Prince of Peace
Notes
Transcript
Reflecting on the manifestations of Christ’s Peace.
Isaiah 9:6-7 .
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Jesus, the second person of the God-head, as each of these titles illustrates, is more than able to bring about peace.
He is the Prince of Peace.
The peace of Christ has three manifestations.
The first manifestation is relational peace with God (Ephesians 2:11-22).
The second manifestation is personal inner peace (John 14:26-27).
The third manifestation is world peace (Isaiah 9:7).
Isaiah 9:6-7 names Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Jesus’ peace is not a temporary peace, for it has no end. He is in charge of peace in every aspect of life.
The peace of Christ has an “already-not-yet” tension built into it. Thus, we have the three manifestations of his peace.
How do we navigate this “already-not-yet” tension of peace?
To navigate it we need to recognize that there is a tension. Christ’s peace is here, but is not fully realized.
When we recognize the tension, we are able to begin to manage our expectations of Christ’s peace ruling in our lives.
We all want Christ’s peace to last, yet we often experience it, and then we loose the experience of it. Our brokenness reasserts itself.
How do we maintain the lasting peace of Christ?
Honestly, I do not know how to always have this lasting peace that is promised in Jesus.
Abiding in his peace is elusive.
It is so easy to allow the conflict and strife around us to rob us of the peace which Christ has brought us through his first advent.
There is often much turmoil in our homes, our neighborhoods, our towns, our states, our country, and our world.
Feeling peace and wholeness seems ever elusive to our existence.
Yet, here I am, proclaiming to you that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
As the Prince of Peace, he has brought you peace with God.
As the Prince of Peace, he has brought you inner peace.
As the Prince of Peace, he will bring about world peace.
I know that Christ’s peace is not reliant on our emotions, but our experience of it is.
Christ’s peace is always available for us to receive and enter into.
We can manage our emotions by meditating on Christ’s peace.
The first manifestation of Christ’s peace is positional. Christ has given us peace with God, as Ephesians 2:14-18 makes so clear.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
We often forget this peace of Christ and think that God is angry with us, or disappointed in us.
This forgetfulness erodes the feelings of peace in our lives.
Remember and own peace with God that the Prince of Peace has bought with his own blood.
The second manifestation of peace is personal peace that Jesus gives us.
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 hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
This peace is freely given to us. The challenge to experiencing this peace given to us is trust - trusting Christ to work through the brokenness in us and around us.
John 16:33.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus is calling us to trust him in the troubled world, and in trusting him we will receive the peace he is giving us.
What are the actions of trust amidst our own turmoil and the turmoil around us?
Philippians 4:4-9 gives us four actions of trust.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
The first action of trust is to rejoice in what Christ has done.
The second action of trust is to act in kindness toward all, knowing God has our back.
The third action of trust is to not fret and worry about life, but to talk with God about it, being thankful for the work he is doing in it.
The fourth action of trust is to think about the positive and not ruminate on the negative.
These four actions cultivate trust, which prepares and maintains our emotions so that we feel the reality of Christ’s peace in our lives. This peace surpasses human understanding.
The third manifestation of Christ’s peace is anticipatory.
This turmoil in your soul and in our world is not forever. The “already-not-yet” tension will be resolved. When we are discouraged, let’s remember - full peace is coming.
Amen! He will bring world peace that will never end. The zeal of Yaweh will accomplish this. Come! Lord Jesus, Come!
