PEACE THROUGH ME

INTRO

WE ARE LIVING IN THE MOST CONNECTED GENERATION IN HUMAN HISTORY…AND SOMEHOW THE MOST DIVIDED. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN EVER, MORE PLATFORMS THAN EVER, AND LESS PEACE THAN EVER.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WATCH THE NEWS VERY LONG TO FEEL IT.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SCROLL SOCIAL MEDIA VERY FAR TO SEE IT.

YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE, DIVISION HAS MADE ITS WAY INTO OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDSHIPS, OUR WORKPLACES, AND EVEN OUR CHURCHES.

OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE’VE TALKED ABOUT PEACE WITH GOD AND PEACE IN US. BUT PEACE WAS NEVER MEANT TO END WITH US FEELING BETTER. JESUS DIDN’T COME JUST TO CALM YOUR HEART, HE CAME TO CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE LIFE AT A TIME.

JESUS DIDN’T SAVE YOU JUST TO SURVIVE THE WORLD, HE SAVED YOU TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD.

IF PEACE NEVER LEAVES US, WE’VE MISUNDERSTOOD IT.

SOME PEOPLE WALK INTO A ROOM AND TENSION RISES. OTHERS WALK IN AND PEACE FOLLOWS IT.

YOU DON’T BRING PEACE BECAUSE YOU’RE CALM, YOU BRING PEACE BECAUSE YOU CARRY CHRIST.

BIG IDEA

PEACE DOESN’T STOP WITH ME, IT FLOWS THROUGH ME.

Luke 2:10–14 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

1. PEACEMAKERS REFLECT THE HEART OF GOD.

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

A. PEACE IS NOT PASSIVE, IT’S INTENTIONAL.

PEACE DOESN’T HAPPEN ACCIDENTALLY, IT’S CHOSEN DELIBERATELY.

PEACE DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN, IT HAS TO BE MADE.

IF PEACE IS PASSIVE, JESUS WOULDN’T CALL US PEACEMAKERS.

B. PEACEMAKERS DON’T AVOID CONFLICT, THEY REDEEM IT.

PEACEKEEPERS AVOID TENSION.

PEACEMAKERS STEP INTO IT WITH GRACE AND TRUTH.

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

PEACEKEEPERS KEEP THE QUIET, PEACEMAKERS CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE.

AVOIDING CONFLICT MAY FEEL PEACEFUL, BUT IT RARELY PRODUCES PEACE.

C. GOD USES PEACEMAKERS TO REVEAL HIS CHARACTER.

GOD IS A GOD OF RECONCILIATION.

WHEN WE BRING PEACE, WE REFLECT HIS NATURE.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

WHEN YOU BRING PEACE, YOU SHOW PEOPLE WHAT GOD IS LIKE.

PEACEMAKING IS HOW GOD’S LOVE BECOMES VISIBLE.

2. PEACEMAKERS CHANGE ENVIRONMENTS WITH THEIR WORDS.

A. WORDS CAN CALM CHAOS OR CREATE IT.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

ATMOSPHERES RISE AND FALL ON WORDS.

YOUR WORDS DON’T JUST COMMUNICATE, THEY CREATE.

PEACE OFTEN ENTERS A ROOM THROUGH SOMEONE’S WORDS.

B. ENCOURAGEMENT IS A SPIRITUAL WEAPON.

ENCOURAGEMENT ISN’T OPTIONAL, IT’S TRANSFORMATIONAL.

JESUS CONSTANTLY SPOKE LIFE INTO BROKEN PEOPLE.

Ephesians 4:29 NLT

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

ENCOURAGEMENT ISN’T SOFT, IT’S POWERFUL.

ONE LIFE-GIVING WORD CAN SHIFT AN ENTIRE ATMOSPHERE.

C. SPEAKING PEACE IS A CHOICE, NOT A PERSONALITY TRAIT.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE LOUD, OUTGOING, OR BOLD.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL.

Colossians 3:15 NLT

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

YOU DON’T NEED THE RIGHT PERSONALITY TO BRING PEACE, YOU NEED THE POSTURE.

PEACE FLOWS THROUGH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURRENDERED THEIR VOICE TO GOD.

3. PEACEMAKERS CARRY JESUS INTO BROKEN PLACES.

A. WE ARE AMBASSADORS, NOT SPECTATORS.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

YOU REPRESENT JESUS WHEREVER YOU GO.

YOU DON’T GO PLACES ALONE, YOU GO CARRYING HEAVEN.

EVERY ROOM YOU WALK INTO BECOMES A MISSION FIELD.

B. COMPASSION OPENS DOORS THAT ARGUMENTS NEVER WILL.

JESUS WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION BEFORE HE MOVED WITH POWER.

Matthew 9:36 NLT

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

PEOPLE DON’T NEED TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE THEY’RE CARED FOR.

COMPASSION DISARMS WHERE ARGUMENTS DIVIDE.

PEOPLE DON’T FEEL PEACE UNTIL THEY FEEL SEEN.

C. GOD’S PEACE SPREADS WHEN HIS PEOPLE SHOW UP.

PEACE IS CONTAGIOUS.

WHEN BELIEVERS ENTER BROKEN SPACES, LIGHT ENTERS DARKNESS.

Romans 10:15 NLT

And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

WHERE GOD SENDS YOU, PEACE IS RELEASED.

YOU MAY BE THE ANSWER TO SOMEONE ELSE’S PRAYER FOR PEACE.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

PEACE WITH GOD CHANGES MY ETERNITY. PEACE IN ME CHANGES THE STORMS IN LIFE. PEACE THROUGH ME CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND ME.

EARTH MAY NEVER EXPERIENCE PEACE, BUT BECAUSE OF JESUS, THE PEOPLE OF GOD CAN BRING IT.