Sermon on December 22 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Jesus: God’s Peace in a Warring World!

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7 & Col 1:15-22

Look at the news headlines on any given day! Can there really be genuine peace in our warring world?
In a turbulent world:

1. PSEUDO-PEACE WILL LEAVE YOU DRY!

In Isaiah’s day, King Ahaz promised Judah a peace that could not last. Jesus is ‘Sar Shalom’ both the Prince of peace and giver of universal peace.

‘He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4)

• We can work it out
  ‘I believe in God. I am not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It’s Sheila-ism, just my own little voice’ (Sheila Larsen)
• Help, I need somebody not anybody
  We will not find peace through our own efforts of searching and debating, unless God finds us.

2. PERFECT PEACE IS IN A PERFECT PRINCE!

• We are more alienated than we think (Col 1: 21)
  Jesus comes to a world that is more like a broken-down house; to people who either forget him or try to take His place.
• We can be more reconciled than we deserve (Col 1:20a ,22)
  ‘But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.’ (Isaiah 53:5)
• We will be more transformed than we can imagine (Col. 1:20)
  Jesus is not finished and there is a final installment to come…

‘The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with goat…and the lion will eat straw like the ox…The young child will put its hand in the viper’s nest… For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.’
(Isaiah 11:6-9)

If Jesus is the Prince of your peace, are you striving to be more peaceful in your life and attitudes to others?
Do we see all that the news headlines leave out – Jesus marching on to spread the peace of the gospel and restore the universe to Himself?
In a warring world, what will it be for you? ‘We can work it out’? Or, ‘help, I need somebody not anybody’!
Praise God that there can be peace on earth, to those on whom God’s favor rests.
You simply have to yield all you are to all His strength and rest in Him. Are you?