THE CANDLE OF PEACE

One of the hallmarks of the Christmas story is when the angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed, “Peace on earth,” in Luke 2:14.

Jesus brought about peace, in the most unexpected ways, when He arrived. The Jews, particularly the zealots, wanted a rebellion. They wanted their Savior to overturn the oppressive rule of the Romans and bring about peace in a violent way.

But Jesus had something else in mind. He brings us peace in a number of ways.

First, He gives us inner peace. Because of His work on the cross, we have a chance to receive salvation and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. This grants us an inner peace (John 14:27). Not only do we have the peace that comes from our assurance of salvation, but we also have the peace of mind knowing God will heal this broken world and will come again.

Second, we have peace with others. We put aside our differences (Galatians 3:28), especially with other believers, because we belong to the same family. We have the same purpose: to let others know about the peace of Christ.

The Hebrew word for peace: Shalom, goes far beyond not fighting with others or peace as we know it. Shalom is, in essence, how things are meant to be: a slice of heaven.

The peace of God allows us to look at others through heaven’s eyes and help guide the world to see God’s here and not-yet here Kingdom.

Peace from God, Biblical peace, allows us to trust in God’s promises (Proverbs 3:5), through restful, tranquil faith, despite the dark, scary world around us.

What does the Bible say about Peace?
Not surprisingly, the Bible has a lot to say about peace, as it attributes peace to Jesus Himself: the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

In fact, the word peace appears somewhere between 200-400 times in the Bible.

Biblical peace also:

• Guards our hearts from the devil (Philippians 4:7)
• Brings us joy (Proverbs 12:20)
• Is a blessing from God (Psalm 29:11)
• Assists us during dire circumstances (Isaiah 54:10)

In a scary and violent world, the peace of God grants us a tranquility you cannot find anywhere else and offers a light to others who do not yet know that peace.

Why Does This Matter?
We live in an eye-for-an-eye, revenge culture. We also live in scary times, even if the Covid-19 virus is not around. But the peace of God transcends our circumstances and world. With this, we can be rest assured that Jesus will come and make everything right once more.

Our peace can also stir the curiosity of those who do not believe in Christ. They will see us exercise a spirit of tranquility, faith, and they will want to know the reason for our faith in shaky times.

When they ask, we can have a reason at the ready. “I am not afraid because I have the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.”

What does the truth of Isaiah 7:14 mean for us today? What can we learn from Ahaz and the “sign of Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:1-14?

First, salvation has always been by faith and not by works. Isaiah told Ahaz to trust in the Lord and not his works of political manoeuvring if he wanted to be saved. That principle has never changed. Galatians 2:16: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Second, being religious and having faith aren’t the same thing. Ahaz sounded pious but he lacked faith, so he invited the judgment of God into his life. Coming to church, doing devotionals, and trying to live a basically good life are good things, but they can never make us right with God and can never replace the necessity of simple trust in the Word of God.

Third, decisions made out of fear are almost always bad ones. Ahaz feared people more than he feared God, so his decision-making ability was compromised. Because of fear, he chose what was expedient rather than what was right.

Fourth, the “sign of Immanuel” empowers our evangelism. Matthew begins his Gospel with the promise of God’s presence with us in Christ. He ends his Gospel with Jesus’ promise to be with us as we scatter among the nations to make disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus is with us as we help other people follow Jesus. We’re never alone when doing his work.

Fifth, the truth of “God with us” can create joy or sorrow in our lives, depending on how we’re living. When we’re walking in holiness, “the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him” (Psalm 147:11). When we’re walking in sin, we “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we’ve been sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians. 4:30). Just because God is always with us doesn’t mean that we can do whatever we want. Like any good parent, God is pleased with obedience and displeased with disobedience.

Sixth, Matthew says that God is with us in Christ. The rest of the New Testament teaches us that the “us” in this sentence is the church. This means that the most tangible way that Jesus makes His presence known to the world is through the church. One of the most tangible ways that we experience the presence of God in our lives is when other church members pray for us, speak the truth to us, and encourage us in the Gospel. If Jesus is with us, then He’ll come out of us as we live together in community. Who did you touch last week? Who did you point to Jesus?

Seventh, and finally, “God with us” is the main promise of the Gospel. In Christ, God removes our sin and gives us righteousness so that we can be with Him, and Him with us. In Christ, we’ll still battle loneliness, but we don’t battle it as those who’re alone. God sees our pain, understands what we feel more than anyone else, is ready to listen to us and speak to us, and promises to walk with us through all the narrow and treacherous paths of life.

Because God is with us, we can walk in courage and joy and peace and power. Because God is with us, we don’t have to walk in fear or anxiety or despair or defeat. The Gospel teaches us that Christ is all we need in this world, and all that we truly have. (JOHN SYPERT)

THE CHURCH & CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
The church & church office are closed during CMCO. If you need to contact the office staff, these are the contact numbers:
Pastor Ashok @ 012 524 0061
Yap Chee Kai @ 012 2360 457
Pelita Chuah @ 016 625 6188
Jane @ 017 622 7226
Cheng It @ 012 915 3640

PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Kindly note that Friday, December 11, 2020 is a public holiday.

ADVENT REFLECTION
This Sunday is the second Sunday in Advent. There will be an Advent reflection for each of the Advent Sundays besides the usual reflection. Please check the church website for this Advent reflection.

NEXT WEEKEND SERVICE
Speaker : Rev Ashok Amarasingham
Dates : Sat & Sun, Dec 12 & 13, 2020
Sermon Title: Parting Words [Part One] The High Calling Of A Shepherd Leader Scripture Text: 1 Peter 5: 1-7 & Hebrews 13: 17 (ESV)

2ND OFFERING & CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Both the 2nd Offering for December and Christmas offering will go towards Living Hope Methodist Church, Bukit Rimau. You may give your donations during the entire month of December via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

WEBINAR: WAS WESLEY A CHARISMATIC? (Part 2) RECOVERING APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY
Speaker : Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung
Date : Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Time : 8:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87539932595
Meeting ID: 875 3993 2595
Passcode: Aldersgate

HIRING:
IMPLEMENTATION ADVISERS
EE Malaysia is seeking committed Christians to fill several positions of Implementation Advisers.
Responsibilities:-
To promote EE to churches, encouraging pastors and church leaders to participate in the Leadership clinics and overseeing the rollout of EE programs in those churches.
Closing date: December 31, 2020
Interested email to: eemalaysia@gmail.com

CORPORATE PRAYER MEETINGS
The Zoom Prayer Meetings are as follows:
Tuesdays-Thursdays @ 8:00 a.m.-8:30a.m.
Thursdays only @ 9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

ONLINE BANKING
While we acknowledge that many people are affected by the current CMCO situation, we encourage you to continue giving your tithes/offering during this time through online banking, The details are below:

Pledge Payment can be done via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

THE CANDLE OF HOPE

Like the prophets in the Old Testament, we hope for a Messiah to save us from the sin in the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). We anticipate our Savior’s arrival.

Also known as the “prophecy candle,” this candle assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

In this day and age, where evil abounds and all seems lost, especially during this time of the pandemic, we can also hope that the prophecies about Jesus’ second arrival to earth will also be fulfilled.

The somber purple color on the candle represents repentance and fasting as we anticipate the Lord’s coming. Purple doubles as a color for royalty throughout the Bible, symbolizing God’s kingship and reign.

What does the Bible say about Hope?
Christians can often confuse the word hope for wishful thinking. If we hope something will happen, we have no control over whether or not it will take place.

But the Biblical sense of hope is very different. Hope, in the Bible, exists as a secure assurance, a trust placed in a trustworthy God. God has not failed us in the past, and therefore, if He claims He will do something in the future, we can have a hope that He will fulfill that claim.

Hope waits and endures. It isn’t flimsy or merely wishful thinking. It can withstand fire, trials, and despair.

Why Does This Matter?
Hope is an important thing. It helps us during significant trials or times of distress. It offers us security that God will arrive and though we cannot see Him now, we will see Him face to face one day (Hebrews 11).

In lieu of Advent, it helps us to recognize the hope the Israelites experienced throughout the Old Testament, especially during the time of the prophets, such as Isaiah. They yearned for a Messiah to save them from their enemies, and ultimately, the greatest enemy: their sin.

Like the prophets, we also hope. We hope Jesus will return soon to this dark and despairing world. (by Hope Bolinger)

“At Christmas time, it’s easy to think so much about what God has done in the past that we forget to look toward the future. As wonderful as it was, Jesus’s first coming will pale in comparison to His second.

3 Ways His Second Coming Will Be Like the First
1. When Jesus returns in all His glory, one thing will not have changed. He will still be the Son of Man. He might be full of power and authority, but He is still the same God who is called Emmanuel, the Word made flesh, the One who walked among us.

2. The second similarity of the second coming of Christ to the first is simply the fact that He will come. It’s been more than 2,000 years since His feet walked this earth, but He has never failed to fulfill His promises. He said He would return, and you can fully believe He will. He is not a God who keeps His distance. He came to live among us once; He will return to take us to live with Him as well

3. And when He does return, He will again be worshipped. This time, however, instead of a just a handful of shepherds and a few wise men, “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father..” (Philippians 2:10-11)

3 Ways His Second Coming Will Be Different From The First
1. When Jesus was born, He left the throne room of heaven and took on flesh to walk among us like one of us. He became a “Son of man” and was born with all the frailty of every babe who has ever been swaddled. When Christ first came, He came in weakness. When He returns, He will come in power.

He will arrive not on the earth, but in the clouds, with all the authority and glory that have always been His. There will be no humble lodgings or parents fleeing in fear from jealous kings. He will not come like a child but as the King He is, absolutely ready to reign. The Emmanuel who walked with us, serving others and washing their feet, will return and be served by all nations and peoples.

2. His second coming will not be an event witnessed only by a few people and some barnyard animals. Revelation 1:7 says, “every eye will see Him.” The busy people of Bethlehem may have missed the first coming, but they won’t miss the second.

3. And, unlike His first coming, there will be no end to His second. He won’t walk among us for 33 years then head back to heaven this time. His Kingdom will have come, and it will last forever.

That thought breathes hope and life into our bones, just like it did for the Apostle John who fell “as though dead” at Jesus’ feet in Revelation Chapter 1. Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living One. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:17-18)

That’s what Christmas is really about. Yes, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came, but we also rejoice in the fact that He is coming again. (CHARLIE WHITE)