Prince of Peace

The Christmas service last week was an amazing time! We fittingly finished off the series, He Shall Be Called with Prince of Peace.
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700 years before Christ was born, Isaiah foretold that Jesus came to bring peace. He looked across centuries of failed rulers to a time when God would rule on earth through His Son and bring peace.
It’s great to have that type of hope when things are good, but its hard when there’s no direction, no identity, and no strength.

Isaiah 9:6 “'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.'”

Then when Jesus was born the angels went to the shepherds that were nearby and said to them:
'“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”' Luke 2:14

When Jesus was born, he based his whole ministry about bringing peace to this earth and before he goes back to heaven, right after his resurrection, He says:

'“I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give…' John 14:27

Nobody else can give you the kind of peace that Jesus offers: Not the bottle, not the pills, not sex, not money, nor fame.

There are over 700 verses in the bible with the word peace that fall into different categories.

First, there is SPIRITUAL PEACE. Peace with God. Many people cannot get emotional and relational peace, because they haven’t figured out yet that peace is not where you are at, or how quiet your surroundings are. Peace is who you are in a relationship with.

Have you ever consoled your children when they are disturbed or scared? In a moment where they lose their peace, they aren’t looking for a quiet place or a Zen moment but they are looking for mom and/or dad! Relationship with mom and dad is what they are looking for when they are terrified.

Peace is not about restfulness, peace is about relationship!

Whenever you are not close to God, your life will go out of whack. Why?

Anytime we choose to go on our own way, we create chaos in our lives. Our lives literally go out of whack.

When we rebel, we start feeling disconnected from God, and unprotected from all the darts of the enemy.

God doesn’t want you to live disconnected from Him. He wants you to run to him whenever things get out of whack in your life.
He made you to be connected to Him, without that connection there is no peace.
‘Since we are made right with God by faith in Christ, we have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us.” ' Romans 5:1

Peace of God is a direct result from what Jesus did for us. Just accept and receive His peace. If you know Jesus, you will know peace.

The second is, EMOTIONAL PEACE. Peace within. When I have God’s peace, then I have the peace of God inside of me.

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of God rule in your heart…”

God has peace for every one of your problems. Have a Broken heart? He gives you comforting peace.
Have a Confused heart? He gives us guiding peace.
Have an Ashamed heart? He gives us forgiving peace.
Have a Worry heart? He gives us confident peace.
Have a Bitter heart? He gives us forgiveness peace.

His Word is the provider of all the peace you are looking for. Remember that Jesus came to be your wonderful counselor and He wants to guide you so you can have emotional peace.

Are you letting God into your emotional space? Or are you letting your emotions rule over the truth of God?

The third is, RELATIONAL PEACE. Outward peace. You cannot have this peace without God and emotional peace.

The further away we get from God, the more it messes up our relationships with everyone else.

You want to strengthen your marriage? Get close to God.
You want to strengthen your relationship with your kids, your boss, your neighbor or even your mother in law? Get close to God!

The more rebellious you are with God the more messed up you will be with other people.

The world is not getting more peaceful regardless of what people say or do. It is actually getting more conflicted.

How can we have unity?

“Christ brought us all together through His death on the cross. The cross gets us to embrace each other, and end the hostility between different groups.” Ephesians 2:16

When we have the prince of peace in our lives, then we are going to have peace with each other. Christ is the great equalizer! He brings commonality!

“In Christ’s family there’s no division between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, or even male and female. In Christ we are all equal and the same. We are all in a common relationship with Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

HOW TO HAVE PEACE?

Peace is achieved through HUMILITY. Pride is the pathway to conflict.

God is not moved by my complaining or whining, but he is moved by my humility.
3 Things we need to Admit in Humility:
1. God is God and I am not. (rebellious Against God)
2. God is in control and I am not. (Distrust of God) (The easiest way to lose control is to take control)
3. God knows what we need and I don’t. (Unreliable God)

“Lord, grant us peace, for all we have, and all we are, has come from you.” Isaiah 26:12

This is a prayer of humility. I am nothing without you! I have nothing without your graces! Let’s invite the prince of peace to rule over our hearts today. Join us this Sunday as we start a new series, The Dreamer!!