11-3-19 Sermon Notes
“Overwhelming – Prince of Peace”Isaiah 9:6 and John 14:25-27
Last week we focused on the details of Christ’s suffering on the cross in both the Old Testament and the New Testament as it pertained to the fulfillment of prophecy. This week, we will look at the fulfillment of the ‘Prince of Peace’ prophecy.
Introduction
What is your definition of peace?
Read Isaiah 9:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 “For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Read John 14:25-27 New International Version (NIV)
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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.”
Message
Seven hundred years after Isaiah wrote that a child would be born and He would be the Prince of Peace, John wrote that Jesus, the ‘Peace Child’ said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” The prophecy has a two-part fulfillment. First is the arrival of Jesus, the Prince of Peace and second is the peace that He brought with Him and left for us. Our focus centers on the second part of the fulfillment.
Two artists set out to paint a picture representing perfect peace. The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree boy relaxing in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface. The second artist painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about. But on a branch of a tree overhanging the swirling waters a bird had built its nest and it sat peacefully brooding over her eggs. Here she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring waterfall. This is real peace – the result of remaining calm in the midst of raging trials and difficulties in life. And this is the peace that we are going to explore.
In a world filled with war and violence, it’s difficult to see how Jesus could be the all-powerful God who acts in human history and be the embodiment of peace. But physical safety and political harmony don’t necessarily reflect the kind of peace He’s talking about in John 14:27.
The Hebrew word for “peace,” shalom, is often used in reference to an appearance of calm and tranquility of individuals, groups, and nations. The Greek word eirene means “unity and accord”; Paul uses eirene to describe the objective of the New Testament church. But the deeper, more foundational meaning of peace is “the spiritual harmony brought about by an individual’s restoration with God.”
In our sinful state, we are enemies with God (Romans 5:10). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are restored to a relationship of peace with God (Romans 5:1). This is the deep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator that cannot be taken away (John 10:27-28) and the ultimate fulfillment of Christ’s work as “Prince of Peace.”
But Christ’s sacrifice provides more for us than eternal peace; it also allows us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Helper who promises to guide us (John 16:7, John 16:13). Further, the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself in us by having us live in ways we couldn’t possibly live on our own, including filling our lives with love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23). This love, joy, and peace are all results of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer. They are reflections of His presence in us. And, although their deepest, most vital result is to have us live in love, joy, and peace with God, they can’t help but to spill over into our relationships with people.
And we desperately need it—especially since God calls us to live with singleness of purpose with other believers, with humility, gentleness, and patience, “being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). This unity in purpose and gentleness would be impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit in us and the peace we have with God thanks to the sacrifice of His Son.
Ironically, the lightest definition of peace, that of the appearance of tranquility in a person, can be the most difficult to grasp and maintain. We do nothing to acquire or maintain our spiritual peace with God (Ephesians 2:8-9). And, while living in unity with other believers can be extremely difficult, living in peace in our own lives can very often feel impossible.
Note that peaceful doesn’t mean “easy.” Jesus never promised easy; He only promised help. In fact, He told us to expect tribulation (John 16:33) and trials (James 1:2). But He also said that, if we called on Him, He would give us the “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4:6–7). No matter what hardships we are faced with, we can ask for a peace that comes from the powerful love of God that is not dependent on our own strength or the situation around us.
Portions were taken from GotQuestions.org
Concluding Remarks and Application
There are three kinds of peace – Peace with God, Peace of God (Peace within us), and Peace with others. As Paul usually opened his letters with “Grace and peace to you….” You cannot have peace unless you experience grace first.
Perhaps now is the time to build up our prayer life again. We need to come before the Lord daily to seek God’s grace to live for Him each day. We need to draw close to Him to seek the Peace of Christ that will keep our hearts and our minds.
And therefore the way for us to maintain the peace in our hearts, the wonderful peace that Jesus gives to us, and that passes all understanding, is to commit all our cares and worries to Him daily in prayer. When we neglect our prayer life, then we should not be surprised when we do not have this peace.