Title
PEACE 和平
Date
12/07/2025
Description
Romans 5:1,2: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
羅 馬 書 5:1,2: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。(page 1827)
Col 1:20 - …and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
歌 羅 西 書 1:20: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。
(page 1909)
2 Peter 1: 2: May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
彼 得 後 書 1:2: 愿你们借了解上帝和耶稣我们的主，领受到更丰富的恩典与和平。(page 1972)
Romans 8:1,2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
羅 馬 書 8:1,2: -所以现在，在耶稣基督之中的人们不被定罪，
因为在耶稣基督之中，带来生命的圣灵的法，已把我从那导致罪和死亡的律法中解脱出来了。(page 1831)
Col 3:15 – “ …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
歌罗西书 3:15 要让基督的平安掌管你们的心，你们就是为此而蒙召成为一个身体。 要常存感恩的心。(page 1911)
羅 馬 書 5:1,2: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。(page 1827)
Col 1:20 - …and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
歌 羅 西 書 1:20: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。
(page 1909)
2 Peter 1: 2: May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
彼 得 後 書 1:2: 愿你们借了解上帝和耶稣我们的主，领受到更丰富的恩典与和平。(page 1972)
Romans 8:1,2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
羅 馬 書 8:1,2: -所以现在，在耶稣基督之中的人们不被定罪，
因为在耶稣基督之中，带来生命的圣灵的法，已把我从那导致罪和死亡的律法中解脱出来了。(page 1831)
Col 3:15 – “ …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
歌罗西书 3:15 要让基督的平安掌管你们的心，你们就是为此而蒙召成为一个身体。 要常存感恩的心。(page 1911)
Creator
Pastor: Mike Koger
Contributor
Hillside United Methodist Church
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
Transcription
Finding True Peace: Advent Week 2
"We've got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come."
Peace. It's what we all long for, isn't it?
That freedom from disturbance, that tranquility, that wholeness the Bible calls 'shalom.'
As Augustine so beautifully put it: "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."
Without peace, our souls cannot truly rest.
Colin Hay captures this internal turmoil in his song "Storm in My Heart": "I used to wonder as I lie on my bed Can I hear thunder or am I confused By what lies ahead? And I got storm in my heart Tearing me apart Storm in my heart"
That storm - that restlessness - is what brings many of us here today.
We're searching for something our world simply cannot provide.
We desperately seek peace in our lives, don't we?
We try everything - relationships, achievements, possessions, even religious activities.
…Yet so many of us still find ourselves coming up short, still feeling that storm raging within. “storm in my heart - tearing me apart”
Why? Because we're often building our peace on shifting foundations:
- our house upon the sand
• Where there is guilt - there can be no peace
Where there is shame - there can be no peace
Where there is double-mindedness - there can be no peace
“all other ground is sinking sand”
? Is our identity built upon the finished work of the cross?
We must understand the crucial difference between conviction and condemnation.
One leads us toward God; the other drives us away.
Some people have learned to control others through guilt and shame, or maybe they have been controlled by these themselves. Guilt and shame are powerful forces.
And in that environment, true peace becomes impossible.
Romans 5:1,2: Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!
Peace.
There are many different definitions for peace – but it all goes back to Shalom.
One of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom - "the Lord is peace"
“Shalom” - Wholeness. A wholeness we cannot create on our own.
Sometimes when my world feels like it is spinning, I will just say “Peace.” (anxious)
Without Divine Peace anchoring our souls, each day becomes a struggle.
Our hearts remain unfixed, unstable.
We find ourselves asking: "Are we saved one day and lost the next?"
This uncertainty creates a spiritual restlessness that affects every aspect of our lives.
As James writes, "A double-minded person is unstable in all they do."
This instability manifests in anxiety, broken relationships, and a disconnect from our true purpose.
People ask: "Have you made your peace with God?" - knowing deep down that without this fundamental peace, nothing else will satisfy.
But here's the good news of Advent - Romans 5:1-2 tells us: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
Notice the source of this peace - it's "because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
That sounds like Grace to me!
As Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
This peace isn't something we achieve; it's something we receive.
"Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us."
Romans 8:1-2 assures us: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Only Jesus can speak to the storm in your heart and say, "Peace, be still."
When we embrace this Divine Peace that comes through Christ, everything changes.
We find ourselves blessed as described in Psalm 32 and quoted in Romans 4:
"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."
This Divine Peace brings:
Freedom from guilt and shame
Confidence in our relationship with God
Stability in life's storms
A heart that is fixed, not double-minded
The ability to rest in God's presence and love
As 2 Peter 1:2 promises: "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."
This peace grows as our relationship with Christ deepens.
So, what should we do to establish or re-establish the divine peace that is already ours through Jesus?
Here are some practical steps:
**Pray consistently**: Jesus taught that we "should always pray and never give up."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing."
TPT puts it this way: "Make your life a prayer."
Not fancy prayers, but open-hearted honesty with God.
**Practice thanksgiving**: (“in everything give thanks”)
Philippians 4:6 instructs: "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart."
The Amplified version adds: "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God."
**Draw near to God**:
James 4:8 promises: "Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting."
**Grow in faith**: Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
**Embrace your new identity**:
Eph 4:24 "take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you."
These practices don't earn us peace; they help us experience the Divine Peace Christ has already secured for us.
As we continue this Advent journey, remember that the Prince of Peace came to bring you what you cannot find elsewhere.
If you are seeking refuge from the storm, if you are seeking peace today, there is only one true answer.
His name is Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14: "For He Himself is our peace”
Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus!
...By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall
Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
“The punishment that He received has brought peace to us.”
“ … we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus… has done for us.”
Our answer to the storm is a new heart - a heart at peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Peter reminds us to continue growing in the fruit of the Spirit: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."
So today, let us not forget - instead, let us remember our so great a salvation - and in so doing, live in God's peace.
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
This Advent season, will you accept His peace?
Will you allow the Prince of Peace to calm the storm in your heart?
You can take that step of faith today.
Luke 12:32: Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
"We've got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come."
Peace. It's what we all long for, isn't it?
That freedom from disturbance, that tranquility, that wholeness the Bible calls 'shalom.'
As Augustine so beautifully put it: "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."
Without peace, our souls cannot truly rest.
Colin Hay captures this internal turmoil in his song "Storm in My Heart": "I used to wonder as I lie on my bed Can I hear thunder or am I confused By what lies ahead? And I got storm in my heart Tearing me apart Storm in my heart"
That storm - that restlessness - is what brings many of us here today.
We're searching for something our world simply cannot provide.
We desperately seek peace in our lives, don't we?
We try everything - relationships, achievements, possessions, even religious activities.
…Yet so many of us still find ourselves coming up short, still feeling that storm raging within. “storm in my heart - tearing me apart”
Why? Because we're often building our peace on shifting foundations:
- our house upon the sand
• Where there is guilt - there can be no peace
Where there is shame - there can be no peace
Where there is double-mindedness - there can be no peace
“all other ground is sinking sand”
? Is our identity built upon the finished work of the cross?
We must understand the crucial difference between conviction and condemnation.
One leads us toward God; the other drives us away.
Some people have learned to control others through guilt and shame, or maybe they have been controlled by these themselves. Guilt and shame are powerful forces.
And in that environment, true peace becomes impossible.
Romans 5:1,2: Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!
Peace.
There are many different definitions for peace – but it all goes back to Shalom.
One of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom - "the Lord is peace"
“Shalom” - Wholeness. A wholeness we cannot create on our own.
Sometimes when my world feels like it is spinning, I will just say “Peace.” (anxious)
Without Divine Peace anchoring our souls, each day becomes a struggle.
Our hearts remain unfixed, unstable.
We find ourselves asking: "Are we saved one day and lost the next?"
This uncertainty creates a spiritual restlessness that affects every aspect of our lives.
As James writes, "A double-minded person is unstable in all they do."
This instability manifests in anxiety, broken relationships, and a disconnect from our true purpose.
People ask: "Have you made your peace with God?" - knowing deep down that without this fundamental peace, nothing else will satisfy.
But here's the good news of Advent - Romans 5:1-2 tells us: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
Notice the source of this peace - it's "because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
That sounds like Grace to me!
As Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
This peace isn't something we achieve; it's something we receive.
"Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us."
Romans 8:1-2 assures us: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Only Jesus can speak to the storm in your heart and say, "Peace, be still."
When we embrace this Divine Peace that comes through Christ, everything changes.
We find ourselves blessed as described in Psalm 32 and quoted in Romans 4:
"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."
This Divine Peace brings:
Freedom from guilt and shame
Confidence in our relationship with God
Stability in life's storms
A heart that is fixed, not double-minded
The ability to rest in God's presence and love
As 2 Peter 1:2 promises: "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."
This peace grows as our relationship with Christ deepens.
So, what should we do to establish or re-establish the divine peace that is already ours through Jesus?
Here are some practical steps:
**Pray consistently**: Jesus taught that we "should always pray and never give up."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing."
TPT puts it this way: "Make your life a prayer."
Not fancy prayers, but open-hearted honesty with God.
**Practice thanksgiving**: (“in everything give thanks”)
Philippians 4:6 instructs: "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart."
The Amplified version adds: "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God."
**Draw near to God**:
James 4:8 promises: "Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting."
**Grow in faith**: Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
**Embrace your new identity**:
Eph 4:24 "take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you."
These practices don't earn us peace; they help us experience the Divine Peace Christ has already secured for us.
As we continue this Advent journey, remember that the Prince of Peace came to bring you what you cannot find elsewhere.
If you are seeking refuge from the storm, if you are seeking peace today, there is only one true answer.
His name is Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14: "For He Himself is our peace”
Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus!
...By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall
Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
“The punishment that He received has brought peace to us.”
“ … we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus… has done for us.”
Our answer to the storm is a new heart - a heart at peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Peter reminds us to continue growing in the fruit of the Spirit: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."
So today, let us not forget - instead, let us remember our so great a salvation - and in so doing, live in God's peace.
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
This Advent season, will you accept His peace?
Will you allow the Prince of Peace to calm the storm in your heart?
You can take that step of faith today.
Luke 12:32: Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.