Prince of Peace
Names of Christmas – Message 4
Perry Duggar
December 19, 2021

I. Introduction
Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:78-79

A. The giver of gifts to children at Christmas has different names in different places.

1. In Latin America, there is a secular Santa known as Papá Noel, but for Christians, the giver of gifts to children on December 24^th is Niño Jesús, or Niño Dios (baby Jesus).
   

B. The greatest gift received at Christmas was Jesus, the Messiah, our Savior—and He gives the greatest gifts to us all; they are revealed in His names!

1. A prophecy of Isaiah spoken to King Ahaz of Judah in 735 BC revealed the names of the coming Messiah from David’s line.
   
2. [555] Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)—⁶For 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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷His government and its peace will never end. …
   
3. Ahaz, the king to whom Isaiah spoke likely imagined a mighty ruler of Judah who would establish peace among God’s people by defeating the Assyrians, and any other enemies, militarily.
   
4. But the prophecy could only be fulfilled by a divine Messiah-king who would establish an invisible, eternal, kingdom.
   
5. Today, we will focus on the fourth name, or title, of the Messiah: Prince of Peace.
   
6. The word peace (from Hebrew: shâlôm) is not merely the absence of conflict, turmoil or danger, but rather, it is positive blessing and favorable circumstance; it includes the idea of being well, whole, complete, not fragmented or confused, being settled and content, especially in a right relationship with God.
   
7. [821] Zechariah, the father of the forerunner said at] Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)—⁷⁸“Because of God’s tender mercy, the Morning Light from Heaven is about to break upon us, ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” [with God, others, w/i ourselves.]
   
   

II. The Prince of Peace provides…
A. #1 - Peace with God. (Luke 2:8-14; Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:19-20)

1. Because of sin—part of an inherited nature and actually practiced personally—we are at odds with God; in fact, Romans 5:10 refers to us as “enemies” of God.
   
2. God took the initiative to pursue peace with us by sending His Son to earth.
   
3. [822] Luke 2:8-12 (NLT)— ⁸That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. [The bright light that surrounds the presence of God.] They were terrified, ¹⁰but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹²And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
   
4. This baby would grow up, live a sinless life and die an undeserved death by crucifixion as our substitute to pay for our sins; His resurrection would guarantee our forgiveness, resulting in justification before God (Romans 4:25).
   
5. [822] Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)—¹³Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
   
6. God’s pleasure and peace rest on those who receive His Son by faith. (John 1:12)
   
7. Romans 5:1 (NLT)—Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [Romans 5:10-11; Colossians 1:19-20]
   
8. Another Hebrew word translated peace is salem which means to “repay, reward, fulfill, be at peace;” it refers to paying the debt we owe God for our sin.
   
9. Peace with God means that our great sin debt has been cancelled and God sees us as righteous and accepts us fully (Colossians 2:14; Romans 3:22).
   
10. If you have trusted in Jesus, our Messiah-king and deliverer, you are in right relationship with God—no longer indebted to Him or separated from Him.
    
11. APP.: Do you have Peace with God? Do you desire it?
    
    

The Prince of Peace provides…
B. #2 - Peace with others. (Ephesians 4:2-4,32; Colossians 3:12-15; James 3:17-18)

1. Jesus’ death effects (causes) peace with God and enables peace with others—but we have a role and responsibility in practicing peace with others.
   
2. When we are wronged—and we will be—Christians are called, no, expected, to forgive, even as we have been forgiven of our offenses against God.
   
3. Colossians 3:13 (NLT)—Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [Ephesians 4:32]
   
4. We have been forgiven of far more by God than we ever have to forgive another person.
   
5. All of us want mercy and forgiveness from God for ourselves, but many of us refuse to extend it to those who have hurt us. [“Mercy for me, justice for you.”]
   
6. We may justify our attitudes, saying, “but this person keeps on hurting me; it’s not fair that they be forgiven without suffering pain, without being punished!”
   
7. What makes forgiveness hard is we think forgiving someone who has hurt us, will let that person get away with what they did, without knowing the pain they caused or suffering any other negative consequences. (“He doesn’t even care!”)
   
8. I may believe that forgiving makes me vulnerable to being hurt again, so I don’t.
   
9. When I am convinced by God’s Spirit that my unforgiveness doesn’t control my offender, it only hurts me, I will forgive. (Forgiveness frees me!)[Ask the Spirit.]
   
10. We can trust God to execute justice fully, fairly (Psalms 103:6; Romans 12:19).
    
11. Colossians 3:15 (NLT)—And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
    
12. APP.: Is there someone you need to forgive? Lift hands. Visualize person, say, “I forgive you for ___, then say, “I release you.” Open your hands and let them go!
    
    

The Prince of Peace provides…
C. #3 - Peace within myself. (Luke 2:28-32; John 14:27; 16:33; Philippians 4:6-9)

1. Forty days after His birth, Jesus was taken by His parents to the Temple in Jerusalem to make a purification offering for Jesus’ mother, Mary, following her delivery and to dedicate Jesus, the firstborn son, to the LORD. [Luke 2:22-24]
   
2. A righteous and devout man named Simeon was awaiting the Messiah to rescue Israel; he was told by the Spirit he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah.
   
3. Simeon was led by the Spirit to the Temple complex that day. [Luke 2:25-28]
   
4. [822] Luke 2:28-32 (NLT)—[When Mary and Joseph arrived] ²⁸Simeon was there. [women’s court] He took the Child in his arms and praised God, saying, ²⁹“Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. ³⁰I have seen Your salvation, ³¹which You have prepared for all people. ³²He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!”
   
5. This righteous man, who was devoted to God, desired the salvation, not just of Israel, but of all people, which would happen through the Messiah’s arrival.
   
6. When we are filled and led by the Spirit, we too, want God’s salvation for all!
   
7. Simeon praised God for this great blessing, and declared he could die in peace because he had seen the Savior who would reveal God to all people.
   
8. Would we have praised God, or would we have thought, “Oh no, now I’ll die!”
   
9. Simeon’s peace was found in experiencing personally the fulfillment of God’s plan and purpose, which included his own salvation!
   
10. Do we find peace in being saved, knowing God personally, having a secure future in heaven, and following God’s will on earth, or do we seek satisfaction from our surroundings—personal prosperity, possessions and excellent health?
    
11. Inner peace cannot be obtained from anything this world offers.
    
12. John 14:27 (NLT)—“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.”
    
13. The peace the world gives is dependent on pleasant circumstances, an absence of conflict, and no stress, problems or difficulties—but that is not possible!
    
14. John 16:33 (NLT)—“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
    
15. We experience this peace though intimacy with Jesus, through consistent, regular, continual times of prayer. [5 mins. daily is a good place to start.]
    
16. Philippians 4:6–9 (NLT)—⁶Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
    
17. APP.: Do you possess peace within? Do you want to? Ask!
    
    

Closing: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)—Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

Memory verse: Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)—You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!