Finding True Peace in Christ's Presence
Summary
In the serene setting of the outdoors, as the sun sets on 2024, we reflect on the profound message of peace that God offers us. Psalm 121:1 reminds us that our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, not from the mountains or the hills. As we transition into 2025, the Holy Spirit is calling us to activate our faith, but not from a place of pressure or performance. Instead, we are invited to find a foundation of peace from which the good things God has placed in us will naturally flow.
Isaiah 55:12 and Isaiah 9:6 remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the Sar Shalom, the captain of rest and tranquility. Despite the chaos surrounding His birth, Jesus brought peace to the world. Today, many of us struggle with anxiety, financial stress, and relational tensions, questioning where the peace of Christ is in our lives. Yet, peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus, the Sar Shalom, in our lives.
To experience His peace, we must place ourselves under His lordship. This means aligning our lives with His will and trusting in His guidance. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, allowing His peace, which transcends all understanding, to guard our hearts and minds. Peace is found in His presence, and as we spend time with Him, we are led by His Spirit into a life of wholeness and tranquility.
As we step into the new year, let us embrace the fullness of God's grace, carrying a heart of thankfulness for His constant love and guidance. Let us prioritize His presence, knowing that everything we need flows from our relationship with Him. May we walk in the blessings and favor He has prepared for us, trusting in His timing and plans, and finding comfort in His ever-present help.
Key Takeaways:
1. Peace is Found in the Lord, Not in Circumstances: Our help and peace come from the Lord, not from the mountains or external circumstances. True peace is rooted in our relationship with God, who is our constant source of strength and hope. [32:51]
2. Jesus, the Prince of Peace: Jesus is the Sar Shalom, the captain of rest and tranquility. Despite the chaos surrounding His birth, He brought peace to the world. This peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus in our lives. [42:12]
3. Aligning with the Lordship of Christ: To experience the peace of Christ, we must align our lives with His will and trust in His guidance. This involves surrendering our anxieties and presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving. [44:31]
4. Peace is Found in His Presence: Spending time in God's presence is essential for experiencing His peace. As we prioritize His presence, we are led by His Spirit into a life of wholeness and tranquility. [48:25]
5. Embracing God's Grace in the New Year: As we enter 2025, let us embrace God's grace and carry a heart of thankfulness. By prioritizing His presence, we can walk in the blessings and favor He has prepared for us, trusting in His timing and plans. [52:32]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction and Setting
[01:45] - Reflecting on Psalm 121
[03:10] - The Journey into 2025
[05:00] - Finding Peace in Christ
[07:20] - Jesus, the Prince of Peace
[10:00] - The Birth of Jesus and Its Challenges
[12:30] - The Reality of Modern Life
[15:00] - Understanding Sar Shalom
[17:00] - Aligning with Christ's Lordship
[19:30] - Peace in His Presence
[22:00] - Embracing the New Year
[24:00] - Prayer for Peace and Strength
[26:30] - Final Blessing and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 121:1-2 - "I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
2. Isaiah 9:6 - "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, Prince of Peace."
3. Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 121:1-2, where does our help come from, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about finding peace? [32:51]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as the "Prince of Peace" in the context of His birth and the surrounding chaos? [40:00]
3. What does Philippians 4:6-7 suggest about the relationship between prayer, thanksgiving, and experiencing God's peace? [46:33]
4. In the sermon, what is the significance of aligning our lives with the lordship of Christ to experience His peace? [44:31]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of Jesus as the "Sar Shalom" deepen our understanding of peace beyond just the absence of conflict? [42:12]
2. What might it mean to be "under the lordship of Christ" in practical terms, and how does this affect one's experience of peace? [44:31]
3. How does the sermon suggest that peace is not dependent on external circumstances but rather on the presence of Jesus in our lives? [40:40]
4. What role does thanksgiving play in the process of presenting our requests to God, according to Philippians 4:6-7, and how does this relate to experiencing peace? [46:33]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you sought peace in external circumstances rather than in your relationship with God. How can you shift your focus to find peace in Him? [32:51]
2. The sermon mentions the chaos surrounding Jesus' birth. How can you find peace in your own life amidst chaos and uncertainty? [40:00]
3. What specific steps can you take to align your life more closely with the lordship of Christ to experience His peace? [44:31]
4. Consider a current anxiety or stress in your life. How can you apply Philippians 4:6-7 to this situation, and what would it look like to present your requests to God with thanksgiving? [46:33]
5. How can you prioritize spending time in God's presence this week to cultivate a deeper sense of peace and wholeness? [48:25]
6. As you enter the new year, what are some practical ways you can embrace God's grace and carry a heart of thankfulness for His constant love and guidance? [52:32]
7. Identify one area of your life where you need to trust in God's timing and plans. How can you actively choose to find comfort in His ever-present help? [51:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Peace Beyond Circumstances
In a world where external circumstances often dictate our sense of peace, it is crucial to remember that true peace is found in the Lord. Psalm 121:1 reminds us that our help comes from the Lord, not from the mountains or any external source. This peace is not dependent on the absence of conflict or the presence of favorable conditions but is rooted in our relationship with God. As we transition into a new year, we are invited to activate our faith from a foundation of peace, allowing the good things God has placed in us to flow naturally. This peace is a constant source of strength and hope, transcending the chaos and challenges of life. [32:51]
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: Identify a situation in your life where you are seeking peace from external circumstances. How can you shift your focus to find peace in your relationship with God instead?
Day 2: Jesus, the Prince of Peace
Jesus, known as the Sar Shalom, is the captain of rest and tranquility. Despite the chaos surrounding His birth, He brought peace to the world. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus in our lives. Many of us struggle with anxiety, financial stress, and relational tensions, questioning where the peace of Christ is in our lives. Yet, the peace Jesus offers is a profound sense of rest and tranquility that comes from His presence. By inviting Jesus into our lives, we can experience His peace amidst the chaos and challenges we face. [42:12]
Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are experiencing chaos or conflict. How can you invite the presence of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, into this situation today?
Day 3: Aligning with the Lordship of Christ
To experience the peace of Christ, we must align our lives with His will and trust in His guidance. This involves surrendering our anxieties and presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving, as encouraged in Philippians 4:6-7. By placing ourselves under His lordship, we align our lives with His will and trust in His guidance. This alignment allows us to experience His peace, which transcends all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds. It is through this surrender and trust that we find a foundation of peace from which the good things God has placed in us will naturally flow. [44:31]
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 4: Peace in His Presence
Spending time in God's presence is essential for experiencing His peace. As we prioritize His presence, we are led by His Spirit into a life of wholeness and tranquility. This peace is found not in the absence of conflict but in the presence of Jesus, the Sar Shalom, in our lives. By aligning our lives with His will and trusting in His guidance, we can experience His peace, which transcends all understanding. As we spend time with Him, we are led by His Spirit into a life of wholeness and tranquility, finding comfort in His ever-present help. [48:25]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: How can you intentionally create space in your daily routine to spend time in God's presence and experience His peace?
Day 5: Embracing God's Grace in the New Year
As we enter 2025, let us embrace God's grace and carry a heart of thankfulness for His constant love and guidance. By prioritizing His presence, we can walk in the blessings and favor He has prepared for us, trusting in His timing and plans. This new year is an opportunity to embrace the fullness of God's grace, allowing His peace to guide us into a life of wholeness and tranquility. As we trust in His timing and plans, we find comfort in His ever-present help, knowing that everything we need flows from our relationship with Him. [52:32]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: As you step into the new year, what is one specific way you can embrace God's grace and prioritize His presence in your life?
Quotes
"But as much as being out in nature is great, being in the hills is a it's a lovely place to be. The mountains themselves are not our source of help. Our help, as the verse says, our peace, our refreshing, our life, our hope comes from the Lord." [00:33:27] (20 seconds)
"Mary needs a place now. And so finally, Joseph, he negotiates a deal with some guy who says, you can stay in the barn. And Mary's going, great. So we can have the baby in a barn. That's what I always pictured with animals and animal poop and barn stuff. And, you know, absolutely perfect. Great. Thanks, Joseph. And so you've got this teenage girl, nine months pregnant, traveled all this time on a donkey in a barn. She gives birth. No epidural, no medical intervention." [00:39:08] (31 seconds)
"Jesus is born and placed in a feeding trough. The prince of peace enters the planet Earth. King Herod. The king at the time, he feels threatened. And he's heard the prophecies about a king being born. And he's thinking Jesus would try to overthrow him. And so the king says, let's just kill this baby." [00:39:39] (25 seconds)
"And Shalom was actually a greeting that one person would give to another. Shalom means rest, tranquility, wholeness. Completeness. Jesus is the Sar of Shalom. And you could say he's the captain of rest. He's the Lord of tranquility. He's the chief of contentment. And as long as you are under Christ, we can have his peace." [00:42:41] (27 seconds)
"The answer is really no, because they are outside of something, outside of the lordship of Jesus Christ or the leadership of the Sar of Shalom. They are outside. They are outside the will of the Sar Shalom. And it's only when we are under the lordship of the Sar, the one who is in charge, that we experience his peace. The amazing thing is that when we're under the lordship of Christ, if your private world is falling apart, Jesus can give you an inward peace that goes beyond human understanding." [00:43:48] (38 seconds)
"He's the lord of peace, the prince of peace. Jesus is the Sar Shalom. You know, and peace is more than just, I got that peaceful, easy feeling like the eagles sing. It's a completeness. It's a wholeness. It's a tranquility. It's a rest. And when you're under him, you can experience his peace. And when you step outside of his will and his way, you may not experience his peace. And that's why you want to stay and be under the Sar Shalom." [00:44:31] (33 seconds)
"Philippians 4, 6, do not be anxious about everything. Well, that's helpful, isn't it? Sometimes it's easier said than done. But here's the antidote. I love the verse where it says this, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving in your heart, present your request to God, you know, and here's the wonderful promise that comes. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. What do we do?" [00:47:24] (32 seconds)
"When we're trying to cope on our own, when we don't have peace, we step under the lordship of Christ. And then with thanksgiving, we take our requests to him and we present them to him. And we say, Lord, I can't do this. I can't do this. It's no longer mine, Jesus. I've got to trust in you for this." [00:48:25] (20 seconds)
"So peace is a person that we place ourselves under. And further to that, peace is found in his presence, in his presence. If you've been around Harmony for any length of time and even probably only a week, you would have heard us talking about spending, spending time in the secret place. It's a thing that we talk about all the time, spending time in his presence. And it's not just some phase that we're going through as a church. It's actually our first kingdom value." [00:48:44] (33 seconds)
"And because peace is a person, we can have an intimate relationship with a person of the Holy Spirit who leads us to the Father." [00:50:18] (13 seconds)
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