Isaiah 11 :: December 18, 2016
Week #4: Perfect Peace
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
During this year’s Advent season, we are reflecting together on the ancient promise of the Messiah prophesied in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah predicts:
[READ ISAIAH 11:1 AND RE-LIGHT FIRST CANDLE.]
Our first candle was a candle of persistent promise.
Even though the dynasty of David had dwindled to almost nothing, God was still at work. A new king would arise, a tender shoot sticking up from the stump of Jesse.
We know that this slender twig will be Jesus Christ, and we know what His reign will be like.
[RE-LIGHT SECOND CANDLE.]
Our second candle was a candle of spiritual power. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on the Messiah so that He will have every spiritual resource needed to bring the promised Kingdom in all of its fullness.
[RE-LIGHT THIRD CANDLE.]
And that includes justice. The coming king will never make a mistake in all of His decisions. Our third candle is a candle of faultless justice. Jesus will always choose what is right and righteous. His kingdom will be perfect, and there will be perfect peace. Isaiah writes:
[READ ISAIAH 11:6-9 AND LIGHT FOURTH CANDLE.]
Jesus will be called “The Prince of Peace” because there will be no end to the increase of peace under His eternal rule. We can not imagine what it will mean for there to be absolutely no conflict, no battles, no hostilities, no war. Everything will change–even the laws of nature. Because peace will be everywhere.
May our fourth candle shine to remind us that the peace of King Jesus will be perfect forever and ever.
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