"Grace be unto you, and PEACE"

INTRODUCTION - MANY PEOPLE TODAY ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE PROMISES OF GOD CONCERNING PEACE ON EARTH

• Christmas is a great time of glitter, words of good will, but greater disappointment to many
• We sing songs of great Joy, but where is the joy for the poor, sick, old, lonely, discouraged?
• Rose colored glasses will not do for this generation, they see the big gaps between promises and what actually comes.

Children remember promises never kept, & accept no excuse!

I. THE GREATEST PROMISE

When we look at God's greatest promise, we all are impatient children, & mock God's delay

A. THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS CAME WITH GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

1. In Luke 2:10-11 the angel promised great joy, the birth of a King and Savior to help his people
2. The angel Choir sang v.14 promising peace on earth and good will toward men - a great promise
3. Simeon felt he could die in peace, for he had seen the promise of God- Luke 2:29 - but more

B.  THE EARTH WAS NOT READY FOR THE PROMISED PEACE THAT WOULD COME FROM THE PRINCE OF PEACE

1. Remember- Herod set out to slay the infants- & finally another ruler sent Him to the Cross!
2. Instead of peace- the Lord was a center of controversy - finally Jerusalem was obliterated!
3. The City of Peace- Jerusalem - has been the most destroyed city in the world- & today-war!

C.  IF GOD HAS PROMISED PEACE, THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT.  DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

1. There is a promise of peace with God- Rom 5:1, no longer children of wrath-Eph 2:3 -peace
2. There is the Peace of God- Phil 4:7 God offers it, to get it we must obey directions-v.8,9
3. But the world has not found peace-lots of talk-but Isa 48:22, 57:21-No Peace for the Wicked! 

God has promised Peace- but we must have a clear understanding of God's plan & purpose-

II.  THE PROMISE IS YET TO COME

We count the longsuffering of God as slackness concerning his promise- be careful!

A.  THE TIME OF THE NEXT CHRISTMAS FROM GOD IS JUST AS PROPHECIED, BUT WILL BE AS UNEXPECTED AS FIRST

1. There is no peace in the world- but when men cry peace & safety- I Thess 5:3-then destruction
2. As a thief in the night- terrible destruction will come- II Pet 3:10-14 this is next in time 3.2
3. The same God that promised Peace- Rest- also promised a time of Great Tribulation-Wrath-

B.  THEN IN GOD'S TIME THERE WILL THEN BE FULFILLED HIS PROMISE OF PEACE ON EARTH THAT WILL LAST!

1. Rev. 21:4- this is the time when there will be no more tears, death, sorrow, pain,-not until then
2. Then God will usher us into that new city-mansions- rest, peace, pure worship, no darkness-23
3. Then alone will we have pure water- 22:1, Tree of life for healing v.2, no more curse v.3

C.  THEN ALONE WILL COME THE TRUE PROMISED PEACE AND REST THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR HIS OWN

1. God made earth a paradise, man corrupted it, polluted it with blood-God will cleanse it again
2. God gave us laws - Schoolmaster to guide us to Christ- & we have mocked them-God will enforce
3. God gave us a Savior-We can have forgiveness, & get our loved ones saved-but then it is complete

 All of the sweet promises of God will be fulfilled- for those who BELIEVE, & Believe HIM!

III. WHEN WILL THIS WEDDING BE ???

People today demand their rights, and we have become desensitized to sin that kills our rights

A.  THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES GOD HAS SWORN WILL NOT ENTER INTO HIS REST, PEACE, AND HEAVEN

1. Rev. 21:27 God has set a lock on heaven's door- nothing can enter that will pollute it-destroy
2. Rev. 21:8-the list -cowards, unbelievers, filthy, murderers, free-love, drug pushers, humanists - liars
3. We have no peace today because we condone these sins & they pollute & defile our nation!

B.  HOW CAN WE ACCUSE GOD OF BEING DEAD TO HIS PROMISES WHEN WE ARE NOT READY FOR HIS PROMISE ???

1. If a man ran for president of the US on the platform of v.8, he would lose to Wallace-Goldwater
2. It is people who are in Church that demand their right to Long Hair, Playboy, Alcohol, greed, etc.
3. If you really want God's program of Peace today- clear pollution from your life- or Heb 3:11

C.  GOD'S PROMISE IS PLAIN, THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN ENTER INTO HIS REST ARE THOSE NAMED - Book of Life - Rev 21:27

1. There are many false promise claimers- false rights- but Heaven knows only one Lawyer - Jesus
2. If your name is not written- Rev. 20:15, 21:27b- you have no claim -no integration in heaven
3. Jesus said- Matt 10:32,33- Confess Him before men- have you? Do you do so every day? 

Note v.34- his first coming promised peace-but did not bring peace- next one will!
When Jesus sets foot on earth, He will rule with rod of iron, then new heaven-earth

CONCLUSION - THE PEACE AND BLESSING PROMISED BY GOD IS CONDITIONAL, DO YOU HAVE YOUR CONTRACT FOR IT?

1. When you accept Jesus as Savior- then you have contracted with God for peace with God-
2. When you accept Jesus as Lord- & obey for a clean life- then you have peace of God
3. Pray for His soon return when He will bring peace on earth- & men will receive Good will