Good Shepherd Community Church

Promises For Christmas!
• 11/29-30 – Hope
• 12/6-7 – Peace
• 12/13-14 – Joy
• 12/20-21 – Love
• 12/24 – All the Promises are “YES” in Christ!

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

– Augustine of Hippo, Confessions

“Micah mentions Assyria because the Assyrian armies were invading the land at the time of composition. We need to recall that prophets addressed their contemporaries and referred to the future in terms drawn from their own historical circumstances.”

– Bruce Waltke, Tyndale Commentary

The Promised One in Micah 5:2-4:
• He will be born in Bethlehem (5:2)
• He will be the ruler (5:2)
• He is eternal (“from of old, from ancient days”) (5:2)
• He allows problems for a time (“he shall give them up until the time…”) (5:3)
• He will ultimately stand and shepherd his flock in the “strength” and “majesty” of God. (5:4)
• His rule will extend “to the ends of the earth.” (5:4)
• He will be our peace (5:5a)

God chose a stable so no innkeeper could boast, "He chose the comfort of my inn!" God chose a manger so that no wood worker could boast, "He chose the craftsmanship of my bed!" He chose Bethlehem so no one could boast, "He chose the greatness of our city!"

– John Piper

Without faith it is impossible to please Him… (Hebrews 11:6)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing… (Romans 15:13)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace… (Ephesians 5:13-14)

Present Peace:
• Peace with God
• Peace within our own soul
• Peace with other people

“It’s this sense of amazement, that I, a sinner, have peace with God, that makes the heart tender, kind, and forgiving. Extend this to others seventy times seven. It may be thrown back in your face. It certainly was thrown back in Jesus’s face on the cross. That hurts, and it can make you bitter if you are not careful. Don’t let it. Keep being more amazed that your wrongs are forgiven than that you are wronged. Be amazed that you have peace with God. You have peace with your soul. Your guilt is taken away.”

– John Piper, The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

Big Idea:
Hope in Christ as your light in the darkness.

Next step takeaways:
With God as His FAMILY:
• If you are not yet a believer, receive peace with God through faith in Christ.
• If you are a believer, ask God to accomplish His purposes in your life through your present problems.
• Stop you from wandering away from Him.
• Purify, refine, strengthen, and conform you.

With Others as His SERVANTS:
• Pursue peace in any broken relationships in your life.

On Mission as His MISSIONARIES:
• Invite someone to our Christmas Eve services who normally does not attend church.