The Prince of Peace

Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover.

Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth.

We pray that this message changes your life.

Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you.

Mary, did you know that on that Christmas morning, that little bitty baby, whose name was Emmanuel, which means God with us?

Mary, did you know that that little baby would be named Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

Mary, did you know?

Wow.

In your Bibles, if you turn with me this morning, and if you're here, good crowd this morning, amen.

And you came in and you do not have, we're out.

That's good.

That's a good problem to have.

We're out.

But today, I want us to look at.

This whole week studying on the Prince of Peace.

But in Isaiah chapter 9, we've been looking at the one verse, but today we're gonna bring in verse 7 too.

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

Which reads, for unto us a child, and I love that, is born.

That is his humanity.

For unto us a son is given.

That is his divinity.

He was as much man as Danny Lovett is man, but he was as much God as God ever has been or ever will be.

He was the God man.

And I love this next statement.

For all those who are upset over politics, let me give you peace.

You don't have to worry, because the government shall be upon his shoulders.

And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

And then look at verse 7.

Of the increase of his government, and that's the key, the increase of his government.

In other words, the more God governs your life, the more peace you have.

Somebody say that's good.

The more God governs your life, the more peace you have.

Of the increase of his government and peace.

There shall be no end.

Can I get an amen?

It will never end.

Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice.

From henceforth, forever and forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Wow.

I mean, if I wasn't really trying to be calm this morning, I'd just take a lap around the building right now.

Because this is not the end, folks.

This is the beginning.

And the best is yet to come.

Out of the four titles given to our Lord Jesus Christ in Isaiah's prophecy here.

This is the greatest because it speaks of the deepest need inside our hearts.

We all want the peace of God that passes our whole understanding that keeps our hearts and minds through Christians.

We all want to desire that.

And that's exactly what the most important designers.

And that's that only designed.

If there's ever been a time to bring the Prince of Peace to the forefront and to his throne that he so rightfully, hey, rules is today.

Today.

So today let us examine what God has given to us on Christmas morning.

What does it really mean to us, the Prince of Peace?

Well, first of all, let's look at it.

Three things this morning.

First, let's look at the author of peace, the Prince of Peace.

There are no less than 15 different Hebrew words that are used and translated prints in the Old Testament.

The word here is Tsar.

And it literally basically carries the idea of ruler, leader, captain, general, master, head, official.

That's what it means.

But then when we go over to the Greek translation, we see the other word.

And it's translated author and pioneer.

What a powerful visual insight here.

And it's quite obvious from the unfolding of God's divine revelation, God's word, what this means to us.

I mean that the Lord Jesus came into the world in order that he might make peace, give peace, and preach peace.

Is that not good?

In fact, we see three things about this peace.

Number one, Jesus brought peace at his birth.

The Bible says in Luke 2.14, Susan read it.

Glory to God in the highs and on earth.

Peace, goodwill toward men.

What a beautiful story.

In Christmas, we had a tradition at our house.

We woke up this morning and I just it felt so weird.

First time in four years we hadn't been with our kids on Christmas, or our grandkids, and marrying them in uh Tennessee.

And we'd wake up and we had an animated uh video of the birth of Jesus, very similar to what we just saw.

By the way, Benji, very well done.

Awesome, awesome.

He's so talented in that area.

I just show him preach.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

But but but we would get up and we'd watch Mary and Joseph riding into Bethlehem on the donkey and and all that, and and we would just, you know, for 20 minutes celebrate, and then I'd get up and Susan would read the Christmas story like she did, and then we would sing, and we will do that today before we leave.

Happy birthday, Jesus.

And then she'd have a big Christmas cookie that said, Happy birthday, Jesus.

If you did not notice, out in the foyer there's a big Christmas cookie that says, Happy birthday, Jesus.

So we have brought our new church family into our family.

So this is our tradition to you.

So hopefully, maybe you may have to slice it a little.

There's a lot of people here, but you can get a little slice.

We leave today.

You can get a slice of happy birthday, Jesus, because his gift to you and me was the peace of God that passes all understanding.

It was very timely when we got this gift.

In fact, he says in Galatians 4:4, when the fullness of the time had come, God sent his son.

Galatians 4:4

It was timely, very timely.

It reminds me of the illustration of a little boy that was about four years old when his dad went off to war in World War II.

And for four years his dad wasn't there, but but his son would look at the picture of his dad every so often.

And he would make this statement I wish my father could step out of that picture and be here.

And I thought to myself, 2,000 years ago, on a place called Calvary.

But before Calvary, 2,000 years ago in a place called Bethlehem.

A little baby was born.

And what that literally was, that God, in a timely fashion, knowing that the world needed it more than it had ever, the darkness and the cruelty and the just the horrible and the heinousness of sin was so rampant that God stepped out of heaven and sent his son, Jesus Christ, as the Prince of Peace to bring peace to a world.

What a picture.

So when you see a picture of Jesus, remember that illustration.

When you see that picture that God sent his son, God stepped out of that picture, sent his son to die on a place called Calvary 2,000 years ago, so you and I could experience the Prince of Peace.

What a picture.

What a savior.

Secondly, Jesus taught peace in his life.

Listen to what he said in John 16, 33.

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.

Oh, I love that.

In me you may have peace.

In the world, uh-oh, you shall have tribulation, but be a good cheer.

I have overcome the world.

And then look at John 14, 27, and he says, Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give unto you.

Not as the world gives, give I unto you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The Prince of Peace.

What a picture.

What a picture.

No wonder he attracted men and women to himself.

Not only because his word of peace, but his way of peace.

As I was going through this past week and thinking about the situations that Jesus Christ showed up in, his life was a very example of composure and calm and transquility.

In fact, it was exactly the opposite of the religious folks.

How many times we'd see him show up and there'd be a problem?

Oh, and I loved it.

He would what?

He would heal the sick.

He would make the blind to see.

He would calm the trouble, troublesome waters.

He would cast out demons.

He would feed the thousands.

There was always a calm.

And peace about the Prince of Peace.

Beautiful.

Beautiful.

That inner calm.

That inner calm.

He would speak peace.

Again and again.

His message to those who came to him was go in peace.

So today, as we leave, and everyone you see today, and you leave or they part, tell them go in peace.

Go in peace.

And then the third thing, not only did Jesus, Jesus taught peace in his life, but thirdly, Jesus bought peace by his death.

Having made peace through the blood of his cross.

He paid the price for man's reconciliation to God.

Oh, he did.

He paid the price.

His death, his life, and his birth.

He was the author of peace.

Notice the second thing.

In Isaiah 9.6, and the government will be upon his shoulders.

He was the arbitrator of peace.

In his epistle in the book of Colossians, especially Colossians 3.15, we see this interpretation of this peace explained tremendously by Paul.

Exhorting the believers and he did to forbear and forgive one another.

Notice what he said.

He said, and let the peace of God, let the peace of God rule in your hearts.

Rule in your hearts to which also you're called in one body, and be ye thankful.

Now that word rule there is a powerful, unbelievable word.

It's bar you all is the Greek word.

And it literally means, and I love it, to be the governor of the heart.

To be the, hey, ruler of the heart.

But more than that, to be, and I love this, the umpire of the heart.

That's what it means.

In fact, he said, let the peace of God, and more literally, we could say, let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

I love Professor F.F.

Bruce, one of my, should I say, readings of theology that we had to read everything about F.F.

Bruce.

He was a great theologian.

He said the word rule, listen to what he said, here, is better translated, arbitrate.

In other words, as the word of God is ruling in our hearts, the word of God is our umpire.

He's the one that tells us when it's a strike and when it's a ball.

In other words, when it's sin and when it's not.

He umpires our life.

He rules our life.

He tells us where to go, where not to go, what to do, what not to do, what to say, what not to say, what to think, what not to think.

That's good.

Let him rule.

The principal peace is to rule our hearts and our life.

Where he reigns with undisputed authority.

Listen to what F.F.

Bruce said.

The Spirit of God and the Word of God extend the peace of God to every area of your life.

Man, that's good.

In other words, the Holy Spirit cannot produce the fruit of peace, or, hey, it cannot, hey, allow the rule of peace to exist in our life if he's not undoubtedly in total control.

Is that not good?

So when we have not the peace of God, it's because he's not governing our lives totally.

More government of God, more peace of God.

More umpire of God, more home runs with God.

Amen.

That's it.

Hey, if he's not ruling our lives, then we're gonna strike out.

There'll be more strikes instead of home runs.

Amen.

So it's very important that we understand that.

Two things.

How does he arbitrate this peace in our life?

The personal life of the Christian.

He says that, hey, he's got to control every part of our life.

I love Philippians 4.

I don't think I uh God gave me that verse after I'd done the outline.

He says, be careful for nothing.

But in everything.

By prayer, supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

And then verse 7, Philippians 4, 7, and the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What powerful verses in Philippians 4, 6 and 7.

And then secondly, the general life of the church.

Let the peace of God arbitrate in our hearts, which also we're called.

Now notice what he says in Colossians 3:15, in one body.

Colossians 3:15

And be thankful.

In other words, we're one.

You know what's been so beautiful about this church?

Four and a half years, it's just been a total unified church.

There's not discord and disunity.

Why?

It's not our church.

We don't have an agenda, personal agenda here, folks.

Our agenda is God's agenda.

And we do things in one accord.

He that is joined unto the Lord, the Bible says, is one spirit.

When there's discord or disunity, there's, hey, there's no oneness.

Do you know what I'm convinced of?

The greatest, and again, F.F.

Bruce had a powerful impact on my life as a young theologian studying at seminary, and I kept reading all his writings, but here's what he said, of all the miracles of the Bible.

And I have not read that since anywhere else.

But out of all the miracles, in fact, I need to do that.

I need to preach a topical series on the miracles of the Bible.

But but but he here's what he said.

He said, of all the miracles, the greatest miracle in the revelation of God in his book is when he sees God's people unified as one.

That's the greatest miracle.

Now think about that.

Is that not true?

We have 250, 300 people.

Guess what?

It's pretty hard for all of us to be in one accord.

In fact, it's sometimes hard for you and your wife to be in one accord.

Owe me.

Hello?

Much less 300 out of the people.

Am I right?

So now you understand.

The greatest miracle of all is when the church of God is in one accord.

That is attractive to a lost and dying world, by the way, folks.

You want to attract this community?

We just be, hey, show the love of Christ.

He said, By this shall all men know that you are my disciples by your love.

By your life, by your peace.

That passes all understanding.

The Prince of Priest.

The personal life of the Christian, the general life of the church.

That's it.

That's it.

I love what Paul said in Ephesians 4, 3, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

You know what that word endeavor means?

It means go to whatever lengths you have to go to to keep unity.

I really don't like that verse.

Because every time I really get upset with Susan and want my way, I will.

And I think we ought to do it my way, I will.

I'm talking to you, not Susan.

Okay.

Susan's not here.

We'll pretend she's not here.

The Holy Spirit convicts my heart and says, hey, give in.

Give in.

I don't like to give in.

But I know I'm the only one.

That don't, that doesn't like to give in.

It's called the flesh.

The flesh wants to rule.

But see, when you submit and give in, that's the power of the peace of God, the Prince of Peace, umpiring your life.

That umpire said, whoop, you're about to swing and miss.

If you keep going down this road, or as Rosemaryas do, you're digging it, you're digging it.

Yes?

By the way, is this not beautiful?

Amen.

Is this not beautiful?

So we see the power of the unity.

Listen to what Paul said.

As much as depends on you, I didn't like this verse.

Listen to what he says.

As much as depends on Susan.

I tried to put Susan in there, but it didn't fit.

It says, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Oh, me.

It puts it back on me.

Yeah, but you don't understand what she did doesn't matter.

It doesn't say live peace peacefully with Susan if she submits in everything.

That's not what it says.

Well, it ought to.

But it doesn't.

Amen?

And then I

I love what the psalmist wrote when he prayed.

And by the way, the most I love what Jesus prayed in the Lord's Prayer.

A lot of people think the Lord's Prayer is in Matthew 6.

And you can say that, but the real Lord's prayer, really, Matthew 6 is the disciples' prayer.

God teaching the disciples how to pray.

But the Lord's real prayer is in John 17.

His prayer.

And listen to what he said right before he left the disciples.

He prayed that they all may be one.

Now watch.

That the world may believe that you sent me.

There's the greatest miracle.

There it is.

We're one.

Amen.

We're one.

I made a promise a long time ago in my own life.

God never let me be a hindrance to your church.

Never.

That's so important.

It's such a testimony.

When we accept the government of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, we will experience the peace of God like we've never had before.

Jesus as the author and our arbitrator of peace in our hearts and lives.

And then lastly, the authenticator of peace.

This is where we get to the last verse 7, too.

His name will be called Prince of Peace.

And then look at verse 7.

Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.

Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it.

Now, why it is possible to know peace in our personal life, individually, and even though it's possible and we do to experience peace in our church life as we do, I've got news for you.

There is an actual age of peace that this prophecy is predicting that is yet to come.

The best is yet to come.

And it's called the Millennial Age and the Eternal Age of Peace.

The Millennial Age of Peace and the Eternal Age of Peace.

For example, we see the prophets of the Old Testament right here looked across the centuries and described very vividly, very vividly the glories and excellencies of the kingdom where peace, order, and justice will be forever.

Can you hear that?

Did you hear that?

Peace, order, and justice will prevail.

That's what we see in verse 6 and 7.

They foretold a day when Malachi 4.3 says, Nations shall not lift up sword against nation.

Hallelujah.

Nation shall, hey, they no longer war anymore.

And then he goes on and he says, The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11, 9.

And when prosperity will be the order of the day, what a glorious hope for those who are united by faith to the Prince of Peace.

Are you ready for the millennial reign of Christ?

Absolutely.

It's coming.

The best is yet to come.

But not only will there be a millennial reign, but after that one thousand years where everybody that knows the Lord Jesus Christ, every believer, regardless of denomination, will reign together for a thousand years.

And the lamb will lie down with the lion.

Woo! And then for a little time, and prior to the millennial reign, we go through the tribulation.

We're going to do a study on Revelation.

Once we get our room finished on a Wednesday night, we're going to do an in-depth study.

I'm trying to get one of my professors that would come down and spend a week with us and take us through.

Or there's a pastor friend I know that's unbelievable.

That's all he's studied, all his ministry.

He has his charts.

But after the tribulation and the beam of judgment seat and the Lord's Supper with him, you're talking about the Lord's Supper, we're going to have it in heaven.

Then we come back, everybody to reign for a thousand years.

And then why we, I don't understand, but Revelation says that he's going to lose Satan for a little time.

But then after he loosed Satan for a little time, it's over.

He grabs it and he puts him in the bottomless pit forever.

And then the new heavens and the new earth come down.

And we rule with Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace forever.

Forever.

Forever.

Forever.

And how long is forever?

Forever.

Wow.

The best is yet to come.

When we sing about the Prince of Peace and handles the Messiah, I love it.

Let us remember, when you hear it these next few days, that the title represents the author of peace, the arbitrator of peace, and the authenticator of peace.

When you hear that beautiful song.

If we are to be sharers in all that is implied and involved in this prophetic proof and text, we must open our whole being to the Prince of Peace who came, and I love it, at Christmas to make peace, to give peace, and to preach peace.

What a savior.

What a king.

I love the poem that Dr.

Stephen Oford, one of my mentors in preaching, wrote.

The angels sang with joy and mirrors on Bethlehem's silent hill.

The Prince of Peace died on the cross to make peace through his blood.

He died to save us from our loss and give us peace with God.

The Prince of Peace rose from the grave to preach peace to us all.

For in that word is power to save when on his name we call.

The Prince of Peace now reigns above to give peace to each soul.

And he who yields to him in love is instantly made whole.

Cast out our sin and have full sway until the eternal day.

Wow, what a boy.

What a savior.

Let me ask you this morning.

Do you know the Prince of Peace?

Does he rule your heart?

Is he your umpire?

Who's calling the balls and strikes in your life today?

Are you calling them?

Or is God calling them?

Is he ruling your heart in your life?

Is he calling your heart in life?

You're here today.

You do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

You do not have the option of having that peace, the Prince of Peace to rule your heart.

Thanks again for tuning into this week's message.

We pray that your life has been changed.

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We hope you have a wonderful day and again, God bless you.