MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
February 6, 2025
Peace: The Third ‘Fruit’ of the Holy Spirit Part 6)
HOW TO OBTAIN THE PEACE OF THE ‘PRINCE OF PEACE’
“Unto US a Child is born, unto US a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, the MIGHTY GOD, the EVERLASTING FATHER, the PRINCE OF PEACE.” Isa. 9:6, KJV.
Read and ponder upon this scripture often to absorb and internalize the astounding, many-splendored truths revealing more of who the Prince of Peace really is, as indicated by His other names and titles! This is He who the Father gave to become one with fallen man in His incarnated nature “yet without sin.”
Compare this with angel Gabriel’s specific instructions to Joseph and Mary (Matt. 1: 21-23), the dramatic words of the the familiar old-fashioned “Christmas carol” anthem sang by the choir of the angelic host over the hills of Bethlehem, and how the Father addresses His only-begotten Son, who is the “outshining of His glory and the express image of His person” in Heb. 1: 1-3, 8-10).
Quoted below is the Spirit of Prophecy’s magnification of this wonderful truth of Christ’s “peace that passeth understanding.” (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):
“Christ is the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isa. 9:6), and it is His mission to RESTORE to earth and heaven the PEACE that SIN has broken. ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Rom. 3:1).”
Here’s how to partake of Christ’s peace imparted exclusively through the Holy Spirit, and manifested as one of the nine “fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22, 23).
“Whosoever consents to RENOUNCE SIN and open his heart to the LOVE OF CHRIST, becomes a partaker of this HEAVENLY PEACE.
“There is NO OTHER ground of peace than this. The grace of Christ, received unto the heart [not merely by assent and lip-service], SUBDUES ENMITY; IT ALLAYS STRIFE and fills the soul with love.
“HE WHO IS AT PEACE WITH GOD AND HIS FELLOW MEN CANNOT BE MADE MISERABLE. Envy will not be in his heart; evil surmising will find no room there; hatred [enmity] cannot exist.
“The heart that is in harmony with God is A PARTAKER OF THE PEACE OF HEAVEN [verily the peace of the Prince of Peace] and will diffuse its BLESSED INFLUENCE on all around.
“The SPIRIT OF PEACE will rest like dew upon hearts weary and troubled with earthly strife.
“Christ’s followers are sent to the world with the MESSAGE OF PEACE. Whoever, by the quiet unconscious influence of a HOLY LIFE, shall reveal the love of Christ; whoever, by word or deed, shall lead another to RENOUNCE SIN [the transgression of God’s law] and yields his heart to God, is a PEACEMAKER. [‘Blessed are the peace makers; for they shall be called the children of God.’ Matt. 5: 9].
“The SPIRIT OF PEACE IS EVIDENCE of their connection with heaven. The sweet savor of Christ surrounds them. The fragrance of the LIFE, the loveliness of the CHARACTER, reveal to the world the fact that they are CHILDREN OF GOD. Men take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus.” -Ellen G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 27, 28.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all by being a peace maker, not a trouble-maker, NMF.