December 8, 2024 2nd Sunday of Advent Rev. Mike Coppersmith
“BREAK INTO PEACE”
Finding God’s Advent Peace Amid the Interruptions of Life
BREAK INTO PEACE! Finding God’s Advent Peace Amid the Interruptions of Life
GOD IS A GOD OF INTERRUPTIONS
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS ARE ALL ABOUT INTERRUPTIONS
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.
INTERRUPTIONS CAN CAUSE US TO FALL OUT OF PEACE AND INTO FEAR.
Verses 29-30
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary…”
JESUS CHRIST—THE PRINCE OF PEACE—
WANTS TO DELIVER US FROM OUR FEARS AND DISPLAY HIS PEACE IN OUR LIFE
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
SIX GIFTS THAT LIFT US OUT OF OUR FEAR AND STEP INTO HIS PEACE
GOD’S PRESENCE
verse 28b: “The Lord is with you.”
GOD’S FAVOR
verse 28a: “Greetings, you are highly favored”
verse 30: “…you have found favor with God.”
GOD’S REIGN
verse 32a: “He will be great and called the Son of the Most High”
verses 32b-33: “The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
GOD’S POWER
verse 35: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
GOD’S WORD
verses 37-38: “‘For no word from God will ever fail.’ 38 ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me according to your word.’”
GOD’S PEOPLE
Luke 1:39-45
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
SIX GIFTS THAT LIFT YOU OUT OF YOUR FEAR AND INTO HIS PEACE
God’s Presence - Remember It!
God’s Favor - Rejoice in It!
God’s Reign - Rest in It! God’s Power - Rely on It!
God’s Word - Receive It!
God’s People - Reconnect with Them!
THREE CONCRETE ACTIONS TO WHICH THE INTERRUPTIONS OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CALL YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR NEED FOR GOD TO BREAK INTO YOUR LIFE
ASK JESUS CHRIST TO BREAK IN WITH HIS GIFTS OF PEACE!
LOOK AT INTERRUPTIONS NOT AS OBSTACLES BUT AS OPPORTUNITIES
Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to break into my life in a new way today!