This past Sunday we explored Isaiah 9:1-7 where we discovered the Promised Child would be called the Prince of Peace. He would be the one who would finally bring true and lasting peace on earth. This is really good news for us today. Into a world in turmoil, filled with wars, strife, division, hatred, hurts, pain, and sorrow, the Prince of Peace has come. And His peace is unfolding from His birth, to the last day when He makes all things new, by the Spirit, through us. We explored four truths Sunday:

1. Jesus establishes peace in our hearts. We learned peace on earth was destroyed in the fall but is born in the hearts of men who profess Christ by faith and are filled with His Spirit.

2. Jesus establishes peace in and through the church. We learned that God brings a culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse people together in the church to put His unifying power and peace on display.

3. Jesus brings peace into the world through a people on mission. We learned that Jesus sends His followers into the community and world on mission to demonstrate His peace and to declare the Gospel.

4. Jesus fills the earth with His peace in the last day. We learned when God finally makes all things new that sin will be no more, perfect peace will fill heaven and earth, and the Prince of Peace will reign forever.

John 14:26-27 says: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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."

Here Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit establishes peace in our hearts, in the church, and into the world through us. As we join Him in the work of the Kingdom there is no need to fear because the Prince of Peace is King in our hearts, Church, and in the world.

Questions to Consider

1. How has the Holy Spirit brought supernatural peace into your heart?

2. How have you seen the peace of God at work in our church?

3. How might the Lord want to use you and your family to bring peace into the chaos of the world around us? —in your neighborhood, at work, at school, among family & friends?

4. What do you think a fear of joining Jesus on mission might reveal about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Prayer Response
Take time to consider the questions above. Ask the Lord to lead you to experience the peace of Christ in your heart, in our church, and in the world as we engage in the mission. Lay your fears before the Lord and ask Him to grant you the Spirit’s peace.