Focus: The Prince Of Peace (Pt.2)

Text: Isa.9:6

"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."

Peace is wholeness and wellness, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the prince of it. He brings wholeness and wellness into governance. Wherever His government is welcome you find harmony and melody. 

Isaiah declares, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isa.26:3). In Hebrew "perfect peace" is shâlôm shâlôm - total peace, or peace that is intense and immense. It is absolute wholeness and wellness. As a matter of fact, the psalmist speaks of the bigness or immensity of peace. 

He says, "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace… In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth" (Ps.37:11; 72:7). In Christ peace flows and overflows. We can know it in all its fullness. From the Prince of peace it flows and floods our whole beings. Peace is an internal reality.

We cannot rust for trusting in Christ, and we cannot lack anything and everything good for fixing our eyes on the Lord.

Isaiah says, "LORD, thou wilt ordain peace FOR us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us" (Isa.26:12). Peace is meant for us. We are the people of peace. God says to us, "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee" (Isa.54:10). We have a covenant of peace with our God. The Prince of peace is the executor of the covenant. He ratified and sealed the covenant with His blood. 

Isaiah says, "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (Isa.55:12). Hallelujah! We will experience the presence of peace in our journey of life. As we march from place to place peace will be ahead to lead. The psalmist says, "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace" (Ps.29:11). 

Peace forms the content and substance of our God-given blessing. Blessing devoid of peace is a curse.

God says, "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" (Ps.35:27). The word "prosperity" is shâlôm in Hebrew. God takes pleasure in His servants enjoying peace in their lives - God-given peace.

Let us see the dimensions of divine peace. The psalmist says, "Peace be WITHIN thy walls, and prosperity WITHIN thy palaces" (Ps.122:7). He says, "For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be WITHIN thee" (Ps.122:8). He goes on to say, "Peace shall be UPON Israel" (Ps.125:5). Peace IN you, UPON you, and IN your space or environment. He says again, "He maketh peace IN thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat" (Ps.147:14). The Prince of peace wants His peace to saturate your whole being and flourish in your life. The priestly blessing says, "The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (Num.6:26). The psalmist declares, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Ps.119:165).

The Prince of peace paid a big price to give us peace. That is why He is called the Prince of peace. Isaiah tells that "he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa.53:5). Paul says, "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" (Col.1:20). 

Peace is not free bread. Christ paid for our peace and reconciliation with God with His precious blood.

For the sake of the price of peace which Christ paid, we are informed by the psalmist that "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Ps.85:10). Hallelujah! In Acts we read, "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)" (Act.10:36). The Prince of peace is the preacher and giver of peace. 

In Proverbs we read, "For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (Prov.3:2,17). The Prince of peace is Wisdom personified, and by receiving and embracing His wisdom, we shall encounter and enjoy His peace. Christ is our Prince of peace and the Great Sacrifice for our peace. Having received His peace into our hearts, we have become the Lord's peacemakers among men. We pursue and ensure peace. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter