Advent 4: Jesus as Prince of Peace
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us,
a son is
given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
God outlines in Isaiah 9
What Jesus will do for us:
Govern
Who Jesus will be to us:
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
God’s plan for mankind
There is no other plan
§it is unparalleled in its scope
§it is unparalleled in its purpose
§it is not an “image” of God
“Prince” has four meanings in the Old Testament
· Leader
· Official Representative
· Governor
· Royal King
“Peace” or “Shalom” in Hebrew means
· rest
· safety
· freedom
· security
Literally, Jesus as Prince of Peace means:
· Jesus leads us in rest, safety, freedom and security
· Jesus represents rest, safety, freedom and security
· Jesus administers rest, safety, freedom and security
· Jesus rules and the result is rest, safety, freedom and security
The Gift of Peace with God
· Through the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ
o God desires that every person that has ever lived or ever will live to be at one with Him.
o Communion.
· Jesus is peace
o Enjoyed the peace of heaven
o Became human
§ the sole purpose of reconciling humankind
§ we can personally know the peace of God
What difference does it make to be reconciled with God?
· Life without God isn’t complete
o Searching for something
o Try to find meaning in things of temporal consequence
o Ecclesiastes 1: 2-11 Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all- nothing makes sense! What is there to show for all of our hard work here on this earth? People come, and people go, but still the world never changes. The sun comes up, the sun goes down; it hurries right back to where it started from. The wind blows south, the wind blows north; round and round it blows over and over again. All rivers empty into the sea, but it never spills over; one by one the rivers return to their source. All of life is far more boring than words could ever say. Our eyes and our ears are never satisfied with what we see and hear. Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun. Someone might say, "Here is something new! But it happened before, long before we were born. No one who lived in the past is remembered anymore, and everyone yet to be born will be forgotten too.
· When God isn’t center of our life, things are unbalanced
o “aholic”
§ work
§ substances
§ relationships
· Jesus created you to be at one with Him
o peace with yourself.
· You were created in His image
o His demeanor is one of peace.
· The Prince of Peace can help you to love yourself
o Without this, all relationships are warped
· The God of peace will be with you at all times
o Jesus’ gift of peace is not situationally based
· No peace with God results in
o Peace with yourself is difficult
o peace with others will prove difficult
· Concepts of grace, mercy and forgiveness
o Only possible when filled with Him
· “If we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars”
o 1st John
o The Spirit in me relates to the Spirit in other believers
· Be reconciled to others you are in conflict with
o As much as you can do to make this possible
o Forgiveness means you seek God’s redemption for them
§ Leave vengeance to Him
§ Does not mean what happened is okay
§ Does not mean relationship is re-established
· Unless redemption occurs and it is possible
· The Prince of Peace – Jesus Himself – enables us to do this
How would your life change this morning if you truly decided to take God up on the Gift of Jesus as Prince of Peace in your life?
Would your financial worries and stress melt away as you rest in His peace and promises that He will provide?
Would your health problems be easier to face as you cling to the promise that you will not face anything you cannot bear – and that by His stripes you are healed?
Would the conflict in your job be put in a different perspective as you realize the person who is the “thorn in your side” is either a brother or sister who is hurting OR is someone who God wants to save so they become a brother or sister?
Would your grief over loss be easier to handle as you give Him the burden to carry and rest in His peace and presence?
Would you quit “bucking up” and “let it go” and let Him have it – and experience a freedom and restoration because of the healing you’d experience by the joy of sweet surrender?
The Prince of Peace is here today. Regardless of our situation or need, the opportunity for His leading us into rest, safety, freedom and security is here. The opportunity for His showing us what it means and administering it in our lives is here.
Receiving it depends on is our yielding to His ruling in rest, safety, freedom and security in our lives. The question is, do we accept Jesus as Prince of Peace?
The altar is open for us to receive this gift – freely given, but purchased with such a high price. Not only achieved on the cross, but also in the manger – representing God’s desire to dwell with us. Represented in what we remember on Christmas and Easter, but also in what occurred on the Day of Pentecost.
God through Jesus choosing to dwell among us, dying for us, and living in us.
Jesus – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Fill us anew today.