Prince Of Peace

Text: Isaiah 9:1-7

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12/29/02)

Introduction:   

Jeremiah 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Isaiah 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Romans 3:17  And the way of peace have they not known:

Peace In 8% Of History

      Only eight percent of the time since the beginning of recorded history has the world been entirely at peace. In over 3,100 years, only 286 have been warless and 8,000 treaties have been broken in this time.

Average Treaty: Two Years

      “Since 1919, the nations of Europe have signed more than 200 treaties of peace. Each treaty, simply another scrap of paper, was broken more easily than consummated.

      “From the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years.”

Two Minutes’ Peace Yearly

      The Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, and since then for every year of war there have been two minutes of peace.

Psalms 29:11  The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

DEFINITION:

The basic idea is “to be whole” “entire” “to be at one”

The word peace conveys several concepts.....

1). RESIGNATION

ILLUS: Two Countries at war – One must wave the white flag of surrender.

We are speaking of Resignation or Submission of course to God’s will.  A wholehearted surrender!!

2). RECONCILIATION

3). Harmony of RELATIONSHIPS

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

4). REST

Not the absence of trial, but quiet contentment, rest, in the midst of the trial.

ILLUS: Nowhere is this truth more aptly illustrated than in the story which accompanies the writing of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul".

Horatio G. Spafford lived, with his wife and four daughters, in Chicago. He was a lawyer by profession and a devout and sincere Christian.

One day in 1873 he stood on the quayside in Chicago and bid farewell to his family as they set sail to visit relatives in far off Europe. He was not to realise that he would never see most of them again.

Some days later their ship, bound for Le Havre in France collided with another steamship in mid-Atlantic, and sank almost immediately.

Before it did so, however, Mrs Spafford was able to have a prayer with her children and commit them to the mercy of the Lord. That was the last time she would ever see them on this earth.

Fortunately, a lifeboat spotted Mrs Spafford and she was rescued. When she arrived in Britain, with the rest of the survivors, she sent her husband this terse, but telling message: 'SAVED ALONE.'

The words struck Horatio Spafford with full force, and, understandably, plunged him into deep sorrow. He left for England, without delay, to comfort his grief-stricken wife.

The great American evangelist D.L. Moody and his associate, singer Ira D. Sankey, were conducting a campaign in Edinburgh at the time. They were personal friends of the Spaffords and came down to London to give whatever help and comfort they could. They found their friends in surprisingly good spirits, strong in faith and able to say through their tears, 'It is well; the will of God be done.'

Three years after that tragedy, Mr. Spafford wrote his hymn "It Is Well With My Soul", in memory of his four precious daughters. Happily each of them had personally received Jesus Christ as Saviour before embarking on that fateful voyage.

5). The Fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS

James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

“To be sure that what you are doing is what Jesus would have you do is peace.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Thus we are saved from the temptations which come with our trials. We get the smelting of the furnace without its smut.

We endure the sorrow, but escape the sin, and this is joy enough for a pilgrim in this vale of tears.

Peace is a STANDING

Peace is a FEELING

Peace is a Present POSSESSION

Peace is a PERSON!!!

I. He is The Prince

The word PRINCE here means Author, Originator. He authored that peace for us by the Blood of the Cross.

Acts 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

PRINCE OF PRINCES See Daniel 8:25, and PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. see Revelation 1:5.

This Mighty PRINCE controls the proudest kings, and sets limits to all despots, beyond which they cannot pass.

What I want you to observe now is, the restraint which He keeps upon the malice of the prince of this world.

Our Lord Himself who names Satan the prince of this world; but surely it is in irony.

Luke 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Satan still glories in his usurped titles.

Fear not the prince of this world!

But, take courage to become the loyal subjects of our PRINCE OF PRINCES, King Jesus!!!

II. He is Peace

Listen to the words that Micah sang,

LOOK UP & READ Micah 5:2-5

Micah 5:5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

Paul responds ......

Ephesians 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

The Prophet Isaiah....

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

ILLUS: To bring back peace to countries distracted by wars, great sacrifices are often necessary. The peace has to be conquered. Those opposed to it have to be overcome, and before there can be a settled peace, there must be an obstinate war.  Many years of peace followed. But it was purchased by an enormous expenditure of human life, and millions of money, and years of precious time.

So PEACE was not procured for sinners but at an enormous cost, by our great PRINCE OF PEACE.

2 Thessalonians 3:16  Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Single-handed He labored and suffered, fought and bled, in order to procure for us the precious GIFT.

Well, having made peace, what more does the Title suggest? That he dispenses peace to us.

Isaiah 57:19  I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

How different the peace which He speaks to the troubled heart from that which men speak to each other!

The world cries, Peace! when there is no peace. It tries to mimic the great PRINCE and AUTHOR OF PEACE.

That is the best the world can do, BUT.........

What He says, He can do and will, while the world mocks everyone who trusts its lavish promises.

They rather follow after....

The Devil’s Peace

Luke 11:21  When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

Characteristics of the Devil’s Peace

1. It is merely Outward

2. It is False Peace

3. It comes through Ignorance

4. It is a result of Carnal Security (Temporal)

“We have lived in sin and not suffered for it”

5. Result of Unbelief

6. Comes through Evil Companionship

But those who know Christ have....

PEACE With GOD

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

PEACE Of GOD

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

How does the Lord keep his people in peace?

First, by a special operation upon the mind in the time of its trial.

SECOND, by the operation of certain considerations, intended by his infinite wisdom to work in that manner.

Never was there a lock of soul-trouble yet, but what there was a key to open it in the Word of God.

THIRD, by the distinct operations of his providence.

Proverbs 16:7  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Look upward, and you will perceive no seat of fiery wrath to shoot devouring flame, for we have an advocate with the Father.....

Look downward, and you discover no hell, for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Look back, and sin is blotted out.

Look around, and all things work together for good to them that love God.

Look beyond, and glory shines for when we see Christ we shall be like Him.

Look inward, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps our hearts and minds by Christ Jesus.

Conclusion:     (Review)

RELATIONSHIP of FAITH & PEACE (Phil. 4:6-7)

Faith replenishes and nourishes Peace

Faith is rewarded by Peace

Peace is Faith’s way of proclaiming itself