Peace in the House

The Power of Holy Habits: Peace in the House

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit ( ESV).

Introduction: Peace on earth, good will toward men. This is still the call of Christmas. The angel’s song is one that promises peace! Yes, peace on earth; goodwill towards man(kind). This peace and goodwill is to come through our connection to God trough Jesus Christ as we are positioned in the Holy Spirit. Peace on earth goodwill towards men with whom He is well pleased. Well let me remind you as we consider these cooperate holy habits that God is well pleased with His original people the Jews, the children of Israel. We as a people of God must learn to live in peace with them and pray for their peace. The Psalmist wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee ()” Our journey to the Holy Land helped me to see with my own eyes what the scripture asks me to pray for. We must remember that ethnically and culturally Jesus Christ by intention was a Jew. He was by birth a Son of David and will one day sit on the throne, in Jerusalem, of David. We Christians and the Jews have much in common, but most of all we have one common God. The God, by the way, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (all Hebrews).

One of the most tragic feelings that still surrounds the life and ministry of Jesus Christ is anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. Most of it has to do with the events that lead Jesus to the cross. And while the leaders of the Sanhedrin did have a great part to play in the crucifixion without them the sacrifice of the Lamb of God would not have been accomplished. They were just a small group of misguided men, used by Satan, that played into the hands of the Divine plan of God for the redemption of humanity. Even on the cross Jesus cried, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do ().”

This past week Francine Graham and David Anderson opened fire on a cemetery and supermarket in Jersey City. Graham, 50, and David Anderson, 47, are accused of killing a police detective near a Jersey City cemetery and then storming a nearby Jewish market on Tuesday. There, they shot and killed three people in what authorities said were acts of domestic terrorism "fueled by both anti-Semitism and anti-law enforcement beliefs." They were both killed as they in a wild west shoot-out with law enforcement. It is alleged that both Graham and Anderson had interest in the anti-Semitic group “The Black Hebrew Israelites.”

How tragic this event is during this time when we Christians celebrate the birth of, Jesus Christ, the prince of peace. So, the cooperate holy habit I desire to share with us today is to practice is peace in the family of God. This has always been the desire of God.

Background: Hear the words of the LORD through the pen of the prophet Isaiah, “19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him ( (KJV).

Also, on the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, Peter’s invitation said, “39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call ( KJV).

Believers throughout the generations are at peace with God. How do we know this?

Body

I. We have the Path of Peace vv. 17-18 – one sentence

a. Jesus preaches peace – 2 words for preaching 1. euanggelio – good news 2. kursio proclaiming. Paul uses the first one.

i. Afar off – Gentiles

ii. Nearby - Jews

b. The Triune God provides peace – notice the prepositions

i. Through Him (Jesus Christ v. 14) road

ii. By one Spirit (Holy) – vehicle

iii. To the Father (God) – destination

II. We are the Persons of Peace v. 19 – So then!

a. Citizenship – (v. 12) vs (v. 19a) citizens of the kingdom of God.

i. Not a stranger – illegal resident – Gentiles without Christ

ii. Not a sojourner – near by but not in – Jews without Messiah

iii. But when we both recognize who Jesus is we both have peace!

b. Kinship – members of the Family of God.

i. Fellow citizens of the saints – of all times

ii. Family members – we are related to the Jews.

c. The both of us Jew and Gentile.

III. We are the Place of Peace – vv. 20-22 - Architecture/Construction

a. Being built upon the foundation – the apostles and the prophets - the word of God! 20

i. Peace in the place – is based upon the word (apostles and prophets) in your heart and head. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

ii. An old preacher once said, “The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed!”

iii. I believe that the foundation of my faith/peace is in Word of God!

b. The cornerstone – Christ Jesus – He holds it all together!

i. The way maker

ii. Heart fixer

iii. Mind regulator

iv. Lion from the tribe of Judah

v. Way truth and life.

vi. Rock in a weary land

vii. Bread for the hungry

viii. Water for the thirsty

ix. Alpha and Omega

x. First and last

c. The whole structure grows together v.21

i. Whole structure – we are joined together

ii. Grows into a holy temple – we don’t stay the same – we expand.

iii.

d. The resident – God in the Spirit.

i. Being built together – present passive indicative – God is working on us.

ii. Into a dwelling place – Noun accusative singular - God is living in us.

iii. This building and living is an ongoing operation!!!

Conclusion: Let us recognize that Jesus died for the entire world. Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Peter said to all that would listen, repent every one of you and be baptized. Peace in the house of God is priority. Remember he promised Abram, “I will bless them that bless you; I will curse them that curse you.”

Remember that Advent is not just to remind us that Jesus was born, but that He will also come back again.