 is only 00:48:23.540 --> 00:48:24.100 found 00:48:24.100 --> 00:48:25.740 through Christ 00:48:25.740 --> 00:48:28.640 and that he 00:48:28.640 --> 00:48:29.200 came 00:48:29.200 --> 00:48:30.980 to die 00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.480 for them 00:48:31.480 --> 00:48:34.580 to reconcile 00:48:34.580 --> 00:48:35.180 them 00:48:35.180 --> 00:48:38.400 and to be 00:48:38.400 --> 00:48:38.800 their Lord 00:48:38.800 --> 00:48:39.260 and Savior 00:48:39.260 --> 00:48:45.160 Jesus we love 00:48:45.160 --> 00:48:45.400 you 00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:47.300 we thank you 00:48:47.300 --> 00:48:48.420 and let's 00:48:48.420 --> 00:48:48.720 hear me 00:48:48.720 --> 00:48:48.980 pray 00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:50.100 amen 00:48:50.100 --> 00:49:03.560 thanks again 00:49:03.560 --> 00:49:04.100 for listening 00:49:04.100 --> 00:49:04.460 to the 00:49:04.460 --> 00:49:04.880 Willow Ridge 00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:05.600 Church weekly 00:49:05.600 --> 00:49:06.020 podcast 00:49:06.020 --> 00:49:06.960 we hope 00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:07.220 that you 00:49:07.220 --> 00:49:07.540 enjoyed 00:49:07.540 --> 00:49:08.040 listening to 00:49:08.040 --> 00:49:08.500 this week's 00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:08.840 message 00:49:08.840 --> 00:49:09.860 if you'd like 00:49:09.860 --> 00:49:10.160 to learn 00:49:10.160 --> 00:49:10.660 more about 00:49:10.660 --> 00:49:11.240 who we are 00:49:11.240 --> 00:49:11.900 or explore 00:49:11.900 --> 00:49:12.320 additional 00:49:12.320 --> 00:49:12.860 resources 00:49:12.860 --> 00:49:13.860 visit us 00:49:13.860 --> 00:49:14.640 online at 00:49:14.640 --> 00:49:17.880 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:19.100 or by searching 00:49:19.100 --> 00:49:19.780 for Willow Ridge 00:49:19.780 --> 00:49:20.400 Church on 00:49:20.400 --> 00:49:21.080 Facebook and 00:49:21.080 --> 00:49:21.480 Instagram