2024 Advent Series / Sermon 4: PEACE
Philippians 4:4-9 - Victory Fellowship
December 22, 2024 – Rev. Roderick Grabski
4th Sunday of Advent
I. Introduction: One Word Advent Series: Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, then GOD with US
a. Longest night services – good, especially for recent losses but caution against same folks needing it year after year. Remember - Don’t lose your Joy.
b. Many depressed this time of year. (not talking about clinical depression) Many are anxious. Many have no peace.
II. Christmas is about PEACE (Luke 2:13-14):
a. 700 years before it came to be, Isaiah prophesied to a depressed people, mired in darkness, that a light would come to bring light in the darkness and peace.
b. In last 4000 yrs of recorded history there have been less than 250yrs that were without war. When left to ourselves, we are not a peaceful people. Humans need something bigger than themselves to experience true and lasting peace.
(Phil. 4:4-9) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
III. Conclusion:
a. NO GOD = NO PEACE
KNOW GOD = KNOW PEACE
b. Is there anxiety this Christmas? Is there depression? Is peace evasive in your life?
c. Duke University did a study on "peace of mind." Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:
1) The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.
2) Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.
3) Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.
4) Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.
5) Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.
6) Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues--love, humor, compassion and loyalty.
7) Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.
8) Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.
You can know peace this Christmas. The baby born in Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace.
PRAYER
SONG: Our Lullaby (MercyMe)
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
Philippians 4:4-9:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
