Light in the Dark: Peace through victory, not through negotiation. Isaiah 9:1-7

Light in the Dark: Peace, Isaiah 9:1-7

(Luke 1:32-33 & Colossians 1:15-20)

I read an interesting article this past week in Slate magazine from December 2014. In it the authors, Steven Pinker & Andrew Mack, provide statistical proof that the world has never been more at peace than it is now. People live longer; there are fewer homicides, less violent attacks, and less armed conflicts. His emphasis is on the fact the news always has enough to fill a news report or cycle, but he argues that things have never been better on a scale about history.

Pinker and Mack say, “Never mind the headlines. We’ve never lived in such peaceful times.”

There must be something better than this. Better than bombings, rapes, slavery, wars, conflicts, terrorists, dictators, death, pain, anguish, and gloom. God’s word tells us that there is something better. There is a day coming where there is no gloom, anguish; a day where there are no more tears. In the midst of impending doom and turmoil, God gave Isaiah a glimpse past the present, He gave him a glimpse into the future that steadied and supported Him in the present.

The aim of our message:

To focus on Christ as the promised Savior, the Prince of Peace; and place our lives and our church under His eternal, glorious, and righteous reign.

Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV)

“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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.”

This points to the coming dawn of the light of the world. The day when Christ, the promised Messiah would come and save the people of God from their oppressors.

According to the prophets peace will come through the birth of a baby.

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.”

According to the angels, Jesus Himself, and the Bible; Jesus is the promised child

Luke 1:32-33; the Angel Gabriel tells Mary that Jesus will be the one whom Isaiah prophesied over. “32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus is the Prince Of Peace

Peace came to the earth when He was born.

Luke 2:13–14 (ESV) “13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Peace comes through Christ by his sacrificial death on the cross

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV) “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

The peace Jesus gives is the result of victory over sin and death.

His victory is like the one God gave Israel over the Midianites; the victory that Isaiah writes about in 9:1-5.

Jesus has overcome sin, death, darkness, and the world. Jesus has come to make peace between God and men. There is enmity, strife, conflict, tension between God and man. The whole world stands in judgment before God because of sin. Romans 3:21–26 (ESV)

“21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Every person needs peace with God; and God in His mercy has put Christ forth as the atonement for your sin.

The peace Jesus gives is full, complete, and eternal.

Where He rules there is peace. God gave John a vision of the future, similar to the one He gave Isaiah. John wrote down what we call the book of Revelation. In it he records the coming day when God has finished the work of saving and redeeming the world. In that day the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of the Lord. That day will then continue forever, never to change.

Revelation 11:15–16 (ESV)

“15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God”

Jesus rules eternally with justice and righteousness (Is. 9:7). Unlike any ruler who has ever existed each decision and decree is just. Every law and command is right because He is righteous.

Jesus brings peace through His just decisions. His rule is perfect and His reign is eternal.

The peace of Christ is present in the church

Reigning In The Hearts & Minds Of Believers- Through Salvation- Jesus is Lord. (The saved, regenerate, forgiven, redeemed)

Ruling By His Word & The Spirit. (Submitted To The Word Of God By The Power Of The Holy Spirit)

The Indwelling Word Colossians 3:15–17 (ESV)

“15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Just And Righteous Decisions Are Made According To His Word

Jesus rules through His Word. Submission and obedience to it is the mark of the subjects of His kingdom. To lead an effort to ignore and disobey scripture is to lead an effort against the rule and reign of Christ.

The church will never be a place of peace when God’s word is compromised. The word of God in its right place, as the rule and authority for the church, leads to peace through submission and obedience to it and not the opinions of man. The enemy has employed the strategy of questioning the Word. In doing so, the church is not a place of peace but instead of debate and argument over what is right and good. This strategy renders many in the church to a life of sinful disobedience because they ignore the truth of Scripture.

The Indwelling Spirit John 14:25–27 (ESV)

“25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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.”

Peace has been left to us. In John 14:15-24 Jesus teaches His disciples that because they love Him they will obey Him. The subjects of the King follow the commands of the King. Then in John 14:25-31 Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit is coming to bring to mind all that He taught them, and lead them to follow His commands. The peace that Jesus leaves and gives to His disciples is the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Peace is more than the absence of conflict, it is the blessing of being in the Kingdom of Christ. Those who are saved, who have faith in Christ and have repented of their sins, have been given the Holy Spirit. The guarantee of the promise God made through Christ.

The Holy Spirit is working in us to remind us and teach us to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Christ in a world that is troubled.

Jesus reigns in the hearts and minds of His people through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The peace found in Christ is different than the peace found in the world. It is complete. It is more than the absence of conflict, it is the blessing of knowing the love of God through the grace of God by faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peace In Worship: Singing, Praying, Preaching. Peace In Life: Relationships, Decisions, Care For The World

The church is an ambassador of peace to the world

Sharing Christ, the Peace Of The World. Everywhere you see a lack of peace, there is a need for Christ. Globally, Nationally, Locally.

As An Example

In the world the church submits To God And His Word Through Obedient Righteous Living. The church is set-apart, to live to God and for God. Not fearing man, but fearing the Lord.

Through Effort

In every way, the influence God gives the church is for His glory. Christians are to be in the public square, leading in the community, serving God through living by a Biblical Worldview to influence others toward Christ.

Peace is purchased through the victory of Christ over sin and death. True peace cannot be brokered or bargained. True peace, the peace that is a blessing, comes under the Lordship of Christ. True peace exists under the rule and reign of the one whose name is the Prince of Peace. Any other peace is just better than what was before. The world’s peace is just the absence of some conflict. Mack and Pinker think that this is the best it has been. It doesn’t hold a candle to what lives in the hearts of Christians, and bears no resemblance to the coming peace of Christ when He returns.

You can have peace today.

Jesus tells His disciples, and in turn tells us, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) The times are troublesome, this season come to God through faith in Christ to find the peace the world can’t give you. Find true peace. Peace that is everlasting and eternal