We are looking at the names of Jesus and how they affect us.
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, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.”
The name we are looking at today is Prince of Peace
1. Peace from past
John 14: 1, 2 Don’t let your heart be troubled Trust God trust also in me (My addition: Trust means what does your mind go to in times of trouble)
John 14: 27 I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Many names of God were revealed when people were going through severe trials. Here the disciples were about to see Jesus crucified.
Scripture calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. At his birth the angels declared in song, “Peace on earth!” The apostle Paul describes the Good News of Christ as the “gospel of peace.” Jesus himself said, “In me ye (shall) have peace” (John 16:33). Simply put, peace is what the gospel is all about. “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36)
This peace is different than what the world offers. In fact when the world offers peace, then destruction will come upon it.
1 Thessalonians 5: 3 For when they shall say , Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them
2. Peace on the inside
There is a three fold meaning to the word Peace and to understand it, we need to go back to the place where it is first mentioned.
Judges 6 is the story of Gideon and when he is introduced, his life is a mess.
- His father is a priest to Baal which is the cause of all their problems.
- Gideon is poor and hiding from an enemy that comes and attacks during the harvest season each year
- Gideon has absolutely no faith, even after God appears to him
- Vs 12 Lord is with you Gideon: Then why all these problems? What good does it do to pray?
- Vs 14 Go in strength I have given you. Gideon: I don’t have any strength haven’t you seen my life?
- Vs 16 I am with you and you will be strong Gideon: stopped talking with Jesus and left him so he could prepare a meal for him. A lot like Martha did to Jesus when He visited her house.
Meanwhile the Midianites kept robbing Israel
What changed Gideon’s life? An encounter with God of peace who wiped away his past.
Gideon saw Jesus, How is this possible?
- No man may see God and live John 1: 18
- Jesus became flesh and we could see God John 1: 14
- If God was seen by people in the Old Testament and they did not die, then they were seeing Jesus
God of peace changed Gideon’s past.
Ephesians 2: 17 Good news of peace to those who were far off.
Romans 5: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
No more excuses for our past.
3. Peace on the inside
God doesn’t just stop with forgiving our past, he takes care of the battle that is on the inside.
Gideon is commanded to tear down the idols that are in his house
Romans 7: 23 War in my mind that makes me a slave to the sin that is inside me.
- habits
- thought life
- Sin
Romans 8: 6 Letting your flesh control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Peace with God is not dependent on my goodness or an outbreak of badness, it is dependent on knowing I have been declared holy is God’s sight.
4. Peace in Warfare
In John 14, Jesus promised his disciples peace because he was going to prepare a place for them. I can imagine Peter saying, “Who needs a mansion? I need a job. I’ve got a family to feed. I don’t need to hear about future blessings in heaven. This is a real crisis in the here-and-now, and I’ve got to do something about it. I’m going back to fishing.” After the Crucifixion, Peter and a few of the others did go back to their livelihood of fishing, for a season.
This wasn’t good enough there were people that had to be set free.
Judges 6: 34 Spirit of God took possession of Gideon
New Testament experience which we have everyday.
Steve Hill “Time for Christians to leave the barracks and enter the battle”
Mark 16: 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: they will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on sick, and they will be healed.”
Peace and warfare? Satan is raging because he knows his time is short.
Zachariah blessing over Jesus to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1: 79
Romans 16: 20 God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet.
Name Peace means
- Peace between us and God
- Peace in the war inside us
- Bringing peace to those under attack from satan