Gateway Visalia

Key Idea: Jesus is our Peace, our “shalom”.

Introduction:



Advent (adventus) “coming”. The two-fold purpose of Advent:


1.____________________________________


2.____________________________________

Peace is a by-product of shalom which comes from the Hebrew word, shalem. Shalom has a deep and resounding meaning to include wholeness, completeness, health, safety, harmony, and prosperity.

Isaiah 11:1-5 (New Living Translation)
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot, yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. 5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

1. Shalom brings rest. v. 2a
Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

2. Shalom brings knowledge and the fear of the Lord. v. 2b
Proverbs 9:10: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement.”

3. Shalom brings delight. v.3
Psalm 1:1-2: “Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

4. Jesus is our Shalom. v. 5
John 16:33: “ I have told you all this so that you may have peace (shalom) in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.”

DO YOU DESIRE SHALOM WITH GOD?

Romans 3:10-12: “No one is righteous, not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

Romans 3:23: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”



Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”



Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates His own love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



Romans 10:9: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conclusion:

True shalom requires sacrifice.

Advent: Peace
December 5, 8, 2024
Isaiah 11:1-5 Jim Pitkin, Director, Ministry to Men
Jesus is our Peace, our Shalom

Prayer Requests:


For context, read aloud the following verses from Isaiah:

Warnings Blessings
1:2-4 4:2-6
2:6-9 5:16-17
3:8-9 9:1-7
5:13-15 10:24-27
8:13-15 11:1-9

1. There is a trite bumper stick that says, “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.”
In light of the passages in Isaiah you just read, talk about this statement.


2. Talk about the ways in which you can live in shalom this Advent season.


3. If you had no money to spend, can you imagine a gift you might give to another to demonstrate life in shalom?


Practical Application-Living in Shalom

Read Isaiah 9:2-7 at least twice per week until Christmas Day. Make a list of the wonderful things God shows you and share it with someone.