Prince of Peace

“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.”

(Isaiah 9:6)

The Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ who is the leader of peace and offers it to others!

Sadly, every year, we witness the world in more turmoil and unrest. "The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3,530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8,000 peace treaties were made - and broken." — Today In The Word, MBI

Maybe you ask, "Why?" Only God in His Word gives us the answer by making the solemn pronouncement to all men: "And the way of peace have they not known" (Romans 3:17). The Scriptures tell us the source from which this unrest and lack of peace came. There was an atmosphere of peacefulness and restfulness when God placed man in the Garden of Eden. In 1 Corinthians 14:33, we read, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." By man, sin came in when Adam and Eve, by the influence of Satan, disobeyed the command of God and became unrighteous and lost God's peace. "There is no peace, says the Lord, unto the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22, 57:21). We sometimes wonder why peace treaties do not last long. It is because sin is involved in peace treaties.

In Isaiah 9:6, of the Old Testament, one of the names given prophetically to our Lord is "Prince of Peace." The Prince of Peace is the One who is the leader of peace and offers it to others. In the New Testament, the same person is the Child that was born in Bethlehem, the Son of God who brought "on earth peace" (Luke 2:14). He also is the "Lord of peace" (2 Thessalonians 3:16) and the "King of peace" (Hebrews 7:2). His sacrificial death on the cross has provided a way for all men, women, boys, and girls to be eternally set free from sin. This is because, through sin, they had lost their personal relationship and peace with God.

God now provides one way, and the only way for man to regain peace with Him. This way is through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as we read in Colossians 1:20: "And having made peace through the blood of His cross..." Therefore, the sin, sorrow, breakdown, and distance from God have been dealt with, to God's complete satisfaction, through the precious blood of Christ. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, Satan has been utterly defeated, and the day will arrive when he is banished to the lake of fire forever.

God commands us to seek peace. "Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). In Matthew 5:9, we read, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." We should make every attempt to do what leads to peace, according to Romans 14:19. As believers in Christ, we have a responsibility to "let the peace of God rule" in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). This means we have to choose either to trust God's promises or to rely on ourselves and reject the peace He offers. "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..." (John 14:27). "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). According to Galatians 5:22, peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so we will experience His peace if we allow the Spirit of God to rule in our lives.

What is at the top of your wish list this year? Do you secretly yearn for inner peace, because life is beginning to stress you out? This is a gift that money cannot buy, and friends cannot provide. The gift of true peace can only be provided by the Lord. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and He has not filled your heart with peace, I have good news for you! Jesus desires to give you a peace that the world can never provide. Reach out to the Lord. Ask Him to reign in your heart. Put Jesus in charge and let Him bear your worries. Let the Prince of Peace bring you a present you will never want to exchange. The peace of God is different from comfort, joy, and rest. While comfort, joy, and rest may decline, your peace will still flow like a river. "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river..." (Isaiah 48:18).When Peace Like A River (Hymn)

The gift of true peace can only be provided by the Lord!

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace. "Which picture do you think won the prize?" The King chose the second picture. "Do you know why?" Because explained the King, "Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace." — Author Unknown

Everyone wants peace, but not all find it because they are looking in the wrong direction. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "peace" is "shalom." In the New Testament, the Greek word for "peace" is "ειρἠνη" (eirene) which refers to rest, calmness, to be in agreement or harmony, security, and safety. A key focus of "eirene" is found in Luke 2:14. It was the time when the arrival of Jesus Christ was announced by the angels. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

In our sinful condition, "we were enemies" with God according to Romans 5:10. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The apostle Paul uses the word "eirene" (peace) with a deeper meaning in Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Because of Christ's sacrifice, we are justified and have restored our relationship and fellowship with God, and we have peace with Him. This means "eirene" (peace) is spiritual harmony between God and us after the restoration we have with Him through salvation.

Isaiah predicted a long time ago that Jesus "shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The Prince of Peace is the One who is the leader of peace and offers it to others. The good news is that through Christ's work of justification, we can have that peace with God and that peace will keep our hearts and minds secure. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 4:7). Before His death, Jesus told His followers that He would give peace to them, which will be different from the peace of the world (John 14:27).

Following His resurrection, we read, "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you" (John 20:19). Only Jesus can provide peace. God's peace is totally different from man's peace. God's peace was made through the blood of Jesus' cross. "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself" (Colossians 1:20).

True Christians have God's peace even when they go through hard times. I remember having peace when I went through tough and serious times with my cancer. I also remember the time when my first wife unexpectedly passed away at a young age because of a heart attack. One of my neighbors asked me to spend that night with his family. I told him, "Thank you, but I prefer to spend the night with my Lord." I did this because I believed that the peace Jesus gives is not the absence of loss and pain, but is rather the confidence that He is there with me always as He promised. Truly, His presence and peace were in my heart all that night. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you..." (John 14:27).

If you have not experienced God's peace in your heart and if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I encourage you to trust in Him today to experience His peace "which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

The problem is that the world wants peace without the Prince of Peace.

BIBLE VERSES

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14)

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you..." (John 14:27)

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

"The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11)

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

"LORD, You will establish peace for us, since You have also performed for us all our works." (Isaiah 26:12)

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:20)

"But now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." (Ephesians 2:13-14)

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18)

"Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." (1 Peter 3:11)

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13)

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14)

"Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy." (Proverbs 12:20)

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:33)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9)

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:1-5)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." ( Hebrews 13:8 )

The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of danger or trouble,

but is rather the confidence that His presence is there with you always.

QUOTES

"Peace is the smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer." — New Testament Scholar, William Hendriksen

"God the Father is called the "God of peace" (Hebrews 13:20). God the Son, the "Prince of peace" (Isaiah 9:6). God the Holy Ghost, the "Spirit…of peace" (Ephesians 4:3)." — Chairman and CEO of IBM, Thomas Watson

"The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ...The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world." — Pastor, Author and International Speaker, Stuart Briscoe

"Every one who has peace with God knows that his sins are gone forever, that he is standing in God's eternal favor, and that the glory of God awaits him in the future. Happy is the soul that lives in the enjoyment of this blessed knowledge!" — Author, Edward Dennett

"Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day." — Writer of both inspirational and Christian poetry, Helen Steiner Rice

"To have peace with God means that there is nothing - no sin, no guilt, no condemnation - that separates us. And that peace with God is possible only through Christ" ("Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1) — Author, Dave Branon

"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God." "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." — Quotes by Novelist, Scholar and Broadcaster, C.S. Lewis

"The little world within us, like the great world without, is full of confusion and strife; but when Jesus enters it, and whispers "Peace be unto you," there is a calm, yea, a rapture of bliss." — "Prince of Preachers" and Author, C.H.Spurgeon

"He offers peace from God (Romans 1:7) to all who are the recipients of His grace. He makes peace with God (Romans 5:1) for those who surrender to Him in faith. And He brings the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him." — Pastor and Author, John MacArthur

"If…a person feels peace and knows that it results from faith that Christ satisfied divine justice for him and converted his soul and united him to the Saviour, the peace he feels is genuine since it rests on the truth of God." — Professor of Church History at Theological Seminary and Author, John Gersner

"Peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament. He took the initiative to establish peace with rebellious men, and He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives."— Author and Speaker, Jerry Bridges

"Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. "— President, Ronald Reagan

"Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth." "What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?" — Quotes by Minister and Author, Matthew Henry

"The secret of peace is more than knowing that our sins are forgiven. It is having the Person of a risen Christ before our souls, having our hearts engaged with the One who has done it all, and gazing by faith upon the marks of His accomplished work.This is peace for the inner life." — C.H.M.

"Hell reigns wherever there is no peace with God." — Reformer, Minister and Author, John Calvin

Let the PRINCE of PEACE bring you this Christmas,

a gift of TRUE PEACE you will never want to exchange!

"God sent a star to light the night for

The Way, The Truth, The Life--His Son.

He sent the Light of Life to prove His heart

so we would invite His Son into our own.

God has given us all the light we'll ever

need to find peace on earth, goodwill to men."

— by Pamela F.Dowd

The Angel's sang to the shepherd's that night.

Peace! Peace on earth!

Peace! Peace! Good will to all men.

Glory! Glory to God in The Highest!

A Savior, Jesus, God's Son has been born.

OH! How we love God's Baby Son!

To Him Salvation had already begun.

Jesus, God's Son grew, to be a man.

He taught us how to live a life for Him.

By His Grace, He gave His Life for everyone.

He came to give Peace, to the hearts of men.

He Loves and Cares, for you and me.

He died on that Old Rugged Tree at Calvary.

For we all need His Love, He came for everyone.

Peace! Peace on earth!

A Savior! A Savior has been born.

Glory! Glory! To God in The Highest!

A Savior! A Savior has been born.

Peace! Peace on earth!

"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow."

(James 1:17)

Trinity of Peace

He is the "Prince of Peace" because He came in submission to His Father’s will and proclaimed peace to all on the basis of His shed blood.

He is the "Lord of peace" (2 Thessalonians 3:16) because He gives peace that passes understanding to all

who keep in prayerful fellowship with His Father with thankful hearts.

He will reign as the "King of peace" (Hebrews 7:2) over the whole earth when He has put all enemies under His feet. — P.D.J.

Have You Made Your Peace?

A woman lay dying. A minister tried to break the news as gently as he could: "They think your time is short." "Yes," she said, "I know it.""Have you made your peace with God?" "No," she replied, "I haven't made my peace with God."There was a strange light of perfect peace in the woman's eyes, so the minister said, "What do you mean?"

She said, "Listen! I know I am dying, yet I have no fear of meeting God. I don't have to make my peace with God for I am resting in the peace which Jesus Christ has already made in His atoning death upon the cross." — Evangelical Visitor

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow Love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O' Divine Master, grant that I may seek

not so much to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen

— Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

What is Peace?

The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep. That is peace--to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ, we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace--at last! — Dr. Billy Graham

Peace?

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

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world"

(John 16:33).

Colossians 1:20 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.

Ephesians 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.

He Is Our Peace

He is the Author of peace, the Maker of peace, the Proclaimer of peace, the Bestower of peace, and the coming King of peace. Sin and Satan have raised the stormy waves of turmoil and strife in the human heart and in the world. But Jesus came! On the Sea of Galilee He showed His power to calm the storms of creation by His word: "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39). On Calvary, by giving up of His own life, He "made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20). On the basis of this finished work to put away sin and undo the works of the devil, He now offers peace to all who will repent and receive Him as "Prince of Peace"!

The believer in Him can say with all who thus receive Him, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). In fulfillment of His promises and after His righteous judgment of this world, He will set up His kingdom of peace over all the earth, and men shall proclaim: "This Man shall be the Peace"! (Micah 5:5).-— Donald T. Johnson

Peace BE STILL

Jesus Christ always brings with Him peace. Wherever the storms rage and the sea churns, He calmly says, "Peace, be still." That is our cue to be still. Wherever the crowd clamors and assails His presence, He simply goes about His Father's business and so passes by. Jesus Christ is the peace that is the quietude of the Vine supporting the branch. He is the peace that stands as the Suffering Servant, as the Lamb silent before the shearers. The wicked rage, and His peace answers not with rebuttal but with a knowing smile. He is the serenity of Resurrection morn. He is the calm certainty of His sure and blessed appearance in our midst, behind our locked doors. He is the peace that through the taste of blood says, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He is the calmness that assures, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." Jesus Christ always brings with Him peace. True peace. — Dr. Charles F. Stanley

The Power of Peace

As I perused an old copy of The Wonderful Word edited by Leon Tucker, I came upon a tremendous sermon by W.H. Griffith-Thomas entitled "The Power of Peace." He gave an exposition of 2 Thess. 3:16, "Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means." His outline should prove helpful to Christian workers.

I. The Nature of Peace

1. Peace of a quiet conscience (Rom. 8:33-35; three questions)

2. Peace of a restful mind (Phil. 4:7)

3. Peace of a surrendered will

4. Peace of a hopeful heart (Isaiah 50:7)

5. Peace of loving fellowship

II. The Source of Peace

1. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

2. The God of peace (Rom. 15:33)

3. The peace of God (Phil. 4:7)

4. The Lord of peace (2 Thess. 3:16)

III. The Channel of Peace

"The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means" (2 Thess. 3:16)

IV. The Duration of Peace

"...give you peace always."

V. The Secret of Peace

"The Lord of peace Himself give you peace..."

— W.H. Griffith, The Power of Peace.

Jesus is

The Lamb of God,

to die for our sins.

The Prince of Peace,

to change our hearts.

The Good Shepherd,

to guide our lives.

Jesus' birth in Bethlehem was not the beginning of His existence.

He already existed from the beginning with God!

"In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God.

The same [Jesus] was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him [Jesus] was not any thing made that was made.

In him [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe...

But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

(John 1:1-7,12))

The Christmas-Child

Christmas is too wonderfully magnificent to be confined to one solitary, fleeting day. There is a deathless significance in this Child of Christmas, a permanent and divinely bestowed gift of God, which brings perpetual happiness, immeasurable and unspeakable, both here and hereafter.

If you have never permitted the star of faith to guide you to Bethlehem; if you have never opened the door of your heart to receive the Christ-Child; if with Herod-like determination you have steadfastly tried to stifle the glorification of the Babe in Bethlehem, I ask you to follow the lowly shepherds to that glorious Child in Mary’s arms.

Seven centuries before the heavenly messenger aroused the drowsy Judean shepherds, Isaiah, the evangelist of the Old Testament, strikes at the very heart and center of a Christ-conscious Christmas when he identifies this Christmas-Child by these five glorious names: “Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Wonderful

Isaiah calls the Christ-Child, first of all, “Wonderful,” or, as we can emphatically reproduce the original, “The Miracle.” Daniel Webster was once asked whether he could understand Christ. He declared, “If I could comprehend Him, He would be no greater than myself. I feel that I need a super-human Savior.” The Christmas message is thus not an appeal to reason. Rather, it is an appeal to the truth of God’s love; it is the mystery of God’s becoming man; Divinity putting on humanity; the Creator appearing as creature; the eternal Son of God incarnate as the Son of Man.

This Babe in the manger is the super-human solution to the great and universal problem of sin. When the stern demand of God’s holiness tells you, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4); when it continues, “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23); and when it points the finger of accusation at you, “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7)—then to every one who humbly and gratefully accepts Him for who He is, the wonder of wonders is accomplished, and they are all assured of this: “He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Here is the glorious wonder of this wonderful Child—there is no sin too great, no offense too vile, no wrong too oppressive to be removed freely and completely and for all time by His priceless, deathless love.

Counsellor

The second blessed name is “Counsellor.” I believe that for many, the need of a capable, competent counsellor has never been as great as it is today. You who have gone on year after year with a smug sense of self-satisfaction and with a good deal of confidence in your money power, your brain power, your social power, but who have found that this house of cards in which you have enshrined your happiness has been puffed over by bank failures, financial reverses, and unemployment, and who now look around for someone and something that can lift you out of the labyrinth of hopelessness and helplessness—you can find a divine Counsellor today in Bethlehem.

Here is a Counsellor who is concerned first and foremost about the soul that lives on after the trinkets of this world crumble into disappointing dust. Here is the faithful and efficient Counsellor, who tells us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33); that is, get right with God. Remove the barrier that separates you from God and that keeps you away from the inner happiness which alone makes life worth living. And when you come and ask, “How can I get right with God? How can I remove the impurity of sin from my life?”—great and wonderful Counsellor that He is, this Christ tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). There is no sorrow too deep to be healed by the balm of His consoling love. Believe Him, when He calls out to you, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Everlasting Father

Yes, “forevermore,” because Isaiah’s fourth name for this helpless Infant is “The Everlasting Father.” The highest achievements of human ambitions rise only to fade. They are here today and gone tomorrow. But I want you to look with me at this Pillar of the Ages, this changeless Christ for a changing world—Him who is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), and find in Him the everlasting Rock of Ages to which you can cling with unending and undying assurance. Friends and their favors may change; your hopes and plans may be shattered and crushed, but here in this Child is God’s answer to your search for eternity, the solution of the mystery of the grave, the promise of Him who says, “because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19); whose eternity is the unfailing pledge of our life after death.

Think of the other word, “Father,” and remember that behind all the love that this word expresses and the confidence that it inspires, leading us to come to Christ as loving children come to their loving father, there is the majesty of power, the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the very revelation of God to mankind. When Christ complied with Philip’s request, “Lord, show us the Father,” He answered, “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). My friends, I pause to ask you, Have you seen the Father in Christ? Remember, if you think you have seen God in any other way; if you think you can accept God without accepting Jesus Christ; if you try to stifle the appeal of the Bible by asserting that you believe in a “Supreme Being” or in “the Great Creator” or in “the Father of us all,” and exclude Christ from all this, then you do not know the meaning of Christmas, and you do not know God.

Prince of Peace

But the sweetest note of the Christmas message comes in Isaiah’s last name for the Christ-Child, “The Prince of Peace.” Above all the hatred of a war-torn world, the Christmas anthem “Peace on earth” goes out into the world to tell men that the only way to establish peace with our God and peace with our conscience is to come to Christ and to believe that He has effectually and forever removed the discord that exists between the holiness of God and the unholiness of men; that He by His incarnation, by the poverty and suffering to which He as the Lord of lords and the King of kings subjected Himself, satisfied the claims of divine justice and offers to all the benefits of that momentous peace treaty between heaven and earth that has been signed and sealed by His very blood.

What greater cause of rejoicing, even in heaven, than this, that some of you who are still at war with God, who are still allied with the forces of sin and hell, come to accept peace—not the peace of the world, but the peace of the soul that Christ Himself offers. Thus, and thus alone, can Christmas be to you what it should be—the birthday of Christ, The Prince of Peace, not only in Bethlehem, but also in your innermost heart. Amen. — by Dr. Walter A. Maier, adapted (MWTB)

The Prince of Peace

“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” (Isaiah 9:6).

The passing of another year witnesses the world in the grip of turmoil and unrest; discontent and unhappiness affect every sphere of life. The efforts of rulers and the legislation of governments are seen to be powerless in dealing successfully with the growing dissatisfaction which abounds on every hand. In His Word, God, speaking of all men, makes the solemn pronouncement: “the way of peace have they not known” (Romans 3:17).

The Scriptures leave us in no doubt at all as to the source from which this unrest and lack of peace came. When God placed man in the garden of Eden there was an atmosphere of tranquillity. In 1 Corinthians 14:33 we read, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” It was by man that sin came in, with all its consequent ruin and disorder. Satan was also responsible, as he succeeded in displacing God from Adam’s affections.

To disobey the command of God was an act of unrighteousness on the part of man, and Scripture most definitely asserts that peace cannot be known and enjoyed if unrighteousness prevails: “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22 and Isaiah 57:21).

We have noticed the dual cause of the ruin—sin in man and the opposition of Satan to God. Wherein lies the remedy? All depends upon the revelation of God’s purpose made known in Christ. In Isaiah 9 one of the names given prophetically to our Lord is “Prince of Peace.” Man was the author of confusion—hence the wreckage; Christ is the Author of Salvation—the ruin and disorder will be banished forever.

This necessitated the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as we read in Colossians 1:20, “having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself.” Thus the sin, sorrow, breakdown, and distance from God has been dealt with to God’s complete satisfaction through the precious blood of Christ. In the death and resurrection of Christ, Satan has been completely defeated and the day will arrive when he himself is banished to the lake of fire forever.

This marvelous work of Jesus Christ, the complete restoration of peace, should bow our hearts in worship as we contemplate the personal greatness of the one blessed Person alone competent to effect this: One in whom all the fullness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19; 2:9). How gladly we say “amen” to the Spirit’s testimony “that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). — F.A. Hughes (MWTB)

The Prince of Peace

P — Powerful Prince. He is “the Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). He is mighty in many ways. His mighty acts declare His power. He is mighty to save (Psalm 89:19); He is mighty to deliver (Deuteronomy 6:21; 7:8,19); He is mighty to conquer (Joshua 4:24; 2 Corinthians 10:4); He is mighty to strengthen (Genesis 49:24); He is mighty to use in His service (Colossians 1:29); He is mighty in word (Luke 24:19); and He is mighty in work (Mark 6:2).

R — Royal Prince. Some men have occupied princely places who have not had a royal pedigree. Not so with Christ, for He is the “Son” (Isaiah 9:6). His royalty is of heavenly origin, for He is the Son of God; and He is of the royal line of David, and as such will sit upon the “throne of David” (Isaiah 9:7) in the time to come. Christ is royal in every sense of the word. He is royal in birth, royal in giving, royal in love, royal in grace, royal in truth, royal in action, and royal in utterance.

I — Incarnate Prince. He who was the Son of God became the Son of Man that He might make the sons of men who believe in Him, sons of God; hence we read, “Unto us a Child is born.” By His birth He became our Kinsman (Hebrews 2:14), that He might have the right to redeem us. The action of Christ as the Saviour is a trinity, as seen in His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. These must never be separated, for the one is essential to the other to complete the triangle of Christ’s complete redemptive work as far as it relates to His atonement.

N — Noble Prince. He is “Wonderful” and “Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6). Christ is noble in His wondrous love. David said of Jonathan’s love that it surpassed the love of women (2 Samuel 1:26). We must say of Christ’s love that it surpasses all other love. It is a height without a top, a depth without a bottom, a length without a measure, and a breadth without a calculation (Ephesians 3:18,19). Christ is noble in His comprehensive counsel. The Septuagint renders “Counsellor” as “Messenger of great counsel.” “Who teacheth like Him?” None. He eclipses all others. “Never man spake like this Man” (John 7:46)

C — Conquering Prince (Isaiah 9:4). Christ is the mighty Man of valor. He goes forth conquering and to conquer. He overcomes the strong man armed (Luke 11:22), and strips the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). He leads forth His armies and gains the victory (Revelation 19:11-15), and as we have faith in Him, we also overcome by His power (1 John 5:4).

E — Eternal Prince (Isaiah 9:6,7). He is the “Everlasting Father,” and the One of the increase of whose government there shall be “no end”; yea, “forever” shall His righteous rule be prolonged. Unlike earthly monarchs, who come and go, this One shall remain, for His kingdom is spoken of as “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).— F.E. Marsh, from Five Hundred Bible Readings (MWTB)

The Prince of Peace

No matter where you look today, peace seems to be in very short supply. Each day the headlines seem to tell of some new political crisis which threatens to plunge the whole world into chaos. Our courts overflow with people caught up in conflicts, and millions seek frantically for something--anything--which will give them peace of mind and heart in the midst of daily pressures.

We need to hear again those familiar words of the Christmas angels, spoken so many centuries ago to a small band of simple Jewish shepherds: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

But are those words really true? Can God's peace become a reality in our lives and in our world? Or was the promise of the angels just a hollow, empty hope, unrealistic for life as it really is?

Peace is possible--possible not because men have discovered some new scheme or formula for instant peace, but because God's Son has come into the world. It is possible because that same Son, who entered the world on that first Christmas, wants to enter our lives today. "And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

The miracle of Christmas is that we can be at peace with God! We can come into a personal relationship with Him, and be restored and renewed. We can be born again spiritually by the grace of God.

It has been almost 2,000 years since the angels hovered over the Judean countryside, declaring their Good News to the shepherds: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Sadly, much of our world still knows very little of that peace.

But God's peace is real, and it becomes a reality whenever men and women turn to Christ and follow Him as Lord. In the midst of the trials and difficulties of life we can know "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

And someday the Christ who came so humbly at Christmas will come again in glory to establish His kingdom. When He does, our world will finally know the peace of God in its fullest sense.

And someday the Christ who came so humbly at Christmas will come again in glory to establish His kingdom.

When He does, our world will finally know the peace of God in its fullest sense. — By Dr. Billy Graham / Good News Publishers

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Testimonies

Everything I Wanted But Peace

One late night in December 1997, as I was getting ready to sleep, I started thinking that something was missing in my life. I had everything I wanted—family, health, house, friends, education and a good job, small business, even investments—everything except PEACE. I felt empty. I prayed for a renewed relationship with God, even better than it was 10 years ago before I became consumed in making my dreams come true.

God did not waste time and started answering that prayer in ways that left me broken in every area of my life and on my knees many times before Him. — Anonymous

I Searched For Peace And Found It In Christ

Steps to Peace with God

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Live, Love, Laugh!

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine"

(Proverbs 17:22)

A Man Between Two Ladies

A man once found himself on a train between two ladies. In this instance, it was an unpleasant experience as the two ladies argued incessantly about whether the window should be shut or open. The lady furthest from the window argued that she would die of heat stroke if it wasn't opened. The other said she would almost certainly catch pneumonia if it didn't stay closed. When the ticket inspector arrived the ladies appealed to him to settle the issue. Unfortunately, he had no solution. Eventually, the man spoke up. "First open the window. That will kill the one. Then close it. That will kill the other. Then we will have peace."

Dear Friend, many people have a concept of peace similar to the man in this story. For them, peace is the absence of conflict. However, this falls far short of the biblical vision for peace. In Scripture, peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God who brings the presence of love, generosity, and grace as the transforming principle of our relationships.