Heavenly Peace [Christmas at Access] — Pastor Jason Burns

Devotional

Day 1: The Gift You Need This Season: Rest

In a season packed with last-minute lists and late nights, God offers the gift you most need: rest. Not just more hours under a blanket, but rest that settles the inside of you. Jesus promises peace of mind and heart, a steadying presence that the world can’t manufacture or maintain. When you let Him be near, the unrest that keeps you awake loosens its grip. Slow down, breathe, and invite the Prince of Peace to carry what you can’t. [14:06]

John 14:27 — I’m leaving you with a gift: a deep peace that steadies your thoughts and calms your heart. It’s not the fragile calm the world hands out. So don’t let fear run your life or trouble shake you.

Reflection: Where are you exhausted in a way sleep hasn’t fixed, and what simple daily practice could you adopt this week to invite Jesus’ peace into that very place?

Day 2: On Earth, Peace—Not Peace on Earth

Many expect Christmas to mean peace on earth, but the promise is on earth, peace. That means peace can meet you in hospital waiting rooms, tight budgets, and long nights when answers don’t come. You may not be able to change what’s happening, but you can receive a different climate within your soul. Heaven’s announcement was that peace is available right here, right now, to those who welcome God’s favor. Let that promise locate you today, right in the middle of your actual life. [16:02]

Luke 2:10-14 — The angel said, “Don’t be afraid; I’m bringing good news that will overflow with great joy for everyone. Today in David’s town a Rescuer has been born for you—the Messiah, the Lord. You’ll find Him wrapped up and lying in a manger.” Then a host of angels praised God: “Glory to God in the highest, and here on earth, peace rests on people who receive His favor.”

Reflection: Name one circumstance that likely won’t change this month; what would receiving “on earth, peace” look like in that exact place today, and what small step will you take?

Day 3: Titles that Come Close: Wisdom, Strength, Family, Peace

Isaiah describes four names that don’t push you away; they draw you close. As Wonderful Counselor, Jesus offers wisdom when your own understanding runs out. As Mighty God, He supplies strength when your strength is gone. As Everlasting Father, He names you family—adopted, wanted, secure. And as Prince of Peace, He brings a rest no storm can cancel. [11:49]

Isaiah 9:6-7 — A child is born for us; a son is given to us; the weight of authority rests on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His rule and His peace will keep growing without end, established in justice and goodness forever.

Reflection: Which of these four gifts do you most need right now—wisdom, strength, belonging, or peace—and how will you open it in a specific moment this week?

Day 4: Letting the Prince Lead Brings Real Peace

Peace flows where Jesus is allowed to lead. The angels sang, Glory to God—and then peace comes to us, in that order. We often want the gift without the Giver’s leadership, but a prince brings peace through loving authority. Like a child sleeping soundly because someone trustworthy is at the wheel, you can rest when you release control. Tell Him today, “You drive,” and let His victory steady your heart. [23:24]

John 16:33 — I’ve said these things so you can find your peace in Me. In this world you’ll face trouble, but take courage—I have already overcome the world.

Reflection: Where are you gripping the wheel right now, and what concrete action will signal that you’re letting Jesus lead there?

Day 5: Praying Your Worries Into Peace That Guards

Unavoidable circumstances, unbearable people, unexplainable problems, and uncontrollable worry can flood your mind. God invites you to trade anxious loops for honest prayer and real gratitude. As you reveal your heart to Him, His peace—bigger than your understanding—sets a guard over your inner life. This is not the fragile calm the world offers; it holds when the night is loud. Practice this exchange today, and keep practicing until peace becomes your new normal. [24:48]

Philippians 4:6-7 — Don’t hand the microphone to worry; instead, bring everything to God in prayer, opening your heart with thanks. Then God’s peace—beyond what your mind can figure out—will stand watch over your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When anxiety wakes you in the night, what specific prayer will you pray and what will you do afterward to leave the concern in God’s hands instead of picking it back up?

Sermon Summary

In a season crammed with noise, deadlines, and last-minute gifts, the deepest gift held out is rest. Not the kind that comes from a longer night’s sleep, but the soul-level rest that endures when life gets hard. The Scriptures do not promise geopolitical calm; Jesus explicitly said trouble is guaranteed. Yet He also promised a kind of peace that doesn’t crack under pressure. Luke’s account reframes the common phrase—“on earth, peace”—not as a ceasefire across nations, but as a promise of peace available to people living in a troubled world. Peace may not blanket the earth, but it can govern a heart.

Isaiah’s ancient prophecy points to this peace by announcing a Child given “to us” with four names that come like wrapped gifts. Wonderful Counselor means wisdom beyond human limits. Mighty God offers more than grit; it gives strength in weakness. Everlasting Father secures identity and belonging that broken earthly stories can’t erase. Prince of Peace brings a rest deeper than a nap—He settles the storm within.

So why do so many still feel frayed? Because life hits with the four uns: unavoidable circumstances, unbearable people, unexplainable problems, and uncontrollable worry. These are real. But Jesus draws a sharp line between fragile, situational calm and the resilient peace He gives. His peace is not control over outcomes; it’s communion with the One who holds outcomes. In Luke 2 the order matters: “Glory to God… and on earth, peace.” Peace flows where God is given His rightful place.

A vivid picture seals it: a child sleeping soundly moments after a near collision on a dark road. She rests because someone stronger is at the wheel. That is the practical difference surrender makes. When Jesus is received not merely as a seasonal sentiment but as Prince—One with authority—hearts learn how to breathe again. Try it for a year: put everything on the table, align life to His wisdom, strength, and leadership. The promise is not an easier calendar; it’s a guarded heart and a quieted mind, even in the same world, under the same pressures. That is the peace that passes understanding—and it’s available now.

Key Takeaways

1. Not peace on earth but peace Peace in Scripture isn’t a global truce; it’s a resilient inner reality offered in the midst of conflict. Expect trouble, but expect Jesus to meet you inside the trouble with steadiness that outlasts outcomes. This reframe frees believers from waiting on perfect circumstances before living from a settled center. Peace may not blanket the world, but it can govern a soul. [16:02]
2. Four names, four gifts to you Isaiah’s titles are not distant honorifics; they are gifts within reach: wisdom (Wonderful Counselor), strength (Mighty God), belonging (Everlasting Father), and soul-rest (Prince of Peace). Receive them personally, not theoretically, and let them set the agenda of your decisions. These gifts rebuild a life from the inside out where fear once set the boundaries. [11:49]
3. Name the four “uns”; find rest Unavoidable circumstances, unbearable people, unexplainable problems, and uncontrollable worry are real thieves of peace. Naming them is not defeat; it’s the first act of stewardship—bringing each under Christ’s rule. From there, practiced rhythms—prayer, wise counsel, confession, limits—turn drains into places of dependence. Peace grows where burdens are transferred, not ignored. [17:04]
4. Jesus offers different, durable peace The world’s peace relies on control, predictability, and comfort, which vanish quickly. Jesus gives a stronger peace that endures loss, delay, and ambiguity because it rests on His presence, not our performance. This is not anesthesia; it is ballast. It may not change the waves, but it changes the weight in the boat. [18:58]
5. Peace follows surrendered leadership to Jesus “Glory to God” is not a lyric; it is a posture that makes room for peace to land. Peace accompanies the presence of a Prince, which means authority must be yielded for rest to deepen. Surrender is not passivity; it is intelligent trust in the One more qualified to lead. Where Jesus rules, peace stays. [20:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:12] - The gift everyone needs: rest
[02:29] - Why we’re so restless today
[09:15] - Peace on earth misunderstood
[10:30] - Isaiah’s four names, four gifts
[13:28] - Prince of Peace and soul rest
[14:31] - Angels announce “on earth, peace”
[17:04] - The four “uns” that steal peace
[18:58] - Jesus’ peace vs. the world’s
[19:52] - Glory to God precedes peace
[20:23] - Surrendering to the Prince’s rule
[21:05] - A picture of trust on the road
[23:40] - Give God one year
[27:28] - Prayer of surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Luke 2:10-14

Observation questions

In Luke 2:14, what two phrases frame the angel’s announcement, and what is the order?
What four names are given to the Child in Isaiah 9, and how were these described as gifts within reach? ([11:49])
What are the four “uns” that were named as common thieves of peace? ([17:04])
What contrast did Jesus make between the world’s peace and the peace He gives? ([18:58])

Interpretation questions

“Glory to God” comes before “on earth, peace.” What does this suggest about where peace comes from and how it is received? ([19:52])
Why might Scripture call Him “Prince” of Peace instead of merely “Giver” of peace? What does that imply about authority, leadership, and surrender? ([20:23])
Taken together, how do the four names (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) answer core human needs like wisdom, strength, belonging, and rest? Which need tends to drive most decisions when it goes unmet? ([11:49])
If trouble is guaranteed (John 16:33), what does that tell us about the kind of peace God offers in Luke 2—it’s nature, source, and durability? ([09:26])

Application questions

Which “un” is stealing peace from you right now—unavoidable circumstances, unbearable people, unexplainable problems, or uncontrollable worry? What would it look like to bring that one thing under Jesus’ rule this week? Be specific. ([17:04])
Where are you leaning on control to feel okay? What would it look like to choose communion with Jesus over control in that exact spot this week? Name one practice you’ll try (for example, a daily release prayer or a set pause). ([18:58])
Of the four gifts—wisdom (Wonderful Counselor), strength (Mighty God), belonging (Everlasting Father), or soul-rest (Prince of Peace)—which do you most need right now? What is one decision, boundary, or conversation you will take in the next seven days to align with that gift? ([11:49])
“Glory to God” before “on earth, peace.” What is one practical way you can re-order your day to honor God first—time, words, schedule, or money? What do you expect might change in your inner life as you do? ([19:52])
Fear sets the boundaries of freedom. Where is fear shrinking your world (heights, commitment, failure, finances, health)? What is a small, concrete act of obedient courage you can take this week? ([15:14])
Think about the late-night road moment. What helps you rest when Someone stronger is at the wheel? Name one area you will consciously “move to the passenger seat” and trust Jesus with, and how you’ll remind yourself to release it. ([23:06])
“Give God one year.” If you took that challenge, what would you put on the table—habits, plans, relationships, calendar, finances? What is your first step in the next 48 hours, and who will you tell for encouragement and accountability? ([24:01])

Sermon Clips

You ever meet someone who's like a little too addicted to the titles that they have? It's like they use the titles to separate themselves from you. You're like, what's up, Kevin? He's like, no, no, it's Dr. Kevin, or Professor This, you know, Mr. That. And we like to use titles to elevate ourselves above other people or to distance ourselves from people. But what Isaiah is saying about Jesus is all of these titles are actually gifts to us that don't separate us, they bring us close to him. [00:11:20] (27 seconds) #TitlesBringUsClose

And then we come to the last one, which is the point of tonight's message. It's he is our Prince of Peace. And here's the thing I love. It's that in the chaos of this world, when it feels like the world underneath you is caving in, when it feels like the chaos of life is overwhelming, when it feels like you don't know what to do, when you're waiting on that diagnosis, when you have to bury a loved one, when this year feels like it can't get any worse, you can have a different kind of peace. And the gift that he offers us is rest for your soul. [00:13:30] (35 seconds) #PrinceOfPeaceRest

The first one is they say, glory to God. Glory means to honor with your life. It's making this decision to say, God, there's so many things in my life that are important, but I'm choosing to make you the most important part of my life. And when we do that, we give glory to God and then the peace comes to us. [00:19:47] (19 seconds) #GloryToGod

And I love this so much, but it's hard for us as Americans because we don't have princes. We have like presidents and governors and mayors. We don't have princes. But a prince is a person of power and authority and nobility. We want to live lives where we have control and we want the gift and the peace of God without submitting to the lordship or the leadership of Jesus. But it's when you do that the peace comes. [00:20:18] (30 seconds) #PeaceThroughSurrender

And my little daughter, Ella, who was probably like six years old, she sits up in the backseat. She goes, hey, we good? I said, yeah, baby, we're good. She goes, cool. And she laid back down. And I heard her snoring three seconds later. Never for a moment was she worried. Why? Because the one who was taking care of her was taking care of her. [00:22:55] (26 seconds) #TrustLikeAChild

Where does the peace come from? When you let Jesus be the prince of peace. Say, Jesus, I trust you. I trust that your way is better than my way. I trust that you know better than me. So I lean into your wisdom. I lean into your strength. I lean into your leadership. You be the one in charge. [00:23:21] (22 seconds) #LeanIntoJesus

In fact, if you're new to this place, if I could give you a challenge, and there's nothing in this for me and everything for you, I would challenge you to give God one year. Just go all in with God for a year. Just say, God, look, I've tried things my way. It doesn't always work out the way I want it to when I do things my way. So God, for a whole year, I just chips to the middle of the table. I trust you, your ways. I'll go all in with you. See what happens. [00:23:44] (28 seconds) #GiveGodOneYear

So here's what I want you to hear tonight. This Christmas can be so different for you. So different. For many of you, you've celebrated Christmas for as long as you can remember. But what if this Christmas you experienced Christmas is all about by letting Jesus be the Lord and Savior of your life and your Prince of Peace. [00:25:02] (22 seconds) #LetJesusBeLord

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