Revive Our Peace | Christmas Revival

Devotional

Day 1: Peace Announced Before It’s Felt, Even in Chaos

Heaven declared peace while the world still groaned under oppression. Peace is not God rearranging the room; it’s God walking into the room. You can receive peace before you feel it, because peace is a Person drawing near. Let the announcement of peace land in you right where the pressure still sits, and welcome the Prince of Peace to inhabit what hasn’t changed. Today, dare to believe peace is possible again [05:35].

Luke 2:14 — Glory belongs to God in the highest places, and on earth he grants peace to those embraced by his favor.

Reflection: Where is your life still chaotic right now, and how will you invite God to enter that exact space this week without first asking Him to remove the chaos?

Day 2: Active Waiting, Not Anxious Waiting

Simeon shows us how to wait with God instead of waiting without Him. The Spirit rested on him, so his waiting held calm, not frenzy; faith, not fretfulness. We live in a microwave world, but peace is slow-cooked by the Spirit in a trusting heart. God develops depth, not just speed, and delay doesn’t have to disturb the soul when you keep company with Him. You can wait without worrying because the Holy Spirit is with you [10:21].

Luke 2:25–27 — In Jerusalem lived Simeon, upright and devoted, looking for Israel’s comfort; the Holy Spirit rested on him. The Spirit had guided him to the temple courts at just the right moment to meet the Child.

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can shift from “microwave-speed expectations” to “crock-pot trust” in the specific situation you’re waiting on right now?

Day 3: Peace Through Promise, Not Control

Simeon didn’t know when or how, but he had a word from God, and that was enough. Control feeds anxiety; trust produces peace. Many of us are exhausted not because God failed but because we’re managing what He never assigned. Release your timeline and take hold of His promise, and you’ll find your soul settling under His care. Peace revives wherever trust replaces control [15:02].

Luke 2:26 — The Holy Spirit had made it known to him that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Anointed One.

Reflection: What piece of your situation are you still trying to manage, and what would it look like today to return that one piece to God’s promise rather than your timeline?

Day 4: Seeing Jesus Clearly—Jesus Is Enough

When Simeon held Jesus, questions quieted and his soul found rest. He asked to be released “in peace,” a freedom from inner anxiety that presence alone could give. Outcomes hadn’t shifted, but fear lost its grip because Jesus was enough. Hold Him with the arms of faith, and you will discover a deeper calm than answers can provide. Let His nearness be your peace today [19:24].

Luke 2:29–32 — Master, You can now release Your servant in peace; my eyes have seen Your salvation, prepared for all people—a revealing light for the nations and an honor for Israel.

Reflection: When fear rises, what specific practice will help you “hold Jesus” this week—a worship song, a breath prayer, a few minutes of silence, or a Scripture you will return to daily?

Day 5: Practicing Peace That Transcends Circumstances

Peace isn’t passive; it is practiced. Like a snow globe, life may keep swirling, but peace comes when you stop letting the storm shake you. Pray, petition, present, and God guards—this is the rhythm that steadies a mind prone to worst-case replays and burdens never assigned by God. Unplug from the noise and plug into His presence; guard the gift He gives. Let the peace of Christ stand watch over your heart and mind [30:01].

Philippians 4:6–7 — Don’t be pulled apart by worry, but in every circumstance bring your requests to God through prayer and heartfelt petition, wrapped with thanksgiving; then God’s peace, beyond what you can figure out, will stand guard over your heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What recurring “worst-case scenario” thought will you replace this week with a simple practice of prayer, petition, and thanksgiving the moment it appears?

Sermon Summary

Peace is possible again. Not the “I’m holding it together” kind, but the kind that settles the soul before anything around you changes. The angels announced peace while Rome still ruled, oppression still pressed, and danger still lurked. That tells me peace isn’t God changing my environment; it’s God entering it. Luke introduces us to Simeon—a righteous, devout man who lived through political tension, spiritual silence, and delayed promises—and yet he was at peace because the Holy Spirit was upon him. He waited actively, not anxiously. That’s the secret: waiting with God produces peace; waiting without God breeds anxiety.

I called us to trust God’s promise over our need for control. Simeon didn’t know when or how he’d see the Messiah—he only knew God had spoken. Control feeds anxiety; trust produces peace. Peace grows like a crock-pot meal, not a microwave snack; God develops it, He doesn’t rush it. And when Simeon finally held Jesus, he didn’t interrogate heaven or demand guarantees. He simply embraced Christ—and peace flooded his soul. “Dismiss your servant in peace” means released without anxiety. Peace comes when Jesus becomes enough.

I warned that peace is under attack. I witnessed it ministering to men on death row—many said, “I lost myself before I lost everything else.” Pressure replaced peace, performance replaced presence, and destruction followed. Especially to my brothers: when peace leaves the soul, no amount of success can hold a man together. Peace isn’t a byproduct of achievement; it’s a gift from God that must be guarded.

Nothing changed for Simeon—Rome still stood—but peace held him because he held Jesus. Think of the snow globe: the storm didn’t leave; peace came when I stopped shaking it. I named where I lose peace: rehearsing worst-case scenarios, carrying burdens God didn’t assign, confusing activity with assurance, and plugging into everything but God’s presence. Scripture gives the path: pray, petition, present—and the peace of God guards your heart and mind. Peace isn’t passive; it’s practiced. And the Prince of Peace is here.

Key Takeaways

1. Peace is announced before felt God speaks peace into chaos before the environment shifts, inviting us to anchor in His presence rather than in outcomes. Receiving peace by proclamation trains the soul to trust what God says over what we see. The angels taught us that God’s word lands in real-world mess, not sterile conditions. Let peace be welcomed before it is witnessed. [05:35]
2. Wait actively with the Spirit Simeon waited without panic because the Holy Spirit rested on him. Active waiting cultivates depth—habits of prayer, worship, and obedience that keep anxiety from ruling the waiting room. Waiting with God doesn’t shorten the delay, but it strengthens the soul. The Spirit’s nearness turns delay into formation, not frustration. [10:21]
3. Trust promise, release control Control is a subtle idol that nourishes anxiety; promise is a steadying anchor that nourishes peace. Simeon didn’t need specifics—he needed God’s word. When we surrender our timelines and cling to God’s voice, the heart unclenches and rest returns. Peace grows where we lay down the illusion of managing what only God can do. [15:02]
4. See Jesus clearly and rest Simeon held Christ and asked to be dismissed in peace—released without anxiety—because Jesus Himself became enough. Peace doesn’t wait for explanations; it flows from encounter. When we embrace Jesus more than answers, fear loses its leverage. His presence reframes our reality from the inside out. [19:24]
5. Peace transcends circumstances Rome didn’t fall, storms didn’t cease, but Simeon’s soul settled because the Prince of Peace held him steady. Like a snow globe, the storm remains; peace arrives when we stop letting the storm shake us. Guard this gift—success can’t secure it, but surrender can. Let Christ’s presence be your internal climate amid external weather. [30:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Simeon promised to see Messiah
[01:52] - Prayer: Lord, revive our peace
[02:14] - Peace is possible again
[04:32] - Peace announced before it’s felt
[05:35] - Peace is God entering chaos
[09:57] - Waiting active, not anxious
[11:28] - Microwave culture vs crock‑pot God
[13:29] - Promise over control
[16:18] - Seeing Jesus brings deep rest
[21:38] - Peace under attack: prison visit
[26:12] - Peace transcends circumstances
[29:30] - Snow globe: don’t let storms shake you
[33:12] - Pray, petition, present—receive peace
[37:19] - Altar call: Prince of Peace

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 2:25-32

Observation questions (3–4)

What personal qualities does Luke 2:25-32 assign to Simeon (look for words describing his character and posture)? How do those qualities shape his waiting?
The angels declared “peace” while Rome still ruled and trouble remained. What does it mean that peace was announced before it was felt? [04:32]
How does Luke 2:25-32 describe the Holy Spirit’s role in Simeon’s waiting? What difference does the Spirit make between anxious waiting and active waiting?
When Simeon says, “dismiss your servant in peace,” what does that phrase imply about his inner condition after seeing the Messiah?

Interpretation questions (3–4)

How does the idea “waiting actively, not anxiously” explain the connection between the Spirit’s presence and inner calm? Consider what behaviors or attitudes mark active waiting. [09:57]
In what ways does trusting God’s promise replace the need to control outcomes? What assumptions about control and security does that challenge? [15:02]
Why does encountering Jesus (not receiving explanations) lead to release from anxiety—what is it about “seeing Jesus clearly” that satisfies the soul? [19:24]
How does the “snow globe” image help interpret the claim that peace transcends circumstances—what does it teach about the difference between changing the storm and changing one’s reaction to the storm? [29:30]

Application questions (4–7)

Replaying worst‑case scenarios steals peace. Identify one recurring “worst-case” thought you run through, then name one practical step you will take this week to interrupt that habit (a time of prayer, a Scripture to memorize, a friend to call). [31:44]
Carrying burdens God never assigned removes peace. What is one responsibility you are holding that you could ask God to reassign or hand back to Him—and who will you tell about that decision to help you let it go? [32:08]
Waiting with the Spirit produces peace. Choose three concrete practices you can use this week to “wait actively” (examples: set aside 10 minutes of prayer at noon, attend a short worship time, obey one small step God has given you). List them and commit to when you will do them. [09:57]
Control feeds anxiety; promise produces peace. Name one situation where you are trying to manage the outcome. What is one small, specific action you can take to surrender control and instead remind yourself of a promise from God? [15:02]
Seeing Jesus clearly brings rest. What is one way you will intentionally “see Jesus” this week (for example: read a passage about Christ, rehearse one truth about who Jesus is, tell someone how Jesus has met you)? When will you do it? [19:24]
Pray, petition, present—receive peace. When anxiety rises, what will your step‑by‑step routine be for turning that moment into prayer (for example: stop, breathe, name the fear, pray a specific verse, present the request with thanksgiving)? Commit to trying that routine the next time anxiety appears. [34:30]

(End of guide)

Sermon Clips

Well, I want to declare something over the house this morning. And what I want to declare is very specific. I want to say to you this, that peace is possible again. I'm going to say it one more time. Peace is possible again. And I'm not talking about this surface peace. I'm not talking about fake peace. I'm not talking about this I'm holding it together type of peace. I'm talking about peace like the Bible says peace. Peace, biblical peace, the kind of peace that settles your soul even when circumstances haven't changed yet. [00:02:17] (44 seconds) #PeaceThatSettles

And this tells me something very important, Jefferson. It tells me this. It tells me that peace is not God changing your environment. Peace is God entering into your environment. Let me say it one more time. Peace is not God changing your environment. Peace is God entering it. So we have the gospel according to Luke. Luke introduces us to a man named Simeon. [00:05:25] (28 seconds) #PresenceOverChange

Simeon lived through spiritual silence. Simeon lived with delayed promises. Yet he had peace. Lord, I feel your presence this morning because this tells us that peace is not found in answers, but peace is found in assurance. How can you praise him, PD, when you still don't have the answer? How can you worship God when you still don't have the answer? Listen, I'm going to tell you, I can praise him because I have him. And his presence gives me peace even while I'm waiting on the answer. [00:07:11] (80 seconds) #AssuranceOverAnswers

Peace is not the absence of waiting. It's the presence of the Spirit. Oh, Lord. Waiting with God produces peace. Don't miss this. But waiting without God produces anxiety. So when you have those moments, when you're getting anxious and you just feel all types of anxiety, you have to ask yourself, am I waiting with God or am I waiting without God? And what you need to understand is that delay does not have to disturb your soul. [00:10:17] (49 seconds) #WaitingWithGod

Is there anybody in this place, or maybe you're listening to me online, that is confident in the fact that God gave you a word? Lord, I feel like preaching this thing this morning. You don't know when it's going to happen. You don't know how it's going to happen. You don't even know what it's going to look like when it shows up. But you know you got a word from the Lord, and that is enough. Look at your neighbor and say, I got a word, and that's enough. Because, see, peace comes when you trust God's word more than your timeline. Control, watch this. Control feeds anxiety. Trust produces peace. [00:14:25] (48 seconds) #WordOverTimeline

That when peace leaves the soul, no amount of success can hold a man together. Idols won't save you. Money won't save you. Platforms won't save you. Because you know why? Peace is not a byproduct of success. Peace is a gift from God that must be guarded. Are y'all hearing what I'm saying today? It's a gift from God that must be guarded. And let me just be honest, because many men, we were taught how to provide, but not how to process. We were taught how to grind, but we weren't taught how to grieve. [00:24:29] (51 seconds) #GuardYourPeace

This is how the Lord gave it to me. This snow globe. This is what life feels like sometimes. Y'all ain't saying nothing. Everything is moving. Nothing is settled. Chaos. Everywhere. Notice something? The storm didn't leave the globe. But peace came when I stopped shaking it. Because peace doesn't mean the storm disappears. It means you stop letting the storm shake you. [00:28:57] (69 seconds) #PeaceInTheStorm

Simeon's world didn't change one bit. I probably should have did a better job of setting up just how bad it was in Rome for the Israelites. But I want y'all to know, it was bad. Rome didn't fall. Politics didn't improve. Life didn't get easier. But his soul was settled when he held Jesus. Are y'all getting what I'm trying to say today? His soul was settled when he held Jesus. Because when Jesus is present, peace is possible. [00:30:12] (49 seconds) #SettledByHisPresence

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