Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

Luke 2: 9-14
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. For Liturgical congregations, there is a set of sermon topics that are preached each Sunday leading up to Christmas...the Mass celebrating the Birth of Christ. Hallelujah!

The passage above is familiar to most believers and even non believers. In The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, Linus stands on stage and recites verses 1 through 14 of Luke 2, aka The Christmas Story. We read it at our house before opening any presents and before any other celebration on Christmas Day. I was thinking about these verses as I was listening to a recording of a choir singing Glory To God from Handel's Messiah when the Holy Spirit dropped this revelation in my heart.

Peace on Earth. War didn't end with with Christ's birth. Well, let me restate that. War between men didn't stop with Christ's birth. The war that ended was between us and God. It was a war we could not win. Yet, with Christ's coming, God declared peace. We could know the Father and His Son crucified and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because peace was declared by God toward mankind because of Christ.

And more than that, through Christ, God's good will came towards us. This is why Jesus is Emanuel, God with us. Not just physically with us, but for us, in agreement with us, offering and enriching life towards us. Wow! Think about that when you're faced with a struggle. Think about all that ended over 2000 years ago when Jesus, the Christ chose to come to Earth as a baby and be delived up as a Lamb to the slaughter as sacrafice for you. With Him, He brought the Peace of God and God's good will into your life.

It is the beginning of the Christmas season for the world, but as a believer, it is Christmas everyday. Everyday we're here, we enjoy the peace of God and His good will toward us. Further, we have the expectation of this same favor throughout eternity with Christ, the Ressurected, Risen King of Glory.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).

Won't you receive this wonderful Gift? Won't you walk in the fullness of this Gift? You do not have an enemy in God. He declared peace, and made a personal, everlasting sacrifice and sealed the deal in Blood. The very Blood of Christ. It is a precious and invaluable Gift that will last an eternity. It will never tarnish. It will never break. And it's yours for the receiving.

Luke 12:29-32
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

You've got a Present waiting!

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.


Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!
455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor