251207 The Arrival: Peace

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus gives true peace, not worldly peace.

When anxiety presses and the heart is troubled, remember that Jesus offers a different kind of peace — not a temporary fix but a sustaining presence that calms the inner life. This peace is not based on circumstances or the absence of problems, but on Jesus' promise to be with you and to give you His peace. Lean into that promise when the world feels loud and overwhelming. [21:51]

John 14:27 (ESV)
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Reflection: When you lie awake tonight with worries replaying, what single sentence from Jesus' promise can you speak aloud to replace the next anxious thought?

Day 2: Jesus is the Prince who brings peace.

Recognize Jesus as the Zar Shalom — the one in charge of true shalom — who arrives to bring deep rest, wholeness, and tranquility to a fractured world. This name reminds the heart that peace is not merely a feeling but the rule and reign of Christ over the chaos of life. Invite him to rule in the particular corner of your life that feels most restless. [28:18]

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Reflection: What one area of your life needs to acknowledge Jesus as Zar Shalom this week, and what is one practical choice you will make to hand that area over to his rule?

Day 3: Perfect peace comes when thoughts are fixed.

God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on him; peace is cultivated by fixing thoughts on God's character and promises rather than the swirl of circumstances. Fixing the mind is an act — a daily leaning, a deliberate resting of thoughts on truth, not a passive waiting for problems to disappear. Practice redirecting attention to God's goodness when your mind begins to drift toward worry. [37:55]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: Write down three anxious thoughts you face most often; for each, name one specific biblical truth you will deliberately think on this week and where you will place a visible reminder of it.

Day 4: God’s gift through Jesus grants peace with God.

Because God sent his Son to save and not to condemn, anyone who believes is offered forgiveness, cleansing, and restored relationship with the Father — the foundation of true peace. This peace with God removes the ultimate fear of judgment and opens the soul to rest in the righteousness provided in Christ. If uncertainty about standing before God is stealing your peace, return to this gospel truth and trust his gracious gift. [31:58]

John 3:16–17 (ESV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Reflection: If you feel unsure about your relationship with God, what concrete step of faith (confession, prayer, speaking with a pastor, reading a gospel passage) will you take in the next 48 hours to rest in the promise of John 3:16–17?

Day 5: Prayer replaces anxiety and guards hearts.

Paul calls believers to turn worry into prayer — to present requests with thanksgiving — and promises that God's peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This is practical: bring each fear to God, thank him for his past faithfulness, and watch how his presence reorders the heart’s protection against anxieties. Make prayer the first habit when worry arrives, not the last resort. [52:58]

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Tonight before bed, write a short prayer naming one worry, give thanks for one concrete good gift from God, and present the request to him — then note any change in your peace by morning.

Sermon Summary

Peace is promised by Jesus, but so many of us feel more anxiety than calm. We’re bombarded by crises in the news, the pressures of life, and the tensions that come with holidays and family. Into this anxious world, Jesus steps as the Prince of Peace—Sar Shalom—the One in charge of wholeness, rest, and fullness. Peace on earth begins with peace with God. That’s why the virgin birth matters: Jesus did not inherit Adam’s sin, lived a sinless life, and became the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. In Him we don’t just get a new try—we become a new creation. We’re no longer condemned, and we can live with settled confidence that we are at peace with our Father.

But there is also the peace of God—shalom shalom—perfect, unbroken well-being. This is not the absence of problems; it’s the presence of God in the middle of them. Isaiah says God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him. The Hebrew word for fixed, samak, means to lean on completely. You fall in the direction you lean, so where are you leaning—on your own understanding, or on the Lord’s character, promises, and presence? The paradox is that peace grows in surrender, not control. Anxiety spikes when we overestimate our ability to manage outcomes and underestimate God’s goodness. Sometimes God even withdraws a sense of peace to protect us from a harmful decision or to realign our path with His.

Practically, we lean into God through prayer and thanksgiving. Paul says as we present our requests to God, His peace—beyond understanding—will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This guarding peace is not fragile; it stands watch over us when everything else shakes. When God brings us back into alignment, the anxieties that once gripped us begin to shake off. We don’t deny reality; we anchor in a greater reality: Christ has made peace with God for us, and Christ Himself is our peace with us. Fix your thoughts on Him, surrender what you can’t control, and walk in His perfect peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus gives us peace with God Through the virgin birth and His sinless life, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice who takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. Peace with God isn’t earned by performance; it’s received by faith. This assurance settles the question, “Where do I stand with God?” and frees us to live boldly loved. [29:48]
2. Perfect peace is God’s presence Shalom shalom is not a life without problems but a life anchored in God’s nearness. You know you have it not when everything goes right, but when things go wrong and your heart remains steady. This peace is complete well-being—inside and out—because God Himself is with you. [37:55]
3. You fall where you lean Our minds must be fixed—leaning fully—on God’s truth, not our own understanding. Whatever we lean on will determine our direction under pressure. Lean into God’s character, His Word, and His ways, and your life will fall into alignment with His peace. [41:46]
4. Peace grows through surrendered trust Anxiety often signals we’re overestimating our control and underestimating God’s goodness. The paradox of peace is that it comes when we release outcomes into His hands. Sometimes God withholds a sense of peace to protect and refine us, steering us toward His better way. [44:40]
5. Prayer ushers in guarding peace As we bring every situation to God with thanksgiving, His peace surpasses understanding and stands guard over our hearts and minds. This is an active, protective peace that resists chaos and recenters our attention on Christ. Prayer doesn’t always change circumstances first; it changes us first. [51:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:59] - Family chaos and hunger for peace
[21:51] - The anxious world we inhabit
[26:25] - Advent: waiting and perfect timing
[28:18] - Jesus our Sar Shalom
[29:48] - Peace with God: the virgin birth
[35:50] - How to experience perfect peace
[37:55] - Shalom shalom, not problem-free
[41:46] - You fall where you lean
[44:40] - Surrender over control
[46:46] - Prayer of surrender
[49:55] - Counterfeits versus sacred shalom
[51:16] - Pray, give thanks, receive peace
[54:03] - Alignment: shake off anxiety
[55:49] - Giving and next steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
- Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
- Philippians 4:6–7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Observation questions (3–4)

What promise about peace does Jesus make in John 14:27, and how does that promise contrast with the way the world gives peace? [21:51]
Isaiah 26:3 says God keeps in “perfect peace” the person whose mind is fixed on him. What does the text mean by being “fixed” or “stayed” on God? [37:55]
According to Philippians 4:6–7, what practical steps are connected to receiving God’s guarding peace? Which step seems hardest to practice right now? [52:58]
The sermon pointed to the virgin birth and Jesus’ sinless life as the basis for peace with God. How does that doctrine explain the confidence a person can have about standing before God? [29:48]

Interpretation questions (3–4)

What is the theological significance of Jesus being called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) for both the believer’s standing before God and daily experience of calm? [28:18]
The Hebrew word samak (to lean on completely) is used to describe how minds are fixed on God. How does the image of “leaning” clarify what trust looks like in ordinary, pressured moments? [41:46]
The message suggested that peace often grows through surrender rather than control. In what ways does overestimating one’s control and underestimating God’s goodness disrupt peace? [44:40]
It was taught that sometimes God withdraws a felt sense of peace to protect or redirect a person. How should one discern whether a lack of peace is a warning from God or simply anxiety to be prayed through? [46:46]

Application questions (4–7)

Identify one area right now where you are leaning on your own understanding instead of on God (work, finances, family, future). What would “leaning fully” on God look like this week in that area? Be specific. [41:46]
Name one thing you are trying to control that is not yours to control. What is one concrete step you will take today to surrender that thing to God? (Pray, tell a friend, stop researching, write a surrender prayer, etc.) [46:18]
Do you have assurance of peace with God (knowing your sin is forgiven and you are a new creation)? If you feel uncertain, what next step will you take this week to receive or reaffirm that peace (read John 3:16–17, confess, speak to a believer)? [31:58]
Practice the Philippians pattern for a week: bring one specific worry to God each morning with thanksgiving, then note any change in your heart that evening. Which worry will you start with, and who will you ask to check in with you about it? [52:58]
Recall a time when a sense of peace was removed and later proved to be God’s protection or redirection. How did you respond then, and what did you learn that you can apply if God does that again? [48:04]
When people are brought back into alignment with God, the sermon used the image of “shaking off” anxiety. What spiritual practices help you “shake off” anxiety when you sense God realigning you (Scripture reading, worship, confession, Sabbath, counsel)? Commit to one practice for the next two weeks. [54:03]

(End of study guide)

Sermon Clips

I mean thank goodness it's digital I mean we have thousands of pictures of different things And then it was just like Oh this is painful to edit It's just like delete, delete, delete, delete, delete, delete You know what this is just good enough Here we go But it was chaos Trying to get everybody right in a picture And then what killed me isI was on Facebook And I saw some other families And they had family photos from their Christmas gatheringAnd it looked so goodAnd I'm like It raised this question in your notes number one Why do we see peace everywhere But we don't feel peace in our hearts [00:20:45] (39 seconds) #PeaceIsntJustPhotos

This word is for somebody today Who's feeling anxious Maybe a little bit afraid Jesus promised us peace His peace And yet many people It's common that we feel more anxiety than we do peace In fact we have a whole book That's been written on research Of the anxious generations Next generation They're defined by anxiety Most of the time what we find is not peaceBut our hearts are in trouble Our hearts are not at rest And we look at itAnd it doesn't take long to figure out maybe why When we just look at our world and look at our life [00:21:51] (48 seconds) #PeaceForTheAnxious

And when you're going Through situations And you're going through Cash You're going through some hurt You're kind of always wondering Maybe Is even peace possible Is it possible For this anxious generation Is it possible In a society That's so charged With anxiety That we're carrying around All the time Is it possible Really to truly have Peace Peace today In 2025 [00:23:55] (21 seconds) #PeaceInAnxiousTimes

And what it really says We take a very focused Amount of energy And spiritual focusOf focusing our attention And preparing our hearts For the coming of Jesus And so for centuries Centuries and centuries Christians have been Practicing this And saying This is a significant event That we just don't want To just pass by on a calendar But we really want To impact us And so they fast And they pray And they search the scriptures And preparing our hearts For Jesus coming Not only do we do it For Jesus coming To be born But also Not for the first coming But also for his second coming For he will come again [00:25:21] (32 seconds) #PrepareYourHeartForJesus

Zar Shalom Prince of peace That's what it means Number two Zar Shalom Prince of peace Let's break that A little bit Zar Means A The one In charge The one In charge Is the Zar The lord The chief The general B Shalom You know We might Take that as a greeting It was a Hebrew greeting But it means RestIt means Tranquility Wholeness Fullness Of peace [00:28:26] (30 seconds) #ZarShalom

Who is Jesus He is the prince Of peace He is the Zar Shalom He is the lord Of shalom He is the general Of shalom What kind of peace Does Jesus give What kind of peace Does the prince Of peace Bring to us There's two kinds First is a He brings peace With God Peace With God Peace on earth Starts with a Peace With God [00:28:56] (28 seconds) #PeaceStartsWithGod

This is really Important Remember at Christmas timeIt's more than any other time We would say Jesus is born And Jesus is born Of a Come onVirgin Virgin Mary Jesus is born Of a virgin Mary We say this More often Any time In this time of year We say Jesus is born Of a virgin Mary And was conceived By theHoly Spirit Right This is really ImportantTo our peace It really matters To our peace You see Jesus was born Of a virgin Conceived by the Holy Spirit In other words His father Was his heavenly father He didn't have An earthly father [00:29:24] (45 seconds) #ConceivedByTheHolySpirit

Nobody teaches you How to sin Right Nobody taught a baby How to say Mine They learn it All on their own Why That's our sinful natureJesus Jesus Didn't have That He had a spiritual Father conceived By the Holy Spirit And the Holy Spirit That dwells in him And therefore He could be then The perfect sacrifice The Lamb of God That John the Baptist Proclaimed Who can come To take away The sins of the world [00:30:43] (30 seconds) #SinlessSavior

This is the good news That the shepherds Understood This is the news That they ran And told everyoneThat you and I Have this peace That's in us That we can go Tell everyone One by one That Jesus Had come to us And has made Peace with us Through this Virgin Born of the Holy Spirit Who took on Our flesh And took on Our sin And did the work For us This is the Exciting news Of Christmas Jesus the prince Of peace Who is peace Who has come And done it For us To give us Peace with God [00:34:47] (37 seconds) #PrinceOfPeaceIsBorn

And in that This is a HebrewTheological term That comes up That's called Hebran B Hebranic doubling When they doHebraic doubling What does that mean That means a linguistic Technique in the Hebrew Bible In which the word Repeated This can convey Intensified Intensified meaning Maybe we bolded Maybe you sent a text With a slam Or explosion Right It's an intensified Meaning When the word Is put back So see Shalom Shalom Means This perfect And unbroken Peace It's complete Well being Both inwardAnd outward [00:37:14] (43 seconds) #ShalomShalom

See number four Is really important for us Because this is not In our mindsetPeace isn't found In the absence of problems Our whole American construct Is built on the idea That I can get peace By getting rid of Every problem I have And the reality is You're never going to Get rid of problems You're always going to Have brokenness Things are going to break Things aren't going to work The kids are going to bother You're going to Your wife is going to nag you Your spouse is going to Be on your nerves That doesn't mean That takes away Perfect peace [00:38:24] (34 seconds) #PeaceAmidProblems

Perfect peace Is different than that It's based not on this Outward circumstances Or a problem free world But number five Perfect peace Is found in the presence Of God In the presence Of God Not in the absence Of problem But in the presence Of GodThat's why the Bible Says as Paul writes In the New Testament You have a peace That goes beyond Beyond all understanding Because when I'm Looking at your life You're looking at Your own life And you're seeing Everything going on You should be a messBut you're not [00:38:59] (38 seconds) #PeaceInHisPresence

And many of you Who've been walking With Jesus Understand that You could be having A marital struggle And a strife going on And you know You know what You're leaning into God And you're You know This is a hard season Maybe you're in But you just Have this peace Because you know As you lean into God God is at work And God is gonna Bring you back together Under his grace [00:39:37] (24 seconds) #LeanOnGodInMarriage

Or maybe You've had a child Who's walked away From the church Or walked away From the faith Or a grandchildAnd you got I mean This amazing heartbreak That goes on With that And a struggle And you're praying Over them You're praying And you You know This is really A bothersome You got this peace Because you know God loves them More than even you do He gave his own son He is seeking them That he's going after them [00:40:01] (24 seconds) #GodPursuesEveryHeart

Or it could be That it's difficult To pay bills And you're like Man there's a lot Of uncertainty Going in the world A lot of uncertainty Going to your job And you get nervous And you have anxiety About it And you feel that anxiety But at the same time You go You know what I know God's word And I know that God Will supply meWith every need I need And I can trust in him And I can still pour out And do my tithe And my generosity And I have peace [00:40:39] (26 seconds) #TrustGodForProvision

That word fixed Number A in your notes Is samak Is to lean on completely To fully rest oneself To lean on completely To lean on completely Fully rest oneself It is a word picture here Can you see itYou'll be kept In perfect peace With all your thoughts If you're leaning On God You'll be kept In a perfect peace If your thoughts Are leaning on his truth [00:41:17] (24 seconds) #LeanCompletelyOnGod

So let's just play A little game hereHere's a question I need you To answer out loud OkayWhere do people fallWhere do people fall Which way I should say Which way do people fall Down That's good We don't fall up That's true Which way do we fall HuhForward I'm kind of teaching That way No We fall This is 100% research Figured out We fall Wherever we're leaning You fall Wherever you are leaningYou always fall In the direction You lean So here's the question Which way Are you leaning [00:41:43] (49 seconds) #YouFallWhereYouLean

And so in all your ways You know him In your heart In all the ways That you seek him That you know him All the ways The word That tells your truth You lean on the goodness of GodYou lean on the promises You lean on God's strength In all your ways What are you doing You are surrendering to God So here's the paradox to peace Is number sixThe peace of God Is found in surrender The peace of God Is found in surrender And not controlNot control [00:43:40] (34 seconds) #PeaceThroughSurrender

Almost every time You're worried You're overwhelmed You're anxious You're up at 2 a.m.Trying to figure things out Think through stuff Manipulate things Get your way Get the way you want to get The outcome you want You desire When you're doing that What are you doing You're doing two things In your notes Number one You're overestimating Your ability to controlYou're overestimating Your ability to control And you're underestimating Number two The goodness of God [00:44:20] (24 seconds) #TrustGodsGoodness

But there are those times When we don't have peace And even times We don't have peaceWhen it's something good That we think is good That we wantBecause God has removed His peace Because he's trying To save us From doing something stupidRight You've all seen this Maybe you've experienced this You've seen somebody Who is just Wants to go with this person And is in love With this person And think this is The best person For their life And you're looking At it going This is a train wreck This relationship Is never going to work [00:48:59] (33 seconds) #GodWithholdsPeaceToProtect

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