Prince Of Peace
Video (Social Distancing Mothers Day)
YEAH – a lot of truth to that little video. AMEN!
ESPECIALLY – the truth about how much we love, admire, respect and value our moms.
YES – moms are pretty stinking amazing!
UNDERSTAND – there is no other person like a mom in our lives.. no other human comes even close.
MOMS ARE – selfless, unbelievable and irreplaceable.
AND SO – to all the moms out there including stepmoms, adopted moms, foster moms…
THANK YOU – for being you.
AND LISTEN – if there are any moms with you right now, go ahead and give them a great big ‘I love you a ton’ hug!
Pray for moms
YOU KNOW – I do not think that anyone would disagree that these are extremely trying times for everyone right now, and perhaps there are some moms listening in who are really feeling the weight of it all.
IN FACT – maybe you can relate to these words written by Thomas Piane in 1776. They were the opening words to a pamphlet he wrote to stir up a revolutionary spirit in the colonies…
AGAIN – it is Mother’s Day… and I usually (~ 67.943% of the time) share a message designed specifically for and about Moms.
HOWEVER – 32.057% of the time, I share a message that is not just for moms, but for everyone.
AND SO – Mother’s Day 2020 I have decided to take the 32.057% path and continue in our series ‘Name Above All Names.’
A SERIES – where we are unpacking several of the names or titles given to Jesus, in an effort to know more fully the One we have chosen to follow.
AND LISTEN – here’s the deal…
I am convinced that knowing Jesus better is the exact thing we need in these difficult, troubled and uncertain times.
NOW – so far in this series we have looked at the titles, ‘The Word Became Flesh’ and ‘Mighty God, Immanuel.”
Conversations about the power and beauty of both Jesus’ humanity and His divinity.
(still available to check out online)
SO THIS MORNING – we are going to unpack a title that is found in the book of Isaiah chapter 9:6… ‘Prince Of Peace.’
AND LISTEN – we need to understand that when Isaiah pens these words… things are pretty rough for God’s people. Wars, struggles, famines, corruption in the government and in the religious leadership… AND – to make matters even worse, many had turned away from God.
AND SO – God has Isaiah paint a picture of their soon coming future…
Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. – Isaiah 8:21,22
NOT – pretty or pleasant picture is it?
Which is why I so love the very next word…
Nevertheless,
IN OTHER WORDS…
• Even though times are dark, difficult and uncertain
• Even though you have turned your back to me, as you look to other things and people for life, security and deliverance…
One day your Savior and Messiah will come, and when He does, things will be different (could you use some different?)
there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
Okay let’s pause for a moment...
UNDERSTAND – this is not government as we think, but rather more like – a rule, a dominion or a new way of living.
I THINK – it’s talking about His Kingdom which at its root is the rule of God in the hearts of men.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,
And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Prince = ruler, captain, head, overseer, keeper… of PEACE
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end...
LISTEN, LISTEN – this is important, I mean, you need to hear this, to get this.
The more His governing (His reign and rule) increases in your life the more your peace will increase.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. – Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)
YEAH – it seems like PEACE is something that our God is extremely serious and excited about.
AND – I for one am so glad that He is! AMEN?!
NOW – as we go through this conversation today… I want you to think about these 3 questions…
• What is it that gives you peace? (like, where do you usually go to find it)
• What is going on in your life right now that is destroying your peace?
• Do you know anyone (including yourself) who could use some peace?
Prayer
(specifically for those who need peace)
OKAY SO – here is how I want to attack our conversation this morning… by answering 3 questions.
• PEACE, ‘What’ Is It?
• PEACE, ‘Where’ Is It”
• PEACE, ‘How’ Can You Actually Live In It?
I. PEACE, ‘What’ Is It?
NOW – the peace in Isaiah 9 is the Hebrew word… ‘Shalom’
AND – it is used around 242 times in the Old Testament
AND – it’s Greek equivalent Eirene is used 92 times in the New Testament…
SO – we find this word PEACE used ~ 334 times.
NOW - I am sure that (like me) a lot of you watching have heard of the word ‘Shalom’ before… If so raise you hand.
BUT LISTEN – I gotta admit that before this week, I had no idea of the depth and richness of this 4000+ year old Hebrew word.
I MEAN – I knew it meant peace, but I thought it was not much more than a greeting…
LIKE – you see someone that you know and you say ‘Shalom’ (hello). AND AS YOU – leave and part ways you say ‘Shalom’ (good bye, you know peace out)…
AND THAT – was pretty much the depth of my understanding of shalom.
HOWEVER – this week the more I studied, the more I excited I got about this word… and the more I wanted God’s shalom to reign, rule and govern my life.
UNDERSTAND – ‘shalom’ does not merely mean the absence of conflict… YOU SEE - it’s this idea that not only has the conflict ended, but that there is something better in now its place.
AND LISTEN – to experience Shalom means to be flourishing, complete, whole with nothing missing…
In Genesis 43:26,27 – we find Joseph asking His brothers about their father Jacob
Is your father well (shalom), the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well (shalom)… - Genesis 43:27,28. (NLT)
And we read in John 5:24
You shall know that your tent is at peace (shalom), and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. – Job 5:24 (ESV)
AND – as a verb, to bring shalom means…
• To make complete
• To restore to wholeness
SO – in Scripture we see…
• Solomon, bringing shalom to the unfinished temple when he completes it
• And in Proverbs 16:7, we see that to restore a broken relationship is to bring shalom.
OKAY – here is what I am trying to say.
Life is complex… it’s full so many moving parts… in relationships and in circumstances.
AND WHEN – any of these is out of alignment or missing your shalom, your peace breaks down.
Life is no longer whole and it needs to be restored.
Peace, What it is?
A) Shalom is to have and to live a life characterized by… flourishing, completeness and wholeness.
QUESTION – say or type AMEN and raise your hands if you would like those 3 words to describe your life?
Just 2 more quick and awesome things about this peace
B) Shalom is a guiding peace
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
– Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
Rule = barbeuo = to be an umpire, to decide, to determine to direct, to control
Let peace be the umpire of your life.
Stop overriding your conscience and expect to have peace.
God will never use anxiety to guide you.
THEREFORE – the presence of peace is profound and the absence of peace is profound.
C) Shalom is a guarding peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6,7
Guard = to protect by military force to prevent a hostile invasion.
God’s peace guards your heart and your mind from the hostile invasion of worry and anxiety…
Anxiety is not a condition it is a choice.
NEXT QUESTION
II. PEACE, ‘Where’ Is It?
SO – have you ever ask that question.
Where’s the peace?
LIKE – if Jesus is the Prince of Peace, where is it?
NOW MAYBE - you have sung the words…
‘when peace like a river attendeth my way’ hundreds of times and yet still you wonder when is that river of peace going to start attending my way?
Where’s the peace?
YOU KNOW – I have talked to hundreds of people over the years. AND - rarely if ever have had someone tell me that the word PEACE (flourishing, completeness, and wholeness) is what describes their lives.
SO – where’s the peace.
I MEAN – didn’t a bunch of angels light up the night sky 2000 years ago when Jesus was born and singing…
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth…”
- Luke 2:14 (NLT)
QUESTION – (and be honest) have you heard or read that and felt like… “Okay, I’m really glad that Jesus came and that the angels in heaven are celebrating God’s glory,
BUT - where’s the peace on earth they sang about.
BECAUSE – I’m not just seeing it in my life or on the earth.”
SERIOUSLY – have you ever felt that way? Where’s the PEACE?
In the year 2000 Bono, a member the Irish band U2 wrote a song about this very thing. Where is the peace?
The song is called ‘Peace On Earth’ and it was written in response to a bombing that killed 29 people (including a woman pregnant with twins) and injured some 220 others, making it the deadliest single incident of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Heaven on earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around
Sick of sorrow
Sick of pain
Sick of hearing again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on earth…
Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line?
Peace on earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on earth
QUESTION – what is Bono asking in this song?
Where’s the peace?
I’m not seeing it, this world is in such a mess?
NOW – I have been to Northern Ireland and believe me when I tell you, the pain and lack of peace 20 years later, still lingers.
PEACE, where is it?
ANSWER – it is where it has always been,
Residing with the Prince of Peace.
Just a few verses…
Please let your heart, mind and soul hear them.
Let them become alive and active within you.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Matthew 11:28,29
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33
Peace where is it?
UNDERSTAND – if you are asking yourself that very question this morning.
Where’s the peace? Where’s the shalom?
Where’s the Eirene?
Where’s the – flourishing, completeness and wholeness.
Let me suggest 3 reasons why you have not been able to found it
#1 – You are looking for peace as the world gives it
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27
UNDERSTAND – the peace the world gives is a fake peace, an unstable peace, a shallow and hollow peace?
QUESTION…
• How much money or stuff do you need to have to have lasting peace.
• How much success and accomplishment do you need to achieve and how much applause do you need to hear to have lasting peace?
• How much pleasure, how many good times and vacations do you need to experience, to have lasting peace?
UNDERSTAND – every single person breathing on this planet is trying to find shalom. I MEAN – God has wired it into our very being.
QUESTION – where have you run to find shalom?
LIKE – have you ever thought
If I just had _____________ I would have peace
MAPLE GROVE – the peace the world gives, the peace the world calls you to chase after… it does not last?
It’s fake… it’s hollow… it’s temporary and it’s circumstantial.
UNDERSTAND…
You will NEVER - find shalom (wholeness, completeness, flourishing) lasting peace in…
• Money
• Stuff
• Success
• Applause
• Earthy relationships
YES – it is well past time for us to acknowledge that the peace the world offers just does not work… I MEAN
CHECKOUT - some recent statistics;
• 23 million people in America have been ‘diagnosed’ with an anxiety disorder.
• Over 75% of visits to the family doctor are related to anxiety and stress
• 80% of all health care is spent on stress and anxiety related sickness
• Stress and anxiety related products and services are a 9.4 billion dollar a year business
• Stress and anxiety costs industry, ~ 150 billion dollars a year… (in increased health insurance outlays, burnout, absenteeism, reduced productivity, costly mistakes, poor morale, high employee turnover, as well as family, alcohol and drug related problems. )
AND STRESS AND ANXIETY - is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly, to heart disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide (the tenth leading causes of death in the United States and the second leading cause among 10-34 year olds).
UNDERSTAND – we were not designed by God to not live in His peace. WHICH IS WHY – when people do not have it they experience all kinds of physical and emotion distress.
LISTEN – whatever the world is telling you will lead to peace is A LIE…
If you get the job, if you…
They don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good. They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.
– Isaiah 59:8 (NLT)
WHY – can’t you find peace,
because you are looking for the kind peace the world gives
AND
#2 – You are still at war with God
OKAY – let me be as clear as I possibly can.
You will never have the peace ‘of’ God until you have made peace ‘with’ God. You cannot has peace without submitting to the Prince.
AND LISTEN – the good news is that Jesus has done ALL the heavy lifting in bringing us the Shalom of God…
IN FACT – that is why the God father sent His son, because Shalom has been God’s intent for us from the very beginning.
Check out this powerful passage that speaks to the unimaginable lengths that God was willing to go to bring you His Peace.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace (shalom) was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. – Isaiah 53:5 (HCSB)
UNDERSTAND – Jesus made peace with God possible…
AMEN!
HEY – let’s take a brief trip back to the angels in Luke 2:14, you know that peace on earth passage.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” - Luke 2:14 (NLT)
QUESTION – who experiences God’s peace?
Those with whom God is pleased.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, - Hebrews 11:6
UNDERSTAND - Peace on earth is not for everyone, but only for those who have turned their lives over to Him in faith.
AND - this peace on earth is primary a peace that is in here, and not necessarily out there.
YOU SEE – Jesus brings peace not to our circumstances, instead He brings peace to our hearts.
In this world you will have trouble
But in me you will have peace.
So lasting peace starts with being at peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2 (HCSB)
“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
– Acts 2:38 (HCSB)
AGAIN – you cannot have the peace of God until you have made peace with God.
AND LISTEN – even when you have made peace with God, the peace of God will still elude you if you continue to have a bunch of mini wars raging with God.
YOU SEE – there is no such thing as Gospel peace and disobedience to the word of God.
WHY – can’t you find peace,
because you are looking for the kind peace the world gives
You are still at war with God
And you are..
#3 – Projecting upon today tomorrow’s cares
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34
Do you ever to that?
III. PEACE, ‘How’ Can You Live In It
A) Submit to His Lordship
As I already said you will never have peace without submission to the prince.
If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. – Isaiah 48:18 (HCSB)
QUESTION…
ARE THERE - any commands that you are not paying attention to?
ARE THERE – any areas of your life that are not under His Lordship.
UNDERSTAND – anytime you are not in submission there are [two wills] at war within you and there cannot be – peace, flourishing, completeness and wholeness.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, - Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)
The more His governing (His reign and rule) increases in your life the more your peace will increase.
QUESTION…
• DO YOU - want peace?
• DO YOU – want it enough to change some things in your life?
B) Recalibrate your concept of Jesus
YEAH - I think that for most of us our Jesus is much too small.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together. – Colossians 1:15-17
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. – Matthew 28:18
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20.21
LISTEN - Whatever you are facing that is causing you to not have peace, ask yourself if He can handle it?
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33
Become united with me… then you will have peace.
I have overcome the world and whoever is in me overcomes it with me.
B/S – this is either true or it is not.
C) Practice diligently, faith-filled prayer
Do not be anxious about anything,
Anxious = to tear apart
but in every situation, (so we are diligent)
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6,7
Seems kind of counterintuitive, right?
I MEAN - we would think that the order would be
1) we make our request
2) God answers our request
3) then we thank Him
YET – Paul says…
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
God, I thank you that…
• You love me
• You are all knowing and all powerful
• You care about me
• You are trustworthy
• You hear my prayers
• You always know what’s best for me
• That you are always working everything out for my good and your glory.
UNDERSTAND – God always gives us everything that we would ask for, if we knew everything that He knows.
LISTEN – we pray we thanksgiving because we are praying to a God who sees the bigger and fuller picture.
SO – we present our requests to God.
We release our burdens to Him
UNDERSTAND - prayer does not work unless you transfer your burdens to God.
YOU SEE - we are sheep, we are not meant to carry those burdens on our own.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7
Awesome verse and listen the verses before and after it make its awesomeness shine even brighter.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
And if I may quote the 2 music philosophers Lennon and McCartney you are either one or the other song titles when it comes to your burdens.
“We can work it out” OR “help I need somebody”
We need to humble ourselves and say that I can’t and then we need to
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
– 1 Peter 5:7
AND LISTEN – one of his most successful ways of devouring your life and mine is through a lack of peace and anxiety.
SO – we give God our anxiety, concerns… we release our burdens to Him…
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7
Practice diligently, faith-filled prayer
You say I don’t know how to pray… I can teach you the basics in 5 seconds…
Just grab a piece of paper and write down all the things you are worried about, and the top write ‘Prayer List’
D) Develop A God-ward mindset
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 26:3,4
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.
– Philippians 4:8
QUESTION…
What does your mind most often dwell on?
Is you mind and thoughts stayed on God and His Word?
LISTEN – I think that is getting harder and harder to do in the 21st century.
When I was growing up at 11 pm every station went off the air… and all we got was this snowy screen every channel
No 24 hours news No email
No text No Facebook or other social media
TODAY - there are so many things that are keeping our minds from being stayed on God.
We wake up in the morning and we grab our phones
We turn on the news
Too much media = no peace
I MEAN – we tune into this stuff and we find ourselves just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
Fear is waiting for the devil to move.
Faith is waiting for God to move.
UNDERSTAND – your mindset is yours to set.
AND LISTEN – wherever you set your mind determines whether you will have anxiety or peace.
E) Depend daily on the Holy Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace - Galatians 5:22
I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. – John 14:25-27
F) Put on your garment of praise and worship
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. – Isaiah 61:1-3
a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. – Isaiah 61:3
B/S – You have 2 offers on the table peace as the world gives or peace as our God gives
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ – Numbers 6:24-26
