Extraordinary Peace in Conflict - Isaiah 9:5-7
1. Conflict is caused by counterfeit expectation.
“For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.” (v.5)
From ‘How people change’ by Timothy S. Lane, Paul David Tripp:
2. Jesus bridges the gap to resolve conflicts.
“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.” (v.6)
a. Disrupting our expectations.
5 Strategies of overcoming conflict (Les Brown, Success Magazine)
Abandon the concept of winning or losing when faced with conflict
b. Fulfilling beyond our expectations.
“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.” (v.7)
3. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor dwelling in us.
“Wonderful Counselor” (v.6)
“Be a gardener, not a carpenter.” (Lisa Feldman Barrett, Harvard Magazine, Dec. 2020)
