JESUS CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR OF PEACE

Sermon of TBOLF by Pr. Sebastian Rayappen

Text: A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be
called, Wonderful Counselor "Mighty God, Eternal Father "Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

The title of the YOUNG TIMES, issue of 21.12.99 reads thus in bold characters: WILL
WE EMBRACE PEACE? Below that in a smaller font it reads: THE SIGNS ARE
THERE THAT THE WORLD WILL SHED OFF WARS.

For the world, cessation of war means peace. In other words, when arms are laid down, the people call it peace.

Illustration of a painting titled PEACE. It depicts waves crashing against the jagged rocks. It portrays the violence of a crushing storm. It seems anything but peaceful. But down in a small corner of the painting, tucked away in the rock, is a little bird sifting on her nest totally oblivious to the raging storm all about. That is peace.

But the Hebrew word for peace is SHALOM. The word denotes far more than the absence of war and conflict. Shalom's basic meaning is harmony, wholeness, soundness, well-being and success in all areas of life.

Peace can refer to calmness in international relationships, such as peace between warring nations.
It can be referred to when a nation seems settled with prosperity with no internal problems or civil war, viz.: Oman
It can be experienced as wholeness and harmony in human relationships, both inside and outside the home.
It can be referred to being free from anxiety by having peace within one's soul and peace with God.
In Genesis 1 & 2 we see God as the originator of everything and his peace of the welfare of man and environment. Because the Bible says that when God saw all that he created, he said, "it is good .

DISRUPTION OF PEACE

Adam and eve ate the forbidden fruit and were introduced to sin and disrupted creation's original harmony. For the first time they experienced guilt and shame before God and a loss of inner peace.

Their sin in the Garden of Eden destroyed their harmonious relationship with God. Before eating there was close communion with God, but after eating they were even afraid to face him.

The harmonious relationship between Adam and Eve as husband and wife was disrupted. When God began discussing their sin, Adam began to blame Eve. This is the beginning of human problems inside home and outside.
The harmonious relationship between mankind and nature was affected. Prior to fall all was freely available, working in the Garden was a joy, now inspite of hard work it brought forth thistles and thorns. That is why the whole creation is groaning as in the pains of childbirth even up to this day - Romans 8:22.

EFFECTS OF DISRUPTION OF PEACE

Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way! - Gen 45:24
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. - Prov 17:1

2. CHALLENGES OF SPIRITUAL PEACE
"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. - Job
22:21
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, 0 LORD, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8
I Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way
of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. - Psalm 1:1-2

3. THE RESTORATION OF PEACE
This disruption of peace between God and man, man and man, man and nature is restored through the PRINCE OF PEACE by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Peace was destroyed by Satan and the restoration of it has to be by destroying Satan. Jesus was born to destroy the works of the devil, to crush Satan and to make an open spectacle of him - Colossians 1:20; 2:14-15

That is why at the birth of Jesus, the angels appeared to shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night and said to them: "glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests. - Luke 2:14

Jesus came to bring peace and break down all barriers of conflict.
Jesus not only brought peace, but at the end when he was departing from his disciples, Jesus gave them his very own peace. Therefore, Jesus is the author of peace

Peace doesn't come by worldly standard, but through Jesus. If it can come by worldly standard, then even after 2000 years, centuries have passed by but still hatred, enmity and contention between mankind still previals. People have not ignored but rejected the way of God. They have believed in lies for truth. Unless we receive Jesus in our hearts, in our homes and in our nations as supreme Lord and Saviour, all peace is just a mere talk and reality.

All homes year after year will have only Christmas trees, Santa Clause pictures, stars, etc., i.e. why Christmas is only a festivity, but not a reality.
The message Christians proclaim is the good news of peace - Acts 10:36,which is hostile to a fallen world.
One thing I want to make clear to you is that, merely knowing that Jesus came as the Prince of Peace does not ensure that peace will automatically become part of our lives.
We need to be united with him in our faith, by believing and receiving him in our heart - Revelation 3:20

His rule would bring peace with God for human kind through deliverance from sin and death
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1

We need to be justified with God. Now, we stand condemned by rebellion and estrangement from God. The only way we are to be justified before God is to face the wrath of God, which is nothing but damnation, eternal punishment. But Jesus came into this world to take our place, by which he took the wrath of God upon himself, so

that we are justified.

Every Christmas passes away as a festivity of fun and frolic. It has become a routine for us to enjoy ourselves, which is not wrong. But as we stand in the presence of God in the millenium Christmas, let it not pass away as one of those earlier ones, but let us accept the provision of God, so that the demands of God maybe met, and the blessings of God may flow, which is peace with God. This will cause us to stay put and still under all situations and circumstanceS. Times are coming, health, wealth, influence, possession and provision will all stand the test of the perilous times, but our peace with God will only cause us to be serene and untroubled.

Conclusion: Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If you want to have that permanent peace and tranquility, then you need to receive him as the King and Lord and allow him to rule and reign your life.

Application:

Again it just does not end here. We need to walk in obedience to his commands - John 14:15. To know God's peace, he has given us the Holy Spirit, who begins to work his fruit in us - Galatians 5:22
With the Spirit's help we must pray for peace - Psalm 122:6 & 7
Let peace rule our hearts - Colossians 3:15
Seek peace and pursue it - Psalms 34:14
Do your best to live in peace with others - Romans 12:18