Peace with the brethren
Notes
Transcript
Jesus our peace
Jesus our peace
Our Prince of peace (Isa9:6)
Peace with God (Rom5:1)
Peace with mankind (Eph2:11-17)
Peace with yourself (Php4:7-8)
Peace in family (Eph5:29-6:3)
Today we look at peace with the brethren (the church, the body of believers)
Jesus offers peace with the brethren, but I want to pause on that word for just a few minutes.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Inserted: Greek word “adelphos” and does mean “brother” but also used by Paul in this verse with much deeper meaning.
During days of Alexander the great, he conquered known world with his brethren, fellow soldiers, warriors, comrades. They fought the same fight, shared similar feelings, desires, fears and overcame adversities together. They lived out Ecc4:9-12, and will come back to that later.
Brethren do not give up the fight, they keep fighting together, are committed to one another and stay the course, they fight the good fight of faith even when difficult or unpopular.
Our adversary the devil wants to accuse us, stop us, distract us, discourage us, derail us, but when we, the brethren, stick together and stay in the fight we are more than overcomers together.
Turn to and read Ecc4:9-12
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
(Transition) There is a need for peace in all the areas mentioned we have done before and peace within the brethren, the church, the body of believers.
The need for peace with brethren
The need for peace with brethren
For a lack of peace hinders our message
Peace, brother love reinforces our claim, our message (turn to read Jn13:34-35)
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Brotherly peace, unity that God sent the Christ reinforces our claim too (summ: Jn17:20-23)
When there is no peace, love and unity cannot reinforce our message, our claim.
There can be a problem within the brethren (turn to read 1Cor3:1-4
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
The problem of carnality
Carnality, our flesh can bring an assortment of problems bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance that lies against the truth, and where there is disorder and every evil thing, just the opposite than that that comes from above. (ref: Jm3:13-18)
When there is no peace it may be a sign, and indication of spiritual immaturity.
(Transition) We should seek the peace, the unifying peace that Jesus offers to the brethren, the fellow soldiers, comrades!
Jesus offers true peace to the brethren
Jesus offers true peace to the brethren
Jesus offers true peace by His own example (Ref: Jn13:34)
Paul pointed to the example of Christ, turn with me to Rom15:1-3
1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
Then lookdown at Rom15:5-7
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
Jesus examples peace in mindset and we are called to have that mindset (ref: Php2:3-8)
By Christs only humility and selfless service Jesus shows us the way to have peace with the brethren.
How about the Apostles teaching?
Pursue peace (turn to Rom14:17-19)
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Live in peace (ref: 2Cor13:11)
Be diligent to maintain it (turn to Eph4:1-3)
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Let peace rule our hearts (ref: Col3:15)
Be at peace with one another (ref: 1The5:13)
And peace we need to pursue (turn to Hebrews 12:14)
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Peter speaks of compassion, love, being tenderhearted and courteous and not repaying evil for evil (ref: 1Pt3:8-9)
Then Peter, like the Hebrew writer says, pursue peace (turn to 1Pt3:10-12)
10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. 12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
And then turn to 2Pt3:14
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
This is how we want to be found by Christ!
when we take these simple admonishments and apply them it goes a long ways towards peace, maintaining peace with the brethren.
The peace Jesus offers to the brethren
The peace Jesus offers to the brethren
We need it in the midst of this wicked/perverse generation (Ref: Php2:15); a peace needed and offered in his family (consider Eph2:14-17)
turn to Ps133:1
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Peace that is good, that is pleasant for we dwell together in unity.
May we pursue peace, maintain peace, and bring peace when we gather together as the brethren. Letting the peace of God rule our hearts (again ref: Col3:15)
A peaceful conclusion, brethren
A peaceful conclusion, brethren
to have peace, maintain peace within the brethren it takes diligence (ref: Eph4:3); in doing it is brings the bond of peace.
We can enjoy, embrace peace with the brethren when we pursue it (ref: Heb12:14) and follow Christ’s example (ref: Rom15:1-3, 5-7).
We can do this as we strive together applying the admonishment of the apostles.
Invitation: First though we need peace with God
(Song) (Prayer) (Exit)