Advent: Peace

 Scripture 

Micah‬ ‭5:2-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“But you, Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter— From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He’ll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by GOD ’s strength, centered in the majesty of GOD -Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect— Peacemaker of the world!”

Observation 

Peace/Shalom - A pervasive concept in the Bible that most commonly relates to a relationship of love and loyalty with God and one another.

In the Old Testament, “peace” carries the fundamental meaning of welfare, prosperity, or wholeness as well as the absence of hostility

Micah, or Mikayahu, the small village Prophet, the contemporary of the Prophet Isaiah, targets people, and their behaviors that abuse power and privilege. God uses him to speak to the social & moral issues of the day. Micah speaks to...

• The rich who get richer through extortion & violence
• Merchants w/ scales weighted in their favor 
• Judges who sell judgement for a bribe
• Prophets & Priests (the preachers) who say whatever the ppl will pay to hear
• Rulers who do whatever it takes to live in luxury & preserve their power

Jesus, is the prophesied Peacemaker

Matthew‬ ‭2:1-6‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod. After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is the child who is born king of the Jewish people? We observed his star rising in the sky and we’ve come to bow before him in worship.” King Herod was shaken to the core when he heard this, and not only him, but all of Jerusalem was disturbed when they heard this news. So he called a meeting of the Jewish ruling priests and religious scholars, demanding that they tell him where the promised Messiah was prophesied to be born. “He will be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,” they told him. “Because the prophecy states: And you, little Bethlehem, are not insignificant among the clans of Judah, for out of you will emerge the Shepherd-King of my people Israel!”

The Gospel According to Matthew is written toward the Jews, Mark toward the Romans, Luke toward the Greeks, and john toward those neither Jews nor Gentiles, but believers on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew‬ ‭9:35-38‬ ‭NLT‬

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

‭‭‬

What is trauma? An event that is experienced that has lasting adverse effects on an individual’s ability to function.

It is an individual’s experience of the event, not necessarily the event itself, that is traumatizing.

The effect of trauma on an individual can be considered as a normal response to an abnormal situation.

‭‭

Application

In Jesus, Yeshua, The Messiah, the Savior, we have HOPE, we have PEACE! 

In Jesus, Yeshua, The Messiah, the Savior, we have HEALING, we have MERCY!

In Jesus, Yeshua, The Messiah, the Savior, we have HELP, JOY, and LOVE!!

It’s in Jesus, It’s all in Jesus!! Whatever we need can be found in Him!!

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:14-16‬ ‭MSG

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”

‬‬

Prayer

Father, help us to see Jesus as the source of peace. Help us accept His love, mercy, and help.

I’m Sick Without You

SCRIPTURE

Mark‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭NASB‬‬

“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. And it *happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “ It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

‭‭

OBSERVATION 

RELATIONSHIP > RULES - Jesus invites the unlikely

POWER OF GOD > WILLPOWER - Have you been changed? We have been called out to be sent in! 

• Called out to be repaired/healed
• Called out to be prepared
• Called out to be trained 
• Sent in to be an ambassador for Christ
• Sent in to be a reconciler for Christ
• Sent in to be a representative of Christ

“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20:21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

APPLICATION

HOLY DISCONTENT

• You ought to get to a place where “CHURCH AS USUAL” doesn’t do it for you anymore!
• There should be a progression in your relationship w/ God to such a degree that you shift from being a CONSUMER to being a PRODUCER!
• When you chose to “FOLLOW CHRIST” you BECAME a Disciple of Christ
• And as you grow you become a Disciple that MAKES Disciples
• Because you’ve experienced His Love you can GIVE love
• Because you’ve been Healed you can assist others as they heal
• Because you’ve experienced Grace & Mercy you can GIVE grace & mercy
•  You are FILLED, you are AUTHORIZED, you are OVERFLOWING with the Spirit of God!!

Prayer

My Lord, King, and Father, I thank you for Your love! I thank You for forgiveness. I’m so grateful to be Your son. Grateful that You love me. Father, I’m grateful for Your Word, I’ve hidden it in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Help me Lord. Help all of those who have an ear to hear this message. 

Who’s Your Daddy

Jeremiah‬ ‭9:23-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Jeremiah‬ ‭9:23-24‬ ‭KJV‬

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

‭‭‬

‭‭ 

1. Demonstrates 
2. KJV “Which exercise” - This important root means to work, labor, toil.

God IS love. In addition, He is a God of Justice.

Jeremiah‬ ‭9:25-26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“A time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit— the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places, and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.”

Circumcision - The practice of cutting off the foreskin of the male organ.

• Was not uncommon in ancient times.
• Non Jews practiced it a as puberty rite of passage at age 13.
• God commanded Abraham to circumcise his offspring on the 8th day after birth. This gave the operation a religious meaning.
• It was like a sign of God’s ownership of the male leadership of His people.

‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭30:18‬ ‭NASB‬

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”

‭‭‬

‭‭‬

The killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis Police Officers was the tipping point for decades of oppressive law enforcement tactics & ethics.

Christian Cooper could’ve been George Floyd if Law Enforcement had responded quicker. 

Breonna Taylor was shot 8 times & killed in her home by Law Enforcement while executing a “No Knock Warrant!!

Ahmaud Aubery was shot and killed while jogging by a citizen executing what he considered to be Citizen’s Arrest. 

Jeremiah‬ ‭31:31-34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord. “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Micah‬ ‭6:6-8‬ ‭GNB‬‬

“What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my firstborn child to pay for my sins? No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.”

‭‭

The Father’s ❤️

Scripture 

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:34-40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Observation 

1. Everything begins w/ God. Especially relationship.
2. We are created in the image of God. The Imago Dei.
3. God, who is 3-in-1, exists in perfect harmony.
4. The Bible says He is LOVE.

Application 

Let ❤️ Lead

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬

Whose Standard?

‬‬

“People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges the reasons for everything they do. Do what is right and fair. The Lord loves that more than sacrifices.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:2-3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“We justify our actions by appearances; GOD examines our motives. Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to GOD than religious performance.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:2-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Whose Values?

As long as we exalt “American Values” over Kingdom Values we will continuously break God’s heart.

• We must remember that while we are “In the world, we are not of it, we’re visiting”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Letter From A Birmingham Jail responds Southern Clergy That denounce his actions & tactics

You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes. It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative. 

Matthew‬ ‭23:23-24‬ ‭ESV‬

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”

“Justice makes no sense to the evilminded; those who seek GOD know it inside and out.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:5‬ ‭MSG‬‬

What Do We Do?

We can’t all be activists but we can all be active!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Letter From A Birmingham Jail responds Southern Clergy That denounce his actions & tactics

Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.”

‭‭

The Father’s Heart

Isaiah‬ ‭1:13-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.”

Prayer

Father, break our hearts with the things that break Your heart. Open the eyes of hearts, so we can see what You. Strengthen us, so move toward action, as You would move. In Jesus’ name.

The New You

Scripture

Ephesians‬ ‭4:23-24‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking. Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him.”

‭‭

Observation

Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledgeafter the image of its creator.”

‭‭‬

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

‭‭‬

Application

Social distancing does not mean social isolation.

1. Growth Groups
2.     Bible Study
3.     Serve on a team
4.     C.L.A.S.S.
• Membership
• Maturity
• Ministry
• Mission

• You can be a “New Christian” with Old Habits
• You got a “New Life” but an Old Mind
• You thought the denomination would save you but it was a band-aid, or band-age, used to cover up sin. But there was no healing in it. No power!!
• Just cause you wear a long dress don’t mean you ain’t a hot mess!
• Talking in tongues, but cussing out your kids!
• Preaching in the pulpit, but won’t talk to your spouse at home.
• Jesus wants to upgrade you, transform your life, make you new, so you can be whole!!

Titus‬ ‭3:4-5‬ ‭GW‬‬

“However, when God our Savior made his kindness and love for humanity appear, he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal.”

‭‭

Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭GW

“Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.”

‭‭‬

Prayer

I Need A Hero

Romans‬ ‭7:21-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

‭‭

‭‭‬‬OBSERVATION

While the law (Mosaic) identifies sin it is NOT a SOLUTION for or to sin

• The 1st 5 Books of the OT, the Pentateuch, are considered to be The Law of Moses (The Written Law).
• The law also includes “Oral law” which refers to Jewish traditions about how to put the written law into practice

Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:1-6‬ ‭NKJV

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”

‭‭‬‬

God’s Law, His instructions, His Commandments, were & are to be taken seriously 

• The quality of your life depends on your obedience 
• The welfare of your family depends on your obedience 
• So you embed the law in your heart

• I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you

Joshua‬ ‭1:6-8‬ ‭NLT‬

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

‭‭‬

Progressive faith & progressive obedience go hand-in-hand

Romans‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”

‭‭

Romans‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“And sin found a way to use that command and make me want all kinds of things that weren’t mine. So sin came to me because of the command. But without the law, sin has no power.”

‭‭

You can’t violate a standard that doesn’t exist 

APPLICATION

I need Jesus to live right!

• I need the Word living in me to love right

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’ ” The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:20-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

• Believing is a start, it’s good, but Belonging to Him is about remaining connected to Him

• “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” John‬ ‭15:5-8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Romans‬ ‭8:3‬ ‭NLT

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”

PRAYER