David's Sermons - Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9 v 6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

We're looking at the names of Christ, and in these verses in Isaiah He is called the Prince of Peace. What is peace?

Peace with God

Colossians 1 v 19-22

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

We were separated from God, aliens and enemies, and a process of reconciliation was needed. God could not compromise His holiness by letting sin into His presence, yet we could not meet His demands for perfection and righteousness. We needed the Prince of Peace. He came and made reconciliation between us and God. There was no compromise involved: He paid the price to make us righteous, with His blood shed on the cross, and He gave us peace with God.

Peace with Self

John 14 v 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.

Peace with ourselves is an attitude that holds firm, a calmness within, which cannot be shaken by exterior events. For the world, peace means a lack of conflict, but Christ's peace is greater than that. It is a calmness in conflict. Removal of all conflict in the world is unrealistic in this age, yet we can know a peace within while war rages without. How can we know this inner peace?

Philippians 4 v 6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Peace within the Church

1 Corinthians 14 v 33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Ephesians 2 v 14,19

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

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Christian churches always seem to be full of squabbling and divisions, very often over minor things. We may have different backgrounds, come from very different situations, be very different types of people, but we are all fellow citizens. The Prince of Peace can "pour oil on troubled waters". When you do this, the waters are stilled, the ripples disappear, and it becomes smooth. The Prince of Peace will give us a church without ripples if we let Him rule in every aspect of our lives.

The Prince of Peace

Peace with God

Peace with Self

Peace within the Church

Summary