The Missing Peace

The title of today's message is this, The Missing Piece. The Missing Piece. Why don't you grab your Bibles, if you will. How many have your Bibles, paper Bibles? Let me see, hold them up. How many have your electronic version? You can go to, probably, there you go. Some of you are on the Emmanuel MN app. That counts too. Go with me to Luke chapter two today. You know, in the middle of a day and age in which there seems to be so much confusion and change in the digital side of news stories, and you're like, who can we trust? It is so good to have ancient truth that has stood the test of time for 2,000 plus years. Come on, somebody. And so, like, when you're, like, tired of it and you wanna pull away, this is a great place to find something trustworthy to build your life on. Luke chapter two, starting with verse eight. That night, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. And suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. And they were terrified. But the angel reassured them, don't be afraid. He said, I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. The Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord,

has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David. And you'll recognize him by this sign. You'll find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. And suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God and saying, glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Pleased. Peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. This is one of those promises that God can give peace to anyone on earth. Tell the person next to you, say, even you. Even you. Now, God sent Jesus as the Savior that we actually need. There's a lot of hustle and bustle going on right now in the lead up to Christmas. I wanna ask how many of you have been out shopping and online and in person? I have to admit, yesterday I went shopping into a store and in the parking lot, I about got run over because people are rushed and focused and angry sometimes, filled with all kinds of stress and anxieties. And the big push is we wanna get the right gift. You know, there are a lot of unwanted Christmas gifts, according to the New York Post, that the most unwanted Christmas gifts are ties, underwear, and socks. Those are the most unwanted Christmas gifts. I won't ask how many of you bought those from somebody.

I'll stop there. An estimated 140 million Americans will open an unwanted gift. We spend $10.1 billion on presents that no one wants. And about 39% of all the gifts given will be re-gifted. Now that's crazy, isn't it? As we've been sprinting around, trying to find the right gifts, feeling the pressure to get the right one, we're thinking about the person who we're buying it for. What do they really want or what do they really need? We might look at the price and go, ooh, that's too much. But what is missing isn't an object that we buy, it's a connection. Most people desire for the people to know that they are noticed, that they are loved, that they are cared for. It's what's behind the gift. Some people try to compensate for what's missing with a gift. So if they haven't spent time with you, they haven't loved you, they haven't done enough, then sometimes we wanna compensate their peace offerings. Trying to overdo it. Some of us grew up in families that tried to overdo Christmas because the previous 12 months weren't so fun. We try to make it up with a gift. Others, we know that the language of love for them is gift giving, so they go over the top in giving gifts.

They might not talk to you, but they'll give you gifts. I won't ask for a show of hands. How many of you, that's your experience? But here's what I want you to catch with God's gifts. The prophecy foretold that a gift would arrive that wasn't temporary and would bring harmony to the most difficult of situations. And the prophet Isaiah in chapter nine, this is what he said, and it's quoted again in the New Testament. But for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and say this with me, Prince of Peace. And of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. There is a great promise of a Prince of Peace. It says they're the government of peace. Peace, shalom. The root meaning of that word is to be whole or to be uninjured, to be undivided, whole. It signified that everything was as it should be. The shalom says, whoo. So if you were to say shalom to somebody, may it all be as it should be. Complete, whole, uncorrupted, not dependent on health or circumstances. It says there that there would be a government of peace. That's how that peace is delivered and maintained.

God's original delivery system for his values and supply was through people and systems to help many people. But sin messed it up and corrupts delivery systems. So when you think about governments historically, they're meant to deliver justice and peace. We're to pray for our leaders in the government. But many end in corruption. They fail to do the job. They start strong, but they end failing. Now I'm not critiquing our present government today, but I'll tell you in regard to all of humanity, any continent on the planet, any place that you might go, every system starts to benefit the people. But over time, those that are in the governance, if they don't have the prince of peace, corruption comes in and what started to help people ends up benefiting the government. And I will tell you this, when Jesus was promised the Messiah was to come, he wasn't going to come and fail, but this would be a kingdom, a governance that would deliver for all time his peace. It's an uncorrupted peace. And for the last 2,000 years, peace was delivered to the worst of circumstances. So it wasn't dependent on a prosperity financially or everything being right. Even in the middle of war, when people would follow Jesus, they would receive peace from him

while the governments were going back and forth and in warring and institutions were corrupt. The church, the people of God received peace from the prince of peace. And they established things like hospitals and they established the Red Cross and they established education systems to lift the poor and the impoverished up so that everyone would have opportunity. That's what Jesus' peace does to us. So in this moment in 2025, you might think this is the worst year in world history. And I have to tell you, it's not. There have been other moments in world history that have had a lot of fighting and a lot of wars and a lot of hurt people and a lot of tragic things happening. And while there's all that going on, I want you to know, don't look to your government for your peace. In the middle of this moment, God will download his peace, his shalom to us. Can I get an amen to that? His peace comes even into prison. Just this last week, Pastor John Carlos and I flew to Texas to go to the Polonsky prison. And there we went to visit people on death row. Pastor John Carlos led worship, I was able. to preach, and then we were able to go cell to cell

and to communicate with these inmates. You have to know something, that these men that are in on death row are people who have already been given their final verdict. Some of them have been in there for years, they're just awaiting their execution date. And the reality is that behind there, they're only allowed out for a shower twice a week, and they're led away by armed guards to get the shower and look back. They get one hour a week and a yard to work around and have fitness. The rest of the time, they're behind these doors and these walls. And you would think that all hope is lost and it's all done. But the beauty is, behind there, people are finding Jesus. And when they find Jesus, Jesus starts a new story in their life. His peace bypasses all of the other things and reaches these people. We were partnering with, you see the picture there, with a group of people, including Kevin and Noah Ramsby, who lead Fight to Forgive, which is our Kingdom Builder partner. And they're the ones that deliver the gospel on a regular basis. We were able to, there was food that was delivered, and it's amazing what God is doing behind those doors. But you need to know this, in the worst of the moments of life,

even though they may deserve their punishment, and you can debate whether or not there should be a death penalty or not, but they are deserving a penalty of some sort. In that moment, there is a community forming where the church is alive and well. And though their bodies may pass away, they're gonna be with Jesus in paradise, just like the thief next to him when Jesus was on the cross and said, this day, you'll be with me in paradise. The promises of what God is doing there is something that could be repeated in every part of society. That may feel like the lowest and most further place away from where you are, but I'll tell you, whatever circumstance you're going through, Jesus will reach you. And his peace is available in your sector, whether you're a down-and-outer or an up-and-outer, Jesus' peace is available for every person. And his ministry is to continue to reach others in a way that nobody else would. So when Jesus says in Matthew 25 that he calls us to go in, he said this. He said, then these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink or a stranger and show you hospitality or naked and give you clothing?

When did we ever see you sick in prison and visit you? And the king will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me. I think there's something about the things that are missing. The prince of peace has stepped into broken and fractured families, bringing a missing peace. There's something available for all of us in and through pain and dysfunction. Jesus' peace fills what is missing. In poverty, in divorce, in abandonment, peace is wholeness. So you don't have to identify yourself by what you're missing. Jesus fills your cup, if you will. You are a whole person. And you have confidence to face the future because of his peace. The fact is we live in a fractured world where something is missing. And as with math, fractions, I got a board up here. Some of you are like, why is that board on the platform? We have a professional PhD level EDD mathematician on our staff, Dr. Lori. And she knows math better than anybody, okay? So by no means do I know what I'm talking about here. I'm gonna go very elementary, all right? A fraction has a top number and a bottom number. The bottom number is whole and complete. Nothing missing. The top number represents what is there,

but it also shows you what is missing. How much is missing here? One quarter, right? So something is missing. When Jesus' peace steps in, he completes the equation. So this is what I'd like you to consider. No matter this Christmas. and what you feel like you're missing. If I were to ask you, how's your home life? You might come up with all the things that aren't working right. You might think of all of the fractions, the missing elements. I don't know what those things are. Perhaps there are many people in our church that you lost a loved one this year, and you deeply feel it. This is the first Christmas. I wanna honor that. That's a real feeling. That's a real loss. But as you look at all of the various fractions, things that are missing, you might be like, mine is zero out of 10. Your bank account's empty, none of the relationships are working. You might feel like nothing's right. I'll just tell you this, the same answer is true. Jesus' peace completes your fraction. Now I want you to think about this.

Some of you though, some of you right now, you think I'm nine tenths. I'm okay the way I am. I've got everything. I got the job I wanted, I got the spouse I wanted, I got all the stuff I wanted, I'm doing well in my career, but you have something that is nagging at you. Something's still not right. Something is still missing. And I want to speak to you that the gift that Jesus is is your missing piece. You can buy another house, you can buy more cars, you can get a house at the lake, you can get all kinds of stuff, but it still isn't gonna fill the void of what you feel inside. Some of you are like, well, if I just got a husband, I would be okay. But all you're doing is you're speaking infractions to me. You're saying I'm not okay today unless I got something. No, listen, you don't need a husband. You need Jesus. Come on, somebody. You don't need something else to fill it in. I have long since left my notes somewhere in here. What are you missing? I want you to think about this. Believers, perhaps those that are hearing here, you're not quite a follower of Jesus yet. You're thinking about this.

I want you to think about everybody. What are you missing? What do you speak out of? What's your fraction that you talk about all the time? The thing that bothers you, the thing that develops anxiety in your heart and your life. The thing that you're just like, I would be happy, but I would be okay, but that's your fraction. Something's missing that a purchase online won't fill. Let me give you good news today. You ready for some good news? God put extraordinary emphasis on a lot of different people in the Christmas story. So when he weaves it together, you'll read it again. We have a Christmas Eve service that's coming and we're gonna talk the Christmas story this week, but you'll notice in there that there are shepherds and wise men and an innkeeper. There are government officials. There's Herod and the Jewish authorities, and there's the Romans, the occupying force. There's wealthy and common folk, and there's a carpenter named Joseph with a pregnant fiance. Why does God go to such great lengths to put so many characters in his gift story? It's because he wants you to know, no matter who you are, where you're from, what stage of life you're in, his peace is for you. Can I get an amen to that?

Think about it. It's for you. John 14, 27, I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart, and the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Philippians 4, 7, then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. See, the truth is this. We all need his peace. Until Jesus returns, we have fractions in our story, and there are moments where we need him to fill what we can't. Something is missing, and we need to turn to Jesus now. For all of us, the story is this. starting point is recognizing that something is missing. The fact that it's missing doesn't mean there's something wrong with us. It's really important where we determine how we complete that missing piece. How do we fill in the gap? When you think about how it talks about it in Scripture, in Romans 3.23, it says, for everyone has sinned, for we all fall short of God's glorious standard. And then in Romans 6.23, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life

through Christ Jesus our Lord. If you have not received the free gift of God yet, you can today. I don't even, I don't wanna pass by those of you right now that you're not living in God's peace and you've not surrendered your life to Christ yet. That's okay. All of us are on the same level. Our sin disqualifies us. We move into a fraction, if you will. But because Jesus came, he's given us the free gift to complete what we've messed up, what we can't accumulate on our own, that we can't be good enough to deserve. He brings that in. And I believe that Jesus completes everything. Whatever is missing, his death and his resurrection fills us up. So this Christmas, we have the opportunity to receive his gift and also to share his peace. So we don't just receive it, but he wants us to share it with others. There's a traditional Christian liturgical practice that's called passing the peace. Anybody ever hear that? And passing the peace in these worship practices or services where people greet each other, they're much like we did earlier in this service. And then they say things to each other

like, peace be with you, with handshakes and hugs and smiles. Why don't you take a moment, turn to the next person next to you and say, peace be with you. Yeah. Now, in order for you to share something, you need to be in a place where you feel like you have something to give. When we're in a place of insecurity and we're worried about what's missing, we're not the best versions of ourselves around family. I know I'm gonna step into some stuff right now, but we're gonna move into thinking about what's coming this week. The people that you're gonna bump shoulders with, be at a Christmas party with. People at work or people in your family. People, let's be honest, bug you. Irritates you. And when they irritate you, you lose your peace. Right? What would it look like if you weren't dependent on what others did around you? What would it be like to show up and you know your sister's gonna push your buttons? You know your brother is gonna bring up old stuff. You know your mom and dad are never gonna say, I'm sorry for things they should have said I'm sorry for. What if you didn't sit around waiting for them to change,

but you showed up and you were whole, you were forgiven. You're no longer three quarters. You're now four out of four filled up because Jesus filled that up. And now you don't need something from somebody else. You have the ability to give the peace away. Come on, somebody. What if? What if we did that? We have to fully embrace the fact that we're loved and we're imperfect. And I'm not good enough all the time. And I make mistakes. Thank you, Jesus, that your grace is sufficient, that you love me anyways. How many are thankful for that? He loves you anyways. But then when we're receiving that grace, don't keep it in. Don't keep that peace, that wholeness in. Share it with others. The life change on the other side could be powerful. Paul said that, hey, listen, it doesn't depend on the circumstances around me. I can go into any circumstance. This is the way he said in Philippians 4, verse 11. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing. or with everything.

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. And then verse 13, read that out loud with me. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. I can do it because he gives me strength. Jesus is your missing piece. What if you acknowledge what is missing, but trusted Jesus to fill in what you can't? What if you took that present that he's offered, took the bow tie off and took the wrapping off and opened the package and actually received that piece in? What would that feel like? And then in that kind of space, if you are able to share your struggle with Jesus, letting him fill what you can't, Matthew 11, 28, then Jesus said, come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. This is what I think. I think the opportunity is not to be upset about what we don't have. Wishing that our relationship with certain people was better, waiting for somebody else to say, I'm sorry. What if we just said, Lord, I don't wanna be angry anymore. I don't wanna be filled with anxiety anymore. I don't wanna be frustrated anymore. I want to receive your peace. And then we took the next step and said,

Lord, I wanna see my broken cousin, my parents, my friends who are so bitter and aren't ever gonna change unless they experience the peace that I have. And we step into the scenarios that we're gonna go into and we have his peace, the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy, and peace. Having that capacity to share it and let it spill off of others instead of getting angry, instead of waiting for them to change, letting the peace of God which passes all understanding guard our hearts and our minds. I wanna end today's message with a story about a guy named Big White. Big White was a convict that was on death row when I went there in 2024 and actually saw him, met him, heard him singing. He, as a young man, was trained well by his parents but got into the wrong crowd and started running with some drug runners and ended up getting worse and worse, was in jail, getting caught, and all those kind of things. And then he murdered two teenage girls. That led to him being convicted and sentenced to execution. Now, many of the prisoners that are in this prison system in Texas, they can be in there for decades and Big White was in there for decades. And during that time, he was kind of pulling away from others and somewhat a bitter man. He was an alcoholic.

He got worse and worse until 2022 when Jesus found him. And Jesus went in, his peace went through the bars in the wall, past the security, and even past his own defenses. Jesus save-saved him. You know the difference between getting saved and save-saved? He got save-saves. He got save-saves. So much so that his fraction went from zero and 10 to nine and 10. As you follow Jesus, he begins to fill out some of the dysfunction of your life over time. And then God began to put back his relationships with his now grown son. And so many things happened. The prisoners around him knew Big White and he would sing out. In fact, he loved the song, I Trust in God. ♪ I trust in God, my Savior, the one ♪ That one. And he loved that song and he would sing loud. And when I was there in 2024, I heard him singing loud. And there was no more beautiful sound than hearing these guys. by the way, just no more beautiful sound. And then Big White got his execution date, his death date. And he went to be with Jesus. On the execution table, he was singing while he died, I trust in God.

The peace of God is available for anyone, anywhere, at any point in your life. And it will transform you. I want you to see just a little bit of his story today. Watch this with me. I hugged him, and I said, Glenn, you're going to be at a place that people's not going to like you, but I want you to love them. And God told you to love them. He was a stronghold on the football team, you know. And he hit his knee, and he just started, you know, doing things that he wasn't raised to do. He would motivate you. He would do anything for you that's right. But then the drug life just took him. They came up on TV, what they said that he did, my mom knew, but, you know, she wasn't really talking to us about it. I was probably in the 10th grade when I finally realized he was actually on death row. Did those girls deserve to die? No, sir, they didn't. Big White always believed in God, ever since I met him. But in 2022, a shift happened in him. He became one of the greatest change agents, Texas death row. He was a worshiper. He led people in worship. I want to be baptized. It didn't feel good, you know. My dad was bragging on me. The way he had influenced how he was respected. I go up there to pray for him, and he ended up praying for me. And he didn't just surrender his life to Jesus as Savior,

he surrendered his life to Jesus as Lord. I said, you know, I lost my dad, but I felt like I lost my best friend also. God turned my child around. He changed. It probably feels like once you get behind walls, you can't change, but you can change if God is behind the wall, just like he got here. The way that man talked, singing, man, that's Big White. Praise the Lord. Would you stand with me in each of our locations? We put our trust in the Lord. We let go of what we can't fix ourselves. We trust him. He gives us a peace that makes everything as it should be. It doesn't change every circumstance, past decisions. We can't fix everything. But we can be whole where we are. And that's the starting point for other changes that we might dream of. For when God begins to transform our souls, he puts families back together again. He fixes those things that we can't on our own. Today his peace is available to everyone under the sound of my voice. And I believe that he wants to deliver his peace through his governance, despite all of the obstacles. When we humble ourselves, God comes near. And he's near to us today. In a few moments, I want to pray for everybody about where you're going to go into and where we're sending you back into the world to pass the peace. But I want to give an opportunity today for those of you that you need to surrender to Christ first. The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.