Christ's Rule and Christ's Peace

by Elizabeth Stewart

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.

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7

At the beginning of this year I wrote a blog post about the scriptures above, mentioning that my word for the year is peace. I also noted that I was surprised to read this same passage in The Message Bible and to discover that instead of the title Prince of Peace it says Prince of Wholeness. This sent me on a search of what the Hebrew lexicon said about the original word used and it is, of course, the Hebrew word shalom. While that didn't surprise me, I was surprised that the word shalom means, not just peace, but also wholeness and completeness. What an encouragement this discovery was to me, as God had already been speaking to my heart about rebuilding, restoration, completeness and wholeness. This was a confirmation to me of His dealings and direction.

We are over halfway through 2020, and I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that this year has been a wild and crazy ride. It has not been a peace filled year, but it has been a year of learning to be peace filled in the midst of difficult circumstances. This week, God brought me back to Isaiah 9:6-7 and showed me an important connection about His peace that I hadn't made before.

This passage in Isaiah is a prophecy about the coming Messiah. It foretells His birth and also His second coming when He will make all wrong things right on planet earth and rule and reign forever and ever on the throne of David. It speaks of the government being on His shoulder. (Hallelujah for the day when earthy politics will be over!) Then it lists names that He will be called, followed by the words "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end."  While I know that this passage is speaking of the actual government of Christ on the earth and the subsequent peace He will bring, (unlike the short season of false peace that the anti-christ will bring in order to deceive the world), I want to focus on the link between Christ's government in us and the increase of peace, wholeness and completeness that He gives us.

You see, we cannot have peace and completeness and wholeness within, if Christ is not allowed to truly rule and reign in all areas of our life. I often cry out for peace within. But, if I am holding on to areas of self-rule, if I am blocking the increase of His government/His rulership from certain areas of my life, then it is impossible for me to be peace filled and complete and whole. I am, in essence, a divided kingdom within. I have given Christ reign in bits and pieces of my life, but put up no trespassing signs in other areas. Until, I let His government increase in me, until I let Him be Sovereign Lord over all, I will lack the peace and wholeness and completeness that I seek. So, lately I've been shifting the focus of my prayers. I am asking His government to increase within me. I'm learning to daily die to self-will and to choose God's will. I'm declaring that I trust His leadership in my life. I'm trusting Him with all of the desires and longings and petitions of my heart and placing them in His hands. I'm choosing to stop trying to figure things out on my own and trusting Him to guide my steps day by day. The more I let go and choose to trust God and let Him govern my life, the more whole and complete and at peace I am. It's a process and journey I'm still on based on daily choices of surrendering to Christ's lordship in my life-but it's been a beautiful, worthwhile journey. Would you like to join me?

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