Today we’re continuing the series called “Cycles of the Messiah.”

One of the key passages of this idea is found in Romans, chapter 8, verses

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:16-18 (ESV)

Since we are children of God, and since the Holy Spirit is bearing witness with our human spirits this fact, then we have the ability to experience the things that Jesus experienced. Some of this is suffering; some of this is glory. 

One of the goals of this life is to have the very life of The Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself, be lived out through us. This concept is captured very well in Galatians 2:20.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

We, Church, have been crucified with Jesus the Messiah, the Christ (John 1:41: Christ = Messiah). It is no longer we who live, but Jesus the Messiah, the Christ is living in us now. And this life that we are living here in the physical realm, we are living by faith in the Resurrected Christ, and His attributes are being overlaid upon us, His experiences, His sufferings, and His glory. 

We are sons of God, and we are heirs with Christ. All that the Father has is available to us as sons. 

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

In the book of Isaiah, in one of the most incredible and well-known prophetic utterances of the Messiah is this passage:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)(emphasis added)

Remember that a “name” in the Old Testament is synonymous with today’s use of the word identity. One of the names of the Messiah, of Jesus Himself, is the Prince of Peace.

And we learn from this passage that as the government of Jesus increases, there’s a direct correlation to the peace that’s available. In other words, as Jesus’ government gets bigger, more peace shows up.

And the negative is also true: whenever you enter a place where God’s Kingdom is absent, you’ll also notice an absence of peace. There will be a sense of uneasiness, unrest, chaos, feeling of lack, and general darkness.

And people respond to this lack of peace in their lives, and they go looking for it in other places: perhaps in relationships, in sex, in alcohol or drugs, or in other ways.

But true peace – really the thing we search for deep down but don’t always realize it – true peace is only found in Jesus.

Shalom

Let me take a moment to touch on the Hebrew word Shalom, which means peace.

The Lord is interested in healing & wholeness (shalom).

Shalom – Blue Letter Bible – Outline of Biblical Usage

1. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
   1. completeness (in number)
   2. safety, soundness (in body)
   3. welfare, health, prosperity
   4. peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
   5. peace, friendship
      1. of human relationships
      2. with God especially in covenant relationship
   6. peace (from war)
   7. peace (as adjective)

Peace is way more than a feeling. Peace is a state of being. And God deeply desires us to live in and walk in and through His peace, the peace that’s available to us through Jesus Christ.

Remember, one of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom, “The Lord is Peace.” The Lord embodies all of these qualities of peace; it’s just who He is. And this part of His nature and identity is available to us, especially as one of the realms of Christ. We can literally and figuratively step into a spiritual realm of peace inside of Jesus.

Peace Manifests When Jesus Shows Up

One of the best physical representations of this spiritual truth is the time when Jesus calmed the storm with a word. Let’s read it.

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. 

And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)

Now, I’ve come to believe that this storm was a physical manifestation of the war going on in the spiritual realm, the territorial spirits’ resistance to the upcoming healing and deliverance that Jesus was about to bring to the demon possessed guy in that region. There was anticipation of a move of God, no doubt studied by the forces of darkness in that region for months, and the armies of darkness did not want the Kingdom of God coming to their region. It’s funny how they thought they could stop Jesus. I guess that’s why he laughs at his enemies, as described in Psalm 2.

Anyway, Jesus shows up in the midst of the spiritual storm and says two Greek words, which mean: #1 – Be silenced, and #2 Put a muzzle on it. Neither of these are the Greek word eirene, which means peace, like in Galatians 5:22: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace…

But we see how when Jesus brings in the Government of Heaven to a certain place, there’s a silencing of the dark forces, a silencing of their evil voices, and a quietness that all of creation responds to instantly! 

This is a manifestation of the peace of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He proved that He is the Prince over the peace environment. Peace emanates from Him! And there is no peace apart from Jesus.

We Have Access to This Peace!

Now, just think what we could do if we had access to this kind of peace! I mean, imagine walking into a situation that’s out of control, that’s escalating, like maybe the weather like Jesus experienced or perhaps an emotional confrontation with a person, and to be able to say, “Peace! Be still” in that situation.

Just imagine if we could do this. Like, what if there was an altercation at a restaurant, and some belligerent patron of the restaurant was literally yelling at the restaurant manager, and you were able to just use the Peace of God to calm the situation down instantly?

Imagine what that would look like, how that would feel.

And many of you know exactly what I’m about to say…

Church, you have access to this kind of peace! You can come into a crazy warzone in the spirit and declare peace over the situation. The peace you carry can literally diffuse tense situations. I’ve seen it happen. (any example?)

How do I know that we have access to the peace of Jesus? Well, He gave it to us to use. He says it very plainly in John 14.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (ESV)

So Jesus literally said He was leaving His peace with us, giving it to us to use. 

We have the peace of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, at our disposal!

How do you use the peace of Jesus? Do you come into a situation and calm the chaos with His peace? Or do you come into a situation and make it more chaotic?

Which spirit do we want to participate with? The Spirit of Peace, or the spirit of chaos? Let me tell you, the spirit of chaos is a real thing, and it is like anti-peace. It creates division, unrest, and just a general sense of uneasiness. That’s not the spirit we want to come into agreement with. We want to come into agreement with the Holy Spirit, who is our Helper, and the bringer of peace.

Here’s another great verse about the Lord of peace, Jehovah Shalom, giving us peace:

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)

Now when does He give us peace? Is it only when we’re struggling? Does he only give us peace in the good times? Is it only in the morning, or only in the evening? No! 

“At ALL times in EVERY way!”

Does this sound limited to you? I hope not. Because The Prince of Peace has access to infinite peace. And He left this infinite peace at our disposal, to enjoy, to work with, to play with, to experiment with, to impart, to soak in and live in and pray over restaurants and homes and entire areas!

You can literally come into an environment and apply God’s peace in that environment and watch it become better. Now, that’s good news!

Next week we will continue our study on Jesus the Prince of Peace and I will tell you a story of a time when God’s peace changed the atmosphere at a burger place we went to. I hope you will join me!