Making peace with enemies

(Transition) Today as we conclude our series how to have peace, how Jesus makes a way for us to be at peace with our enemies. (one who dislikes us because of our Christianity; or just personal dislike for other reasons).

The need for peace

They can be all around you (i.e. Lk19:43)

Can be even in your own household (i.e. Mt10:36)

Believe it or not even within the church (i.e. 1Jn2:19)

And yes, our adversary himself, Satan (i.e. 1Pt5:8)

(Transition) yep, the need is there, and we need to be ready, sober, alert, for the enemies can be very troublesome.

Enemies can bring persecution (turn to Mt5:10-11)

Matthew 5:10–11 NASB95

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Could be one day physical persecution (ref: Mt10:17)

Enemies can bring spiritual turmoil too (turn to 2Cor11:26; Then ref: Gal2:4)

2 Corinthians 11:26 NASB95

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

These can be problems alone, within the family, at work, in community, enemies can be troublesome anywhere.

Jesus told us to expect tribulation (turn to Jn15:18-20)

John 15:18–20 NASB95

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

He also promised peace, His peace he would leave with us as noted in (Jn16:33)

(Transition)- while we cannot avoid, escape all tribulations, there is a way, through Jesus to reduce the conflict, lets look at:

Jesus makes peace possible with enemies

First by making way for peace with God (Jn14:6; Rom5:1; then turn to Pr16:7)

Proverbs 16:7 NASB95

7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Are you at peace with God? (expand)

Next, by His and apostles teaching to love our enemies (turn to Mt5:44; ref: Lk6:27, 35 too)

Matthew 5:44 NASB95

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Turn to Rom12:14-21

Romans 12:14–21 NASB95

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I know long passage but this peaceful passage needs to be in context

This is the greater love, agape love described in (ref: 1Cor13:4-8

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NASB95

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

This same agape love that God poured out even when we were His enemies (turn to Rom5:6-11

Romans 5:6–11 NASB95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

(Transition) - the way of peace, God’s peace is to love one another as God loves us.

The peace Jesus makes possible

Martin Luther King Jr. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

God’s love transformed us as we just read (Rom5:10) while yet enemies, but consider (turn to Col1:21-22)

Colossians 1:21–22 NASB95

21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Love for others can transform enemies to friends, consider Joseph and his brothers (ref: Gdn50:15-21)

Or turn with me to (1Pt2:9-10)

1 Peter 2:9–10 NASB95

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

So, here is the challenge for today, from Jesus own words (turn to Mt5:44-48)

Matthew 5:44–48 NASB95

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Choose to be a peacemaker with God, mankind, yourself, families, brethren, churches, and yes with your enemies for when we apply this we apply Christ like actions and love!

(Invitation slide inserted here) May the Lord’s peace be in you and seen through you today