Peace Came
The Night Everything Changed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewThe Christ Child brought God's peace and is the prince f peace
Notes
Transcript
Today is the second Sunday of advent.
Today we remember peace.
Here is the Christmas Carol book I used as a kid.
Singing with my dad and sister. This is the song that came to mind!
Isn’t it interesting that when we think of peace there are times we go right to ideas like, world peace, no war, no violence, no hatred?
Is that really what God had in mind with peace He gives?
That Jesus would be the prince of world peace?
That is what we will try to answer today.
Our tex today is chair Bible pg. 508, Isaiah 9:1-7
1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
3 You will multiply the nation, You will increase their joy; They will rejoice in Your presence As with the joy of harvest, As people rejoice when they divide the spoils.
4 For You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the marching warrior in the roar of battle, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool let’s dig in to it!
Peace in the Old Testament
Peace in the Old Testament
What did God intend when told Israel about His peace and of course about Messiah, the king He would send as the “Prince of Peace”?
In Isaiah 9:6
6 For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
God gives the title to Messiah.
“Prince” - a male member of a royal family other than the Sovereign, or king
“Peace” - Shalom, harmonious relations and freedom from disputes.
This peace is being whole, intact, soundness, safeness, health, deliverance, salvation
The word appears in Psalm 85:8
8 I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to foolishness.
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
In Jeremiah its is the word translated “prosperity,” you could also translate with the word peace
God’s intent with Shalom was something more than world peace with no war or violence.
The Jews didn’t have God’s peace in mind when they thought Messiah would come and reestablish the physical Kingdom of David!
Zealot Jews prepared for war and were reddying themselves for the appearance of Messiah and be his standing army for battle against their oppressors.
Even today Israel knows no peace as the world considers it.
This word shalom and certainly the title “Prince of Peace,” has more to do with spiritual life than physical life.
Peace in the New Testament
Peace in the New Testament
The authors of the New Testament expanded on the deeper more spiritual meaning of peace, having been taught by Jesus.
Consider again Psalm 85:8 again
8 I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; And may they not turn back to foolishness.
In the Greek Septuagint the Greek word for peace is the same word used in Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This word for peace is a state of peace that is a blessing from God.
It means - harmony, order, tranquility, freedom from worry.
Very similar to its Hebrew counterpart
As blessing from God consider the words of Jesus in John 14:27
27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
“I leave” and “I give” in the Greek are in a form that means what Jesus is saying is a reality.
Also the action is ongoing with no perception as to its end!
33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
When we put all of this together we see how this word surpasses all understanding or comprehension!
This is not the world’s peace!
The word “peace” in the New American Standard 2020, appears 340 times
This makes peace an important idea to consider.
We also are seeing that this peace is all centered around this little baby born in Bethlehem the night everything changed.
Changing how the people of God would understand the promise of peace and the promise of the Prince of Peace!
The Application of Peace
The Application of Peace
For us the application begins with understanding that the Peace from God is completely different than the peace of the world.
God’s peace is a peace that transcends our understanding!
One possible way to understand it is as an inner spiritual peace that brings calmness and harmony through the Spirit of God.
Look at the world has it ever really known peace?
Certainly in the Garden of Eden, but when sin entered the world there has been no world peace!
When peace is found in the world it is fleeting and not lasting!
The reality is that even though we may not fully understand it, God gives it to His people.and this has always been His desire.
Jesus was born into this world and that night everything changed!
God’s long promised peace came!
That night the Prince of God’s Peace was born, just as Isaiah foretold, this is the reality.
Conclusion:
So in this season which peace are you looking for?
Peace as the world defines it?
Peace promised by God in His word that surpasses all comprehension?
Jesus is the only one we should turn to, through Him comes the peace of God.
Peace in the world only lasts for a moment and then is gone.
The peace offered through the Prince of Peace lasts an eternity!
So, again which peace do you want?