Prince of Peace

There are songs that speak to us more than others. Some times we hear a song at just the right time, when we needed some comfort, some encouragement, some peace.

Over the past month we have looked at some of the great hymns of our faith, and many of you have told me your stories about those hymns, how it was your mom’s favorite, played at a funeral, etc… the song I would like to share with you today is a very special one for me. It is one of my favorites, one that I listen to not every day, but often; when I need my thoughts to settle, need a little peace, need to experience some emotion, i listen to this song when I am studying for a sermon, sometimes I put this song on repeat and listen to it over and over. This particular song sometimes moves me to tears and it is one that I would like to share with you all today, but not just this song, we are going to look at scripture and how scripture plays into this song.

You may not have heard this song before, it was written by three guys form Australia Joel Houston, Matt Crocker, and Dylan Thomas and they are part of a band called Hillsong United. They have written some of todays more popular Christian worship songs, and the band has been together since 1998 and started out as their youth band at Hillsong church.

One thing about their songs is they tell you the passages from scripture that inspired them to write the song.

I want to look at a song Prince of Peace taken from three passages of scripture

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah

Philippians 4:7 NLT

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:14 NLT

14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

But the verse that come to my mind when I hear this song is

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Let’s look at this song.

Matthew 5:9 NLT

9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Verse 1 My heart a storm cloud’s Raging deep within The Prince of Peace came Bursting through the wind The violent sky held its breath And in Your light I found rest

Chorus Tearing through the night Riding on the storm Starring down the fight My eyes found Yours Shining like the sun Striding through my fear The Prince of Peace met me there You heard my prayer

Verse 2 Hope like the sunlight Piercing through the dark The Prince of Peace Came and broke into my heart The violent cross, the empty grave And in Your light I found grace

Bridge 1 Your love surrounds me When my thoughts wage war When night screams terror There Your voice will roar Come death or shadow God I know Your light will meet me there When fear comes knocking There You’ll be my guard When day breeds trouble There You’ll hold my heart Come storm or battle God I know Your peace will meet me there Again

Bridge 2 Oh, be still my heart And know that You are God Oh fear no evil For I know You are here And my soul will know Your

Isaiah 41:10 NCV

10 So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This is both a command and a promise. Israel is commanded to fear not.

Fear, worry, anxiety are often sin. When God rules over the nations as described in Isaiah, the God who chose us and loves us as described, when that God tells us to fear not, we must take it seriously! But there is a promise. We must fear not, because the Lord God has told us, I am with you. What more do we need?

For tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

When we are alone we are prone to fear and discouragement, but we are not alone as believers, we are never alone because God has told us that He is with us.

We must believe, we must have faith, as the early Christians did, as the martyred Christians in the 20th century had faith so we must have faith that the Prince of Peace will never leave us nor forsake us, that He is always with us.

Stand Hymn # 797 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Prayers of the People

Closing Chorus # 88 More Precious than Silver

Benediction:

2 John 3 NLT

3 Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

2 John