[Luke 1:26-29]

“26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”

PEACE IS A PERSON

[Philippians 4:7]

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

[Isaiah 9:2-6]

“2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Counselor

Charles Spurgeon said of this description: “It was by a counselor that this world was ruined. Did not Satan mask himself and the serpent, and counsel the woman with exceeding craftiness, that she should take them to herself the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and I hope that there by she should be as God? Was it not that evil council which provoked our mother to rebel against her maker, and they did not as the effect of sin, bring death into this world with all it’s true wow? Believe it, it was fitting that the world should have a counselor to restore it, if it had a counselor to destroy it.”

Mighty God

When you feel weak, he is strong. When you are falling apart, he’ll hold you together. When you’re weary and tired, he offers you rest in the shadow of his wings and gives you strength.

Everlasting

[John 1:1-5]

“1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

Prince of Peace

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German theologian and pastor killed by Hitler, was known as a man of peace. When asked about the peace that was in his heart he said, “there is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared. It is a great venture. It can never be made safe. Peace is the opposite of security; it is to give oneself all together to the law of God. Battles are one, not with weapons, but with God. They are one where the way leads to the cross.“

PEACE IS A GIFT

[John 14:27]

“ I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give us a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

[Matthew 5:9]

“ God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”

PEACE IS A PROMISE

[Luke 1:38]

“ Mary responded, I am the lord servant. May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her.”

[Luke 1:35-37]

“35 The angel replied, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 for the word of God will never fail.”

[John 14:16-17]

“16 I will ask the father, and he will give you another advocate, he will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.“

[Romans 8:28-30]

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his son, so that his son would be the first born among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And haven’t given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?