Peace
Advent 2017 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:09
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· 520 viewsJesus came to bring peace, what does that look like and what did He mean by that?
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INTRO
Grab a Bible and turn to Isaiah 9...
When you think of the holiday season do you think of peace or strife?
What is one thing that really stresses you or your family out during the holiday season?
The we first got married, trips from KY / juggling in-laws
Traveling in holiday rush / infants and toddlers
Time off from work and school / midterms / finals
Entertaining for the season / decoration / programs
Family / friends
anxiety of shopping / anxiety over debt
New years resolutions
Man the holidays sound peaceful don’t they!
These things are just heightened during the holiday season but really peace is something we long for all the time!!
What then does peace look like to you?
Show and discuss images of “peace”…
The state of our world - lacks peace
The state of our relationships - lack peace
Thought history the idea of peace has taken on various images but the idea of peace is generally the same throughout history. Peace is often simply seen as the absence of war.
Is that all that peace is?
Is that all that Jesus meant when he said he would give us peace?
If so did He fail?
If not what did He mean?
Listen to these two statements found in scripture and tell me what is wrong with them…
Jesus says...
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Paul says...
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
SO WHICH IS IT!!??
This is an important question for us I think, don’t you?
PRAY
Heavenly Father we thank you for our LORD Christ Jesus who rightfully holds these titles we just read about, and we worship you for your greatness! God you have told us that we ought to pursue peace but so often we do not. We humbly come before you and ask you to forgive us and change our hearts this very day that we would become peacemakers in this world. Father cleans us from our sin and unrighteousness, give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and soft hearts so as to apply your Holy word in us today. Bring us a fuller understanding of the peace you offer us. God, thank you for your timeless word and your faithful servants such as Isaiah whom you spoke through to us this very day. AMEN.
READ
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
SERMON BODY
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Child Born & Son Given
Genesis 3:15 (NIV) — 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
The Promise Given!
The Countdown Began...
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) — 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 11:1–2 (HCSB) — 1 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him — a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Clarification
Designation
Luke 2:10–14 (ESV) — 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Celebration - Christmas - Advent Season
John 3:16 (ESV) — 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus
Child Born
Son Given
Government
Isaiah 22:22 (ESV) — 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Authority - Kingship
Legal
Biological
Matthew 28:18 (ESV) — 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
King of Kings
Already
1 Corinthians 15:25 (ESV) — 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Not Yet
Names x 8 words / 4x names
Wonderful Counselor - wonderful = miraculous [pele] / counselor = advisor, speaking wisdom [used of the HS in NT]
Literally, "wonder of a counselor," and the word wonderful means "marvelous, extraordinary, beyond the normal capacity to perform." In other words, the counsel of this God-man transcends human wisdom. He doesn't need or want my counsel or any other's.
Romans 11:34 reminds us that His judgments and ways are unsearchably deep. "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" Paul asks. And the question still hangs in the air to this day because He is the supernatural counselor, in a class by Himself. In any situation, in every challenge, He knows exactly what needs to be done. His plan of action is infallibly, wonderfully right. If you're looking for guidance in life, let me introduce you to a wonder of a counselor!
Isaiah 28:29 (ESV) — 29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.
Judges 13:18 (KJV 1900) — 18 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
Wiser then Solomon
Miracles
You have heard it said… I say
Mighty God - mighty = strong in military force, capable of defense or attack
Literally, this title is "the heroic, strong God." This child is God's Son, the Second Person of the Trinity and possessor of all the power of God. In a word, He is omnipotent.
If you tie this title to the previous one, it means that this God-become-man possesses the ability to carry out to the full all that His brilliant plans call for. That's why He is able to say, My plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isa. 46:10) In fact, this King is so powerful that He can absorb all the evil thrown at Him until none is left to throw, and still defeat His enemy!
And in this frustrating world, where I'm prone to grow weak and tired, I need a King who will be awake all night while I recuperate in sleep, a Champion who is strong enough to keep His word, and a Savior who is mighty enough to break the power of sin in my life. Call Him Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God. And…
Psalm 45:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, With thy glory and thy majesty.
Matthew 10:34 (ESV) — 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Military Leader
King of the Jews
Sword to the world!!
Everlasting Father - father = odd for Israel / Not for us!
Some translate this title as "Father-Forever." This child will be a father to me in the best of ways - loving, self-sacrificing, always looking out for my best. Ps. 103:13: As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Fatherly compassion from this king will never come to an end. He is my Father-Forever.
Mingle this title with the two previous ones, and you realize that the effective plans of my Wonderful Counselor will always have my best as the goal, and the power to accomplish those plans will always be tempered to carry me along in a deep, loving involvement in my life. That's what it means to have a Father-Forever.
Psalm 90:2 (NIV) — 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Father of all creation
Isaiah 63:16 (ESV) — 16 For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
Exodus 4:22 (NIV) — 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,
Father of His Chosen People
John 14:9–10 (NIV) — 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
God the Father
Jesus the Son
Person of God
Father to His Chosen People - Church
John 14:18 (ESV) — 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Loving Father
Came & Comes… for his children
Prince of Peace - prince = son of the king, overseer, [sar] / peace = [shalom]
He will over-match all His enemies, He will conquer the hearts of His people, He will start something as a child that v. 7 says will never stop growing, and He will do all this without brute force, but by disarming His enemies and bringing peace.
The wondrous plans of my Counselor, who has all it takes to accomplish His designs, will only and always do what is right and best for me, and will never strong arm me, never force me. He woos and wins me with kindness and faithfulness and goodness so that I want to do His will.
Isaiah saw Him coming, the One who would be God's answer for sinners like you and me. He saw Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, He came with wisdom and purpose, with a perfect plan. Follow Him. As the Mighty God, He will accomplish all His purposes. The Devil threw everything he had at Jesus and couldn't thwart God's plans through Christ. Hide behind Him. As the Everlasting Father, He loves us endlessly. Enjoy being in His presence. And as the Prince of Peace, He reconciles us while we are still his enemies. Trust Him and welcome His rule.
peace, prosperity, i.e., an intact state of favorable circumstance (1Sa 1:17)
completeness, i.e., the state of a totality of a collection (Jer 13:19)
safeness, salvation, i.e., a state of being free from danger (Ge 28:21)
health, i.e., a state of lack of disease and a wholeness or well-being (Ps 38:4)
satisfaction, contentment, i.e., the state of having one’s basic needs or more being met and so being content (Ex 18:23)
friend, companion, i.e., one who has an association with another with affection or regard (Jer 20:10)
blessing, i.e., the content of the act. of giving kindness to another (Jer 16:5)
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Zeal of the LORD
2 Kings 19:31 (ESV) — 31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.
Isaiah 42:13 (NIV) — 13 The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
Isaiah 59:17 (HCSB) — 17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and He wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.
CONCLUSION
Remember at start…
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
SO WHICH IS IT!!??
This is an important question for us I think, don’t you?
Jesus came to bring PEACE [shalom] true, complete, everlasting peace… not as the world does so because the world cannot… He did so and will do so again by the sword of the Lord.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Synopsis
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ that peace with God can be achieved and maintained.
PRAY