Peace On Earth—It’s Not What You Think.
Isaiah 7:13-14AMP
I want to start with a good laugh: A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks.
"Yep," the mutt replies.
"So, what’s your story?"
The mutt looks up and says, "Well, I discovered my gift of talking pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running. The jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a batch of medals. Had a wife, a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired." The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. The owner says, "Ten dollars." The guy says, "This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"
The owner replies, "He’s a big liar.’ ‘He didn’t do any of that stuff.’ ‘You can’t believe a word he says.”
Some of the things I teach or preach might seem unreachable; however, faith in God, becomes the game changer!
Keep on believing.
Keep on reaching.
Keep on speaking.
Keep on receiving.
A distressed father comes to Jesus and speaks to Him about his troubled son, how he’s demon—possessed. This demon would throw this young lad in the fire. Everything and anything to steal, kill and destroy.
Mark 9:23NIV “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Judah was under attack, Israel or (Ephraim) had another country team up against Judah. However, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah that because Israel had turned away from God, Judah would not have to worry. And then God gives Judah a sign. Therefore these two verses of scripture have a two-fold purpose.
One, for Ephraim or (Israel), and the second one, for every believer today.
Then Isaiah said, Isaiah 7:13-14AMP
“Hear then, O house of David! Is it too small a thing for you to try the patience of men, but will you try the patience of my God as well? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).
God promises to give Judah a sign—God say, I will take care of you. Moreover, 800 years later, God gives His believers a sign. The power of the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and she shall call His name Jesus.
Jenny reminded me of this, “There can’t be peace on earth unless there’s peace in the heart.”
“This peace isn’t some special mood you live in, nor is it based upon your performance, what you do or don’t do, this peace goes far beyond understanding.” P.H
Again, Isaiah 7:13-14TPT So Isaiah said, “Pay attention, family of David. It’s bad enough to try the patience of a prophet but even worse when you try the patience of my God as well! 14 The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold—the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will name him God Among Us.
God say’s to Judah, as well as to you and me, “If you need a sign, a young girl will get pregnant and bear a child.”
Upon thinking of peace on earth… What does that exactly look like?
No war?
World peace?
No battles?
No damage?
No jails?
No courts of Law?
No, this peace is deeper than that—Paul explains the believer’s peace, as a peace which transcends all understanding and all human logic (Philippians 4:7).
When a beauty contestant is interviewed on the question—What would you like to see as it pertains to our world? Usually the reply is, “World Peace.”
This World Peace seems to elude us—Presently, somewhere in the world war is rampart.
This virgin, this young girl—Mary, would become impregnated by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Could Jesus be talking about another peace? A—peace that is tied solely to Him.
Listen to this word on the announcement of Global peace. Luke 2:13-14NIV Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
KJ—Peace and goodwill toward man.
This might seem simple, but the key in getting anything significant from the Lord is—Receiving.
“Most folk are looking, working, or striving for a peace that will never exist.” P.H
Folk look for peace in a relationship.
Peace through a political candidate.
Peace in a bottle.
Peace through exercise.
Peace in a location.
Peace at home.
Peace through success etc.
It reminds me of what Mark Twin once told—A wealthy businessman from Boston who was well known for being ruthless and unethical, told Mark Twain that before he died, he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He said that when he got there he wanted to climb to the top of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and there read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top. “I have a better idea,” replied Twain, in his typical wit, “You could stay in Boston and keep them.”
It would be easy to see why the unregenerate, the unsaved, would flock to a person offering them, World peace.
Jesus spoke in, Matthew 24:24TPT For there will be imposters falsely claiming to be God’s ‘Anointed One,’ and false prophets will arise to perform miracle signs to lead astray, if possible, those God has chosen to be his.
However again, Jesus came to offer spiritual peace. A peace that will carry you through tragedy, A peace that will hold you up, as you come closer to the end of your days or the end of time, He’s a guaranteed peace.
Again, Luke 2:13-14TPT Then all at once in the night sky, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing: 14 “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”
Listen again to this ‘Peace’ given—Isaiah 9:6NIV 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.
Peace given—It’s yours! Again, It’s given peace.
Know this for sure, These angels proclaim total truth; therefore, again, Verse 14. “Peace and good hope given to the sons of men.”
I want us to stop right here, and begin to proclaim peace.
“Peace over your mind, peace over your family, peace over your emotions. Peace over your circumstances. P.H
Isaiah 26:3TPT Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you.
Truth—Any peace outside the confines of your relationship with Jesus Christ, can and will— change.
The greatest stability will always be found in the ‘One’ who set us free from—Death, Unbelief, Sin and the Grave. P.H
He made you righteous. He took your sin, and carried your disease.
The Lord spoke this simple word to my spirit, He said for you to stay on the receiving side.
Remember, Jesus became our sin-bearer. Isaiah 53:4NLT Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
Again, Jesus carried our weaknesses, and He carried our sorrows.
The TPT, Isaiah 53:4a Yet he was the one who carried our sicknesses and endured the torment of our sufferings…
Never forget this, Our sufferings relate to our sin. Here’s a simple reminder—Jesus paid for sins debt in full; His shed blood was enough.
However, when it comes to you believing it, the evidence weighs-in by how you receive it. Your confession is vital.
God wants you to receive
Receive—Grace.
Receive—peace.
Receive—love.
Receive—faith.
Receive—worship.
Receive—wealth.
Receive—favor.
Receive—a good day.
Receive—a good year.
Receive, Receive, Receive.
Jesus spoke in, Luke 6:45TPT People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. Likewise, out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.
Maybe you need to repent of an evil heart. What constitutes for an evil heart? According to scripture, an evil report; is a report of unbelief, A confession that’s not of God. That’s an evil heart.
When it comes peace, it’s found only in Jesus.
When it comes to my thoughts, to be completely honest with you, the more I’ve tried to think what’s right, pure, and lovely sometimes my mind wonders.
Philippians 4:8NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
For me to obtain peace, My mind means well, but it does get off course. Again, I begin to understand that only Jesus can think lovely, noble, true, pure etc. Therefore, my only focus should be upon—Jesus.
In John 15:4-10, Jesus asks just one question. * ”Will you abide in Me?”
* “Will you abide in the Vine?”
The word ‘Abide’ is found 10 times, in these 7 verses. Therefore, it’s safe to say that all Jesus requires from you is to, abide.
Abide, and you will bear fruit. Abide, and your thoughts will change, Abide, and you will walk in a new-level of peace.
It’s time that all of God’s children—His sons and His daughters call solely upon the name of Jesus.
Tonight before we depart—Lift up the name of Jesus. Jesus is the answer for everything.
Benediction.
