Keeping the Peace

Matthew 5:9 NASB95

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

Conflicts, mowing the weeds vs pulling them, having good relationships with people, even those we disagree with.

To the world, it makes sense to hold grudges, to not settle issues civilly, to “win,” to “be right”, and all that.

BIG POINTS - Humbly be right, humbly be wrong, go above and beyond to make things right, to the point you can.

Romans 12:18 NASB95

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

PHIL. 4:1-7 - look at how Paul starts - “Brothers” - a desire for great fellowship; these are people Paul wants to be with. These are people you’d want to be with.

Are WE people that others would want to be with? Why? Why not?

Paul’s life was better because he knew these people. I’m excited because I know you.

Peace is Possible

Expected, even through hardship

Coptic churches

OK, what about us, here? Great example in this text in chapter 4

Verse 1 - Stand firm (military term) - city of military - “don’t be dismayed or divided by turmoil or disagreements” - We have a bigger task in front of us, and we need to join together, suck it up, and get this done. Roman army stood firm, unmoved by enemy.

We’ve let the enemy move us. Time to stop and stand firm.

1) Inter-personal - among ourselves

REM - “already not yet” - saved, justified, but not glorified yet

It’s important to know HOW to do this; also VERY IMPORTANT to DO IT!

Church is not a “concept” but believers involved in each others’ lives as we follow Christ together.

Euodia and Syntyche (YOO-oh-DEE-uh and Soon-TOO-kay)

Some discord, disagreement - NOT theological or moral, just two people not getting along - Paul pleads with each by name

Serious enough to address - could apparently hurt the church

But also not so serious - faith in them to work it out and correct the problem

Put the cause of Christ and the church BEFORE your own personal disagreement

Great template to use - find a mediator, a “neutral party” to help

This takes great maturity

Much easier to just ignore it, pretend it’s “fine”

Paul appeals to a prominent person in the church

Why help them?

Well, they are Christian sisters, in the church! And they fight for the Gospel!

US - hard to do this right, all the time

Me, texting, impersonal, social media, impersonal

And then I do the same thing, good intentions and motives, but failed to see someone else’s perspective

Then what?

Go to person, ask forgiveness, no excuses, my “being right” is still there, but it takes a back seat

Definitely NOT gossip, nobody else’s business

WE are to address issues like this: objectively, frankly, lovingly, spiritually

2) The Cure for Anxiety

Not a pill, that only treats the symptoms

Four HUGE commands

REJOICE - REJOICE!

Have a gentle spirit, or gentleness - kindness, tolerant (not tolerant of error, but of each other as believers!)

Don’t be anxious - about ANYTHING

Be in prayer - for EVERYTHING

With thanks

THEN…peace - transcends, surpasses all your comprehension, “better than your mind”

There is NO situation beyond the Lord’s control! If nothing else, REJOICE in that.

Put your “rights” aside for a moment, and help a brother or sister in conflict, settle conflicts, TODAY

Behave like Jesus was right here (actually, He IS!)

This is the quality He expects to see in His people

Prayer cures anxiety - enough said!

Our attitude of gratitude should accompany true approaches to Yahweh, the Father.

There are situations we cannot explain, we cannot control, we cannot make sense of

In these times, peace is the ONLY thing that will meet what our hearts really need.

PEACE STANDS GUARD

Peace is on duty, to keep out anything that brings worry, anxiety

Reminds me of Jesus, in John 10 - shepherd, lying at the entrance to the sheepfold

Danger is crazy, just on the other side, but you are safe.

Man, I want to bring other people in here, into the sheepfold, where anxiety can be done!