✝ Daily Encouragement (12/9/22) "Prince Of Peace"
Published: Fri, 12/09/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
Friday, December 9, 2022
"Prince Of
Peace"
Note: This week we complete a five part series based on Isaiah 9:6, considering one the great Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Message summary: Among the titles prophetically spoken of the Messiah "Prince of Peace" is included. It's quite unlikely that we will experience "peace for our time" on earth in the political sense, not until Christ returns. However as individual followers of Christ we can have "peace for our time". The peace that Jesus brings has several dimensions that are presently available to the believer. Listen to our message on your audio player.
"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" (Isaiah 9:6).
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! We enjoy stepping out at night in our country setting to enjoy the peace and quiet offered to us in our little spot on this terrestrial
ball.
However lately we have been hearing gunshots at night, something we never hear. It had been distressing to Ester and she wanted me to do something about it. It's hunting season
and not unusual to have hunters down by Donegal Creek but you are not allowed to hunt at night. I thought it might be some distant neighbor just shooting, sort of like fireworks.
Well, I finally got my answer from John, an old-timer neighbor who watches our dogs when we travel. Last spring many of our local chicken houses were impacted by the Avian flu. The
huge house (Kreider Farms) a little over 1/2 mile west of us lost their entire flock (1.4 million hens).* The Avian flu is thought to be spread by other wild birds passing by. Well, it turns out the loud shots we've been hearing are some type of deterrence effort in keeping the passing birds from stopping! Now gun shot sounds have become just a slight, but understandable
nuisance.
But for many people all around the world the sound of gunshots is a reminder that "There is no peace on earth", to borrow a phrase from "I Heard The Bells On Christmas
Day", a poem written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Consider living in places like Ukraine or so many other places of war and strife all around the world or in many American cities, like Chicago. Gunfire in this case is evidence of
war, strife and violence. This type of gunfire is certainly not peaceful.
Mankind has been pursuing peace since practically the beginning. In the late sixties John Lennon wrote, “All we are saying is give peace a chance". "Peace for
our time" was a pipe dream declaration made by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain just before WW2 began. During WWI President Woodrow Wilson, announced with a hopeful tone, “This is a war to end all wars". (Actually he made the saying famous, but he was not the first one who used it. The British futurist writer and social commentator H.G. Wells invented the
phrase.)
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in 1863 during the darkest days of the Civil War and in his own personal life these candid words of utter
despair:
And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on Earth," I said For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on Earth, good will to men Here we are at the end of 2022 and there is still war and strife all over the
world.
Zechariah 1:11 states, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace"
. What an outstanding prophetical statement. It concerns a
time of absolute peace. I am unaware of when this will be. But it sure isn't now!
![]() The peace that Jesus brings has several dimensions that are presently available: 1. Peace with God(reconciliation) "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
(Romans 5:1). Bible
commentator Harry Ironside summarizes the justified man or woman's peace: "Peace, as used in Romans 5:1, is not a state of mind or heart. It is a prevailing condition between two who were once alienated. Sin had disturbed the perfect relations of Creator and creature. A breach occurred that man could not mend. But peace has been made by the blood of Christ's cross. There is no longer a barrier. Peace with God is now the abiding state into which every believer enters. The sin
question is settled."
2. Peace with each other (relational) "Live in harmony with one another" "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:16a,18). I believe this speaks of the local sphere in our lives, relational peace within our family, friends and church. 3. Peace within (spiritual/emotional) "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Peace in this context is a state without anxiety and worry about how and when our needs will be supplied. This peace is the result of going to Him and confidently committing everything into His trustworthy hands. However there is no promise that in this present age there will be world peace in the geopolitical sense. In fact Jesus forthrightly declared in Matthew 24 that there will be wars and rumors of wars; nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. He said, "Such things must happen". That may not be very encouraging, but the Bible does promise a future time of peace in this sense when the Lord returns. In the meantime, as followers of Christ, we should seek to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). As far as it depends on us we are to live at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). But even as we live among these and future days of growing tribulation may our hearts be filled with peace, peace that comes not from our surroundings or only when things are going well, but the peace that flows from within through the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. Jesus reassures us with these words, "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). Longfellow ended the song with a marvelous epiphany of
hope:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men. Be encouraged today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
![]()
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"I Heard The
Bells On Christmas Day" Video Casting Crowns (For many years this has been our favorite version of the song.)
Sight and Sound is well
known in our area (and also Branson, MO) for their huge Biblical-themed live theatrical presentations. This year they produced a movie based on "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day".
It is now being screened
at theaters all over the US so if you're interested you may find it in your area. We hope to see it soon and have heard it is outstanding. Ester saw it this week and really enjoyed it. It was filmed right here in Lancaster County at many sights we often visit, including Strasburg Railroad not far from the Old Windmill
farm.
Longfellow lived in the
Boston area where we also lived in the 90's.
Video Review: “I Heard the Bells” Is Ringing Out RESOUNDING HOPE And REKINDLED FAITH During The Christmas Season!
"I Heard The
Bells On Christmas Day" Video Rachel Day Hughes (song from movie)
Google map of Kreider Farms chicken house in relation to our home.
Special Year-end Financial
Appeal
We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically
see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching andhttps://youtu.be/a16ajvb2CPw encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read all over the world. ![]() ![]()
Thank you,
Stephen & Brooksyne |