Luke 2:1-21

Now, while you're getting there, I want to prepare us a little bit for what we're going to be studying this morning.

And I believe that over the last week, if we think about it, the last month maybe, or even the last year probably for all of us,

we can think of times when we have struggled with worry, when we have struggled with anxiety,

when we've struggled with feeling overwhelmed.

I know that from talking to many of us and knowing myself that many of us can often struggle with the feeling that we can never do enough at our jobs,

for our families, or even that we can never do enough work for the kingdom.

Others of us struggle with the feeling that we can never measure up to the work that others are doing.

Many of us set really, really high goals for ourselves, and then we're so, so, so frustrated with ourselves

when we see the great distance between where we're at and the goals that we've set.

I've been in all those places.

I've seen the reality of reaching the end of my power in almost everything.

I've fully exhausted the end of what I can do and failed to acknowledge or accept the Lord's help.

And that's when we run to that worry, that anxiety, that avoidance.

I ran to everything I could to get rid of that weight that can just be weighing down on us so much.

And I think if we all think about it, I think if we're honest, we all hit those points.

We've been there, and sometimes that may just be a mindset struggle,

or other times it may flow out in our actions and be very apparent.

But I'm up here this morning to preach about peace.

So why am I starting with all of this anxiety, this worry, these ideas about work?

Because those tend to be the opposites of peace.

We often run to those and away from the peace that the Lord has provided through his birth, life, death, and resurrection.

It's what we so often run to.

So just a quick story.

So almost three years ago.

I know the exact date.

It was March 14, 2016.

I know that because it's the oldest note I have in my current phone.

I was sitting on the back porch of what y'all call the refuge where Matthew and Alex and Ian and Spencer live.

I was talking to Clay.

Back then, I was in his discipleship group.

And he had had us listen to a sermon that is called Work and Rest.

It's by Tim Keller.

It's a really good sermon that has done me a lot of good in going back and listening to it quite a few times since then.

I'd really recommend that if you struggle with prioritizing work and rest.

And in his sermon, he talks about the modern culture and how in many ways, many of us have become workaholics in a way that has never been seen before.

He explains that because many of us can work from anywhere, we do work from anywhere and work from everywhere and often do that all the time.

We struggle to find true rest.

Many of us, I know that I personally get called out for this a lot, constantly have a productivity mindset.

If something doesn't seem immediately productive, we're not going to do it.

I think a lot of us struggle with that.

And rest is one of those things that doesn't seem immediately productive.

Those that are really close to me have had to call me out to remind me that the Lord has called us to a life that needs some rest, needs some Sabbath, needs some peace.

After all, we're not God.

We're simply laborers in the Lord.

We're not our own lords, but so, so, so often we try to be.

So often.

In Keller's sermon, I'll borrow a few things he says.

He gives three ways in which we often try to constantly work.

He asserts that we constantly feel this pressure to prove ourselves in three different ways.

Firstly, he says that we feel the need to prove ourselves to God.

We feel the need to prove ourselves to God.

Secondly, we feel the need to prove ourselves to ourselves.

And thirdly, that we feel the need to prove ourselves to others.

So going back to that day in March of 2016, as Clay and I were talking on the back porch,

I really began to think about those three.

And realized that I had put so much effort into one of those for sure, and oftentimes all three of those.

And that's so dangerous.

Being in a constant state of trying to prove ourselves and feeling this weight that we're not good enough,

either for God, for ourselves, or for others,

takes us so far away from that hope, that joy, that peace that are found in the gospel of Christ.

Now these realities, I think, can come in the forms that we often think of them in.

I think what comes to my mind when I think about proving ourselves to God

is the view that pretty much all of the world that does not trust in Christ,

is their only hope, has that if we do enough good things or we avoid enough bad things,

that we're good.

We'll have whatever afterlife we imagine.

We'll be set.

When we think about proving ourselves to ourselves,

I think many of us have the idea that we need to have as good of a house,

as good of a car, as raise our family well,

at least as well as our parents did,

hold down a good career.

When we think about proving ourselves to others,

I think we think of some of the same things.

doing lots of good things,

having lots of worldly possessions,

doing every possible activity that we can.

And all that's just to impress other people.

All of that.

Now all those are very, very dangerous,

and I don't want to deny that in one bit,

because they show a heart that is either not currently set on the gospel

or has never put its hope in the gospel.

But I know that for myself and for many of the rest of us,

there's some very much more subtle ways that we start believing these,

and because of how subtle they are,

I think they can be possibly even more dangerous.

Thinking about trying to prove ourselves to God

and doing every possible ministry opportunity

and never saying no.

Being a part of way too many campus ministries

to the detriment of commitments to each one

and to the church

and to all the other legitimately important things in life as well.

Or hanging about proving ourselves to God

and taking pride in these long stretches of avoiding sin

and boasting that we haven't struggled with something in a really long time.

And then when we do sin,

being utterly defeated when we slip up,

and that shows we've been putting our confidence in our own good works

instead of the finished work of Christ.

I've also found myself in the state of wanting to prove myself to myself

and being completely unwilling to participate in something like a leisure activity

because it doesn't seem productive.

Running away from opportunities to be with the community

because we feel that we are too busy

and thinking that everything must be directly productive.

And treating ourselves as if we have all the power in the world

and so we can be involved in everything there is that is good.

And then I think even worse of trying to prove ourselves to others

and wanting people to realize how busy we are

or wanting to do service that is in the spotlight

but being unwilling to do something that's behind the scenes.

I think I could go on and on all morning

but I don't think I need to.

I'm aware that many of those overlap

and I want to communicate those realities for a number of reasons

not the least of which being that I want to apologize

to any of you who have been hurt by my own sinful tendencies

to want to prove myself.

I also believe that if we're honest

we all struggle in some way

of feeling the need to prove ourselves.

And any of those start to rely on our own works

and not putting our hope

and joy

and ultimately having peace

in the finished work of Christ.

Okay.

So I'm here to talk about peace.

So let's get to it.

So Luke 2.

Luke 2.

So this is a very, very, very familiar Christmas passage.

If I'm not careful in my reading of it

I'm going to switch half the words to KJV

because I remember men in my family's church reading it so often.

Because of those kind of realities

I'd really like to encourage you not to just check out.

Don't think you've heard this passage 80 times

and so you don't need to listen.

Brothers and sisters, as Nathan faithfully reminds us

this is the word of God.

It was written for the Lord's glory and for our good.

It will be good for us this morning to listen to it

in order to believe its promises

and obey its commands.

So verse 1 of Luke 2.

So as in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus

that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration

when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be registered

each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee

from the town of Nazareth

to Judea

to the city of David

which is called Bethlehem

because he was of the house

and lineage of David

to be registered with Mary

his betrothed

who is with child.

And while they were there

the time came for her to give birth

and she gave birth to her firstborn son

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes

and laid him in a manger

because there was no place for them

in the inn.

And in the same region

there were shepherds out in the field

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them

and the glory of the Lord shone around them

and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them

Fear not

for behold I bring you good news

of great joy

that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a Savior

who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign to you

for you will find a baby

wrapped in swaddling clothes

and lying in a manger.

And suddenly

there was with the angel

a multitude of heavenly hosts

praising God and saying

Glory to God in the highest

and on earth

peace among those

with whom he is pleased.

When the angels went away

from them into heaven

the shepherds said to one another

let us go over to Bethlehem

and see this thing

that has happened

which the Lord has made known to us.

And they went with haste

and found Mary and Joseph

and the baby

lying in a manger.

And when they saw it

they made known the saying

that had been told them

concerning this child.

And all who heard it

wondered what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up

all these things

pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned

glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen

as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days

when he was circumcised

he was called Jesus

the name given by the angel

before he was conceived

in the womb.

Let's pray.

Lord this morning

I just ask that you would

teach us about your peace.

Let us not go away from here

struggling with the anxiety

and the worry

that we so often

try to hold on to Lord.

Help us learn from your word.

Guard my tongue

from saying anything

false.

Let anything fall

on deaf ears

that is untrue Lord

and truly teach us

from your word this morning.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

So

I'll be

very honest

and say

I had a very difficult time

deciding on my main text

for this morning.

Very, very difficult.

There are many

passages

about

the peace of God.

The peace we have

with God

through Christ.

The peace we have

within our souls

because of being

accepted in Christ

and the peace we can share

with others

because of who we are

now in Christ.

But I really struggled

to decide which one

would be most beneficial.

So after a lot of thought

and prayer

and confidence

that all scripture

is beneficial

for teaching,

correction,

reproof,

training in righteousness

I landed here

and we'll also hit

a lot of the other passages.

So before we talk

about this text

I want to give you

a little bit

of the structure

for the forward heading.

So I'm going to use

a heading

and there will be

three sub points

within that.

So our heading is

How Our Saviors

Birth, Life, Death,

and Resurrection.

That's How Our Saviors

Birth, Life, Death,

and Resurrection.

The three points

under that

will be

firstly

brings us peace

with God.

Brings us peace

with God.

Secondly

brings us peace

with ourselves.

And thirdly

brings us peace

with others.

So,

we're going to start

with how our

Savior's birth,

life, death,

and resurrection

brings us peace

with God.

So here in this text

we hear the very

familiar story

of our Savior's birth.

We see Mary and Joseph

have traveled to the town

of Bethlehem

to be registered

or taxed

and while they're

on this journey

it came time

for Jesus to be born.

When he was born

he was laid in a manger

there was no room

for them in the inn.

And we hear a little bit

about the perspective

of some other people.

So some shepherds

who were doing

their thing

they were just

watching their flocks

like they typically do

and suddenly

an angel

appeared to them

told them

of good news

of great joy

something that would

be good for all

people it says.

The angel told them

that that day

a Savior

had been born

who's called

Christ the Lord

the long expected

Jesus.

The angel then

tells the shepherds

how they're going

to find him

and as the angel

is finishing

giving the spill

about Jesus

suddenly there's

a ton of angels

and they're so excited

they say glory to God

in the highest

and on earth

peace among those

with whom he is pleased.

So this birth

ushers in

great glory to the Lord

great excitement

as they say

peace among those

with whom he is pleased.

Seems like a pretty

significant event

for that to happen.

I mean angels

have come proclaiming

glory to God

in the highest

but then I go

and see this

child born

and nothing

seems overly

fancy here

in this account

fairly normal birth

so what's the

big deal?

How does this

birth bring glory

to God

in the highest

and peace

among those

with whom the

Lord is pleased?

Well I think

most if not all

of us

are very very

acquainted

with the glorious

truth of us

but it is good

to be reminded

so let's let the

scripture do that.

So now really

getting into

our point

of how it brings

us peace with God.

We follow the

narrative a little

bit through Luke

we see Jesus

grow up

we see Jesus

at age 12

in the temple

answering questions

and asking questions

and the teachers

are amazed

at his understanding

and his answers

and we see

something beautiful

I believe

if you flip over

to Luke 3

where John the Baptist

is preparing the way

for Jesus' ministry

and he says

sweet words

found in Isaiah 40

recorded here

in verses 4-6

says

the voice of one

crying in the wilderness

prepare the way

of the Lord

make his path straight

every valley

shall be filled

and every mountain

and hill

shall be made low

and the crooked

shall become straight

and the rough places

shall become level ways

and all flesh

shall see the salvation

of God.

So John is preparing

the way

ushering something

new in

all flesh

shall see the salvation

of God

that's huge

later on the chapter

he explains

that he's baptizing

with water

but there's one coming

that he's not even

worthy to untie

his sandals

and he will baptize

with the Holy Spirit

and with fire.

So there's something

new coming

and this new thing

that's coming

is coming through

this boy

who was just born

Jesus.

So looking a little bit

further into Luke

we see Jesus

being tempted

of the devil

and we see Jesus

strongly rebuke

the devil

as someone with

authority

and with power.

We then see him

begin his ministry

preaching good news

preaching repent

for the kingdom

of heaven

is at hand.

And there's remarks

all the time

of this Jesus

is preaching

with authority

and not like

the typical teachers.

But then I believe

one of the most

astounding things

about the accounts

of Jesus' life

is that he never

gives in to temptation.

Never gives in

to temptation.

In fact

in describing

Jesus' life

the author of Hebrews

says this

in chapter 4

verse 15

for we do not

have a high priest

who is unable

to sympathize

with our weaknesses

but one who is

in every respect

has been tempted

as we are

yet he's without sin.

He never gave in

to temptation.

And so going through

the accounts

of Jesus' life

he offended many.

After all

he spoke with

the authority

of God.

He spoke with

the authority

to forgive sins

and to call out sin

which he did so

quite frequently

and did not

back down from

at all.

And ultimately

people were so

offended

and so hardened

in their own ways

that they decided

that instead of

having what we

would now think

of as the worst

type of criminal

killed

they would have

that man freed

but would have

Jesus crucified.

And now this

Jesus was crucified

and in fact

he died.

But then three days

later he rose

from the dead.

And this isn't

some myth

that we like to tell

especially during

this time of year

but he appeared

to many witnesses.

So what does

this matter

for our peace?

Why were we

not at peace

before?

So to answer

that question

turn with me

to Romans 5.

Romans 5.

Romans 5.

So here in Romans 5

I would like to look

at the first

11 verses

and unpack

just a bit of

what it has

to say here.

Pick it up

in verse 1

of Romans chapter 5.

Romans 5 · chapter mention

It says

Therefore since

we've been justified

by faith

we have peace

with the God

through our Lord

Jesus Christ.

Through him

we have also

obtained access

by faith

into this grace

in which we stand

and we rejoice

in hope of the glory

of God.

Not only that

but we rejoice

in our sufferings

knowing that

suffering produces

endurance

and endurance

produces character

and character

produces hope

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.

For while we are

still weak

at the right time

Christ died

for the ungodly

for one will scarcely

die for a righteous

person

though perhaps

for a good person

one would dare

even to die

but God shows

his love for us

in that while we

were still sinners

Christ died for us

since therefore

we have now been

justified by his blood

much more

shall we be saved

by him

from the wrath

of God

for if while

we were enemies

we were reconciled

to God

by the death

of his son

much more

now that we

are reconciled

shall we be

saved by his life

more than that

we also rejoice

in God

through our Lord

Jesus Christ

through whom

we have now

received reconciliation

so I'm very aware

that this is a very

packed passage

and it's not my

goal this morning

to completely

unpack everything

but there's some

really important things

about our piece here

that I want to talk

about

so I'm going to

somewhat work it

from the middle

end area

back to the beginning

so let's look back

at verses 6-8

it says

for while we were

still weak

at the right time

Christ died

for the ungodly

for one will

scarcely die

for a righteous

person

though perhaps

for a good person

one would dare

even to die

but God

shows his love

for us

and that while

we were still

sinners

Christ died

for us

note a couple

of things

in these verses

okay

Paul describes

us as weak

and as sinners

I think he's being

honestly kind of

nice there

elsewhere

where we're

described as

dead

as dead

in our sins

unable to do

anything good

we're described

as not being

righteous

completely

unable

for any good

work

never seeking

for God

always turning

away

worthless

now Paul is

stating that

even with us

in that state

Christ died

for us

he didn't die

for an innocent

child

he didn't die

for a

lovely woman

he didn't die

for a strong

and loving

man

he died

for sinners

he died

for the ungodly

he died

for us

while we were

in that state

of never

seeking him

and always

railing against

him

never turning

away from

our sin

and in fact

not even

being able

to turn

away from

our sin

we were

worthless

but he died

for us

in that state

and we could

talk about

what great

love that is

for hours

but I don't

want to steal

next week's

sermon

but what I do

want to talk

about is how

that death

brought us

peace

now we believe

that God

is altogether

righteous

and altogether

holy

he cannot

tolerate sin

sin must be

punished or

otherwise he

would not be

righteous or

holy

think about the

realities of sin

for any length

of time and

as Lord gives

you grace to

see it

we will truly

see it that it

is that horrible

so if this is

the case

if it's the

case that God

is truly

altogether

righteous

altogether

holy

and we

are worthless

and always

turning to

sin

we should

not be

able to

be in his

presence

we should

be damned

to punishment

forever and

that's rightful

but here in

verse 1

Paul states

that through

faith in

Jesus life

death

resurrection

we can

have peace

with God

the angels

back in Luke

proclaimed glory

to God

in the highest

and on earth

peace among

those with whom

he is pleased

so how does

that work

how can this

work with the

reality of the

depth of our

sinfulness and

the depth of the

Lord's righteousness

and holiness

let's go back to

this person of

Jesus

we said this person

of Jesus lived

the perfect life

was tempted just

as we were

but yet did not

sin

but was crucified

suffered a sinner's

death but three

days later he

rose again

then look down at

verse 9

it says since

therefore we have

now been justified

by his blood

much more shall

we be saved by

him from the

wrath of God

for if while

we were enemies

were reconciled

to God by

the death of

his son

much more

now that we

are reconciled

shall we be

saved by his

life

more than that

we also rejoice

in God through

our Lord Jesus

Christ through

whom we have

now received

reconciliation

as we've been

justified by his

blood and saved

from the wrath

of God

and for even

more clarification

in verse 1

it says we are

justified by our

faith in his

life death

resurrection

so putting all

that together

through our

Lord Jesus

and putting faith

in his blood

shed on our

behalf on the

cross

he lived that

perfect life

the life that

we should have

lived but have

never been

capable of

but he suffered

the death for

our sins

so that when

God sees us

he does not see

our filthy

nasty

worthless

sin but he

sees Christ's

righteousness

and his blood

shed on our

behalf

and that's the

heart of our

faith

and because of

this the great

work of our

Savior's birth

life death

resurrection

we have peace

with God

no more need

to prove

ourselves to

God

number one

because we

can't

and number

two because

Christ has

already done

the work for

us

Christ has

already done

the work for

us

so that brings

us to our

next point

how our

Savior's birth

life death

and resurrection

brings us

peace with

ourselves

how our

Savior's birth

life death

and resurrection

brings us

peace with

ourselves

like I said

earlier I think

many of us

hold ourselves

to really

really high

standards

I think we

often feel the

need that we

must prove

ourselves to

ourselves

we set

really lofty

goals

and get so

angry at

ourselves

when we

can't meet

them

whether they

be spiritual

or just

typical goals

when we

fail to

meet those

goals we

get frustrated

we can

get really

down on

ourselves

even hate

ourselves

I must

confess that

that is

really often

where I

find myself

never quite

living up

to the

goals I

have for

myself as

a follower

of Christ

as a

husband

as a

church

member

and as

a teacher

I believe

many of

us can

very easily

begin to

believe

lies that

we will

lose God's

affection

if we're

going through

a rough

patch

spiritually

or not

living up

to how

we see

our roles

working out

but let's

think about

that idea

for a bit

all of our

striving

all of our

work

all of our

pressing on

all of our

trying to be

the very best

that we can

be

all of our

so often

trying to

be God

whether that

be intentional

or unintentional

what is that

compared to

all our

righteousness

is compared

to filthy

racks

apart from the

saving work of

Christ we can

do nothing

good

and you may

say that

doesn't help

me feel

peace about

myself at

all and

it doesn't

me either

but

we keep

tracking a

little bit

earlier we

concluded all

those things

that yeah

we're filthy

sinners who

are worthless

yeah

but we also

concluded that

somehow we

have peace

with God

is this

peace with

God coming

from how

well we

work spiritually

coming from

how well

we are

doing in

our roles

whatever those

may be

not at all

not at all

yes we can

do nothing

good without

Christ

but we have

been given

God's love

he's shown us

such great love

that even while

we were sinners

railing against

him he died

for us

when the Lord

sees us he no

longer sees

our sin he

sees the

finished work

of Christ

now God is

the person

who controls

our ultimate

destiny it's

not up to

us it's up

to him and

because of

this we are

justified

reconciled

accepted in

sight and

that's what

matters

to go off of

our theme

that we missed

last week I

think that

should bring us

great joy that

it's not not

up to us having

peace with God

and not just

that but being

welcomed into

the Lord's

family it's not

up to us and

if that's the

case we

shouldn't let

our failings

overly frustrate

us or even

turn to hatred

of ourself but

instead we should

marvel at the

grace shown to

us in the Lord

while we were yet

sinners and even

now as we still

struggle so much

sometimes he's

shown great love

to us so yes

we should be

constantly in a

process of

acknowledging our

failings but then

taking our minds

off that and

marveling on the

great love of

Christ shown to

us to forget

about ourselves

more and more

and to dwell on

Christ yes we

have failed and

we still fail but

our Lord has begun

the work and he

has promised he

will complete it

I think Paul

expresses this idea

really really really

well at the end

of Romans 7

turn with me

there just over to

Romans 7

I remember

going through a

certain part of

my walk with the

Lord a few years

back and I just

kept coming back to

this passage over

and over and over

being frustrated with

my own actions and

I think Paul says it

well so picking up in

verse 15 here

says for I do not

understand my own

actions for I do

not do what I want

but I do the very

thing that I hate

now if I do what I

do not want I agree

with the law that it

is good so now it is

no longer I who do

it but sin that

dwells within me for

I know that nothing

good dwells in me that

is in my flesh for I

have the desire to do

what is right but not

the ability to carry

it out for I do not

do the good I want but

the evil I do not

want is what I keep

on doing now if I do

what I do not want it

is no longer I who

do it but sin that

dwells within me so I

find it to be a law

that when I want to

do right evil lies

close at hand for I

delight in the law of

God and my inner

being but I see in

my members another

law waging war against

the law of my mind

and making me captive

to the law of sin that

dwells in my members

wretched man that I

am who will deliver me

from this body of

death thanks be to

God through Jesus

Christ our Lord so

then I myself serve

the law of God with

my mind but with my

flesh I serve the law

of sin I think this

idea we just talked

about is exactly what

Paul is talking about

so often I believe we

find ourselves really

enjoying the gospel but

then so quickly our

affections being turned

towards sin but look at

the ending praise to

God that he will

ultimately deliver us

from this body of

death so we should be

at peace with ourselves

and not constantly

feeling down about our

failings but feeling

the joy of Christ's

work so that brings us

to our third point

how our Savior's

birth life death

and resurrection

brings us peace with

others how our

Savior's birth life

death and resurrection

brings us peace with

others we mentioned

earlier when discussing

the felt need to prove

ourselves to others

that we so often want

to compare ourselves to

others we try to look

at each other's

struggles and think oh

I'm I'm not that bad

or we tend to look at

what we're doing for

the Lord and then look

at what our brothers

and sisters are doing

for the Lord and get

some sort of sick

satisfaction of thinking

that we do more so we

must be better off or

we want to show others

how busy we are and

how committed we are and

how because of this

somehow our thinking

tells us that we're

better followers of

Christ we want others

to see our own work

brothers and sisters

none of these are

gospel mindsets none

of these bring glory to

the work of Christ and

all of these try to take

the glory that the work

of Christ deserves and

put it on something that

we've already concluded is

worthless and so with

that as we truly

understand the gospel of

who we are in Christ

what he has taken us

from of the depths of

our sin then understand

why he chose us of

simply his grace I

think we as believers

see that we're all

really in the same boat

we were all sinners we're

all in a state of

spiritual death we all

needed new birth but I

think we so often

struggle with the idea

of subtly thinking that

oh I've never done

anything like they've

done I'm better off or

sometimes we either

intentionally or

unintentionally end up

thinking that we've

always done good works

or that we don't need the

Lord's grace as much as

the next guy or why did

the Lord save them when

they've done such bad

things and all these

sound awful like we

would never think these

things but that is what

we're doing when we're

comparing ourselves to

others it's exactly what

we're doing and so we

have to be vigilant

against these mindsets as

they so often creep in

we must remember that

all of us every single

one of us has committed

an infinite trespass

against a holy God and

we're so all of us are

fully deserving of death

and hell and we're given

a grace to not be sent

there right now so how

does that bring us peace

with others we have no

room for boasting

salvation is all based on

grace and undeserved

kindness so all our

boasting must stop we

all need the Lord if the

Lord counted trespasses

against us who could

stand no one right we

all have that flesh that

still tries to creep in to

destroy us to distract us

from the good work the

Lord's giving us and only

the Lord will deliver us

from that body of death

none of our striving it's

the Lord's work but so

often we carry around the

sense of some sort of

spiritual pride thinking

that we do the most good

works of anybody around

us or that we avoid more

sin than most but when we

truly understand our

position of being saved

completely by grace alone

through faith alone in the

work of Christ and nothing

of ourselves alone that

there's no good in

ourselves apart from his

work our pride and our

boasting should be gone

entirely gone we have no

grounds for it and as it

goes away we can have the

great peace and harmony that

the Lord has called us to

with each other with our

brothers and sisters

working together as one

body for the Lord just one

more quick thing on this

point to demonstrate the

reality of how ridiculous our

pride can be sometimes I

want to share a song that I

believe demonstrates its

ugliness if you grew up in a

very traditional country-ish

type church you might

recognize these lyrics what I

want you to pay attention to

is the level of pride that it

communicates and then the

realization of that in the

end I'll probably get made fun

of for quoting this one later

but but I really think like

this communicates the

ugliness of pride and the

reality of it's I guess not

having any sort of base and

it's simple but it's good it

says I thought number one would

surely be me I thought I could

do what I wanted to do excuse

me I thought I could be what I

wanted to be I thought I could

build on life sinking sand but

now I can't even walk without

you holding my hand I thought I

could do a lot on my own I

thought I could make it all the

day long I thought of myself as a

mighty big man but Lord I can't

even walk without you holding my

hand so often we try to take

credit and take pride in the

things that the Lord is giving us

to walk in this tears down our

thinking about the gospel we

forget that any good thing that

we're able to do is a sweet grace

to us and yet another thing our

pride tears down the relationship

we have with our brothers and

sisters who make up the church

so let's remember the gospel the

good news that yes we can do

nothing but even while we're in

that Christ showed his great love

to us and that he gave us his

great salvation by paying the

ultimate price of a sinner's death

and bearing the wrath of God for our

sins let that reality rule our minds

and there will be no room for pride

left we'll have so much more room

for peace with our brothers and

sisters I believe that's the number

one thing that can tear that down

now we've we've talked about the

realities of peace that the Lord has

ushered in at this point we've

talked about how our Savior's birth

life death and resurrection has

brought us peace with God peace with

ourselves and peace with others but

how do we maintain this how do we

hold on to this peace and what does

it look like can we have it all the

time I want to look at one more

passage before we close to turn with

me to Philippians 4 Philippians 4 I

think this or maybe Ephesians 2 is

probably the most common passage used

to talk about this and I think

rightfully so so I want to look at

verses 4 through 13 here in

Philippians 4 picking up in verse 4 it

says rejoice in the Lord always again I

will say rejoice let your reasonableness

be known to everyone the Lord is at

hand do not be anxious about anything

but in everything by prayer and

supplication with Thanksgiving let your

request be made known to God and the

peace of God which surpasses all

understanding will guard your hearts

in your minds in Christ Jesus finally

brothers whatever is true whatever is

honorable whatever is just whatever is

pure whatever is lovely whatever is

commendable if there is any excellence

there is anything worthy of praise think

about these things what you have learned

and received and heard and seen in me

practice excuse me practice these things

and the God of peace will be with you I

rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at

length you've revived your concern for

me you were indeed concerned for me but

you had no opportunity not that I'm

speaking of being in need for I've

learned in whatever situation I am to

be content I know how to be brought low

and I know how to abound in any and

every circumstance I've learned the

secret of placing facing plenty and

hunger abundance in need I can do all

things through him who strengthens me so

in closing a couple of things to note when

Paul is talking about this piece that

surpasses all understanding he describes

being able to have it in any

circumstances and as verses just below

it he says that he has learned in

whatever situation he is in to be

content he can have peace no matter

what is going on around him now why is

this is he some sort of super

Christian that had special powers that

he can do it he can have peace no

matter what but we can't do it

absolutely not he's able to be at

peace by doing what he says right

here by setting his mind look at verse

eight finally brothers whatever is

true whatever is honorable whatever is

just whatever is pure whatever is

lovely whatever is commendable if there's

any excellence if there's anything

worthy of praise think about these

things he's setting his mind and that

is how he's able to keep peace no

matter what's going on around him

sets his mind on the things that are

actually worthy of praise he doesn't

get caught up in comparing himself to

others he doesn't get caught up in

wallowing about in a sin but he sets his

mind on the great hope we have in

Christ he's thankful he takes

everything to the Lord in prayer he

rejoices in the Lord

what a friend we have in Jesus all our

sins and griefs to bear what a privilege

to carry everything to God in prayer just

like it says here oh what peace we often

forfeit oh what needless pain we bear all

because we do not carry everything to God

in care in prayer we can take our anxieties

to the Lord we can set our minds on the

things that are true that are honorable

that are just that are pure that are

lovely that are actually commendable and

excellent and truly worthy of praise and

now as we set our mindsets on the

gospel always vigilant to battle the

pride or the opposite the self-hate and

the disbelief that comes in we can have

true peace through our Lord no more

trying to prove ourselves to him and

we're trying to prove ourselves to

ourselves he's done the work and to

ultimately say that we are his so thus

far I've spoken about a peace that is

here a peace that can be had now but

even better than that brothers and

sisters our true life and eternity our

peace will no longer have to be fought

for we will have it and it will be with

us forever a whole sermon could be

preached on that peace but time so when

we're struggling when the cares of the

world try to choke out our peace when

unbelievers scoff at the gospel when

we are down when we are just struggling

so much we can set our hope on the

promise of such a great eternity when

we'll be in perfect peace and thus have

such great hope such great joy such

great peace now as we look toward that

ultimate full development so grab your

bulletin grab your bulletin

there's a quote on it from william

guernal who's a 17th century english

theologian i think it communicates this

reality super well

says therefore you who think so basely

of the gospel and the professors of it

because at present their peace and

comfort are not come should know that it

is on the way to them and comes to stay

everlastingly with them whereas your

peace is going from you every moment and

is sure to leave you without any hope of

returning to you again look not how the

christian begins but how he ends so let's

pray

and