Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Boy, if there were ever a time that we need peace it’s today. While the focus of the world has been on how COVID-19 has shut everything down, 2020 has had a laundry list of issues that we may have forgot. Here’s just a few:
- Hong Kong had protests.
- Australia declared a state of disaster amid bushfires that killed over 500 million animals.
- The impeachment trial of President Trump.
- The DOW Jones plunges by 4.4% due to COVID-19.
- A passenger train derails ner Chenzhou, China, killing one person person and leaving 127 injured.
- The IMF expects the world economy to shrink 3%, the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930’s.
- Nearly 1 million people are affected and at least 24 died in flash floods that hit Beledweyne and Jowhar, Somalia.
- Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh, killing over 100 people and forcing 4 million to evacuation.
- Flight PK8303 crashes in Pakistan killing 97 on board.
- Protest caused by the killing of George Floyd across hundreds of cities.
- Russia declares a state of emergency after 20,000 tons of oil leaked into the Ambarnaya River.
- A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico.
- China reports 141 dead or missing in floods.
- Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash
- West Coast wildfires
As I said, this is just a few of the horrific problems we’ve faced this year. Is there any Christians like me wondering, “Where is the Prince of Peace?”
Where is the Prince of Peace?
In the scripture above we read one of the most famous passages to be read during the Christmas season. The prophet Isaiah would pin these words 700 years before the birth of Christ and he would never know in his flesh just how spot on his prophecy would be.
Christ came to a virgin girl named Mary and was born a son. He would then and now exhibit the characteristics that Isaiah prophesied. He is wonderful and a counselor to those who call on Him. When we surrender to Him, He becomes the mighty God who fights our battles. Jesus declares that he’s the everlasting Father when in John 10:30 he says, “I and the Father are one.” But, in a world faced with so much chaos, is He really our Prince of Peace? The Apostle Paul seemed to think so when he declared concerning Jesus in Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace…” Have you read Paul’s testimony? Woo! That man went through a lot, so, if he says Jesus is our peace. It’s possible that Isaiah didn’t miss it after all.
Standing Before the Pillar of the Prince of Peace
There’s a powerful prayer pattern called Praying Through the Tabernacle where in prayer you visit each furniture piece found in the Old Testament tabernacle of Moses that was inspired by God. Everything in this tabernacle has a meaning and purpose. All of it joined together points to the child that Isaiah is declaring. That child is Jesus Christ. I’d love to talk more about the tabernacle and what each furniture piece symbolizes, but it’s not the focus right now. However, I do want to visit one of those pieces that is hardly ever talked about and that’s the 5 pillars.
In that Old Testament tabernacle there were 5 pillars that stood 15 feet high that separated the outer court where common folk were from the Holy Place where the priest would worship, and the Holy of Holies where God himself dwelled. Before the priest could get into the Holy Place to worship he must first stand in front of these massive pillars. It’s believed that these pillars would go on to symbolize for the Christian the 5 charismatics of God mentioned in Isaiah 9:6.
What I’m about to say is very important! Before we can enter into true worship we must recognize that Jesus is the wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, and prince of peace. If the priest had to recognize these pillars, then I believe that to experience life a changing relationship with the Lord, we must acknowledge these pillars as well.
So, how to we experience the Prince of Peace? I believe the answer is found when we understand the true definition of peace found in the scripture. Shalom!
Shalom!
Peace in the modern day terminology means to be “absent from conflict.” The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom” which can mean the absent of conflict, but it actually extends to something deeper and more meaningful in the life of a Christian. Shalom means “completion or wholeness.”
The word derives from a stone without cracks or a wall that is complete and sturdy. So, when Isaiah calls Jesus the Prince of Peace, he’s not speaking of a God who shields us from all conflict. He’s speaking of a God who will makes us whole and sturdy when the conflict arrives. In other words, we’ll stand strong in the face of chaos.
Moses prayed this prayer over Israel in Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT),
24 ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
Moses is saying, “what you need is a kind of peace that the world doesn’t understand. You need His peace!” Isaiah would say it this way, “You need the Prince of Peace!” Mary would say, “You need this child!” and the apostles would say, “You need Jesus!”
The desire of Jesus is to take all of your broken pieces and begin a new work in your life. He desires to grant you Shalom!
Do you remember what Jesus did in the middle of the storm when the disciples feared for their lives?
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 (NKJV) This story shows us that in the middle of the storms of life Jesus can still speak completeness and wholeness over us.
Do you desire to experience the Prince of Peace?
One more thing.
There’s one more thing I forgot to mention. Shalom also means to “reconcile.” Remember that other famous Christmas passage about the angels singing?
Luke 2:13 (NKJV)
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
We started off by saying pointing out all the things wrong with 2020. Yet, the angel declares a Shalom on the world. A world restored! Where does this restoration happen? Well, the answer may lie on the church. This is what Paul writes to the church.
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
The desire of the Lord is to make restoration for the world by using his body, the church, to spread peace through His Spirit. We can only truly accomplish this mission when we are Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. If the world is going to experience the Prince of Peace it’s going to happen with a mobile church.
Jesus is the perfect example of how to accomplish this. Let’s read.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5 (NIV)
Jesus goes on to say,
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17 (NIV)
Do you want to experience Shalom and share Shalom? Then follow the example of the Prince of Peace. He is a master mason, who with his hands, will to take the trowel, and apply some mortar, and he’ll begin to rebuild what’s been broken in your life. And when he’s done with it you’ll be restored. You then can stand and proclaim that “No weapon formed against me will prosper!“
Before you enter into worship this Sunday I encourage you to stand before the 5 pillars and acknowledge God as such. When you get to the Prince of Peace, pray that He will make you whole, so that you can share His peace in the restoration of your world.
In Christ,
Hank
Apostolic Insights 
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