The Prince of Shalom

The Prince of Shalom

Bro. Lee Vayle - December 24, 1978

Let's bow our heads in prayer:

Our kind Heavenly Father, we do praise and thank You again this morning for the love of God which has shined in our hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. And something, Lord, that which we have received by divine grace and not of ourselves. Not of our own asking, our own choosing or anything of us in a human way, but, Lord, because of Your forth calling us through foreordination, and then bringing us into this place, Lord, where we could receive You. We do thank You for all of that. And recognize this morning that it's all of Grace.

Now, Heavenly Father, we pray that You'll give us the richness of understanding Your Word by the same principle of grace. A better spirit, O God, and more Christ like Spirit, attitudes changing and lives progressing in Thee. Bless each one of us, Lord, and we'll be careful to give You the praise in Jesus' Name. Amen. You may be seated.

1. Now, just thinking this morning is the day before Christmas, and of course most messages I would presume in most churches will be distinctly concerning Christ in the traditional sense of honoring His birth. And though my message might not be able to be called in the strictest sense of the word a 'Christmas message', yet in many ways it is. Because in Isaiah 9:6, It says,

(6) For 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.

And that's what I'm thinking of this morning, is the last Name that He is given is 'The Prince of Peace'. And He was born to that end, therefore He is That. And since Hebrews 13:8 never changes, that, "He is the same yesterday, today and forever." Then Jesus is still as the Jews called Him, "Shalom, " or He is the Prince of Shalom, He is 'The Prince of Peace'. So, the message this morning is on Him Who was called the 'The Prince of Peace', or 'The Prince of Shalom'.

2. Now, in Bro. Branham's Message on 'Shalom', which was a very beautiful Message preached I suppose about fourteen years ago, he talked about gross darkness covering the earth, and the same gross darkness covering the people. Yet, at the same time a Light would shine forth. And of course we know that that Light is 'The Prince of Peace', Whose star we have seen arise.

Now, he described It in a measure as the Light from the Morning Star. Which is true, that's another Name that He is given. And he said, "That Christ is Appearing amongst us, the morning star hanging yonder to introduce the coming Son." That's Him amongst us, He's the Word being identified, which is true.

And then he spoke of 'Shalom', because the Morning Star has Appeared amongst us, and he used the terminology of Shalom is 'good morning'. Which it is, it can be used that way. Like you say, "Good morning" to someone, it's the same as saying "Shalom," …amongst the Israelites.

3. And of course he is thinking in terms of the dawn of a new day. And that's true because the Millennium is actually right around the corner, and we are all but into it. Now, that is one aspect of Shalom. Now, I could call it the historical aspect, because this hour is identified as the hour in which 'The Prince of Peace' will come and reign over all the earth. But there are other characteristics within the thought of Shalom, and it's a lot like you might say the word 'Jehovah', rather the word, not Jehovah, but 'salvation or redemption'. And the word 'redemption' comes from the Greek word 'sozo' which many times is erroneous translated as simply healing, but it's not. It has to do with the actuality of redemption of our salvation. And in there the word 'sozo' implies deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness.

Now, the word 'shalom' is a lot like that, as I've said, because it too spells out the thoughts of such completeness as to 'behold', to be 'safe', and to be 'sound'. So, we want to talk about 'The Prince of Peace' this morning, the One Who was born unto us, given to us, the One Who the government is upon His shoulders, and "He's the same yesterday, today and forever." And He is in the Church today to give us the peace, or the wholeness that is entitled to us by virtue of the fact that He is living in the Church today. Which is the true Church, He's not just living in a true Church of course, He is governing in the affairs of men at this very hour.

4. Now, we'll look at these three divisions and begin first of all with the thought of 'wholeness'. And to do so we are going to recognize two divisions. And the first division is in the body itself as an entire body. And then secondly, we are going to look at wholeness in the individual who is a part of the body.

Now, to study 'wholeness', we'll go into 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. And I'm sorry, but right away we're going to get a rebuff, and there's nothing you can do about it. It says here:

(10) Now I beseech you, brethren, …

Paul the apostle, the very author so to speak, the very founder, the one who said, "you may have a lot of teachers, (but he said) you've only got one father, because I've begotten you in the Gospel," He said, "You may have a lot of influence, but (he said) I'm the one that's your apostle, because (he said) you are literally my fruit." And look what he's got to say to those folk.

(10) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (you) all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you; but (you) be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Now, the same mind here of course is the same understanding. And the same judgment would be the same pursuits. In other words, all believing the same thing, all doing the same thing. But it didn't work. It just wasn't there. Now, it should have been there, but it wasn't there. There was already division. The same people hearing the same man, seeing the same thing came away with a lot of different ideas, because of (you might call) the interjection, even unwittingly of various men amongst them. And also the thought of other men of pre-eminence the same as Paul was.

5. Now notice:

(11) For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house(hold) of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Now, the ideal situation is the same mind and the same approach. But ideal situations don't obtain. But is it any reason for it to make a contention. Now, 'The Prince of Peace' may be blamed for a lot of things, but 'The Prince of Peace' cannot be blamed for this. And 'The Prince of Peace' did not want to see it contention. Now look, there always will be differences, but to have contention is not the thing to have amongst us, or amongst anybody.

Now, Paul does not bemoan the fact that other men have opinions, but he says:

(12) Now this I say, that every one of you (that) saith, (I'm) of Paul; and (I'm) of Apollos; (I'm) of Cephas; I (am) of Christ.

Now, then he says:

(13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or (are) ye baptized in the name of Paul?

6. Now, notice 'The Prince of Peace' would bring unity. Certainly there may be differences of opinion. There were differences back there in the days of Paul. In fact they're on the good authority, which I am no authority, I didn't live back there. But having read up on baptism, (water baptism) I am told by the best of authority that even the apostles thought it was alright to baptize children, which we hold very definitely against.

Now, there always will be differences, but differences constitute no grounds for contention. Differences constitute only grounds for looking more closely to situation. As Bro. Branham said, (I don't think he said it anymore than once, he might have said it more than once) but he said it very clearly, he said, "I'm glad, (he said) that there are differences of opinion concerning Scripture, because it makes you take a second look that much closer." I'm paraphrasing.

Differences are not what destroys people, it's contentions which destroys people. And 'The Prince of Peace' is not a contentious person as long as there is One who can give us peace. And He is the signature of attraction, He is the eye, that we're looking at, center of the circle. Then we can look to Him and overlook a difference, because we're both believing what has been said, though we might believe it a little different way. No need for contention.

7. You know the old Judaic spirit had crept in here. "You know, we're right. Ain't nobody else right but us." And you what it came from? It came from the fact that there was one people, and if you could present your linage, your genealogy, like Paul could say, "I can prove that I'm descended from the tribe of Benjamin."

And the kin of Christ in the flesh could say, "We can prove we're descended from Judah.

And others could say, "Look, (the high priest could say,) look I can prove I'm descended from Levi."

There was no point of issue, because they were one in the flesh. But you noticed, the thing changed after that. It was, "In Thee all nations shall the earth be blessed." [Gen 22:18] Now, when you begin getting all the people in, Israel would say, "Well now, maybe something is in the Scripture concerning them, but they got to come by us, they got to get re-baptized and circumcised, the whole bit to be one of us." That's not true.

What I'm trying to show you here, that old spirit was hanging over it, to where someone could say, "Look, I am right and the rest of the people are wrong." Now, that is not good, but that does not say that 'The Prince of Peace' is not standing there to cause people to look to Him, and to over look the difference. Because there isn't any of us can settle the difference in ourselves. It's going to take the wisdom of Almighty God to do it. So, he's warning them, "Do not let yourselves come into a split."

8. Now listen, now let's go a little further, and to 2 Timothy 2: 15-19, and see why Paul speaks this way.

(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

(17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

(18) Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Now, in here this sounds like a most tragic situation. And I agree, it is a bad situation. But notice what Paul said:

(19) Nevertheless…

Now, you say, "How could that man believe the Resurrection was over?" Why, I know people right today are believing we're in the Millennium. Whoo, if this is the Millennium, spare me. I got nothing to look forward to. In fact I'd just as soon die and be blotted out somewhere. But watch what Paul says:

19) Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, (hasn't done one thing to change God, hasn't done one thing to change the truth, hasn't done one thing that going to harm in the long run) having this seal, (now, what's the seal?) The Lord knoweth them (which) are his. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

In other words, there is a standard of life to consider, you can't get together in doctrine, the whole thing looks like it could fall to pieces and go wrong. 'The Prince of Peace' still stands by, there's no problem. There is a true Bride of Christ somewhere. There is someone that's going to be there, there won't be one missing, (we'll see that as we go along) and there's no real problem.

9. Now, I know that this…you say, "Well, Vayle you ought to take some of your own preaching." Well, don't think I'm not trying. But I'm not a hypocrite. I'll get up here pounding on this. If I do opposite I will still get up here pounding that this is the way that it's got to be.

"The Lord knoweth them which are His." Not that you and I know. What is this nonsense of somebody is supposed to know who are the Lord's? Why, it's absolutely the truth. And I agree with Bro. Branham a hundred percent, that there are going to be many people who make the Rapture who don't think they're going to make it. And there's going to be a whole slew that are sure they're going to make it are not going to make it. There isn't anybody can say, "I know that I know, and I've got some kind of proof that I am it, or we are the right ones."

But remember, God knows. And what Paul is trying to show us here is look, all this stuff down here is just like a tempest in a teapot. Why don't you get your eyes on God Who is really running things and controlling things, and just start looking to Him? Because your confusion is only going to breed more confusion. Your contentions and dissensions are only going to breed more of them. So, you might as well just say, "Look, I'm doing my best, you're doing your best, you believe, I believe, we're both looking at It. Now, let's look to Him with 'The Prince of Peace' giving us peace and going on. Now, that's what we're looking at here.

10. Now, I recall Bro. Branham said in 'Shalom', "If we can't love our enemies, (and these aren't even enemies, he says) this Holy Spirit has departed, for Jesus said, 'forgive them, they don't know what they're doing'." Why? Because that Age was another Age when the world was full of gross darkness. Darkness covered the people and the Day Star had arisen.

Now remember, if He's Alpha, He's Omega. If He rises once, He's got to rise again. Now, I'm talking in terms of a life, not talking in terms of resurrection. Talking in terms of rising, the Life. The Day Star had arisen.

Now, they didn't know what they were doing by refusing the Word. And so in this hour of today's conditions can we expect anymore, even though the Day Star is amongst us? No! No. The gross darkness is here. You know what that gross darkness can do? That gross darkness is a very horrible thing, because it can change men and women. Women have become more like men, and men have become more like women.

11. I was just blasted the other day to realize in a case of marriage, where the girl was turning on her mother, and the boy was running home to daddy and mother. And I said, "Oh God, how sick can people get?" Men will leave father and mothers, women gravitate toward home. But women want to wear the men's clothes, wear everything, look like men.

I like to know why it is today you got to undress to know if it's a boy or girl. And I'm not being smart, nor carnal. Gross darkness. The perversion is so great. Then what can we expect? You say, "Jesus will change it?" Oh, oh no, not to the Millennium, I'm sorry. Not to the Millennium. It's going to take a resurrection to straighten the whole thing out. Right now the best we've got is a hope toward it. That's why I keep saying here, that we've got to understand the conditions, and allow room for the conditions, and then go on with Jesus 'The Prince of Peace' and settle our own hearts right down. (See?)

12. Now, let me just recall this to your mind if we haven't recalled it already. This is the normal condition, don't buck it. Don't try to change the tides, don't try to change anything but yourselves. Just keep moving. Now, don't move with the tide, just don't buck the tide, just stand and watch the tide go by.

In the days of Moses there was division. In the days of Jesus, there was division. In the days of Paul there was division. Every Age has seen a division. When the Light shone under Luther, was one of the greatest Lights. In fact, I admire Luther's, I can't even to begin to admire Wesley. Although, I shouldn't admire anybody another. I'd admire him with tremendous energy and my admiration, because I think Luther and his teaching was so utterly fantastic.

You talk about differences and divisions, Luther one day had to actually settle a dispute with a man when the man came to him with such error, he said, "My spirit slaps your spirit in the snoot." Shoo, you talk about differences. Look, until there is a literal Rapture, I just can't see until there is a resurrection, until there is a Millennium here on earth, there will be differences. So, forget it.

Paul had to roll with the punches. "I don't like it." Now, he said, "You get studying, get yourself all lined up." He said, "Remember, this one thing, I don't care what happens, "the foundation of God stands sure, the Lord knows who are His." [2 Tim 2:19] Not you, not me, not somebody else. (See?) 'The Prince of Peace' brother/sister, is still here we've got ...?... condition. I can't help it.

13. Let's go back again to 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, and take another little look here.

(12) For as the body is one,…

Says right there, there's a wholeness in the body of Christ. That's what 'The Prince of Peace' …?... You know, He never came in several bodies, He came in one, with many ministries in Him. With many tremendous facets, qualities, characteristics, and power. One. I won't …?... anybody else is a unity.

(12) …(though we have) many members, (are) all…one body, being many, (members) one body: so also is Christ.

(13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(14) For the body is not one member, but many. (That's the body made up with many members, see?)

(15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

(16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (and so on.)

14. Now, you'll notice here that many people, and this is true, that do take this Scripture here to seek a ministry. But you notice something here, it is not ministry that make us a part of Him, but is being a member. Ministries don't make people (you know) members, it's the members that have ministries. So, if people attempt to divide themselves and say, "Well, now look, you have this great thing amongst us, and we have these great members doing these great things." And I'm not against it, I'm for everything God will do to anybody. But that's not the criterion. That's not what makes you members, it's the fact you must be a member in the first place, and then whatever the ministry is, that's just fine.

"Oh, what about the ministry of my son?" Oh, I could say something about that, but I won't bother. What about my fingers? I could say something about that, I won't need to bother though, because it's not necessary. All of them have a part to play. All of them do play a part, but what they do does not make them a member, it's being the member that makes them do it, because there's a life inside. Well now, then where is all this business of prestige? Where is the great one?

15. Now, we can love them and admire people, and so I think that's legitimate. To put an undue emphasis is illegitimate and brings us to a place…and the worst thing is this, that the people will endorse it, the clergy will capitalize and pretty soon you've got what? Pope, presidents, presbyters, councilors, presidents, you name it. The old spirit of Nicholaitism amongst the people. And that spirit was back in the days of Paul, and it died very, very slowly. If fact it won't die till the Lord comes.

In the mean time there's another spirit come in that bigger than ever. And that's the spirit of anarchy, that Laodicean spirit. The spirit where people want to run things themselves, and they say, "Well now, it doesn't really matter so much what the Word of God says, it's just a matter then if we can look at things that will be beneficial to us." And that's causing a lot of problems until it's no longer a matter of freedom, but it's a matter of rebellion. But you know, brother/sister listen, since Christ has Appeared amongst us, maybe strange to some of you not understanding Scripture, but the Scripture distinctly says at the end time Christ must Appear amongst the people. They can see them, that's going to bring about a resurrection and a Rapture. That's 1 John 3:2, and don't be confused, read It the way It is written, not the way you think It's written, the way somebody told you.

16. Read It the way It is written, and you will find that He must Appear here on earth and be seen. Not visibly, but you'll never see Him that way. But seeing Him in the Word of God revealed. That is what is going to bring about that change.

Now listen, since, since that has occurred there will be a people who sees the Daystar which has a…listen, 'The Prince of Peace' amongst us, and they will go right up and be healed. And they're not going to be concerned about all the fighting. They're not going to be concerned about all the different opinions, and all the different doctrines, and all the different versions. If in the days of Paul just mentioning a few there could be a big difference?

Now listen, how many people did it take to bring the earth today to its billions of population and the billions that have gone before it? Three people, the serpent, Adam and Eve. Now, if you don't believe the serpent, okay, then you better get the tape. If there were about five divisions in the days of Paul, in two thousand years would be a thousand divisions, a day a least, if not thousand. Because the seed sown always multiplies and gets more and more, and more. And believe me the fertile crime that has always been amongst people, because people are far more contentious than they are minded to …?.... You know, because we like our own way, and like our own comfort. (You see?) But, we get our eyes on Him.

17. Shalom is the whole body, and the Bride sees that. The Bride does not see different. You say, "Well, I can see that at this day." Listen, don't you understand if the days of Paul it was Alpha? They had it back there. What are we going to have in this hour? You say, "How can we have a great mighty manifested Message in this hour, we had some fruit?" What do you thing Paul had? He had just as much. What about back in Moses' day? Do you realize when the great eternal age just swings upon us, they'll be singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. And if you think Moses didn't have trouble, why don't you phone up Moses this morning and say, "Moses, did you have any trouble, or didn't you? And how did he do it? You go back to the first five Books of the Bible, and you'll see the trouble that Moses had, and he had them.

Even had a fight with God, and God had a fight with him. And he disobeyed God, and glorified himself, and God put him right …?... You say, "Hey, did those things happen?" Are you ridiculous? Haven't you been born again? Haven't you come to birth yet? They're going to be here, they've got to be here. They're going to be here until the Millennium. There's only one thing that you and I know, and that's the same thing that Paul knew, but we don't want to take time to know it. "The foundation of the Lord standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them which are His." [2 Tim 2:19] Not you, not me, not anybody.

There is a wholeness my brother, my sister this morning in Jesus Christ. And I believe that you and I will recognize we are part of that wholeness as we get our eyes on Him. Not off the Word now, not out of our right to believe as we have been taught. But begin to see that everyone else has his right to believe as he has been taught, and we must all recognize that and keep our eyes on Christ.

18. Now, we must believe that the whole body is ready for the Rapture. (Yep) Now…I tell you what, that's hard for me to believe that in a way. Now, I don't believe there's a Rapture going to be tomorrow morning, not for fifteen minutes do I believe that. You say, "Why don't you believe the Rapture to take place when certain signs takes place, that the Bible said would take place?" And when I see the resurrection saints, I'll know the Rapture is at hand, but not before.

You say, "Well, what about that resurrection when certain other signs take place?" I'll know if the resurrection is going to …?... what it was. I said, "It could happen in '77." And I said, "If It doesn't, if won't be in '78." And I repeat this morning, if certain signs don't appear, I know It won't be in '79. But, there's somebody waiting for It, just in case. I don't care what the sign does, …?...

Now listen, Bro. Branham said, "The whole Rapture now is getting ready." Luther was a part, Wesley was a part. Just in the revelation they were making up the body, the feet, the toes, the arms, until we get to the head, that makes the entire Rapture. It is the body of the Word, which is Christ. In other words, the Word has gone out, and now everyone that comes in by the Word, the Message is preached, the Gospel of our salvation. There is a group that are in. And he warned us at the same time he said, "Any time that anybody says that he is right to the exclusion of somebody else, that person is in organization, you've got denomination right here." You know, they're never going to see the Rapture."

19. "I believe that fellow he's in denomination because he believes a certain way." No! Your denomination, is you believe he hasn't got the right to believe the way he is, and your believing is right, and you're believing… and you put him out. Oh, what is that different from the Message? Why is a Methodist a Methodist? Why is a Nazarene a Nazarene? Why is a Christian Science a Christian Science? And that's going pretty far, but I put him in there too. Why is a Mormon a Mormon? Why is a Catholic a Catholic? Why is anybody what he is? Because he believes he is right. And it has always been to the exclusion of, until you get them coming together, and say, "Well now, where do you just put this thing here?"

"Well, (said one) I believe you're wrong."

"Well, if I'm wrong, I'm out."

Well, not quite that bad. I don't really mean you're out. But they do. Then why are they not so good?

Now, look they'll come together eventually, don't worry, but in a wrong precept. The bundling is going to bring them together. [audio fades out] See?

But listen, Baptist say, "Look, we've got a lot of light." But you know, the Baptist don't believe too much in divine healing. Now you say, "Eighty percent do Bro. Vayle, that's a lot of percentage." Yeah, but they don't practice it. A lot of men believe in getting married, but they run around with other women. Oh, they still believe in being married, but they have a lot of women. They don't believe in being married ….?... do it. Something's wrong somewhere.

20. Now, we believers, we believe in certain basic precepts. I believe in Christ, he believes in Christ. You say, "Now look, I believe a little more." Now, that's not …?... Now listen, the Roman Catholic church back in the days of Luther was not completely gone, though in one sense it was. That is the structure in the hierarchy and as a whole, but what's in it, there were many, many fine people.

Now, Luther went beyond. Because I can take you back to Luther's day and find men who believed justification and being born again too. But he was the one that God used to bring them out there. Then as Luther's star began to fade, you still found many people in Luther who had believed more that Romanism, much more. Then under Wesley they believed much more than under Luther. Pentecost believed much more, and in this hour we believe much more. But it's the same message. One is, it's a little fuller.

21. Now, look it brother/sister, if you bring men into Jesus Christ, there will always be a full revelation. (See?) So, we are not here to begin to denominate, to denominate, to become denomination. We're not here to become separate. We're not here to say, "Look, we're above everybody, and everybody but us is out." That could be true in the final analysis. That's up to God, not you and me. Though we are here with a little further message.

I don't know who's down the road, what God's going to do, and God's going to do for. But brother/sister, the churches are celebrating birth of 'The Prince of Peace' this morning, and the strangest thing in all the world is that men over their understanding of Him, is revealed by this Word. We're willing to take up fussing against each other, and it's wrong.

But 'The Prince of Peace' still stands here. And if men would only understand, look, "God knows them which are His," [2 Tim 2:19] And if God knows them which are His, happily, or unhappily, (happily meaning by chance, and unhappily meaning the fact that could be very unhappy in the end) I might be fighting against God's Own people the way Paul was. (Uh?)

22. There's a wholeness in Him this morning, it's in the body. And there is a whole Bride ready to go. I say what Bro. Branham so scruple this morning, I mean with all my heart, at least I hope I do. "That if I'm not Bride, by the grace of God I don't want to stand in the way of one of His." If I'm not a true Christian, may I never stand in the way of one of His. If I'm not one of His, (I hope I am, I hope you are) if we are not together, really a part of Him. may we at least understand this, to stand back and not stand in anybody's way. Not to push, not to shove.

But remember, that if 'The Prince of Peace' He stands amongst us, and He said, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing," [Lk 23:24] This is the same hour, you know what brother/sister, when you boil it right down, there aren't too many people that know what they're doing. I wonder at times I know what I am doing. Because of the pervading influence what is out here at the end time when darkness covers the earth.

23. Now remember, darkness covered back in the …?... But remember, religion, Christianity's gone plumb around the world, until it's no longer a darkness that's isolated. It is a gross darkness that is worldwide. They don't know what they're doing. Do you mean the people might know what to do? Come on, I was in England two years ago. And they wouldn't let the English people produce their own butter. But they had such funny laws that you could buy butter in England for forty-eight cents a pound. And they came across the strait by the boatload, and picked up butter by the cotton load and took it back to France and it paid for their trip, and they had a good time on just what they saved on butter. They're crazy. The whole system is topsy-turvy.

Everybody is robbing Peter to pay Paul, but nobody knows exactly who Peter is. I wish I knew myself. If I was Paul, that might be a little what Peter is being robbed of. (See?) They stripped women of all their glands and everything else a while back, and called it heroic medicine, and oh we only made a mistake, but how many hundreds of thousands, at least thousands of them died in torture, because of what doctors did.

They don't know what they're doing. There's a darkness that is everywhere today. Although people think everything is so great. Everybody's knows it was teetering just on the trick of the inverted pyramid. (See?) Now, but He's still there 'The Prince of Peace', He's still there for hearts that want to just quit all the fussing. (Yep) To look to Him.

24. Let's just check over here in 2 Corinthians 13:11 a minute.

(11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

In other words, make your dove coat, stick with the dove. Do the things that could fight these with 'The Prince of Peace'. To keep Himself effectively aware to be in unity and peace. It's something for you and I have to do. That's the culprit.

Let's look at the individual for a little bit. And let's think of his home. And I'll just read a few Scripture here, and I won't have to comment on It, because I think we've done enough commenting on the first part to get the general idea.

25. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, It says,

(23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (There's a wholeness there.)

26. Let's go back to Galatians 4:1-7.

(1) Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

(2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

(3) Even so we, when (you) were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

(4) …when the fulness of the time was (came), God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

(5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

(6) (Wherefore,) and because (you're) sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, (our) Father.

(7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; if a son, then an heir (and heir) of God through (Jesus) Christ.

27. Let's go to Colossians 3:1-4, and It says:

(1) If (you can) be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ (sits) on the right hand of God.

(2) Set your affection (your minds) on things (which are) above,…

That means, when It says, "When you seek the things which are above," It means, 'mind', and 'keep in mind'. Keep your mind on those things. Set your affections on those things.

(2) …not on things on earth.

(3) For (you were) dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall (you) also appear with him in glory.

What I'm trying to say here, look, there's a whole body somewhere. And their whole individual was in the body. They're not quote hither and yonder. My hand cannot operate apart from my body. My finger can't operate apart from my hand. My toes cannot operate apart from my feet. This is a wholeness in Christ, and that gives us the peace within my body being whole and reconciled in Christ. So, I as an individual have a reconciliation in Christ.

28. Now, we can see ourselves that God has done a perfect work concerning us. It's a salvation concerning our spirit and our soul is real, and we'll follow in a resurrection. And one day we're going to be raised in a resurrection. It's all part of It.

I can see that once we were in bondage under the effects of the elements in this world. We didn't have a tie-post, we didn't have God. Now we do have God. I can see here the ability to mind the things of God set before us, and shows us as individuals a wholeness. And when the individual is whole, the body has a chance to be whole. This is one reason why we shouldn't be sassing with people. I got to jog myself and not …?... I miss that. You know that, you know my nature. Because I get so discouraged at things what's being done, and hearing what's being said, and it's so ridiculous .

And so, I should just say, "Well, takes too long, somebody's got to do it. Praise God, and walk on. But I'm a little bit too unhappy with myself. I don't do what the prophet said. He said, "You're going up the hill and the snakes are hissing, (he said,) don't stop and poke those snakes." And I'm just too happy to poke them snakes and it's no good. Because you know what happens? It just disorients myself. I'm the one that's disorients. I'm the one that loses my …?...

You say, "Bro. Vayle, couldn't somebody speak out?" Yes, if you could speak of in the right way. "Shouldn't somebody do something?" Yes, if you can do it the right way. Otherwise, good…makes it nice.

29. You know, that's the truth. You remember the story years ago about …told about the snake a man found…the snake, because the snake forgot to hibernate. And it was lying out there very, very cold. [intelligible] The snake said, "Hey, (he said) can you just let me get inside your coat and warm up."

He said, "Ha, ha, ha, no, (he said) snakes bite you and kill you."

"No, (he said,) if you just let me inside of you, you just let me inside of you. Honestly, (he said) I will not bite you." [sound intelligible]

So, the man put it inside and the snake got all nice and said, "I'm going to bite you."

"But, (he said,) you wouldn't. You said you wouldn't bite me."

"Ah ha, (he said,) you forgot I'm a snake."

People don't change, natures …?... I'm not talking to snakes now.

30. I'm just saying, "Look, we're dealing with 'The Prince of Peace' this morning in our lives. We're dealing with the sense of wholeness of individuals. In other words, it doesn't even …?... walk on. Just walk on. Keep walking along, keep walking along. Don't get all disturbed, keep your mind on the things of God. …?... Keep a mind on the future. Keep a mind on the goal. Keep a mind on the things of Christ, and how He conducted Himself. That's the way to do it. Because there is a tremendous amount of conduct involved in dealing with Christians. Not just for meeting. I'm like James. We're all like James. James said, "All things …?..." I'll just stand there and laugh at you. If you can do it, there's a conduct involved. (See?)

Now, there's a wholeness in the Bride this morning. There's a wholeness in the individual. We're trying to get the picture here of 'The Prince of Peace' and that wholeness in the Bride and in the individual. We must recognize that wholeness there.

31. Let's consider the next thing that's your 'soundness'. And a lot of these go quite close together. Now, a sound building is a so durably constructed, that which can stand stress. That's the whole idea. The physical forces are therefore in harmony. Now, the changing in human body. You only stand up because you got one muscle that pulls, and one that counter-pulls and it keeps us in balance.

So, therefore there is a pull and a counter-pull. And the fact that you can stand during the pull, if your counter-pull is what makes you a strong sound person. Now, that's what we're talking about, that's the sound that's in the human being. There is a pull, but what's in a series is a balance called a 'counter-pull', and it brings true Christian peace is found, because the 'Prince of Peace', just get the idea.

32. Second Corinthians 3:5-6, and It says here:

(5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;(as of ourselves) but our sufficiency is of God;

Now, he said right here, he said, "Look, (he said) there's nothing in us a individuals you can use by yourself that's going to be effective.

(6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, the spirit (gives) life.

And he said, "Our sufficiency is of God." In other words, there's a pull natural. There's a pull in the spiritual. But there is another pull on the inside, and that pull is of God. And you know, this is the truth whether we want to believe it or not, that there is no time when God is not available, and tries to show that He is available if we only listen.

I believe that nobody ever gets in a bad condition. And I mean any condition whatsoever. Now, I won't even try to elaborate on what conditions they might be. But there is no time in a temptation, or a stress, or a difficulty, but the Spirit of God speaks and says, "Listen, there's a way out, and I can take you through." But we just cut it off like that too many times.

Now, [2 Corinthians 3:] verse 18 says,

(18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

In other words, keeping our mind on Him, the counter-pull, He is the great Counter-pull against all these pulls, we'll just go right on and grow up into Christ.

33. Now, the living Scripture that we are, are found in 2 Corinthians 4:6-11. Now, watch what Paul says here:

(6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, (that's in his hour too) hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But notice he said:

(7) (We've got a problem, we are earthy people.)

The very fact that you're born in this flesh you got a problem. I got a problem. And we're not going to get away from it. Now, I'm not talking about the fact that we're weak, I'm talking about the fact of everybody around us and in an imperfect state, and nature under the thralldom of the enemy, we have problems.

Now, watch Paul says:

(8) We are troubled on every side, (we're) not distressed; (pull, counter- pull (we're perplexed, (we're) not in despair; (pull, counter-pull)

(9) Persecuted, (pull, counter-pull) not forsaken; cast down, (pull) not destroyed; (counter-pull.)

(10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest…

Now, what he's trying to tell us here is, that, we are bound to have difficulties. And he said, "The way to overcome is remember, that Christ on your side will eventually see you through and help you."

34. Second Corinthians 12:9-10, we've got the very same thought. He said,

(9) …My grace is sufficient for thee: my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(10) …I take pleasure (therefore) in infirmities, in reproaches,…

Now notice, I take pleasure. What do you mean 'pleasure'? Because it gives God a chance to prove Himself. Because the counter-pull. In other words, minding the things which are above. Looking to 'The Prince of Peace'. We're not going to find peace in ourselves. You mean to tell me anybody here this morning could find peace in himself? Can find the counter-pull within himself? If you had a counter-pull within yourself that was able to conquer, then you wouldn't even have a pull that could bother you. You say, "Well, how?"

For the simple reason, if you can lift fifty pounds, do you care about lifting a number ten pounds? No! (See?) But look it, if you couldn't lift fifty pounds, all you lift was ten pounds, you better get something to help you lift the fifty. That's what he's talking about here. In ourselves we don't have the counter-pull of sufficient strength and dynamism, to take care of life. But in Christ, yes.

(10) Therefore I take pleasure…

Does Paul say, "Hey, come and get me?" No, you know, I get so amazed at people think at the end time, what if the power of the antichrist force it becomes so great. You say, "Hey, come and get me, I'm here, I'm one of those that believe this certain way." Well, you could if you're slightly mental or something happy, I don't know.

Polycarp even hid. He hid until the day they were going to kill the people that were hiding him. And he said, "I'll come out, I'll die, you leave them alone." No, I'm not talking about anything foolish. If Paul was able to…he had within him 'The Prince of Peace'. And he was utilizing the soundness that was there:

(10) …in reproaches, necessities, persecutions, (now notice) distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then (I'm) strong.

(11) I am become a fool in glorying; (you've) compelled me:…(and so on.)

35. Now, let's go to 1 Corinthians 10:13 and see It. Now, watch what we've got here:

(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above (what you're) able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that (you) may be able to bear it.

Now, here is what we're saying. Within you is a counter-pull that is bigger than the pull. Now, Paul did not say you're going to miss all of this. Paul did not say we weren't going to be tempted. Paul did not look down on our Age and say, "Now, you people living in the very last day, I've had trouble in my day, I've had schisms. The very thing I preach seems to just go like water off a duck's back, but I've got news for you dear people, you are going to have it so bright and so wonderful." No you're not. You know what Bro. Branham said, and he was a prophet of God? "There'll be a repeat of all diabolical cunning at the end time against the Bride."

What are you going to do, blow your brains out now? Take poison? That's okay for Jimmy Jones, but it's not good for you and me, unless something goes wrong with our minds too, because he became a mental case there's no doubt about it. The poor fellow, I got nothing against him, I knew him met him about four or five times, y\talked maybe as much as two hours too. Not at one time I don't suppose, but over a period of time. I supposed at least two hours for a period of time. But you know you'd have to be a very gone case.

36. Listen, what does he say? Look, there is no testing, but what there's something inside of you can lick it. Now, poor brother Jones, I'll call him brother out of the deference the fact that he's a brother in the flesh, he taught his people different. He taught them of fatalism, they'll get you. You get them, or they'll get you. (Uh, Uh) No, there's nothing too much. And the way of escape is not going to a colony, is not blotting your mind out, it's looking at it and going through it. The only escape this life has is living it. The only secret is living a life, there's no other way.

I know this. Listen, I learned this the bitter way, and I want you folk to recognize this is true. Go through it, you're going to have to go through it anyway. The quicker you learn what Paul the apostle with joy to seize the opportunities, the more you'll show your soundness, that's a sound Christian.

37. Philippians 3:12-14

(12) Not as though (it) already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

(13) Brethren, I (don't say that I've already got it…) but this one thing I do, (I forget) those things which are behind, (yes sir) and (I reach) forth unto those things which are before,

(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Now, there's a man right there, he said, "Look (he said) I don't act as though I've got it made, till the day I die I'm going to be pressing onward." You never come to a place where you say, "Well, look 'The Prince of Peace' is here, it's all over. 'The Prince of Peace' is here, and yes, your redemption is all over in the sense of the fact of redemption having been paid, you've been…paid a price of it. But you're going to have to live.

And 'The Prince of Peace' is here to say, "Look, My Peace I give unto you. And My Peace I bring not as the world brings and gives peace." Then He said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, [Mt 11:29] get My way of doing things."

"Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." [Heb 12:2] And Paul said, "I'm doing the same thing."

38. Brother/sister, let's get this, peace is not the government taking over. Peace is not the head of the family, or the wife or the children, being such blessed paragons of virtue, that hallelujah you’ve got it made. We'll hallelujah you ain't got it made. Because though your family may be perfect, the family down the street may do their best to seduce your sons and your daughters, and disrupt your home, or the government step in. Because you don't believe their way, and try to destroy you. You bet, peace doesn't come any other way brother/sister. If you look there's no such thing as 'The Prince of Peace' giving you and me one great big blob, and saying that's it, it's a day by day living.

I've been through some of the biggest things of life God will ever let me go through, because I'm not a very big person. If I were bigger inside, He'd give me bigger things to cope with. I'm very small inside, so I have little things to cope with. You understand what I'm talking about. The bigness of a person is from inside. You're just like the pig that the farmer gave the milk to. Gave him a whole big bucket of milk, and the pig drank all the milk, and he put the pig in the bucket and he said, "See, (he said) the pig's bigger inside than he is outside." That's exactly where you and I are if we're real children of God. We're big on the inside we're maybe awful small on the outside.

39. In other words, we're not great dynamic influential so and so, so and so. But brother/sister when the chips are down, that little fellow on the outside is big on the inside, he goes right down the road where the big-shots give in to temptation, quaver and fall and mess up. But the little guy goes on. Why? Because 'The Prince of Peace' is here.

Shalom, not just good morning. Aw, it's lovely to know there's a daybreak coming brother/sister, but I want some daybreak down here. I never did believe in just pie in the sky. I always believed if Jesus Christ couldn't do something for me here, I got no hope in doing something over there. And that's true. Paul the apostle saw that, see. "Now, I press for it." [Phil 3:14]

Now, He has Appeared in the last days, we know He has Appeared has revealed by the Word and by a prophet. And He's absolved the Bride of all guilt and made her perfect, made her polished. So that she knows that in the redemption of Christ has provided there's nothing can shake her. That's true. And she knows in the strength He has provided. Nothing can shake her.

40. Now, I want to look at just one thought here about healing, because that's a part of 'soundness'. And you know when this Age, and I'm going to read It to you, Luke 21: 9-19. We're going to get moving awful fast here, (because I promised myself I'd get out of here before two in the afternoon. And I want to get out of here in the next fifteen minutes to tell you the truth.) All right, listen:

(9) But when (you) hear of wars and commotions, (do) not (be) terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is (just coming over the hill) by and by.

(10) Then said he, Nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom:

(11) …earthquakes shall be in divers places, famines, pestilences; fearful sights, (which means 'hallucinations', the world gone crazy. Fearful sights in the Greek is 'hallucinations') great signs be (in) heaven.

Things happening. What if those satellites start coming right down out there radioactive material in them? Like the one in Canada, fortunately nobody got hurt. But one more loop would have placed it right in New York. Right? Busted her wide open where there's millions of people. What about Kohoutek, [comet March 1973] they all got scared of Kohoutek. What is that, wolf or something? Yeah, kohoutek didn't have too much tek, he had more hout, than tek. Which was good, people got scared. Now, the planets are lining up, will it cause the earthquake in California? Could certainly do so. Might crack the earth…I don't know.

41. What's the difference?

(12) (And) before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues, (put you) into prisons, (bring you) before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Kings? What kings? That petered out. There's just one king, old Herod, maybe Caesar. Where's the plurality? He's looking at our day. He's talking about your time and my time, gross darkness upon the earth, and darkness upon the people. People crazy. What about that woman that took her mother's head and fluttered it at the cop's feet just the other day? You think that's strange? Going to increase more and more.

(13) …(It'll) turn to you for a testimony.

(14) Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what (you're going to) answer:

You talk about peace. I can't even have a conversation in my mind what I'm going say to somebody, I'm embroiled a little bit of problem with it, and he'll say, then I'll say, he'll say, "That's it." I'll get myself all worked up. I think he is going to say what I'm going to say. It never happens that way. Now, right here It says, "Don't even think." Boy, wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of peace? Well, we can if we want it.

(15) (They'll be giving) you a mouth and wisdom, which your adversaries (can't) resist.

42. Yet, now Psalms 38:3. Now, I'm going to talk about that, with a…the mental conditions in the earth today are responsible with what's called 'psychosomatic diseases' which doctors feel are ninety percent responsible, or more than ninety percent for all of our problems. Except for a broken leg maybe, or a branch gouging your eye out, or a wreck down the road, (and that could be psychosomatic too because somebody might be all flustered up driving the car) ninety percent or more of all problems in our bodies are psychosomatic.

Now, where's the first place for good healing? Not coming to the atonement, but coming to the Atoner who through the atonement gives us the peace. How can a man be diabetic and have heart attack and this and that with the peace of God? Not saying he won't, because there's something's in the genes. But I'm talking about bringing them on ourselves. Psalms 38:3 and It said:

(3) There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

There is no soundness, that word in the Hebrew is, there's 'no shalom'. How can a man say there is no shalom though when He's here and has been proven to be here? I could talk for a long time on this, because you know my favorite subject, is always going back and forth and showing the prophet's ministry with the Word and proving point by point. But I'm not going to take time this morning on that, because we've showed you so many, many times here. How in the world when the will has already been read? Who gets called in to hear the reading of the will, the neighbors, or somebody that know? Those that are benefactors in the will. It's been brought before us, it's been proven that He Who has been risen is alive amongst us, and has Appeared amongst us revealing Himself. Shalom!

43. What will His greeting be this morning? Let's face it, He would say, "Shalom." Just what the prophet taught. Yes sir, the Healer's amongst us. See, just to think that He Appeared in these last days in signs and wonders. According…now this is the Bible, I'm not telling you what Lee Vayle thinks, this is Acts 3:19 the middle verse

(19) …when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

(20) (Even) he shall send Jesus Christ,…(just before Jesus comes in His human body He appears.)

How? Through great signs and wonders. Because the word, "In Presence" means that which is visible of anything to the eye.

44. And what part of God was visible? With John 15:24

(24) If I had not done among them the works (that no) other man (had done), they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

The mighty works showed that God was there, just like nature out there showed there is a God. That's not God, that shows God is there. So, He came down and did signs and wonders that had not been seen for two thousand years. And 'Thus saith the Lord' has not been seen since the time of Moses literally. Because Christ didn't say, "Thus saith the Lord." He said, "Verily, verily I say unto you."

We saw the very end time prophet. The Bible said and right there Appearing amongst us. What did He do? He came with mighty signs and mighty wonders and the great and tremendous things of Almighty God. I'm just going to let that go.

45. And the final point is safety. Safety and assurance. Let's take a look at 'safety and assurance'. Romans 8:35-39, you all know It.

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?

(36) As is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; (we're ) accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Listen, without the peace of God we couldn't go through that. Now, in case you misunderstand the peace of God, let me tell you something:

When I was first called to preach I didn't want to go, and I still don't want to go. If I could quit tomorrow, I'd quit. Just look out the window, be happy. You say, "Well, you're backslidden." Never said I wasn't. Said I'd quit tomorrow.

I never wanted to preach, I fought it, but knew in my heart I would have had to preach. And one day when I saw everything cut from underneath me, and I knew God had spoken to my heart and said you are going to go whether you want to or not. In anger and rebellion, gritting my teeth, I said, "I'll go." And hating it. But you know something, let me tell you something, the strangest peace came over my whole being. I wasn't fighting God anymore. I was fighting myself now.

46. You may fight yourself brother/sister, but you never have to fight God and …?... Peace is not what you think it is, not what I think it is. Peace is not a lifeless chunk, or somebody putting you in a tube where you must do things. Or who knows better than you, so you just allow yourself to be swung by some force. Peace is right here, where's there's persecution, there's trials, all this is going on. And you don't especially relish it and welcome it. You say, "I'm having a great time." Yeah. I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do for you brother/sister: It'll let you see your son die, and know you can't handle it. And there's peace in the valley.

It was much easier then and today even. But there's a wheel inside, there's a little wheel in the middle of a wheel that holds a person, and 'The Prince of Peace' does not come. As though He said, "Look, these hands rebuff the storm, there's not a mark on." It's a touch of a nail pierced hand that counts. That's what 'The Prince of Peace' came for and died for, born for. And it's not easy, but it's easier than we think it is. That's the thing about it, it's easier than you think it is.

47. We all look back and we know those trials weren't half as hard. That's what makes me so amazed this morning, that a lot of you people right in this Message are still bellyaching, and I'm bellyaching with you. (Uh?) I know you don't like my expressions, like hogwash and bellyaching, calling people stupid asses. What is it? You name it, you give me a better word, "Sweet little wanderer's?" Oh, drop dead. (Uh?) Come on. Something wrong somewhere. wanderers

Nobility isn't getting a million, billion dollars, living like kings and queens. Nobility is rising off the dung heap and becoming a prince with God. And peace is an integral part of it. It's an integrated part. Say, "I don't give you peace like the world gives, take My yoke upon you." Get under the burden.

48. You know, the old song writer really knew what he was talking about. He said, "When I get to the end of the road." Paul was saying the same thing there. He said, "I don't care, It is written, for thy sake, we're killed all the day long, we're just sheep for the slaughter." [Ps 44:22]

You say, "Fatalistic, crummy attitude." No, you're going to die anyway. What does it matter when you die? It doesn't really matter. How many times will seventy go into infinity? How many times will one dollar go into a trillion? You can't compare it.

(37) (No, he said,) in all these things we are more than conquerors…

Who but with peace and understanding what peace is, could say a thing like that? He said, "We're going through."

"What if you died this time Paul?"

"Well, (he said) hallelujah, I don't have to suffer anymore then do I?"

"What if you live Paul?"

"Well, (he said,) I got to suffer some more, praise God."

You say, "Why? Why do you talk that way?"

"Because, (he said) look, I'm more than a conqueror, (said) I'm not the one that's setting the course for my boat. I'm not the one that charts it for this trouble seas." He said, "God's doing it."

But I know one thing about it, I can and I will get through, because He has enabled me. I am able. That's peace. That's the security that you and I have.

49. Man said to a friend of mine many years ago, he said, (was good old Freddy Dobson, good old buddy of mine out there in the west coast, and the fellow said, "Freddy, you need God, (he said) but I don't (he said) you see I'm a millionaire."

The rich fool said, "I've got it all laid up." [Lk 12:19]

And God said, "Like fun you have, you just gave it to somebody else."

I wonder if that fellow is still living that told Freddy he didn't need God? I wonder if he's still living? I wonder when people are going to wake up that their so-called 'good times' aren't necessarily good times, they're just bad times, because they left the good times alone?

Now, Paul said,

(38) (I've got a persuasion) ….

Now listen, there isn't anybody can say this without a persuasion. Now you say, "How am I going to get the persuasion?" Well, you don't have to be like me, I sure hope you're not. But I got my persuasion by lumps on my head, if you want to know the truth. Well, I'm going to be honest with you. God made it so hard, I was willing to go.

50. You know, when the Lord sent the hornets the song writer said he didn't persuade him to go against their will, he just made them willing to go. I'm in that category so much of my time. What does it matter? Sometime, someday you wake up and you say, "Well, that's the way it's got to be, it's the way it's got to be." Paul had a persuasion.

I don’t care how you get the persuasion brother/sister. But I'll tell you one thing, the persuasion lay this way, that somehow the One who called would see him through. I would not preach, or have preached all these years, except for that knowledge that the One Who called has to see me through somehow. You can't do it. You cannot live as a Christian without that persuasion. He said,

(38) (I've got a persuasion that's not) death, life, angels, principalities, … things present, nor things to come,

(39) …height, depth, any creature, …(I've got a persuasion, nothing can separate (me) from the love of God,…

Jesus gave him that persuasion back in John, when He mentioned the sheep, "I'll lose none, no man can pluck them out of my Father's hand." [Jn 10:28]

51. Paul knew that when he wrote over in Hebrews , "The Lord's my helper, I won't fear what anybody is going to do to me." [Heb 13:6] And I'm going to tell you today, we've got that same persuasion over here in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,

(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, the trump of God: the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Now, He does all three. If He's done the first, He's going to do the next two. And my persuasion is this brother/sister, that you and I are safe today. There's a safety in Christ Jesus and that gives us peace.

Paul the apostle said in Philippians 1:6. he said:

(6) (I'm) being confident this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of (the Lord) Jesus Christ:

And that's the message this morning for Christmas, I've got. Maybe it's not a Christmas message to you, but I just can't preach about a babe in a manger anymore and talk about stars and little things that don't mean too much consequences unless I can relate them to the truth. And I see this morning there is a peace, shalom, there is a peace in God this morning that gives a wholeness, that gives the soundness, that gives a preservation. And it's there when the waves roll high. It's there when the nights are dark. It's as Bishop Moore said, "If God would make manifest He'd give songs in the night, He must first make it dark." And that's exactly true, if God would make His Word manifest.

52. In other words, that He would be our Peace, and that's that great inclusive Word, which means, look, It just means the whole thing. The Prince of my Peace. Not just the world's peace, the Prince of the Peace of the Bride of Jesus Christ, the whole thing. If He is going to make manifest that is so, there has to be a contrast, because what would light be without darkness? You and I at this stage couldn't tell. Now, someday it's going to be all over brother/sister, it'll be all over. There will be no more tears, there'll be no more puzzlements, they'll be more distractions, there'll be no more wonderings. And you know, maybe God will never answer your question this side of eternity. I know you've got questions this morning.

Do you realize that some of your questions may not be answered until it's all over. They may not be answered. But you know there is a peace this morning, because He was born to it. He died for it. He rose for it. And if I could take my choice of all the titles the Names He's given, I would like to have this one in this present hour, (I'm talking about this very moment which I live now) I believe above anyone else, because I have seen that He is the mighty God. I know that He is Wonderful, I have seen it. I know that He's the Counselor, I understand that very thoroughly. I know that He's the Everlasting Father. [Isa 9:6] But what strikes home this morning to me, in my personal life, because I've seen all the rest. And it's not just academic, it's been proven, that's over. But the great burden this morning is, where is that Prince of Peace? He's right here. No problem.

"The Lord knows them which are His." [2 Tim 2:19] You can rest assured, there's a Bride somewhere. Yes sir. 'The Prince of Peace' is here, there's no doubt about it. And His…the extent of His ministry is just as great as we recognize 'The Prince of Peace' walking on the trouble waters to save us, err we sink. Because you will be in trouble waters. Your boat may seemingly go down. You may be heading for the third time, but let me tell you flat, there's a hand waiting there to pull you up. Don't you ever forget it, because He won't lose one, and He will present everyone faultless with exceeding joy and glory unto the Heavenly Father. That's the Word of Almighty God. It's up to you and me to believe It. Shall we rise at this time.

Heavenly Father, we know, Lord, the new day has already dawned, in the remarkable sense that already the dynamic spin for the Kingdom of God on earth has been established by proof, the Word vindicated, manifested for this hour, that we are already right into it, and it isn't going to be very long until there will be a righteous Kingdom on this earth. The roses will not have thorns, the cactus will not be full of thorns, the trees will not be crooked and grotesque. There is going to be peace and harmony and good will, for all nature shall be under the complete thralldom of righteousness, and no longer shall there be any pulls and counter-pulls that are necessary, because one is good and one is evil. But there will be just the two beautiful pulls of the consistency of holiness and righteousness, strength and righteousness, For Thy scepter, O God, strength is a scepter of righteousness right together ruling and reigning.

But, Lord, there is a time here that You've allotted us, a time that must not be wasted. A time, Lord, given to meditate upon the very thing we're talking about this morning. And not just meditate, but to bring it right into full effect and for us, that You are here 'The Prince of Peace'. It's what Your prophet said under the Seventh Seal was a time of relaxing, just put it into the hands of God. Lord, this morning there's so much that I haven't put into your hands, and there's so much I have. And yet I know, Lord, this morning that I have got to admit with everyone here our times are in Your hands. And what are we going to do about it? Nothing, we can't take them out. How can we come against You? It's impossible. How can we defy You? It cannot be done. How can we get away from You as the Scripture Psalmist said, "Though I make my bed hell You're there. I take the wings of the morning, Thou art there." [Ps 139:8]

Oh, troubled mind and heart to come at peace with yourself, because He wants to see you through. Lord, this morning I pray there won't be one of us that miss it, our heads are bowed, our eyes are closed. This morning you're in the same boat I'm in this morning. You say, "Lo, Bro. Vayle, I admit it, I want Him in this great day that lies ahead of me, just a little bit left now before He comes. I know that, I want Him to be my peace as never before no matter what."

I don't know what it's going to take to teach me that, but it's alright for Him to teach me anyway He's going to have to. But I want to make Him my peace. For my sins, if you're unsaved, He'll be for your sins. For your rest in your souls He'll be that. I don't care, just raise your hands with me this morning. That's good.

Heavenly Father, You see all our hands raised this morning. This is what we want, Lord, to crown You, Prince of Peace. We already know He is King of Righteousness. We want the King of Peace in our hearts and minds this morning and the days to come. Grant it, Lord, because these days lie ahead of us, they're not going to change, but one day we're going to be gone. And until that time, work in our lives, and may we rise to the occasion with the apostle Paul who followed You. We ask these mercies in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.