This Christmas, God doesn’t just want to give you what you think you want, but what you really want. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how God wants to give you peace.
Luke 2:14 NKJV “Glory to God in highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.
What is peace?
1. Peace does not come from inactivity.
1 Peter 3:11 NKJV (Psalm 34:14) – “…seek peace and pursue it” NLT: “Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” 4 words: seek, pursue, search and work.
Peace won’t come by doing nothing. If the world has to stop in order for you to have peace, you’ll never have peace.
John 16:33 NLT “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Peace is not the absence of problems but the learned skill of remaining unaffected by them.
2. Peace does not come from being in control.Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord, don’t trust in yourself. Control is trusting in your ability to fix things. But control is an illusion because we are not qualified to fix everything.
3. Peace is a person.
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. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
God is not trying to give you your peace, He’s trying to give you His peace.
How do we receive peace?
1. Plan for peace.
Prov 21:5 NLT “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance
If you try to everything, you won’t enjoy anything.”
Take time away from the peace-drainers and give it to the peace giver.
2. Practice peace.
Phil 4:6-7 ESV “Be anxious for nothing, but in all things 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
An unthankful heart turns into an entitled heart, and an entitled heart never has peace because it can’t be satisfied.
3. Protect your peace.
Colossians 3:15 NLT “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.”
Protecting your peace is difficult because other people want yours when they run out of theirs.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.”
God has already done his job by giving peace. Now we must do our job by receiving that peace.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.
“Nose up, toes up” – don’t let anyone steal your peace.
Are you living in the peace God has given you?