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Are you “Peace Full?”
Our God is the Lord of Peace! His children should be children of peace! Are you full of peace? Why not?
We need to understand God’s definition of peace and then make peace with 3 types of people. Join Pastor Chris Fluit as we learn to make peace with God, others, and ourself.
Welcome back to Redemption Church in Plano TX. My name is Chris Fluitt.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I hope no one went hungry on Thanksgiving. I hope you ate til you were full.
Full (title slide)
We are finishing up our series called full today. God intends us to be THANK FULL, MERCY FULL, GRACE FULL, JOY FULL. We serve a God who does not want you to be empty.
The first verses of the Bible tell us that our creator looked down at a world that was formless & void… the world was chaotic and empty. God set things in order and began to fill the emptiness of the world. He filled the world with light, beauty, life. God created man & woman and wanted them to multiply to FILL the Earth. God wanted mankind to fill the earth. And God also looks into the hearts of people of fills them to over flowing.
If you feel chaotic & empty today we have good news that the creator wants to speak to you and bring order and fullness to your life.
On this last week of the series we are giving you the truth that God wants you to be Peace Full.
Peace Full
Peace is an essential truth to scripture. It appears 420 times in scripture! (KJV)
God intends us to experience peace and to extend peace to others. God wants us to be full of peace, so that we walk in peace, speak in peace, think in peace, and live in peace.
Do we understand what peace is? Do we have a good working definition for peace? Could there be a difference in how God defines peace, and how the world defines peace?
John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jesus declares He has a peace that is not as the world gives.
The world defines peace as a lack of war and conflict or freedom from disturbance & tranquility. This definition is focused on the external.
- If I can get all the problems around me to stop…
- If we can get that nation to stop bombing that nation…
- If you would just stop being a jerk face…
The world believes in a peace that is caused by solving external problems. This peace is largely impossible, because there are often external problems.
Are you pointing to all the external problems in your life as the reason you have no peace?
God gives a peace that stands regardless of external conflict
You want this kind of peace that no longer relies on fixing every problem in your world. You can have peace in the middle of storms, tests, and wars. You don’t have to wait for the covid 19 pandemic to subside in order to have peace. You can have peace in the hospital waiting room while your loved one has their heart on a table. You can have God’s peace in the midst of uncertainty. The Lord will prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies.
We need to understand God’s peace. I have 1 Hebrew word and 1 Greek word I want to teach you.
Shalom – wholeness Eirēnē – unity
Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. It is used in greetings to this day. The next time you speak with a Hebrew tell them “Shalom.”
This Hebrew word means “wholeness,” as in not lacking anything and being complete or “FULL.”
God intends for you to have shalom peace within you. A peace that you have everything you need. You are not looking for the missing piece of your life to be happy. God was the missing piece and you already found Him, and now you have shalom peace.
One of the names of God is Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24) and it means HE IS MY PEACE.
Eirēnē is a Greek word for Peace. The root word is eirō and it means to join together to make a whole.
Like the Hebrew word Shalom, this Greek word means wholeness, but it is a wholeness from brokenness. There was a breaking and now the pieces are not whole, but in Eirēnē peace the broken pieces are brought back together into unity, wholeness, and completion.
God wants you to have a whole, complete, peace. I want to talk to you about 3 people you need to have peace with.
Peace with God
If you lack peace with God you are lacking everything. You will never feel complete or whole. You will always be struggling with the external situations of life.
Our God is the Lord of Peace.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
The prophet Isaiah described the coming of Jesus and called Him the prince of peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And at the birth of this prince of peace the angels declared peace.
Luke 2:14 (NIV) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Earth, stop looking for the answer to external problems. Stop looking to fill your void & emptiness through external prosperity. THE PRINCE OF PEACE HAS COME! The answer to your chaos and void has arrived – His name is Jesus!
We must have peace with this God, and Jesus is how you make peace with God.
Romans 5:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Jesus’ death upon the cross brings us peace with God.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Christians are quick to quote this verse. That is a great thing. This is a powerful verse about the cross written hundreds of years in advance. AND YET as Christians quote it they usually quote part of it.
I mainly hear people quote the last phrase… “by his wounds/stripes we are healed.” I often hear people quote the first part of the verse “He was wounded/pierced for our transgressions… our iniquities.” I rarely hear people quote the phrase about peace quoted.
The peace He purchased for us on the cross is not anything lesser than the salvation & healing we openly celebrate. The power of His peace is not 2nd rate… it is not a consolation prize…
We should spend more time quoting “the punishment that brought us peace was on him.”
Claim the forgiveness of sins & salvation!
Claim the healing of His stripes!
CLAIM the peace that he purchased with His punishment!
The cross says YOU SHOULD HAVE PEACE! Father make us FULL of your peace! Father we want peace with you. We want to be whole and complete in You.
This peace has been purchased. It has been delivered. Do not let it sit out on the porch and be pilfered by a porch pirate like so many Amazon deliveries.
Peace with God
Be PEACE FULL and have Peace with God.
Peace with God is easy compared to this next one… God requires us to have peace with others.
Peace with Others
God is faithful. He is immutable, meaning unchanging. His attitude towards me does not change. He loves me 100% of the time.
People on the other hand… Have you ever had trouble with people?
From a young age, around 10 years old I remember telling God how easy it was to love Him but how hard it was to love others. I remember telling God “You God, I want. But I don’t want a single other person. I love you God and that is enough right?”
How do you think the rest of that conversation went? I remember the Lord telling me that is was not enough… it was not ok… You can’t decide to be in Heaven with me after saying ‘to Hell with everyone else.”
“You can’t decide to be in Heaven with me after saying ‘to Hell with everyone else.’” – God
There is a lot of scripture to back that up. I have included select passages in my sermon notes available online.
John 13:34 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
1 John 4:11 ESV Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Philippians 2:3-4 ESV Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 John 4:7-21 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Proverbs 10:12 ESV Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Matthew 5:43-48 ESV “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? …
1 Peter 4:8 ESV Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Ephesians 4:2 ESV With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Proverbs 17:17 ESV A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV Let all that you do be done in love.
But for now I want to tell you that the Lord of Peace has children of peace.
Children of Peace
I don’t think there is a better scripture to say this than what our savior said in the sermon on the mount atop the mount of Olives.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
We had a president once misquote this in a speech. Bill Clinton’s speech writer wrote, “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the Earth.” Nice try Washington D.C. The meek shall inherit the Earth and I invite a politician to try that out.
Jesus says PEACEMAKERS… those that are so full of God’s peace that they make peace with others… these peacemakers are called the Children of God.
So flip the script. If you are war like, cutting everyone down, hateful and vengeful… what does that say about you being called God’s child?
So you should be peaceful. But who should you be peaceful towards?
Romans 12:18 (NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
What a verse this is! God wants us to live at peace with everyone. Stop picking and choosing who you will live in peace with.
Now go to the start of the verse. These words are important. “If it is possible…” There are some situations where it is not possible. I would suggest you PEACEABLY remove yourself from those situations.
Another translation says it this way “as much as it is possible.” I think that is better. It may not be ideal. It may not ever be the relationship you want it to be. It may always be a one way street as you operate with these people and circumstances… but AS MUCH AS IT IS POSSIBLE… LIVE AT PEACE.
And then that phrase in the middle “as far as it depends on you.” The writer, Paul, is telling us that we are not responsible for the actions of others, but we are responsible for our response. They may have said something, done something, or neglected to say or do something… but as far as it depends on you, live at peace.
It is easy to say “I am loving. I am peaceful. I am a good Christian,” until someone punches you in the nose. When that happens we will really know what is lying inside you. When you squeeze something with pressure, what is on the inside comes out. Make sure PEACE is on the inside and in those moments, let God’s peace come out.
Paul is not not saying you should let people abuse you or take advantage of you. He is saying “If it is possible… with the peace that dwells in you… live at peace with everyone.” A scripture like that might chase you to this altar today. Let the Word of God work on you today.
God wants us to live in peace with others.
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without it (peace & holiness) no one will see the Lord.
I was raised in a “holiness” church. We preached a lot on holiness. I heard this scripture quoted all my life. I would hear the words “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” They were not wrong, but they left out the peace. We would hear a sermon on holiness, say amen and pat ourselves on the back, and then live unpeaceful lives. Without PEACE & HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.
Peace & Holiness are almost synonymous terms. You can’t be holy as the Lord is holy if you are not peaceful as the Lord is peaceful.
Romans 14:19 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Make every effort!
-Pray
-Forgive
-Listen
-Let your disagreements be peaceable and not disunifying
-Focus on agreement
-Do not escalate the contention, cover it with grace
-Not sure what else to do… PRAY FOR THEM IN LOVE
Peace with God
We need Peace with God, and this Lord of peace will have Children of peace who are peaceful to others.
Peace with Others
And if peace with others was not a struggle enough… perhaps the hardest of all…
Peace with Ourself
The greatest conflict comes from within. It is possible have peace with God and others and to be at war within yourself.
There is a battle within your mind. This is why scripture tells you to…
Romans 12:2 Transform & renew your mind.
2 Corinthains 10:5 take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
James 1:8 a double minded man is unstable in every way.
You need peace in your mind and peace in your heart.
Philippians 4:7 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The peace of God will keep, it will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ I have a peaceful heart and peaceful mind. It transcends all understanding but it is 100% real!
Even though you messed up in the past – there is peace for you.
Even though you did the wrong thing – there is peace for you.
Even though you are now experiencing difficulty that you brought upon yourself through unwise decisions – there is peace for you.
You need to be at peace with yourself.
We have so many sermons on forgiving others… Forgive yourself.
We have so many lessons on restoring others… All yourself to be restored.
So many Connect Group discussions on patience and care for others… Be patient with yourself and care for yourself.
Love others… but love yourself. Love your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF! Do not forget that you need everything you are trying to give to others.
A man I have great respect for is Pastor Rande Greene in Beaver Creek Ohio. Earlier this year I asked Him what is one thing God is showing Him and He said “Chris I am learning to ask for prayer.”
I was shocked… because we ask for prayer when we are struggling. We ask for sin when we may be sinning. We ask for sin when we are self destructing… Pastor Greene said “I do not know what tomorrow holds and it may require more of me than I have… I need strength from God… more than I have now… grace from God… peace from God… wisdom from God… and I am realizing that what God wants to call me into will require more than I have.”
Hear the Wisdom of the Lord. While you are praying prayer warrior… pray for yourself and have others pray for you. WE DO NEED MORE than we are currently operating in.
We need the peace of God. We need peace with God, with others, and with ourselves.
Musician
I want to let the Word of God speak one more time before we come worship and pray today.
Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV) Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
When did peace arrive?
It is easy to see peace at work when Jesus rebukes the storm and it becomes completely calmed… but I want to draw your attention to verse 24… In the midst of the furious storm Jesus was peacefully sleeping.
I love it when Jesus calms my storm, but maybe He was trying to teach His disciples to experience peace in the storm. I believe Jesus wants you to know there is a peace to be had IN THE STORM. Stop thinking htat peace comes after the storm.
2020 has been a stormy year… I can’t wait for this all to be over is the common sentiment. BUT I DECLARE Jesus has peace for you right now in the storm.
Final verse…
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.