Make Peace, Not War
Notes
Transcript
Ho Hum
Ho Hum
John Knox portrayal in Mary Queen of Scots Movie.
Knox was confronting her for he sin. Knox portrayed in one scene as inciting a riot of the people. Fictional.
Knox even wrestled with this idea of peace, sovereignty and rulers of a nation.
He is portrayed as causing uprisings.
Historically inaccurate and confused at best
WBTU
As Christians we are to seek peace in all things. Especially in a world of turmoil and disruption.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Two choices - you are either acting like a son of God or a son of the enemy, Satan
You are either for Christ or Anti-Christ
You know you are a child of God if you are seeking peace, this third fruit of the Spirit
What does this peace look like? Is it complete submission to all things? Is it rolling over and playing dead?
Look at Jesus for the answer:
It is a peace with God
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Jesus heals this unclean woman, doing what men could not
He sends her off in peace
Shalom - Hebrew word for peace often referred to as deliverance (Salvation)
Picture of what Jesus does for us in bringing peace with God - Reconciliation
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
It is a peace with God’s people
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Jesus sends his disciples to minister in peace
We obey Christ in following him and seeking peace
We let Jesus be responsible for those hostile to His Word
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Jesus is responsible for dividing and harvesting
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Wisdom comes from our dependence in faith on the work of Christ and its sufficiency
This is a picture of our responsibility versus the work of Christ
We are to faithfully seek peace with our fellow Christian - Home, Church, Community, etc . . .
It is peace with the world
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Jesus teaches us to even love our enemies
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
So What?
The Christian who is a child of God seeks to be a peacemaker
Child of God
So that we may see the Lord, Salvation made complete
Put on Christ
No matter where you are you can turn toward Jesus now and receive peace with God
Message
Strive for peace that some may be won to the gospel and become sons of God
John Knox was seeking to reform a church and a country
John Knox
Riot at St. Johns of Perth
He attempted to stop them.
Christians are called to be different on the world, seeking peace in the midst of rioting and civil disturbance.