Where do we want peace?

• We want things like world peace. 
• We want things like peace in our relationships.
• We want some peace and quiet!

But what if peace isn’t just the absence of noise and chaos? What if real, lasting peace comes from somewhere else entirely?

[Matthew 5:9]

“God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God.”

WE WANT THE PEACE WITHOUT THE PROCESS OR THE PAIN

1. Peace in me

An anonymous quote by rabbi on his deathbed, “when I was young, I set out to change the world. When I grew a little older, I perceived that this was too ambitious, so I set out to change my state. This too, I realized as I grew older, was too ambitious, so I set out to change my town. When I realize that I could not even do this, I try to change my family. Now as an old man, I know that I should’ve started by changing myself. If I started with myself, maybe then, I would have succeeded in changing my family, the town, or even the state and who knows, maybe even the world!”

[Matthew 10:34-35]

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.  ‘I have come to set a man against his father,  a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’

2. Peace around me

[Romans 12:17-18]

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

[Matthew 18:15–17] 

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

3. Peace through me

[2 Corinthians 5:18-20]

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

[Matthew 5:10-12]

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

[John 16:33]

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

[Romans 8:18] 

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

We are warned that persecution is coming so that we know we’re on the right path!

[James 1:2-4]

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

[Matthew 5: 11-12]

Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.

 “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” ~ Jim Elliot

[Matthew 7:24- 26]

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Are you living with the attitude of wanting THE PEACE WITHOUT THE PROCESS OR THE PAIN

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