Embracing the Gift of Peace This Christmas
Summary
In this Christmas season, we reflect on the profound gift of Emmanuel, God with us, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6. This prophecy, given 700 years before the birth of Jesus, reveals the incredible names of the Messiah: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Each name encapsulates a unique aspect of the divine gift we receive through Jesus Christ. Today, we focus on the Prince of Peace, a title that signifies not just the absence of conflict but a deep, holistic sense of completeness and well-being, known in Hebrew as "shalom."
The peace of God is not something we can achieve through our own efforts. It is a divine gift that we receive when we submit ourselves to God's presence in our lives. This peace surpasses human understanding and is not merely the cessation of hostility but a state of wholeness and fulfillment. It is a peace that fills the cracks and scars of our lives, making us complete in Christ. As Paul writes in Romans 5:1, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, a peace that is accessible to us because of our faith.
However, experiencing this peace requires surrender. It involves yielding our lives to God's will and being open to His presence. Often, we may feel disconnected from this peace due to our own pursuits and desires that lead us away from God's presence. The challenge is to continually surrender our lives to God, allowing His peace to permeate our being, even amidst life's chaos.
The Prince of Peace, Jesus, offers a peace that is vastly different from the world's version. While human efforts for peace, like the Pax Romana, are often achieved through conflict and control, God's peace is given freely through the humble birth of Jesus. This peace is not about God fixing us but about Him filling us with His presence, guiding us, and surrounding us with His love and well-being.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember that the true gift is God's presence with us, bringing peace that transcends circumstances. By embracing this gift, we open ourselves to the unexpected ways God works in our lives, experiencing His peace even when everything around us seems to be in turmoil.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Gift of Peace: The peace of God is a divine gift, not something we can achieve on our own. It is experienced through submission to God's presence in our lives, offering a sense of completeness and fulfillment that surpasses human understanding. [43:18]
2. Surrender and Peace: Experiencing God's peace requires daily surrender to His will. Our pursuit of personal desires can lead us away from His presence, but by yielding to God, we open ourselves to His peace, even amidst life's chaos. [54:10]
3. God's Peace vs. Worldly Peace: The peace offered by Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is vastly different from the world's version. While human peace often involves conflict and control, God's peace is freely given through the humble birth of Jesus, filling us with His presence. [01:04:22]
4. Completeness in Christ: God's peace is not about fixing us but filling us, making us complete in Christ. It surrounds us with His love and well-being, guiding us and declaring His favor over our lives. [49:31]
5. Embracing the Unexpected: God's ways often defy human expectations. By being open to the unexpected, we allow His presence to bring peace into our lives, even when circumstances seem chaotic. [01:10:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to the Series
- [05:30] - The Gift of Emmanuel
- [10:45] - Names of the Messiah
- [15:20] - Wonderful Counselor
- [20:10] - Mighty God
- [25:00] - Eternal Father
- [30:15] - Prince of Peace
- [35:40] - Understanding God's Peace
- [42:03] - Peace as a Divine Gift
- [49:31] - Completeness in Christ
- [54:10] - The Role of Surrender
- [01:04:22] - God's Peace vs. Worldly Peace
- [01:10:30] - Embracing the Unexpected
- [01:11:55] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6
- Romans 5:1-2
Observation Questions:
1. What are the four names given to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, and what do they signify about His character? [42:03]
2. According to the sermon, how is the peace offered by Jesus different from the peace achieved by human efforts like the Pax Romana? [01:04:22]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of "shalom" and its significance in understanding God's peace? [49:31]
4. What does Romans 5:1-2 say about our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and how does it relate to the concept of peace? [51:30]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the title "Prince of Peace" challenge our understanding of peace in the context of worldly conflicts and control? [01:00:12]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our personal pursuits can lead us away from experiencing God's peace? [54:10]
3. How does the sermon explain the role of surrender in experiencing God's peace, and why is it essential? [54:10]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between God's presence and the peace we experience in our lives? [01:06:33]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from God's peace. What personal pursuits or desires might have contributed to this feeling? [54:10]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God's will. What is one area of your life where you struggle to surrender, and how can you begin to yield it to God this week? [54:10]
3. How can you actively pursue God's presence in your daily life to experience His peace more fully? Consider specific practices like prayer or meditation on scripture. [01:08:49]
4. The sermon contrasts God's peace with worldly peace. How can you remind yourself of the difference in your daily interactions and decisions? [01:04:22]
5. Think of a situation in your life that feels chaotic or out of control. How can you invite God's peace into that situation through prayer or other spiritual practices? [01:10:30]
6. The sermon mentions the unexpected ways God works in our lives. How can you remain open to God's unexpected plans, especially when they differ from your own expectations? [01:10:30]
7. Identify one person in your life who might be seeking peace. How can you share the message of God's peace with them this week in a meaningful way? [01:06:33]
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Gift of Peace
The peace of God is a profound gift that transcends human understanding and cannot be achieved through our own efforts. It is a divine offering that brings a sense of completeness and fulfillment, experienced through submission to God's presence in our lives. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a holistic state of well-being, known in Hebrew as "shalom." As we open ourselves to God's presence, we receive a peace that fills the cracks and scars of our lives, making us whole in Christ. This peace is accessible to us through faith, as Paul writes in Romans 5:1, and it is a gift that surpasses all human comprehension. [43:18]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to invite God's peace today, and how can you intentionally submit those areas to His presence?
Day 2: Surrendering to Experience Peace
Experiencing God's peace requires a daily surrender to His will. Our personal pursuits and desires can often lead us away from His presence, creating a sense of disconnection from the peace He offers. By yielding our lives to God, we open ourselves to His peace, even amidst life's chaos. This surrender is not a one-time event but a continual process of aligning our hearts and minds with God's purposes. As we let go of our own agendas and embrace His will, we find a peace that permeates our being, guiding us through the storms of life. [54:10]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 3: The Contrast Between God's Peace and Worldly Peace
The peace offered by Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is vastly different from the world's version of peace. While human efforts for peace, such as the Pax Romana, are often achieved through conflict and control, God's peace is freely given through the humble birth of Jesus. This divine peace is not about God fixing us but about Him filling us with His presence, guiding us, and surrounding us with His love and well-being. It is a peace that transcends circumstances and is not dependent on external conditions. As we embrace this peace, we are filled with a sense of completeness and fulfillment that the world cannot offer. [01:04:22]
John 14:27 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How can you distinguish between the peace that the world offers and the peace that comes from God in your daily life?
Day 4: Finding Completeness in Christ
God's peace is not about fixing us but filling us, making us complete in Christ. It surrounds us with His love and well-being, guiding us and declaring His favor over our lives. This completeness is not something we can achieve on our own but is a result of God's presence in our lives. As we allow His peace to fill us, we experience a sense of wholeness and fulfillment that transcends our circumstances. This divine peace is a reminder of God's love and favor, guiding us through life's challenges and declaring His goodness over our lives. [49:31]
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: In what ways do you seek completeness outside of Christ, and how can you shift your focus to find fulfillment in Him alone?
Day 5: Embracing the Unexpected
God's ways often defy human expectations, and by being open to the unexpected, we allow His presence to bring peace into our lives, even when circumstances seem chaotic. This openness requires a willingness to let go of our own plans and embrace the unexpected ways God works in our lives. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the humble birth of Jesus, a profound example of God's unexpected ways. By embracing this gift, we open ourselves to the peace that transcends circumstances, experiencing His presence in new and transformative ways. [01:10:30]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a mindset of openness to God's unexpected ways, and what steps can you take to embrace His presence in the midst of life's uncertainties?
Quotes
We experience peace when we submit ourselves to the presence of God in our life. That's the only way we can find peace. That's the only way we can experience peace. And trust me, I've tried, there've been seasons of my life where I have tried to find peace. And we cannot find peace some other way. And it just doesn't work. [00:43:18] (27 seconds)
The peace of God that goes far beyond this idea of just a ceasing to be hostile towards something, right? We think about peace as like, okay, well, we're just going to live without the idea of conflict, but it goes so much more than that. And it's this idea of wholeness. It's this idea of undivided. It's this idea that God brings us to completion, that in Christ we are complete. [00:49:31] (45 seconds)
Paul says this in Romans 5, 1, talking about this peace. And this is an important concept for us to grasp. He says, therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace. We have it. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [00:51:13] (38 seconds)
And isn't that just such an interesting thing to consider that this baby, this baby who will be born for us, this baby who was given to us, this baby is also the, the prince of peace. When I think about those two realities, right, that are held in tandem, it's like that God would be born a baby, and yet he would be the prince of peace. It helps me to see this beautiful reality that God wants to be accessible. [00:57:48] (43 seconds)
And during this exact same time in God's sovereignty, he sends the prince of peace into the world. And it was so different from the world and the world's version of peace, vastly different. God in his sovereignty comes into human existence, steps into time in the form of a humble baby who would know everything about what it is to be human, except for sin. Holy and blameless. [01:04:28] (49 seconds)
It's not just about being forgiven of our sins because of the prince of peace, because of the shed blood that he was willing to pay. We are actually in a relationship of peace with God the Father. And that is the beautiful aspect. We've been reconciled to God. We have access to his presence in our life. And it is his presence in our life that allows us to experience the peace of God in our life. [01:05:54] (39 seconds)
And when we do, we open up our lives to the presence of God in our life. And we experience the peace of God in our life. Even when everything around us might feel like it's falling to pieces, we experience the peace of God in our life because his presence is with us. Emmanuel, God with us. That's the power of Christmas. That's the power of the gift that God would go to this extent. [01:11:00] (37 seconds)
Thank you that you have made your peace accessible in our life. As Paul says, we have this amazing peace that is your favor on our life. It's your well-being that you pour out on our life, even in all the uncertainties that we face. Your peace is accessible, Lord, because of your presence in our life. And we give you praise for that today. Thank you for our Emmanuel. [01:12:15] (33 seconds)
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