Peace Talks

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Peace: The Absence of Harm

But if you’ve ever been in a combat situation, an abusive relationship, or babysat a two year old, then you know that peace means so much more than that.

As we continue our sermon series entitled “Fig Trees & Firewood” I want you to know that God has been in peace talks concerning you from the beginning of time and I want you to know that the very peace you’ve been looking for, fighting for, and in some cases, surrendering for, well… that peace already belongs to you. Today, I’ll show you that it has been in your reach this entire time.

Welcome back… welcome guests… Nonfollowers… Pray

(Star Wars Video)

Let me reiterate the main idea today: Peace is more than the mere absence of harm. Any time my kids and I depart, we speak the Aaronic Blessing over each other. You may have heard it before. It’s found in Num 6:24-26

Numbers 6:24–26 NIV

24 “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’

It is true that for my children, I want the absence of harm but I want so much more for them than that. I want their thoughts to reflect the mindset of Php 4:8

Philippians 4:8 NIV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

It is possible to be absent from harm physically, but be under siege mentally and emotionally and that is not peace. Peace experienced only while our tormentor is resting or preoccupied is not peace. Peace that occurs only while we surrender to the attacker is not peace at all. True peace is more than the absence of harm.

True peace,

Real peace is about harmony, oneness, and mutual love within the community of all whom we interact with.

If you have to attack the peace of others for what you want, you’re not at peace. If you have to surrender your convictions for it, that’s not real peace. Real peace is a reconciliation of what is owed and what is paid.

If you’ve ever been to Sam’s Club or Costco’s you know how this works. You pick the items you want and pay for them. Upon leaving the store, there is an attendant there who checks for a receipt that proves both parties are satisfied and in agreement with the exchange. It proves that your situation has been reconciled and therefore, there is no need to get any authorities involved.

You can freely leave the store without fear that someone is coming to reclaim what you took. No one will stop you from consuming, riding, or enjoying your purchase because your debt has been paid in full.

But can you imagine a world where, after swiping a credit card and waking out the store, a bank employee met you at your car and followed you home and sat outside of your house until you paid the credit card off to make sure they didn’t have to repossess what you purchased? How odd, how stressful, how uncomfortable would that be? You’re not being harmed, but there’s certainly no peace in that.

Now imagine a world where, after swiping a credit card and walking out of the store, a bank employee called you to make sure you were satisfied with your purchase and if you needed them to contact the store about any problems with the goods you purchased, just say the word and the bank will take care of everything, including a full refund or replacement if necessary. How’s that for peace?

Here’s the thing! Your bank or lender will probably never love you enough to do that but God does.

How’s that for service? Oh, your heart was broke when you got home? I got you. Wait, you’re blind, how about a new vision? I get it, you’ve been slave to sin. Here you go, chains broken! That’s the business of God! He told us himself in Luke 4:14-30

Luke 4:14–30 NIV

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” 24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

And here’s the thing, if you know anything about Jesus then you know that soon after he told them what they would do, they did it. As he hung on the cross to die for their sins, they mocked him with those words. You might recall, as he hung on the cross both the Roman soldiers and even the criminal hanging next to him demanded he “Save Himself”.

The problem with that is, to save himself would require that he either

fought against those he was dying to save

Or that he

retreated from his God-given assignment to reconcile mankind to God.

Jesus enduring the cross met both extremes in the middle because

On the cross Jesus pleased God by saving us!

And in doing so, He became the ultimate example for agents of reconciliation. And in doing so, he secured peace for all humanity.

As believers, as followers of Christ, it is our duty, our assignment, and our privilege to become agents of reconciliation, peace bearers, who bear peace as a fruit of the spirit.

Imagine what our church would be like if we all took this responsibility, this role as a peacemaker, seriously. I bet we wouldn’t complain over and fight each other about the work that needs to be done to bring people closer to God.

If we really became agents of reconciliation in our homes, both spouses, parents and children, we would raise generations of disciples who honor God in all of their choices.

If we looked to reconcile our neighbors, coworkers, and friends to God, I imagine we would start seeing healing take place in our churches and in our homes. I imagine the crime rates would go down in our neighborhoods and our relationships with our coworkers and friends would go beyond work and weekend outings.

Maybe, if we took our roles seriously we would experience revival in a way the world has never seen. Maybe world peace could become more than an ideal. It could be a reality. But we’ve gotta start somewhere. It might as well be us.

For those of you here for the first time or watching online, I hope your time with us has been worthwhile. I want you to know that this conversation was not intended to judge or condemn you...