Advent: He Has Come – Part 4 [Notes]

The word “Advent” is used to describe the season leading up to Christmas. It’s a time where we remember Christ’s first coming and grow our expectation of His second; it’s a time of great hope and promise… But often, we are distracted and consumed during this busy season, and we barely experience the wonder of it as we rush through. This Christmas season, we’ll intentionally slow down as we walk through Advent with hope, faith, joy and peace, preparing our hearts for the celebration of our newborn King.

Journey with us through our series “Advent: He Has Come,” and together, we’ll anticipate, rather than dread, this ever-busy season.

Today's Takeaway // He has come to bring peace. 

He had peace on all his surrounding borders. Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.¹
– 1 Kings 4:24b-25 (HCSB)
_{¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (1 Ki 4:24–25). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

The Lord my God has now given me rest all around; there is no enemy or crisis. So I plan to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God...
– 1 Kings 5:4-5a (HCSB)

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end.
– Isaiah 9:6-7a (HCSB)

The Hebrew translation of shalom is “completeness,” “wholeness,” “well-being,” or “welfare and peace.” It is derived from a root that means “to be complete” or “to be sound.²
– E.E. Carpenter
_{² Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). In Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (p. 135). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.}

The Jewish word shalom (peace) means much more than a truce in the battles of life. It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness.³
– Dr. Wiersbe
_{³ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 176). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books}

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!^{u v}
– Luke 2:14 (HCSB)
_{^u 2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people
^v 2:14 Or earth to men of good will}

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.⁵
– Romans 5:1 (HCSB)
_{5 The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 5:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.}

When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news^a of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^b For through Him we both have access^c by one Spirit to the Father.⁴
– Ephesians 2:17-18 (HCSB)
_{^a 2:17 Lk 4:18; 1Pt 1:12
^b 2:17 Is 57:19
^c 2:18 Jn 10:7–9; Rm 5:2; Eph 3:12
⁴ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Eph 2:17–18). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.⁶
– John 14:27 (HCSB)
_{⁶ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Jn 14:27). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.
– Matthew 5:9 (HCSB)

If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.⁴
– Romans 12:18 (HCSB)
_{⁴ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 12:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.}

“...during the last 4,000 years there have been only 268 years of peace in spite of 8,000 historically recorded peace treaties. In the last3 centuries there have been 286 wars on the continent of Europe alone.”
– J.K. Laney

The Pax Romana was a time of great peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire. It was a time of great advances in art, literature, and architecture. The Pax Romana was also a time of great religious tolerance, with many different religions being practiced side by side.
– June29.com

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of•Hosts will accomplish this.
– Isaiah 9:6-7 (HCSB)
_{^• Military forces consisting of God’s angels, sometimes including the sun, moon, and stars, and occasionally Israel.}

The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den.
– Isaiah 11:6-8 (HCSB)

1. Why do you think there is so little peace in this world?
2. Read Philippians 4:4-9.What are some things that disrupt your inner peace? Based on these verses, how do we experience the peace of God and the God of peace in our lives?
3. Read Isaiah 9:6-7. In what ways is Jesus the “Prince of Peace?”
4. Read Matthew 5:9 and Romans 12:18-21. Why is it important we beat peace with others? What are some things we can do to pursue peace with “our enemies?”
5. What specific steps can you take to become a more peaceful person?

Battle Belongs / Hark the Herald Angels Sing / O Come Ye Faithful / Worthy of My Song / Fear is Not My Future

Journey with us through Advent and anticipate, rather than dread, this busy season. Christmas comes each year with great hope and promise... But often, we are distracted and consumed by commitments, pressure and mixed emotions, and we barely experience the wonder of it as we rush through. It's in the slowing down, contemplation and reflection that we find our answer — it’s in the waiting season of Advent that we prepare our hearts with hope, faith, joy and peace for December 25 and the celebration of our newborn King.

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