WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.220 All right, church, well, we are going to continue on with our series, and this is kind of our last Sunday in this series, which is Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:19.379 So if you'll take your Bible and begin turning there now, Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:26.699 We've been looking at this passage that goes through the names of Jesus, and that is, 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:38.060 as they are given to us here, Jared preached a couple Sundays back on Jesus as our wonderful counselor. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:51.579 And our takeaway there was that Jesus is our living hope, there we go, because in our living, we can turn to that wonderful counselor for wisdom, 00:00:51.579 --> 00:01:01.759 for advice, for guidance, for sometimes correction, and our wonderful counselor is absolutely Jesus Christ. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:09.019 There can be a lot of other counselors in this world, but we can always turn to him for something greater than anyone else can give us. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:16.379 And so he is our hope that is alive today, that we can get through whatever tomorrow brings because of our living counselor. 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:20.799 And then the next Sunday, we talked about Jesus as our mighty God. 00:01:21.259 --> 00:01:25.899 And the takeaway was simply this question, who is the hero of your story? 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:35.959 When we see that phrase, mighty God, in the Old Testament, we understand that there is a heroic application there, that Jesus is our hero. 00:01:36.539 --> 00:01:41.859 And so who is the hero of the story of you, your life, and mine? 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:47.180 And is it us, is it someone else, or is it Jesus Christ, our mighty God? 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:54.459 And then last Sunday, we talked about Jesus as the everlasting Father, the everlasting Father. 00:01:55.099 --> 00:02:00.120 And we asked this question, are you in obedience to the founding Father of your faith? 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:05.019 We understood that that word Father gives this idea as he is the origin. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:06.560 He is the founder. 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:10.159 He is the beginner of our faith. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.139 And we see him called that in the scriptures. 00:02:12.359 --> 00:02:16.199 So are we living in obedience to the founder of our faith? 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:21.219 Or have we kind of decided to do faith how we want to do it? 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:29.180 And we've kind of built a life for ourselves apart from what Jesus actually set up for those who name his name. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:38.240 So today, we're going to be looking at this passage, once again, Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:41.060 And let's read it together if we can. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:45.260 Isaiah 9 and verse 6. 00:02:45.460 --> 00:02:49.580 We're going to look at Jesus as our Prince of Peace. 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:53.760 If you're able to join me in standing, would you do that one more time? 00:02:53.820 --> 00:02:57.320 I know you've been up and down a good bit in the service, but let's try to read this together. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:02:59.920 Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:20.879 You may be seated. 00:03:21.019 --> 00:03:21.859 Thank you for standing. 00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:27.820 Isaiah 9 and verse 6 calls our Lord the Prince of Peace. 00:03:27.860 --> 00:03:33.320 We talked about that just a moment ago with the kids when they were up here for their Q&A. 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:42.400 But I want to draw special attention to that this morning on kind of this last Christmas Sunday of this season. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:49.159 What exactly are we talking about when we call Jesus Prince of Peace? 00:03:49.700 --> 00:03:56.680 When Isaiah the prophet was given this prophecy from the Lord about the coming King, the coming Christ, 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:03.480 what did he mean when he wrote down Jesus would be called Prince of Peace? 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:09.640 I think first of all, we have to get a good understanding of what peace actually is. 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.699 I want to reference a quote from our former president, Theodore Roosevelt, that said, 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:21.159 the things that will destroy America are these, prosperity at any price, peace at any price, 00:04:21.719 --> 00:04:29.759 safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:33.459 Now this was many years ago when he said this, wasn't it? 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.599 Would y'all say he had maybe caught a glimpse of the future? 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.540 Would you say that maybe we're there now? 00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:42.820 We've been there for quite some time. 00:04:44.640 --> 00:04:48.879 And certainly these are the things of the flesh. 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:54.580 These are the things that promote mankind to a higher place than he should be. 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:57.879 These are the things that eventually get you to the place where you say, 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.120 I don't need God. 00:04:59.520 --> 00:05:01.180 I got this handled myself. 00:05:01.340 --> 00:05:02.620 My life is pretty comfortable. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:06.819 I've achieved most of what I wanted to achieve. 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:10.139 I've made peace with the rest of it. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:22.439 But this peace at any price idea is what will take down any nation, any home, any organization. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.819 We must have peace at any price. 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:30.280 Well, Theodore Roosevelt certainly saw the danger of that. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:35.419 I want to take it just a step further and share one more quote with you. 00:05:37.859 --> 00:05:41.879 Back in World War II, Eve Curie wrote this. 00:05:43.299 --> 00:05:43.919 She said, 00:05:44.479 --> 00:05:51.199 We discovered that peace at any price is no peace at all. 00:05:53.559 --> 00:05:57.899 Peace at any price is no peace at all. 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:03.399 Of course, that was in the context of World War II and Hitler's takeover of Europe. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:10.659 And there were many who were resisting the idea of going to war. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:13.819 Because nobody wants to go to war, right? 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:16.839 Just let this Hitler guy do what he wants. 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:18.779 Nobody wants to go to war. 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:25.419 So we have to understand that there are two ideas of peace. 00:06:26.619 --> 00:06:32.119 There is this worldly idea of peace that we just must maintain calm. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:34.879 We must resist any conflict. 00:06:35.619 --> 00:06:37.319 We must resist any storms. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.679 Is this the kind of peace that Jesus came to bring? 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:47.519 Or there is true peace. 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:50.819 And that's not the absence of conflict. 00:06:53.340 --> 00:06:56.920 Peace is calm in the midst of conflict. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:01.560 Peace is a steadiness, a security, 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:05.759 regardless of what comes our way. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:09.420 It's certainly not stepping away from duty. 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:12.300 It's certainly not stepping away from responsibility. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:17.980 It's certainly not coming to the place where you say, 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:21.019 It doesn't matter to me what is right and what is wrong. 00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:24.959 I just want to keep the peace. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:29.240 Have we ever found ourselves guilty of saying something like that? 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:30.019 Probably so. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:31.620 At some point. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:32.819 It's hard, right? 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:34.319 Conflict is hard. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.399 But sometimes, 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:41.540 in order to actually maintain real peace, 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:43.480 conflict has to happen. 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.259 We certainly find that in the case of Jesus. 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:51.980 If Jesus was going to say, 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.539 Peace at any price, 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:55.159 then he could have just said, 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:56.600 Ah, forget it. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:58.659 Nobody needs to die. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.159 Nobody needs to go to hell. 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:03.699 Their sin isn't that bad. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.319 Let's just let them do what they want. 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:08.120 Let's have peace. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:10.139 But of course, 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:15.659 we know that that would have resulted in just more chaos 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:18.040 than we could even possibly imagine. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:20.339 This world is full of chaos already. 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:24.419 I think it's fantastic. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.359 I was talking about peace and then the baby started crying. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:26.899 It was great. 00:08:27.619 --> 00:08:28.939 Couldn't have planned that any better. 00:08:30.739 --> 00:08:34.519 Y'all, regardless of how much we strive for peace, 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:37.600 we're never going to ultimately achieve peace. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.600 So that's why Jesus had to die. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:40.220 Why? 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:40.700 Why? 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:42.759 Because conflict is always going to happen. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:46.340 Selfish people are always going to put themselves first. 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:48.600 You and I are not... 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:53.420 We're involved in that, aren't we? 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:56.200 We're implicated in that. 00:08:56.200 --> 00:09:00.100 Sometimes we're some of the selfish ones who put ourselves first. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:03.040 So this world, we find it broken. 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:07.080 We find this world full of brokenness 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:10.700 and in need of being put back together. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:15.960 We find families broken and in need of healing. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:20.460 Find people and hearts broken and in need of healing. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:25.480 So the question is, can the brokenness be put back together? 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:31.520 Thankfully, God sent us a prince of peace. 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.640 He knows what peace is. 00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:39.280 More than that, he knows what peace costs. 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:43.180 And he was willing to pay that price. 00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:45.759 So let's dive into it this morning. 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:51.460 Truth number one, God's peace looks very different than man's peace. 00:09:51.920 --> 00:09:55.740 God's peace looks different than your idea of peace and mine. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:58.240 What do we mean by that? 00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:59.600 Well, this word shalom. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:02.920 When we read peace in the Old Testament, 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:06.520 this Isaiah passage is certainly included in that. 00:10:07.280 --> 00:10:10.660 This word shalom is what we get this idea of peace from. 00:10:10.900 --> 00:10:11.780 What does that mean? 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:15.940 This Hebrew shalom does not mean the absence of conflict. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:20.440 It means being whole, complete, and at peace. 00:10:21.540 --> 00:10:23.820 So that's where we get this idea of peace. 00:10:24.060 --> 00:10:25.000 It's wholeness. 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:26.500 It's completeness. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:30.500 You say, man, some days I wake up and I don't feel whole. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:32.360 I don't feel complete. 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:35.879 I feel like something's missing. 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:44.840 You ever felt like something's missing in your life, in your heart, your family, your friendships? 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.779 You ever felt like something's missing? 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:50.620 I know I have, and I don't think I'm alone in that. 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:54.519 So when the Hebrews would greet each other, they would say shalom. 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:57.480 And that was, I wish you wholeness. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:59.179 I wish you completeness. 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:01.600 I wish you real peace. 00:11:02.439 --> 00:11:07.840 Because when we're complete, in the New Testament, we read this word as perfect sometimes. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:11.939 Say, man, nothing in my life is ever perfect, okay? 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.399 Yeah, God knows that. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:15.960 But what he means is, you can be whole. 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:17.460 You can be complete. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:24.519 Jesus said to the crippled man, do you want to be made whole? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.940 And he said, yes. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:32.019 Jesus extends that invitation to every one of us today. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:36.660 He says, do you want to be made whole? 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:41.139 Because I am the king, the prince of wholeness. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.639 I want to bring you peace. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:46.700 I want to bring you completeness. 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.200 I want to bring you fulfillment. 00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:59.879 Thomas Akempis said this, all men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:05.019 We all get this idea that we want peace, don't we? 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.080 We all want to be whole. 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:08.500 We all want to be complete. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:13.900 But very few of us are willing to do the hard thing. 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:19.600 Very few of us are willing to take the steps that peace requires. 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:28.299 Very few of us are actually willing to step out and confront evil when it rises its head. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:34.259 Very few of us are willing to confront the evil within ourselves. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:37.360 And so we're left in turmoil. 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:40.620 We're left in incompleteness. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.679 We're not complete. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:52.439 We always feel like we're missing something because so many of us are willing to do the things that make for peace. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.080 Let's see what the word of God has to say on this. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:57.020 Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 14. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:05.020 They have healed the brokenness of my people superficially, saying, peace, peace, but there is no peace. 00:13:05.160 --> 00:13:06.580 You understand what he's talking about? 00:13:06.880 --> 00:13:10.260 God is talking about his people, his Jewish people. 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:15.899 And he said they have come to them saying, there's peace, peace, but there's no peace. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:22.460 They've tried to just stamp peace on something, speak their truth, speak it into existence. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:26.340 You ever heard that from anybody in mumbo-jumbo psychology out there? 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.779 Well, just speak your truth. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.279 Just speak it into existence. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.799 That doesn't happen, folks. 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:34.600 You can say peace, but that doesn't make peace, right? 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.740 Jeremiah 8 and verse 11. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:42.820 All they ever offered to my deeply wounded people are empty hopes for peace. 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.659 Would you look at the screen one more time? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:53.320 All they ever offered to my deeply wounded people are empty hopes for peace. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.700 Well, that rings true for some of us. 00:13:57.659 --> 00:14:03.500 You get conflict that arises or hurt that is caused, and then people say, oh, it's going to be okay. 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.600 Why don't you just move on? 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.779 Why don't you just get over it? 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.580 It's going to be all right. 00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:12.639 And God says, no, there is no peace. 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:18.779 You cannot have peace without addressing the real problem here. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.680 And then Ezekiel chapter 13. 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:25.980 They tell my people there will be peace, even though there's no peace to be found. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:32.420 They're like workers who thinks they can fix a shaky wall by covering it with paint. 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:36.019 Is that going to work? 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.740 You got a wall that's about to fall down? 00:14:39.839 --> 00:14:41.919 Well, let's just throw a coat of paint on it. 00:14:41.979 --> 00:14:43.159 It'll look good as new. 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:46.959 Well, it might look okay, but don't go lean against it. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:51.420 You ever had that in a relationship? 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:58.639 Whether it's between spouses, whether it's between friends, coworkers, church members, 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:01.240 whatever the relationship is. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:07.379 You ever had a shaky wall that, man, you just know if you blow too hard on it, it's going to fall. 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:12.279 God says you can't fix that by covering it with paint. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.000 Ezekiel 13 and verse 16. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.399 They promised my people peace when there was no peace. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:21.379 I, the Lord God, have spoken. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:25.179 Now you can challenge him on that, but it's not going to work out well. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:29.600 So what are we learning from this? 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:36.500 That peace is impossible apart from Jesus. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:45.320 You can't just go use human efforts to make peace. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:49.720 You must go to the Prince of Peace. 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:54.659 Because truth number two, Jesus himself is our peace. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:16:02.860 God's peace looks so different from ours because the peace can only be found in him. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.799 We can try peace through compromise. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.519 Finding a middle ground. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:14.279 But normally, most times, both parties are going to be discontent with that. 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:20.360 We can find peace through one side winning, but that's no peace. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:25.860 The downtrodden will never be able to find peace in that circumstance. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:32.259 The losers, only the victors, will think they have found peace. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:35.679 Until the next conflict comes along. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:43.360 But when we find peace in the Prince of Peace, that's when we find completeness. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.200 That's when we find wholeness. 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:48.940 So Jesus himself is our peace. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:52.059 Ephesians chapter 2 tells us what that looks like. 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:59.059 In Jesus Christ, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:02.339 For he himself is our peace. 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:04.539 Do you see what peace costs? 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:07.220 It costs Jesus' blood. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:13.679 So when we sing these Christmas carols, and we sing about peace on earth, goodwill toward men, 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:19.039 do we remember in that moment what that peace on earth cost? 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:23.900 The peace on earth cost the lifeblood of the Son of God. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:32.280 So when we want peace in our families, peace in our church, peace in our homes and neighborhoods and workplaces, 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:36.860 community and our nation, what's it going to cost? 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:39.640 It's always going to cost something. 00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:42.080 It costs Jesus everything. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.939 And he knew it would. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.579 That was the plan from the very beginning. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:49.939 The plan that was laid before the world was even formed. 00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:56.039 Was Jesus giving it all for our peace. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.960 So that's how he can be our peace. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.500 Because he paid the highest price. 00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:05.539 He paid the sacrifice. 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:07.779 Isaiah 53 describes it. 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:10.899 It says he was wounded for our rebellious acts. 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:13.360 Not because you're a nice guy. 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.860 Not because you're a nice girl. 00:18:16.780 --> 00:18:18.300 Because you're a rebel. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.180 And so am I. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.820 Because we were rebellious. 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.820 Jesus was wounded. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:29.220 He was crushed for our sins. 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.620 Not our achievements. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.220 Not our accomplishments. 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:35.840 Not the amount of times that we pat ourselves on the back. 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.640 Not the good days. 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:38.540 The victories. 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:41.920 None of that amounted to anything. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:44.899 That could lessen the punishment on Jesus. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.420 He was killed. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.720 And crushed. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:48.899 For our sins. 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.920 He was punished. 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.839 So that you and I. 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.920 Could have peace. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.980 You see the dichotomy there? 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.879 You see how different those two things are? 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.779 You've got punishment. 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.059 On Jesus. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.399 And peace. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.579 For us. 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:09.119 That is the gospel. 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:13.319 That's the good news that the children were talking about a little bit ago. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.399 That's the Christmas story. 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:21.460 This beautiful baby would grow up to be punished. 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:24.099 So you and I could have peace. 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:26.839 And we received healing. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.759 From his wounds. 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:32.899 Thank God for the prince of peace. 00:19:33.699 --> 00:19:34.679 Because otherwise. 00:19:35.219 --> 00:19:36.639 There would be no peace. 00:19:38.719 --> 00:19:39.980 It goes on. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:51.500 When we finished that passage. 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:51.940 It said. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.360 Before we go to the next slide here. 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.480 It said. 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.299 By his. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.860 We received healing from his wounds. 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.700 That was in God's word translation. 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.980 I want to go over here to the. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.799 The. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.860 New revised standard version. 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.420 I loved how this. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.360 How this. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:07.759 Jesus. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.799 Phrases this. 00:20:09.219 --> 00:20:10.399 It's basically the same. 00:20:10.459 --> 00:20:11.519 Well it is the same meaning. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:14.339 We get basically the same idea from it. 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:16.899 But would you read with me here again. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.339 God's word translation. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:20.759 He was wounded for our rebellious acts. 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.679 He was crushed for our sins. 00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:23.619 He was punished. 00:20:23.719 --> 00:20:24.699 So we could have peace. 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.699 And we received healing from his wounds. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.899 Then we go to this next one. 00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:30.000 New revised standard version says. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:32.579 But he was wounded for our transgressions. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.279 Crushed for our iniquities. 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:36.099 Upon him was the punishment that. 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.480 What is those three words? 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.519 Made us whole. 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:41.319 And by his bruises. 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.440 We were healed. 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:43.359 Back over there. 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:44.299 And the other one it said. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.099 So that we could have peace. 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:48.180 The Bible you're looking at today. 00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:50.480 Likely says one of those two things. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.079 It might say peace. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.440 It might say made us whole. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:53.839 Why? 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.240 Because the peace that it's talking about. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:58.279 That shalom means wholeness. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.460 It means completeness. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:03.319 So you and I could not be whole. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.519 We could never be made whole. 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:08.120 Like Jesus offered that crippled man. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.100 Apart from the Savior. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.900 Apart from his sacrifice. 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.160 That is what can make us whole. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.519 Well let's keep going back to that. 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.640 That's what can still heal. 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:22.380 The problems that come up in your life. 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.680 That's what can still heal. 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.880 The conflict. 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:29.160 That's what can still make it whole again. 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:31.120 One is Jesus. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.440 That's how we can be made whole. 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:38.200 That's how we can find peace. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.660 So truth number three. 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:44.500 God's peace doesn't make sense. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:49.800 You didn't expect to hear that today when you came to church. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.140 That something about God doesn't make sense. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.480 Right? 00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:54.420 But it doesn't. 00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:56.380 And the Bible says so. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.700 What are we talking about? 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:00.019 Go to Philippians chapter four and verse four. 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.420 Would you? 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:03.019 I didn't put this one on the screen. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:06.440 I want to try to get you to turn in your actual Bibles every once in a while. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.700 Okay? 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:08.160 So Philippians chapter four. 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:10.420 Let's look together at verse four. 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.460 If you didn't bring one with you. 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:13.900 There should be a Bible in the seat back in front of you. 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.640 You can look on with someone next to you. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:18.900 But Philippians chapter four and verse four. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.299 For sake of time. 00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:22.420 I'm going to go ahead and begin reading. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:26.360 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:37.380 The Apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christians and prolific Bible authors who ever lived is writing this to the church that was located in Philippi. 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:40.580 Well, centuries later, we still get to read it. 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:45.700 The church located in Henrietta gets to read this letter to the church in Philippi. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:48.819 And we get to take it as though it were written to us. 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.220 So rejoice in the Lord always. 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.840 I will say it again. 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.720 Rejoice. 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.299 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:00.940 Is your graciousness known to everyone? 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.460 That's just a little side note there. 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.299 That's free. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:06.880 Are you known to everybody as being gracious? 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:11.160 If not, you got to seek the Lord's help for that. 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:18.980 That is one of the key identifiers of being a Christian, a child of God, a follower of Jesus. 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:22.800 Is being gracious and kind to everyone. 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:28.620 When we're not, we identify more with the other guy. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.220 Okay? 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.560 And we don't need that. 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.860 We don't need to be identifying with Satan. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:37.720 We don't need to be identifying with our old stinky rotten flesh. 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:40.080 We don't need to be identifying with the old self. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:45.240 So we say, God, help me be more gracious and more like you. 00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:47.439 So he challenges them to do that. 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.539 Rejoice in the Lord. 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.599 Rejoice. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.899 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.980 The Lord is near. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.220 Don't forget, he's coming back. 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:56.859 Okay? 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.960 He's coming back. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:01.679 The clock is running out to serve him here. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.819 Because someday that clock is going to strike zero. 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.460 And we're all going home to heaven. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:09.179 And then our work here is done. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:11.960 We can't do anything else for Jesus here. 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:14.120 We can't serve him anymore here. 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:20.120 We can't go out and be used by God to turn anybody else to the kingdom of God. 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:23.400 So use the time we have here. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.019 Because the Lord is coming. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.539 Verse 6. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.980 Don't worry about anything. 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:38.539 But in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:44.480 I've had my boys memorize this verse until they can say it in their sleep. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:49.000 Because this is one of the key Christian life verses. 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.559 It's like a hack. 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:51.259 Okay? 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.500 It's a Christian life hack. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.940 Anybody know what that means? 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.380 Yes. 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.460 Yes. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.320 Some of the people are looking at me. 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.259 What are you talking about? 00:24:58.299 --> 00:25:01.019 You talking about hacking something like with a knife or something? 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.279 No. 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.960 It's like a tip. 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:03.559 Okay? 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:07.299 Like a key tip that will help you get through this life. 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.880 Verse 6. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:13.980 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:17.360 So that describes a life of peace right there. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.519 That's what that looks like. 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:21.180 A life of wholeness. 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:23.440 I don't lack anything. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:27.259 I'm not worried because I don't have the truck I want. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:30.019 I'm not worried because I don't have the job I want. 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:34.200 I'm not worried because my relationships aren't what I hoped they would be. 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:40.299 I'm not worried about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:44.600 God, I'm thanking you, even though you haven't given me everything I want. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.500 Present your requests to God. 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:50.840 That's a life of completeness, wholeness, and peace. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.620 Amen. 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.900 And here's the crazy part. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.620 Verse 7. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.400 The part that doesn't make sense. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:56.860 Okay? 00:25:57.700 --> 00:26:02.500 The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:06.799 So Paul is saying, you're not going to get this. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:15.819 It's not going to make sense to you that you have peace when, by all accounts, you shouldn't have peace. 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:19.240 Look at the story of Job in the Bible. 00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:22.279 He lost everything there was to lose. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.879 He lost his family. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.859 He lost his possessions. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:35.399 He lost everything before God gave it back to him far more than he could have ever had before or ever had on his own. 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:41.480 But before that, he still had peace. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.240 We see it. 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:51.580 Other people, his friends, were coming to him, trying to point the finger at him, saying, man, something must be wrong with you, because God's clearly judging you here. 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:53.040 Saying, no. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:55.500 Well, sometimes the Lord gives. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.220 Sometimes the Lord takes away. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.960 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:05.480 I will go to him with thanksgiving. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.740 Regardless. 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.759 And that doesn't make any sense. 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:12.240 That surpasses my understanding. 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.680 And it surpasses your understanding. 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.399 Don't act like you've got that figured out. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:22.540 Even if you've experienced it, still doesn't really make sense. 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:25.680 That is just a gift from God. 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:34.240 When the peace of God, which surpasses our understanding, guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:38.300 Say, man, I could use God's peace guarding my mind. 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.080 Because my mind goes crazy places. 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.660 My mind is my worst enemy. 00:27:44.280 --> 00:27:45.560 It undermines me, right? 00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:47.140 Anybody identify with that? 00:27:48.060 --> 00:27:49.940 You get in your own head sometimes? 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:53.060 So here's the solution. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.759 Here's the ingredients right here. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:01.740 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests of God. 00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:10.860 And then the promise that follows, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:15.460 So, wholeness equals peace, right? 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.579 Wholeness equals peace. 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.500 We've got that down. 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.860 Well, here's the next thing. 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.940 What does it look like to be whole? 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.279 What does it look like to have peace? 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.539 It looks like being full of joy. 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:30.380 It looks like being considerate in everything. 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:32.759 It looks like praying instead of worrying. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:35.019 It looks like taking our needs to God. 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:37.480 And it looks like thanking him for all he's done. 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:41.200 That came directly from Philippians 4, the passage we just read. 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.759 So that is how to have peace. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:49.660 That's how the prince of peace gives us peace, which just doesn't make any sense. 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:55.720 Because we never lose our joy. 00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:58.540 Joy to the world, the Lord has come. 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.380 Yes, he has. 00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:03.460 And he's still here. 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:05.120 And he walks with us. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.460 And he talks with us. 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.660 And he's our friend. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.180 And he never leaves us. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:15.259 And regardless of what's given to us or taken away from us, we can still be full of his joy. 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.660 And then we can be nice. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.019 Then we can be generous. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.720 We can be considerate. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.620 We can be gracious. 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:27.079 We can pray instead of worrying. 00:29:28.239 --> 00:29:30.500 Can take our needs to God and God alone. 00:29:31.959 --> 00:29:33.639 We take our needs to other people. 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.939 You know what it does? 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.719 Sometimes it messes things up. 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:43.039 Doesn't mean you can't share a need with somebody as God puts it on your heart. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:47.219 But you take your needs first to him and then you leave it in his hands. 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:50.739 And then if he says, share this with your wife. 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.099 Share this with your husband. 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.939 Share this with your best friend. 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:57.519 Share this with that person at church who you know loves and cares about you. 00:29:58.679 --> 00:30:00.559 Because then they can take it to me too. 00:30:02.459 --> 00:30:04.139 We take our needs to him. 00:30:04.739 --> 00:30:05.839 And then we thank him. 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:10.679 Not for giving us, for hoping he gives us what we want. 00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:13.479 We thank him for all that he's done. 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.879 Dying on the cross. 00:30:17.479 --> 00:30:18.359 Coming as a baby. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.199 Healing many. 00:30:20.699 --> 00:30:21.379 Healing us. 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:27.520 Showing himself time and time again to be our prince of peace. 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:29.500 Now, real quick before we finish. 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:33.440 Peace is not only wholeness. 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:36.700 Peace is also surrender. 00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.600 What do we mean by that? 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:41.520 Peace is surrender. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:48.240 Well, it looks like surrendering to the prince of peace. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:50.980 I want to talk to you just for a moment about surrender. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:59.039 Jesus is called a royal term here. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:01.079 He's called a prince. 00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:06.920 Why do you think Jesus was called a prince when just a moment ago he was called a king? 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:12.279 Because Jesus is the son. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.080 God is the father. 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.180 We know that. 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:17.140 That's laid out for us in scriptures. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:21.440 We understand that he is our mighty king. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:27.240 But we also understand that he is God's one and only begotten son. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:33.279 So it's not a big stretch for us to understand that Jesus is called a prince. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:47.700 Well, do you understand what a prince is in a royalty, a nation that has a royal system, a royal family, a nation that has a king and a queen and a prince and princess? 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:50.200 Do you understand what the prince's role is? 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:58.160 The prince is to go out and be the physical representation of the king. 00:31:59.080 --> 00:32:01.279 The prince is the emissary. 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:03.960 The prince is the ambassador often. 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:13.700 So wherever he goes, usually the king would be back at the palace running the government, taking care of everything back there. 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:19.360 And the prince would be sent sometimes to foreign countries to speak on the king's behalf. 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.680 Well, let's stick with that for a minute. 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:36.960 Do you see what happened when Jesus left the kingdom of heaven, left his royal throne and came down to this, you could call it foreign country? 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:42.299 And he wasn't treated as a prince. 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:50.779 Sure, the wise men came and offered him their gifts and the shepherds came at his birth and they bowed down to him. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:57.160 But so few recognized him for the royalty that he was. 00:32:58.360 --> 00:33:01.440 But he had a mission from the king. 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:07.779 And it was to give everything so you and I could have peace. 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:19.279 It was to bring peace from this peaceful kingdom of heaven to this kingdom of conflict on earth. 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:26.660 So the question is, do we fight against him? 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:34.599 Or do we surrender and say, you can have me as part of your kingdom? 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:38.119 I want to join you. 00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:41.599 I want to join you and your king. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.240 I want to join you and your father. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:50.319 I surrender to this prince of peace. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:53.259 He's not coming in the name of conflict. 00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:55.700 He's not coming to bring war. 00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:58.279 He's not coming to bring a sword. 00:33:58.339 --> 00:34:00.379 Even though the Jewish people had prayed for that. 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:03.500 Come deliver us from our Roman conquerors. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.839 Let's beat them in battle. 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.399 Jesus said, no. 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:09.519 I am come for a bigger kingdom than that. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.400 I'm come for everyone. 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:15.340 I have come so that all of you can have peace. 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.519 Not all of you will. 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.940 Some of you will fight against me. 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:22.300 But the ones who surrender, you'll have peace. 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:24.860 Maybe there was a moment in your life when you surrendered. 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:28.039 Maybe you can remember the day, remember the night, 00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:32.840 when you bowed your head and put all your faith in this prince of peace. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.700 And you said, God, I believe. 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:39.119 I believe enough to put my faith in you and say, 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:42.839 I believe you love me, you died for me, you rose for me, 00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:46.079 and you will forgive me and make me your child. 00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:48.099 And you remember when that happened. 00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:55.099 But sometime along the way, you stopped surrendering to his peace. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:59.380 And you thought, well, I checked that box. 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:02.880 But I got to figure out the rest now. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.739 I still got the rest of my life to live. 00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:08.779 And at some point, you stopped surrendering. 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:11.500 And you started looking on earth for peace. 00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:14.119 And you started looking inside for peace. 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:20.299 Instead of looking at the prince of peace who delivered you once and for all. 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.940 Would you bow your heads with me right now? 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:28.500 God, I pray that you would speak to us right now, God. 00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:33.820 Through your Holy Spirit, which is present in this room, 00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:36.599 in us and so many lives, 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:41.579 God, I ask that you would call us to surrender to you. 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:44.659 You are that prince of peace. 00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:46.760 You offer us completeness. 00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:48.079 You offer us wholeness. 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:51.619 And so many, since the day that we turned to you for salvation, 00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:54.719 we've lost that wholeness. 00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:56.599 We've lost that peace. 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:03.400 We look at all these other places for it, 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.139 and we come up empty. 00:36:06.839 --> 00:36:09.239 So often it just breeds more conflict. 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:14.299 But you call us to peace. 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:19.439 You call us to wholeness in you. 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:22.259 You call us to that being full of joy, 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.659 full of graciousness, 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:27.139 that just blows our mind. 00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:31.179 We don't get how we have comfort and security and peace 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:35.339 in these moments where it's just life's falling apart. 00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:39.019 It's spinning out of our control. 00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:42.280 Things are moving faster than we can keep up with, 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:46.960 and we don't know exactly what the right decision is at every step. 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:52.420 But we have a prince who calls to us and says, 00:36:52.620 --> 00:36:53.960 I am here to bring you peace. 00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:55.039 Don't forget me. 00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:57.620 Help us to turn to you. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:01.519 Help the parents in this room to show their children 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:03.400 where to turn for peace. 00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:06.280 God, our kids see it all. 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.340 They see how stressed we get, 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:11.579 and they see what we do when we get stressed. 00:37:13.639 --> 00:37:15.059 They see who we turn to, 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.740 who we don't turn to. 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:22.660 Let the prince of peace rule in our hearts, God. 00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.760 We surrender to you. 00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:27.139 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:37:27.139 --> 00:37:27.220 Amen.