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The Prince Of Peace
Luke 2:8-14 & Isaiah 9:6
I. In Search Of Peace…
Article (Lafayette Paper) – “What is your wish for this Christmas Season?”
4 out of 5 said what they wished for most was “peace”!
And yet in the 3100 years of recorded history the world has only known 286 years of peace (8%). In that time over 8,000 treaties have been made and broken.
Through the centuries men have tried to find a way to secure peace! Records from the earliest of civilizations record their attempts by way of rules, laws and punishments; none of which have worked.
As civilizations expanded so did the peacekeeping efforts. International treaties were formed and alliances forged, but this didn’t bring peace.
Within the last century the UN, NATO, and the European Union have endeavored to align nations for the purpose of peace, but they haven’t been able to succor it.
Even within our culture many have turned to yoga, meditation, and even medication (drugs, alcohol) to bring a temporary inner peace from the lack of peace in this world, but still no peace.
II. No Peace Down Here…
“Peace” has two distinct definitions:
- Freedom from war, civil strife, and public disturbance.
- An undisturbed state of mind, rest from worry and fear, serenity!
It’s almost as if Webster defined the world’s definition and then God’s!
Some bad news – as for the first, it’s never going to get better!
In this life there’s never going to be peace:
- Wars are never going to cease
- Battles are never going to end
- People are never going to stop killing each other
- Earthquakes, famines, natural disasters are never going to go away
- Hospitals are never going to deny entrance
- Cemeteries are never going to close their gates and say no more
Some more bad news – there’s never going to be an end to the troubles and trials of life!
A true story: A retired couple who wanted to get away from the threat of nuclear war undertook a study of all the inhabited places on the globe to determine where in the world would be the best place to be least affected by a war. After studying, traveling, and studying they found the place and moved to the Falkland Islands – months later war broke out between Great Britain and Argentina and their new home become the battleground.
No matter your social, political, religious or ethnic background, you’re going to have troubles in this life.
You’re going to struggle financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually!
If you’re looking for a life without problems you’re in the wrong one!
Everyone has a problem, is a problem, or lives with a problem!
Yet, in spite of it all there’s a peace that God gives – it’s not predicated on what’s going on around us – even in the midst of struggle and strife there can still be a peace that passes all understanding.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, etc.” (Jn.16:33).
III. Isaiah Prophesied About The Coming Messiah…
I700 years before Jesus was born Isaiah prophesied about His birth!
Most “birth announcements” come after the birth of a child, but Isaiah gave his centuries before!
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14).
The fulfillment of this prophecy came to pass when Mary conceived and gave birth to a son of whom He was given the name Jesus!
The wonder of His birth is wrapped up in the fact that when Mary conceived she was a virgin. That which was conceived in her was not of man but the Holy Ghost.
What’s even more amazing are the names Isaiah ascribed Him! The all-encompassing Name was not yet revealed, yet Isaiah gave us a glimpse as to the kind of child that was to be born!
IV. He Would Be Called The Prince Of Peace…
“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…” (Is.9:6).
- Wonderful!
- No other way to describe Him!
- There’s never been anyone as wonderful as Jesus!
- He was wonderful in His birth, life, death, resurrection, etc.
- Counselor!
- The name “Counselor” speaks of His wisdom.
- There’s no one better to counsel with than Jesus!
- When earthly wisdom is worthless, not available, can’t be applied to life, there’s Jesus!
- There’ll never be a problem He doesn’t have an answer!
- Mighty God!
- Isaiah settled it and the angel confirmed it – He was “Emanuel”.
- God didn’t send another but He made Himself a body and became flesh and made Himself known as the Son!
- The Almighty God stripped Himself of His royalty and grandeur and came to this earth to redeem us.
- “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1Tim.3:15).
- Everlasting Father!
- Jesus was the image of the invisible God!
- Jesus told Phillip, “If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father; I and the Father are one.”
- Jesus’ flesh came from Mary (Son) but His Spirit was that of God His Father.
- Prince of peace!
- When the angel said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace”, he wasn’t saying the world was at peace but that the Prince of peace had come.
- He didn’t just have access to peace – He was the Prince of peace!
- Everywhere He went He brought peace to troubled minds, bodies, hearts, spirits.
- “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (Jn.14:27).
V. First, You Need To Be At Peace With God…
You can’t have the “peace of God” if you’re not yet “at peace with God”!
Before we found the Lord none of us were at peace!
“The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest. There is no peace, saith God, to the wicked” (Is.57:20-21).
Sin always separates men from God, but Jesus went to the cross so we could have the opportunity to be at peace with God!
“He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace (the punishment that brought us peace – NIV) was upon him, etc.” (Is.53:5).
Romans 5:6-9
Time and again the Word tells us we have peace through Christ:
- Rom.5;1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through or Lord Jesus Christ.
- Eph.2:14 – For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.
- Eph.2:17 – Who came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
- Col.1:20 – And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, he hath reconciled all things unto himself.
VI. When You’re At Peace With God You Can Have The Peace Of God…
Have you ever had situations that were out of your control? That’s when you need to “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col.3:15).
When troubles come you don’t have to fall apart and loose your mind – you can have “peace” while others “go to pieces”!
“The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for the deliverance from fear. It’s the storm within that endangers him, not the storm without” (Ralph Emerson).
Mark 4:35-39
There’s a storm and Jesus in the back of the boat asleep.
The lesson He wants us to learn is not how to “speak to the wind” but “sleep through the storm”!
If God doesn’t calm the storm “around us” He’ll calm the storm “in us”!
In Acts 12 Peter is taken and put in prison, yet we find Peter asleep between two soldiers on the eve of his execution – peace was ruling!
“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries” (Ph.1:28).
We’ve not been give the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind!
VIII. How To Get The Peace Of God…
“The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace” (Ps.29:11).
You say, “I’m hearing you, but how do I get it?”
- “Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall you’re your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phi.4:6-7).
If we’d take everything to God in prayer and then be thankful in every situation, nothing could rob us of our peace!
- “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isa.26:3).
I’ve never seen anyone overcome with this life who kept their mind stayed on Him, and kept their trust in Him!
- “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them” (Ps.119:165).
“Perfect love casteth out all fear”.
I love the Word because of the hope it brings! And because I have hope I have peace!
IX. There’s Peace For Your Troubled Mind…
Bubba went to see his pastor – “Pastor, I’ve got a problem. Every time I go to sleep I think there’s someone under my bed. It scares me, I think I’m gonna to go crazy.” His pastor said, “Now Bubba, the Lord isn’t the author of fear. He wants to give you peace. Tonight when you go to bed I want you to ask the Lord what you need to do to overcome this fear.” Two days later the phone rings – Bubba answers and the pastor says, “Bubba has the Lord helped you with that fear problem?” Bubba said, “He sure has, and I’m not afraid no more now how.” “Really, what did the Lord tell you to do?” “He told me to cut the legs off the bed so there ain’t no room for anyone to get under there but Jesus.”
Bubba, if you’re here God’s got an answer – PEACE!
You may have come in here with every kind of fear and anxiety attached to you – maybe your marriage is struggling, your health is failing, finances are suffering and there seems to be no hope in sight, but there’s no reason to leave that way!
The “God of peace” is in this house and He wants to touch your troubled spirit and replace your fear with faith!
What we need is a Peace Conference with the Prince of Peace!
Isaiah 9:6 & John 16:33
“These things have I spoken unto you, that in ME ye might have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, etc.” (Jn.16:33).
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14).
“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…” (Is.9:6).
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (Jn.14:27).
Romans 5:6-9
Time and again the Word tells us we have peace through Christ:
- Rom.5;1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through or Lord Jesus Christ.
- Eph.2:14 – For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.
- Eph.2:17 – Who came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
- Col.1:20 – And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, he hath reconciled all things unto himself.
Mark 4:35-39
“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries” (Ph.1:28).
“The Lord will strength to his people; the Lord will bless his (Ps.29:11).
Back to back:
- Phi.4:6-7
- Isa.26:3
- Ps.119:165
