You and I live in a fallen creation that is no longer perfect and not even good, Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a sinful, rebellious nature. No one can see God and live because of our fallen nature. The wages of sin is death, eternal separation from our Creator. But God, our Creator, desires a personal, intimate relationship with each one of us. He loves us with unconditional, everlasting love. He wants fellowship with you and me. So He made a way for there to be peace between Himself and you and me. He sent His only Son, Jesus, the promised Messiah, to take the punishment for our sins and to defeat death once and for all by rising from the grave.

In the 8^th century the prophet wrote in Isaiah 9:⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Definitions

Prince = a sovereign or king

Peace =a state of mutual harmony based on an agreement to end hostilities; freedom from             dissension; serenity

Jesus Christ offers peace between our Creator and ourselves. Peace that will never end!

There is no way to gain His peace. Jesus gives it freely to all who will receive.

His peace cannot be earned by you or me.

His peace is not deserved by you or me.

Have you received His peace?

What does His offer of peace mean to you?

Because there is peace between us and God

We have access into His grace (God giving us what we do not deserve-forgiveness, mercy, relationship, knowledge of God and His Son; everlasting life; inheritance)!

We stand before Him -not condemned for our sinful breaking of His laws- but in that grace!

We rejoice in the hope of seeing Him in all His glory and being in His physical presence!

In 1889 Warren Cooper wrote “Wonderful Peace’. Do you know this song?

1. Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
   In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

• Refrain:
  Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above!
  Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray In fathomless billows of love!

2. What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
   So secure that no power can mine it away, While the years of eternity roll!

3. I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
   For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul!

4. And I think when I rise to that city of peace, Where the Author of peace I shall see,
   That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing In that heavenly kingdom will be:

5. Ah soul, are you here without comfort and rest, Marching down the rough pathway of time?
   Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark; Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime!

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti