How do we cultivate peaceful lives and peaceful attitudes? Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matt 5:9) There’s clearly great benefit to being a peacemaker, but it’s not so easy to put this into practice!

The first step to cultivating peacefulness in our lives, families and communities is to know peace with God. Knowing that we are at peace with God helps us to see the world through His eyes. We see ourselves as recipients of grace and mercy. We don’t deserve to be called children of God. It’s not a ‘right’, as such; we are not entitled to it. It’s the free gift of God to all who will welcome Jesus as their King.

The spirit of entitlement and arrogance which tramples over other people and expects favour on demand is at odds with living in peace. Jesus shows us a different way: the way of being meek and gentle (Matt 11:28-30), the way of service rather than demanding to be served. (Matt 20:28)

Christmas At The Embankment actually took place this year in the Salvation Army building, as recent rain had made the Embankment site very muddy and slippery. We had a great afternoon doing Chrismtas crafts and singing carols, old and new.

Our thanks to Jenny from the Area Team, Michael from the Railway Embankment group and Alison and Jackie from the Salvation Army for looking after us all so well!

This morning we looked at words of knowledge, prophecy and deliverance from evil spirits in the book of Acts and realised that the miraculous happens because the spiritual world is real and God wants to lead and guide us into a knowledge of Him. Many do not believe in miracles because they believe only in a material, physical world, but this worldview precludes the miraculous because it precludes God. As Jesus made plain to the Sadducees, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” (Matt 22:32) There is so much more the life than what we can experience from our five senses; the spiritual world is real, even though it may be invisible and intangible msot of the time. Miracles bring us into connection with this spiritual world in a tangible and visible way. They literally connect us to the divine, opening our eyes to the invisible, enabling us to see and know that God is real and at work in the world.

In the book of Acts, we see the reality of this spiritual world on different occasions, showing us the contrast between good and evil. Simon was one who had practised sorcery before his conversion, which was largely due to seeing Philip perform miracles in Jesus’s name. (Acts 8:9-24) When he saw the apostles laying hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit, he wanted to be able to buy that same power, but Peter told him this was impossible; miracles happen not because of our ability or financial prowess, but because of dependence on God. Another example of someone who opposed the gospel message was Elymas, who became blind following Paul’s condemnation of him. (Acts 13:6-12) A word of knowledge from God demonstrated His complete knowledge and power to the proconsul who then became a believer.

Later in Philippi, a word of knowledge revealed to Paul that the slave woman’s speech was not from God and this led to her deliverance. (Acts 16:16-18) We need spiritual discernment at all times, because the enemy often masquerades as an angel of light (see 2 Cor 11:13-14). Jesus reminded us that words are not enough; a good tree will bear good fruit, but words alone will not guarantee us spiritual relationship. (Matt 7:16-23) What is needed is a personal relationship with God (described in terms of the good Shepherd and the sheep who know his voice in John 10).

When God speaks to us, the miraculous is involved! Sometimes He speaks audibly, but more often through dreams, visions, ‘nudges’ and even through circumstances, as Paul discovered on his missionary journeys (see Acts 16:6-10) It is our personal relationship through Jesus which matters, as the sons of Sceva discovered (Acts 19:13-19). Miracles testify to who God is and what He can do and often result in people coming to faith. In order to confirm His word and to show people His power, love and mercy, God works miracles through ordinary believers – even today

In a world of wars and personal animosity, on the second Sunday in Advent, we focus on the theme of peace, recognising that peace with God is the pathway to personal peace. ‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,’ Paul tells us. (Rom 5:1) Jesus’ arrival at Bethlehem heralded the start of this reconciliation with God, hence He is known as the ‘Prince of peace.’ (Is 9:6)

Jesus teaches us how to forgive others and live at peace with them, as He forgave those who betrayed Him and put Him to death. Forgiveness is probably the biggest single step to peace. We have to learn to let go of our hurts, prejudices and grievances and to forgive others as we have been forgiven. (Eph 4:32) Only then can we move towards peace.

Christmas is a time of indulgence, and often we eat, drink and spend money in excess. There is nothing wrong with treats and festivity, but as we consider daily disciplines, we do need to reflect on living wisely, which at times means saying ‘no’ to that umpteenth chocolate or glass of wine.

Far more important than food and drink, however, is the need for daily discipline in our attitudes to sin and God. Often, we shrug our shoulders at wrongdoing. It’s a ‘little white lie.’ It’s ‘no big deal.’ We lose our tempers over nothing and don’t feel any regret at the hurt we cause. We rationalise our behaviour and make excuses for ourselves while ranting over the insensitivity and rudeness of others.

God wants us to live righteous, holy lives 365 days a year. In Titus 2:11-13, we read, ^‘For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’ This is how we need to live all year round.