God comes to us in our need. In the hurting, in the weeping, in the cold and desert places. He brings us peace, and comfort. He leads us to the still waters that restore our soul. He is our Prince, our King, and savior. His name is Jesus.
Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Texas. My name is Chris Fluitt I am glad to share the Word of God with you today.
We are in the 4th and final week of our Sermon Series – Midwinter.
Midwinter
We are using winter as a metaphor for the condition of the world at that first Christmas.
Winter is… dark, cold, lifeless, difficult, and lonely. Christ came to a world that was in midwinter.
The Christmas story reveals how God responds to a world midwinter.
The Christmas story reveals how God will respond to us midwinter.
Isaiah 9:6(NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In week 1 we recognized our Wonderful Counselor.
In week 2 we celebrated the Mighty God.
In week 3 we proclaimed our adoption by an Everlasting Father.
In this final week I think it is so appropriate to crown the Prince of Peace who came to us midwinter.
The Prince of Peace comes to us midwinter.
The child born, the son given, will be called the Prince of Peace.
Prince?
Inside that common stable was a Crown Prince.
In a humble animal’s feeding trough lay True Royalty.
Wrapped in swaddling clothes was the King of Kings.
The One with a visitation of barn animals & shepherds was the Lord of Lords.
In the little town of Bethlehem that midwinter night there was unexpected Majesty.
It was difficult to realize that quiet night, but the child had been born and the son given; indeed the King of Glory had come.
Every Hebrew had celebrated the prophetic words of the prophet…
Psalm 24:7- (NIV) Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.
Although they widely celebrated the promise, the promise fulfilled went by unnoticed.
Prince?
He is the Prince of Peace.. The word for Prince is the Hebrew word – śar (say-air). The word means the head person of any class or rank. The leader, ruler, chief, elder, general… The word is never used for anything less than the number one, head position.
The word prince literally means 2nd to none.
There are those who relegate Jesus to a 2nd position in some way or another…
He was a prophet…
He was a good man…
He was a demi-god… a half-god.
Our Jesus is śar! Jesus is second to no one.
*Colossians 2:9-10 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
He is not a 2nd rate Deity… All the fullness of Deity and the HEAD over every power & authority.
Ephesians 1:21-22 (NIV) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
Jesus, the child born, the son given, the Prince of Peace, He is FAR ABOVE. Not just above… Far above!
He is far above every name invoked. Other translations say, “every name named.” If it has a name, it is not above the name of Jesus. He is far above everything that has got a name.
All things are under his feet. He is head over everything for His church… He is head over everything for you, Christian!
When it says ‘prince’ in Isaiah 9:6, do not think it as a 2nd position. It is the head position. He is the prince of peace.
Peace?
Peace is a central concept to the Hebrew. They even greet each other by saying the word for peace – Shalom.
But do we really understand peace?
Peace is NOT the absence of trouble. Peace means completeness, wholeness, and safety.
You can have peace in the middle of trouble. Even though the trouble is present, you can be safe in the arms of Prince of Peace.
An issue in our world is the continual need for something… It seems like we always need something. We need more money, more time, more energy, more tangible goods, but there is a peace in God that is wholeness and completeness. There is a peace in God where you have everything you need.
There is a peace in God even when there is not enough money in your bank account.
There is a peace in God even when the doctor has a bad diagnosis.
There is a peace in God even when you suffer loss.
The Prince of Peace comes to us midwinter.
Let’s think about the state of the world when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
-There was continual war. Bloodshed over treasure & power.
-There was a continual enslavement of people. People were either made slaves directly or indirectly enslaved by the culture and systems they were powerless to change.
-If you were perceived as a threat to someone’s power structure, you would be killed. For this very reason little Hebrew boys were killed in the streets by a power hungry “king” Herod. After hearing from the “wisemen” that a king had been born in Israel, King Herod sent soldiers to kill every boy that fell in that age range. Infanticide, all because he viewed these babies as threats to his power.
Israel had a front row seat to this devastation. Israel is situated between 3 continents, connecting Europe & Asia to Africa. And because of the mountain range on the Eastern border of Israel, travel through the land l was both common and predictable. For this reason, Israel was called “the crossroads of the world.”
Every king hell-bent on conquest would march his army right through Israel.
Every slave and exile would be led in chains right through Israel.
Every merchant in their quest for riches would lead their caravan right through Israel.
At the center of the “crossroads of the world,” you would find Bethlehem & Jerusalem. You find Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace was born. You would find Jerusalem, where the Prince of Peace died upon the cross, was buried and rose again.
The child born, the son given, ALTHOUGH NOT RECOGNIZED BY MANY, Jesus was put on full display for the world to see. {The Bible says, “This thing was not done in a corner.” (Acts 26:26) (John 3) The serpent was lifted up for the world to see.}
John 3:16(NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The prince of peace came to this world full of war, death, and struggle.
The prince of peace came, not in secret…
His coming was prophesied…
A star led those who would search…
Angels heralded his arrival…
And if that is not enough… God’s Son arrives and spends His entire Earthly life at the crossroads of the world.
Are you midwinter?
Are you in the same condition that the world was in at that first Christmas?
-Are you experiencing death and destruction?
-Are you enslaved? Are you enslaved to the system of this world that crushes everyone in pursuit of power?
-Everyone seems to be marching… either marching off to create bloodshed or marching in chains as a conquest of war.
-Are you always in need of something. Are you always struggling?
Here we are ending the 2nd year of a pandemic… We are nearing the New Year and trying to muster enough courage, faith, and boldness to believe for better. We are in a dark, lonely, and cold midwinter.
The Prince of Peace comes to us midwinter.
The good news is this: God will not turn away from your condition, but Jesus Christ will enter in.
Right at the cross-roads of your life, the Prince of Peace has come.
The prince… the head… the leader… the Number One has come…
And He brings wholeness. Jesus brings completeness. Jesus is the answer to every one of your needs.
Jesus is that same God that Abraham named “El Shaddai” in Genesis 17:1. El Shaddai means “All Sufficient One.”
This means whatever you need… Whatever your lack… Whatever is keeping you from wholeness… He is sufficient for your need.
If you need healing… He is sufficient.
If you need hope… He is sufficient.
If you need salvation… He is sufficient.
If you need life & light… He is sufficient.
He is the Prince of Peace… the head of wholeness. There is no lack in Jesus Christ. He is more than enough for you, today. Do you believe Him? Will you receive Him today?
For everyone at a crossroad, Jesus was born at the crossroad of the world.
Isaiah 9:6-7(NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be calle
d Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.