The Prince Of Peace

Title: The Prince of Peace Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Type: Christmas Where: GNBC 11-28-21

Intro: During WWI, the Prince of Wales was invited to visit a military hospital in which there were 36 injured soldiers. He willingly accepted. In the first ward he visited, he went from bed to bed thanking each soldier for his sacrifices for the Empire. As he left the ward he said to the official in charge, "You told me that there were 36 soldiers here, but I counted only 29. Where are the other 7?" The official replied that the others were in very bad condition, and they would never be able to leave the hospital due to their terrible wounds. "It would be better to leave them alone." Undaunted, the Prince found the door and entered the ward and proceeded to do as he had previously done. As he left the ward, he counted the number of soldiers; there were 6. The Prince questioned the official again. "Where is the missing soldier?" "Ah, Your Majesty, that soldier is in a little dark room by himself. He is blind, dumb, deaf, and completely paralyzed by the injuries he suffered. He awaits release by death." The Prince of Wales quietly opened the door and entered the darkened room. He gazed with full heart upon the poor creature lying helpless upon his bed. It was impossible to tell him of his sympathy, of his gratitude, for he was deaf. He was unable to shake his hand... the man was paralyzed! He was unable to show him how he felt for the man was blind. In seeking some way to express himself, the Prince went over slowly to the bed, stooped over the wounded soldier, and kissed him on the forehead. My friends, that’s what our Lord did. He came seeking to save those who have been wounded by the sin of the world. He seeks those who are lost and He settles His divine affection upon them. Those men had seen the horror of war. Were abandoned. And as He did in IS. 9, He still delivers those who are fearful and afraid, because He is the Prince of Peace. (Credit: Bobby Scobey, Sermon Central).

Prop: Reading Is. 9:6-7 we’ll see how Christ delivers those who are abandoned and neglected.

BG: 1. Isaiah generally regarded as the greatest prophetic book of the OT. Prophesied during th reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. Tumultuous time!

2. Isaiah speaking both to a need of the time – Judah’s great need with enemies on border.

3. Yet, also, is a prophecy of hope coming in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Alluded to in Lk. 1:32-33 as Gabriel speaks to Mary, who herself, certainly wondered whether Joseph would abandon her.

Prop: Is. 9:6-7 we’ll see God’s plan to deliver all those abandoned and neglected.

1st Jesus Christ, Our WC and Eternal Father, Removes Feelings of Loneliness and Abandonment.

A. During the life and ministry of Isaiah, Judah felt abandoned by God.

1. Is. 9 – Judah condition is deplorable. She is alone and apparently abandoned in the face of the encroaching and encircling enemy.

a. Ahaz’s condition – It is lonely being the leader when things not going well in the country. In Is. 3:8-9 (READ) we see the downtrodden condition of the nation. Notice that phrase: “Woe unto them. They have brought disaster upon themselves.”

b. Illust: Much of the trouble we experience in life are troubles we have brought upon ourselves. There are three sources of “troubles” in our lives: 1.Troubles make for ourselves. 2. Troubles by the enemy. 3. Troubles sent by God. The frist we see in our attitudes, actions, words, habits, passions, appetites. The second the enemy sends our way in an attempt to get us to take our focus off of God and His plan for our lives. The third type is sent by God to purify us, to remove traits, characteristics, habits, so that we come into greater conformity with Christ. Don’t run from, but rather embrace these troubles. Ahaz and Judah were facing troubles and needed to see God in them.

2. At Christmastime many individuals feel the pain of loneliness and abandonment.

a. Illust – Gardner p. 107 – When we feel alone or abandoned , there are always root beliefs or lies that make us feel that way. “I’m all alone”, No one understands me, No one cares, I’ve been abandoned, God has forsaken me, There is no one to protect me, I will always be alone, I don’t belong, No one believes me, I don’t matter, No one cares for me.” Those lies become connected to our feelings. Need to identify those as lies and ask the Lord to bring the truth we need to free us from those negative thoughts. The Advent of Jesus Christ declares all of those statements to be: LIES!