The Prince of Peace The King is Born

Never let the wonder of Christmas fade ONLY 3 MORE SUNDAYS!!!

Isaiah 9 6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

A Son is Given

God gave his Son to be a different type of King Coercion Compensation Commitment

Prince of peace “prince”  ruler

If you want peace in your life, you need the rule of Jesus in your life. If the world wants peace, the world needs Jesus to rule to world.

God gave his Son to be the Prince of Peace in your Life God gave his Son to be the Prince of Peace in the World

God gave his Son to be the Prince of Peace in your Life 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.

“He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents…” (Malachi 4:6)

Intergenerational Peace We see a model of intergenerational peace at the announcement of the birth of Jesus (through Mary and Elizabeth).

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.” (Luke 1:39-40)

Do you have an older spiritual mother like Mary Do you have an older spiritual mother like Mary? Do not let the intergenerational thinking of the world infect your head or heart.

If you want to build bridges across generations, particularize a fault, and generalize your praise. If you want to build antagonism across generations, generalize a fault and forget to praise.

Examples of intergenerational cultural myths “I have eaten more salt than you eat rice.” Age is just a number.

“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.

They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.” (Numbers 8:24-26)

To the old: Do not despise younger people To the old: Do not despise younger people. If you despise younger people expect them to despise you back.

To the young: Do not be puffed up towards older people To the young: Do not be puffed up towards older people. There are life lessons that only time can teach, and you have not learned them.

We see the model of intergenerational peace in the growing Jesus We see the model of intergenerational peace in the growing Jesus. “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

We see the model of intergenerational peace in the grown up Jesus We see the model of intergenerational peace in the grown up Jesus. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

God’s gift of love leads to intergenerational peace Mutual love excludes conflict “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

God’s gift of humility that leads to intergenerational peace Mutual humility excludes conflict “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

God Gave His Son To Be the Prince of Peace to the World All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28)

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

Repentance in Jesus “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) Because: Jesus is coming to judge and to redeem the world.

Living in the grace of Jesus “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)

Speak Christ to culture Do not let culture speak to the kingdom; speak the kingdom of Christ to culture.

Jesus returns as Judge and Redeemer of the world Judge: right the wrongs Redeemer: renew the world

Jesus returns as Judge and Redeemer of the world We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. … we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22-23)

World peace completes personal peace Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” … “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Christmas is about healing and peace If you receive the rule of the Prince of Peace in your life, you become God’s powerful agent to bring across generations to all relationships.

You are not a helpless sufferer of bad governance, you are a powerful agent in God’s hand to bring about global change.

Prince of Peace