THE GIFT OF LOVE

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - THE GIFT OF LOVE

CONNECT I have preached Christmas messages now for 45 years. This year I asked the Lord, “Help me approach this in a fresh way, a way that opens up the wonder of Christmas to those who have heard the story more than I have preached it!

TENSION Maybe Christmas has lost its wonder for you. The stress of the season has caused the meanings of Christmas to dim under the weight of all you feel you must do.

SOLUTION The truth is that the story never gets old. Christmas is a wonder to imagine year after year.  This year our Advent series is called “The Gifts of Christmas”; today is the 4th Sunday, the Love Sunday. We will explore the gift of love and let it fill our hearts again with the blessing of the coming of Jesus.

TEXT Everyone please turn to 1 John 4:10 (NIV) and put a finger or a marker there; I’ll get there is a bit!

INSTRUCTION

Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘emergence’. Let’s see how the word ’love’ is used in its arrival or emergence in the Old and New Testaments.

One principle of understanding the Bible is called the ’Law of First Mention’. The first time something is mentioned, the way it is used determines the way it will be used in the rest of the Bible.

R.T. Kendall explained that the “law of first mention” is “a time-honored hermeneutical method” stating that “the way a word is first used in the Bible will be the way this word is largely understood thereafter.”

Similarly, popular pastor David Jeremiah stated the following about this principle, “Those who study the Bible in a serious way sometimes refer to the Law of First Mention. It’s not so much a law, really, as a common principle in the Scriptures. If you select an important biblical word—say, worship—you’ll find that its first biblical appearance sets the tone for all the richness of meaning that will emerge. Through the Word we go on to find many new understandings and many variations on the theme, but the first cut is the deepest; the First Mention gives us the essential picture.

In his commentary “The Genesis Record “, Henry Morris stopped just short of claiming that a word’s fundamental meaning is inexorably linked to its first mention. While discussing the Bible’s first use of the word love, found in Genesis 22:2, Morris stated the following, “We have frequently in these pages referred to the “principle of first mention,” pointing out that, when an important word or concept occurs for the first time in the Bible, usually in the Book of Genesis, the context in which it occurs sets the pattern for its primary usage and development all through the rest of Scripture. If this principle really means anything (and, in terms both of the doctrine of verbal inspiration and of numerous clear examples, it assuredly does), then it should certainly apply in a distinctive way to the word “love.”

Let’s see how the word ’love’ is used when it is first mentioned in the Old Testament…

Genesis 22:2 (NKJV) Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,

Jack Hayford writes… Only son” translates the Hebrew word ’yachid’. Yachid describes Abraham’s unique miracle child, Isaac. Zechariah describes that the Messiah will one day become to Israel’s repentant, weeping citizens: a precious only son.

Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV) And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Here the place where God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac is the same place where God sacrificed His own Son: the hills of Moriah in Jerusalem.

Equally noteworthy is that the phrase ‘His only begotten Son’ in John 3:16 in the Hebrew New Testament is: ‘His Son, His Yachid.’

Now let’s see the first mention in the New Testament. Let me talk about the NT timeline before we look at the verse.

The OT is recorded, for the most part, in chronological order. This is not true in the NT. The four gospels all record the life of Jesus but do so in their own unique way. They do not include the same stories and sometimes in different order. Because of this, the events are not in chronological order like the OT. You need what is called a ’Harmony of the Gospels’ that arranges the events of Jesus’ life in chronological order. If you look in a harmony you can determine the first mention of ’love’ in the NT.

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

INSPIRATION Wow, you can’t escape the parallel. The sacrifice of Isaac is a picture of the sacrifice of Christ. Father Abraham offering up his ’only begotten son’, Isaac, is a picture of Father God offering up His ’only begotten Son’, Jesus.

There are also some important differences. God provided a lamb for Isaac; Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. To Abraham, God is revealed as ’Jehovah Jireh’, the God who supplies. To the world, God is revealed as the loving Father who has provided again!

I have finally gotten to our text! 1 John 4:10 (NIV) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

This has always been and forever will be the message of Christmas. Love has come!

APPLICATION What do we learn from the ’law of first mention’ here?

Love is always a demonstration, doing something. It is not simply a feeling or an emotion.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:18 (NKJV) My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1. Love is demonstrated by giving.

John 3:16 (NKJV) God so loved the world that He gave…

1 John 4:9 (NKJV) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

2. Love is demonstrated by sacrifice.

1 John 4:10 (NIV) This is love: …that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice…

3. Love is demonstrated by obedience.

1 John 2:5 (NKJV) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

4. Love is demonstrated by faith.

1 John 4:16 (NLT) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love…

ACTION STEPS

Four simple questions: Who? What? Where? How?

1.  Who am I giving to?
2.  What am I sacrificing?
3.  Where am I being obedient?
4.  How am I showing faith?

This leaves two more questions: When and Why?

THE GIFT OF PEACE

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - THE GIFT OF PEACE

CONNECT How do you picture God? When you think of Him, what image come to mind? In my first pastorate I had a full beard. One of our families had young twins and they thought I looked like God! One morning I was holding court and raising my voice and one twin said to he other, “Ooh, God’s mad today!” Them looking up she hollared, “Don’t scream at us; we didn’t do anything!”

TENSION Let me ask you a question. Do you ever see God as worried or fretful? Sometimes when talking to families in the midst of crisis, I will make the observation that God didn’t get up this morning wringing His hands in worry and fear over what has happened. He knows about it and has plan for dealing with it.

SOLUTION There are many qualities attributed to God in the Bible. I am sure that some come to mind almost instinctively. John used a trinity of terms: God is love, God is light, God is holy. Then there are the “omnis”: God is omnipotent, God is omniscient, God is omnipresent. God is described as great, secret, glorious, everlasting, exalted, awesome, incomparable, marvelous, and jealous. His titles include Creator, Judge, King, Defender, Preserver, Shepherd. He is called God, Lord God, Most High God, Lord God Almighty, Everlasting God, God Almighty, I Am, Eternal God, Living God, God of Hosts, Lord of Hosts, Holy One of Israel, Mighty God, God of Heaven, only Potentate, Father of Lights.

The name I want to focus on today is part of the Christmas story. It is really one of my favorite parts. Today I want to talk about the “God of Peace” as He is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace”.

TEXT Luke 2:8–14 (NKJV) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

INSTRUCTION Five times in the Bible, all in the New Testament, God is referred to as ‘God of Peace’.

1.  Romans 15:33 (NKJV) Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
2.  Romans 16:20 (NKJV) And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
3.  Philippians 4:9 (NKJV) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
4.  1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5.  Hebrews 13:20–21 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus was predicted as the One who would bring peace.

Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

One thing I know for certain this morning: God wants you to live in peace.

Jesus said one of the distinguishing marks of a believer is peace.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

This is the only time the word ’peacemakers’ is used in the Bible. And Jesus said that when we are peacemakers, people will call us a mature son of God. Think about our opening question: Is God ever worried, or is He always at peace?

Pastor Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch in Oklahoma City wrote a book several years ago called “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist”. When we don’t live in peace, then we are not reflecting the God who lives in us.

Matthew 5:43–45 (NKJV) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

Vines Expository Dictionary The Lord Jesus used ’huios’ in a very significant way, as in Matt. 5:9, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,’ and vv. 44, 45, ‘Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be (become) sons of your Father which is in heaven.’ The disciples were to do these things, not in order that they might become children of God, but that, being children (note ‘your Father’ throughout), they might make the fact manifest in their character, might ‘become sons.’

INSPIRATION Of course this brings the question: How do we live in peace? Let’s look at what the Bible teaches us…

1.  Jesus gives us His peace as a gift. We don’t have to earn it.

John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2.  When we get saved, peace comes with the package.

Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

3.  He, Himself, is our peace. Peace is already living in us.

Ephesians 2:14 (NKJV) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

4.  Jesus made peace available to everyone by shedding His blood at the whipping post and on the Cross.

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Colossians 1:19–20 (NKJV) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

ACTION STEPS So we see that peace, supernatural peace, is available to us. How do we appropriate it?

1. I’m gonna get my motive right!

How do I define peace? Why is peace important to me?

Let me give some examples of what peace is not.

a. Peace is not passive.

Psalms 34:14 (NKJV) Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

b. Peace is not pacivity.

Matthew 10:34 (NKJV) Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

c. Peace is not prosperity at any price.

Deuteronomy 23:6 (NKJV) You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

Some would say it is a feeling of calm; for some it is rest from struggle; one may define it as no war with our enemies.

I would offer that we may not be able to fully define it, but we know when we have it and when we don’t!

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Rule means ‘to umpire’. The ‘peace of God’ tells us when we are in the will of God. When the peace leaves, we have violated a rule of the game and umpire blows His whistle! The peace returns when we return to following the rules, the direction, the leading, the instruction.

2. I’m gonna get my mind right!

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Romans 8:6 (NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Who am I listening to, God or the enemy?

You’ve got demons on one shoulder and angels on the other and both are whispering in your ear! The news and social media are either filling your mind with all kinds of doom and gloom, or in the words of Jeremiah the prophet, proclaiming peace, peace when there is no peace!

3. I’m gonna get my mouth right!

Matthew 12:34–37 (NKJV) Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Now, I am not talking about some hocus-pocus mind games. I am talking about getting my mind and mouth lined up with the Word of God and His promises.

Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Some practical things:

a. Memorize Bible verses about peace and God’s care for you.

b. Post faith verses in prominent places so you will see them and be reminded of God’s faithfulness.

c. Remember times of God coming through for you.

d. Plant seeds of peace in your life.

Why is this important? Because peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and we must plant seeds if we want to see fruit!

James 3:18 (NKJV) Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What are some seeds of peace?

1) Sow peace in the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6:8 (NKJV) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

How? The Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing. Develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit: talk to Him; listen to Him; be sensitive to Him; obey Him.

2) Sow peace into others: spiritually, physically, financially.

3) Sow peace with others. Ask and give forgiveness. Restore relationships.

INVITATION Pray about everything.

Philippians 4:6–7 (MSG) Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Where is peace lacking in your life? Can we just pray about it right now?