What Is the Candle of Peace?
Tena koutou, Huang Ying, Talofa lava, Welcome, and greetings church family.
How did you get on with your wreath and candle organisation? It is not too late to join in. Start this week with the second candle of PEACE. Join with the rest of the church family and take part.
What Is the Candle of Peace?
One of the hallmarks of the Christmas story is when the angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” Luke 2:14.
Jesus brings us peace in a number of ways.
First, he gives us inner peace. He says in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
In Philippians 4:6-7 He says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Secondly, in Jesus we have peace with each other for “we are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:38). We have the same purpose to let others know about the peace of Christ.
The peace of God allows us to look at others through Heaven’s eyes. His peace allows us to “Trust in the LORD with all our heart, and not rely on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) enabling us to witness and glorify Jesus name in our setting and place, despite the activities around us in the world.
A prayer from Augustine of Hippo
O Lord God, grant your peace to us, for you have supplied us with all things: the peace of rest, the peace of the Sabbath which has no evening; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Advent Prophecies FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Fulfilled – HALLELUJAH
The Messiah will come from Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me One who will be ruler over Israel.”
The prophet Micah wrote the book of Micah approximately 735-715 B.C.
Fulfilled in Mathew 2:1-6.
“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
The branch from Jesse bears fruit. Isaiah 11:1
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit.”
The prophet Isaiah wrote Isaiah at approximately 700 B.C.
Fulfilled in Matthew and Luke which lists David in Jesus’ genealogy.
about author
Ordained in 2022 after 20+ years in the education sector as a Teacher, Principal and Education consultant. Reverend Enosa heard God’s call to enter the ministry. Now Senior Minister of St Peter’s Church in Tauranga, he leads a vibrant Church in the heart of the City reaching out to the local community.
