A Kingdom of Perfect Peace

Introduction

Many of you by now know of you know by now that we had a debate held in Tuscaloosa, Al in recent days. Four of the five key Republican Presidential Candidates were in attendance to debate the issues that historically are at top of the mind awareness of Americans today. Topics like inflation, cost of education, medical insurance costs, Pro life-Pro Choice, Border patrol, values about our military, our involvement with Ukraine, Israel, etc.

Our assumption was that the candidates would debate the topics and not attack each other. If that was your desire you were sorely disappointed. The debate was a picture of the reality of divisiveness in government today.

Furthermore, we saw news Saturday where congress is on the attack of Rep. Matt Gaetz for leading in the expelling of George Santos and spearheaded the removal of the office of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. This morning’s news reflected that 35 members of congress will not run again in 2024 due to the climate in congress.

Regardless of party affiliation, the same holds true on attempts to bring charges against President Joe Biden related to business affairs tied to his son, Hunter Biden. We also know within each party for example, there are tensions between conservative and moderates. Names like Krysten Sinema and Joe Manchin who are moderates that are at odds with more conservatives of the Democratic party.

Pew Research Center states in an article dated June 21, 2023 that the top three problems of government at this time based upon surveys are as follows:

Inflation

Health cost

Partisan Cooperation

Dearly beloved, everyone of us has an innate desire to live in peace and tranquility. We all have a gene pool of being made in the image of God and each of us desire a locale, a time, a state of being of peace.

When we read Isaiah 9:6 “6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Our lives are drawn to the life offered in Jesus Christ, He is the Prince of Peace.

When we ponder the subject of peace, the very scene that is a backdrop to our Advent message brings peace. There are many scenes in life that can bring semblances of peaceful moments. This scene right now being with the family of God brings peace. I know the bonds of family over these last days in the loss of my Father in Law brings peace. Holding our loved ones. A scene as simple as being around the fireplace drinking hot chocolate and watching the twinkling of the Christmas lights fabricates peace, but we all want a lasting peace.

Isaiah 26:3 “3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

Isn’t that our ideal? Is that not our desire? When we see the opportunity of a new governmental leader as I spoke of earlier , we all hunger for a place, a time, a state of peace in our world.

We sing the song, “peace on earth, good will toward men.” Those words are on the Christmas cards that we both send and receive. And we send and receive them because that is what we desire.

Oh dearly beloved, hang on, the prophet Isaiah writes of a time when we can know that type of peace.

Isaiah 11:1-9

Isaiah 11:1–9 NKJV

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. 6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.

Prayer

Message

The prophet Isaiah was called to prophecy to the people of Israel in the period leading up to, during and post the time of the exile to Babylon. The book of Isaiah has been called a miniature Bible due to its 66 chapters. The chapters prophecy Israel’s judgment intermingled with message of hope for a restored Israel.

One of the characteristic greetings of one of Jewish decent is to greet one another with the word, Shalom. Shalom means peace. Peace is a concept all through the Word that relates to a love and loyalty to Yahweh God and a love for our fellow man. I believe that we would all agree that if live up to the two greatest commandments Jesus stated that we would know real peace here on earth and good will toward man. Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37–39 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

The Israelites were chastened to draw them back to God. When we live in sin, we are at enmity with God. God will have no part with sin dearly beloved.

Isaiah wrote of a judgment to come because the Israelites were His people, He loved them, He loved them enough to bring correction and reconciliation to His people. God loves you and He loves you enough that if you live in sin, you will live to regret your actions. God’s word states He chastises the child He loves.

But Oh dear brother, our God is a God that offers us hope. He offers us an opportunity to enjoy real peace.

Qualifications of to a Kingdom Ruled by Peace

Isaiah 11:1 “1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

All the way back to the time of Samuel, you will remember that God called Samuel to go to the home of Jesse to seek the King of Israel. All of this was before David’s rise in the armies of Israel, before the time of the battle with Goliath, before the time of the jealousies that were instilled in King Saul. Even though we know that King David was promised that a King would reign for eternity in his linage, why does these words not state “rod from the stem of David?”

1 Samuel 16:11–13 “11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”

I believe we see that real peace is found in surrender, not in the solidarity of an earthly king, not in earthly power and leadership, but in the sold out surrender to the Lordship of God in our lives.

Matthew 19:14 “14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.””

David as a young lad represented the innocence, the blind trust and faith in God to lead Him. When we read that David was “ruddy” we tend to think that he was the smallest of the brothers, youngest, yes, but ruddy meant he had a skin complexion without blemish.

Dearly beloved, what is this saying to us this morning. Peace is not found in the atmosphere you can create about you, power, authority, settings, surroundings, great leadership, and a place per say that you can escape to to enjoy real peace. Peace is found in a clear conscience.

A Clear Conscience is a Christ Cleansed Conscience.

Christ’s rule in our lives brings about confession, repentance, cleansing and a renewed peace that nothing is hidden, all is forgiven, and newness of life is available.

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Isaiah used metaphorical language that he used in prior chapters relating to large trees, trees removed down to a stump, he used language that Israel would be removed down to stumps from the strength of old.

Isaiah 6:13 “13 But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.””

Isaiah prophesied that a remnant of Israel that was exiled to Babylon would return, but ultimately the “holy seed shall be in the stump.”

Listen to me dearly beloved, there is so much promise in this text that where ever you find yourself this morning. There is always peace available in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah promised that in the midst of a stump, by all measures a dead tree, a rod, a branch would grow out of the stump and bring new life, a holy seed. No matter how dismal you may find your estate this morning, there is new life in Christ. There is always a new dawning, anew era, a new time. Even the word Seed means new life.

I do not know what you face this Christmas Season. I know what our family has faced in recent days with several needs among family. But oh dear brother, dear sister, we can find peace in Jesus today.

Characteristics of a Kingdom Ruled by Peace

Isaiah 11:2–5 “2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

We read in these verses of an ideal environment where righteousness, justice, and equity are top of the order. Under the lordship of Christ when He returns after the millennial reign and we are promised a New Heaven New Earth in Revelation 21, Isaiah writes in apocalyptic writing of such a time. Amen.

Oh that we hunger for a place to live where righteousness prevails.

Listen to the language of an oppressed prophet as Isaiah that was hurt over the inequalities of His people, Israel.

Isaiah 10:1–2 “1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.”

Isaiah 10:27 “27 It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”

Oh dearly beloved are we all not victim every day of decisions, votes, laws that do injustice to our lives, or in one breath helps our lives but brings injustice to another?

-ridding the debt of college students is a wonderful act for the students and the families that are helping pay that debt. The injustice is how much it costs to educate today. But, if they choose to rid that debt, all of us taxpayers absorb that write off.

We know that the state of Alaska has tons of resources our country can use and it involves pipelines, mining, etc. It helps the economy, but we read where it has adverse affect to the people of that region.

But the real kicker is listen closely to what Isaiah 10:1 says:

Isaiah 10:1 “1 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed”

Unrighteous laws are laws against the Word of God. It is now okay for same sexes to marry and that is shared as “normal” in America today. And dearly beloved, there has been a continuous removal of the Bible and prayer from almost every public venue we attend today. ALCAP battles for us everyday of the Christian community on subjects such as alcohol, gambling, marijuana, pro-life, religious liberties and the list goes on.

The Bible promises that when Jesus rules, he will rule in the power of the Triune God.

“The Spirit of the Lord will be upon Him.”

Notice in 1 Samuel 16:13

1 Samuel 16:13 (NKJV)

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

We saw a taste of heaven on earth in David’s early leadership days before sin was birthed in adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite.

David after that act was called a “man after God’s own heart.” The Spirit of God was still within David and when He was confronted with his sin by Nathan the prophet, listen to his words:

2 Samuel 12:13 “13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

Time does not afford to address every characteristic of the Lord when He rules a kingdom of peace.

But note when we are ruled by the Spirit of God in our lives we will exhibit wisdom and understanding. I’m not necessarily speaking of book knowledge or knowledge of the things of this world even though that has its merits as well.

The Lord will instill His word in you and may we be challenged to:

Proverbs 22:6 “6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Psalm 119:105 “105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

Oh dearly beloved, as we celebrate advent and we wait on the Lord’s return to bring to fruition a literal heaven on earth, may we bring a little heaven down to earth by being His agents of peace.

Oh that our lives would be led by the Holy Spirit. Oh that we would seek Him in finding wisdom, counsel, fairness, justice and equality in those things we affect every day. Amen.

The Results of a Kingdom Ruled by Peace

Isaiah 11:6–9 “6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.”

Metaphorically or ideally, Isaiah writes of a time that we can be one in our differences. Notice that Isaiah does not water down the unique nature of each of God’s creation. The Lion is still the lion, the Cobra is the cobra and the baby is the baby.

In the fact that God chose to make one DNA strand for everyone of His creation, everyone of us are made different. God’s church is where we practice peace in our differences.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.”

Oh dearly beloved, we know today in the church age, God’s answer to the abundant life in Him, an atmosphere of peace is practiced within the body of Christ. When we all come from different backgrounds, different sets of gifts, different vantage points, different talents, different journey’s, within God’s framework of his church we can come together with a Koinonia, a fellowship and be one in Him. Amen.

Isaiah writes in hyperbole of a time when each of these comparisons and contrast could never function together in harmony. Wolves eat lambs. Leopards attacks goats. And a snake will not hesitate to bite a child let alone an adult.

Oh dearly beloved, God’s Word charges us that a time is coming when He comes again that Alabama and Auburn people can live together in peace, Democrats and Republicans can be harmonious. Russians, Americans, and China can be the people they are and not have tenuous relationships. And, even within the Christian communities, Church of Christ, Catholic, Baptist and Methodist can serve the Lord together.

How can we enjoy that type of peace today?

Isaiah 26:12 “12 Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us.”

Hebrews 13:20–21 “20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Isaiah 11:9 “9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.”

Dearly beloved, to enjoy real peace we must have peace with God. We all have frustrated that peace and created enmity between us and God.

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The gift of peace at Christmas is the gift of an answer to our sin problem, our separation from a heavenly Father. Jesus is the greatest gift our Heavenly Father could have ever given us. Jesus is the gift of peace to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus, God incarnate, came down to be the peace of Christmas to place us in right relationship with Jesus.

Hot chocolate, hugs, family, and the merriment of Christmas bring a semblance of peace, but real peace is found in the Christ of Christmas.

How can you know that peace today? Invite the Prince of Peace, Jesus into your heart and forgive you and you can know real peace.

Let’s pray.