Peace

PEACE

Philippians 4 verses 4-9; Colossians 3 verses 15-17

Opening question:

We all long for peace, yet few seem to find it. How would you define the word PEACE?

Some background notes for leaders:

If you Google www.wordsoffaithhopelove.com/What is peace in the bible there is a short video (under 4 minutes) with a useful summary.

The various words for “peace” are found 429 times in the King James Version of the Bible – inner peace; peace with God; peace with others; false peace.

The primary Hebrew word is SHALOM which speaks of our relationship with others (Gen 34.21), with nations (1 Kings 5.12) and with God (Ps 85.8). Peace is the desired state in each of these areas, and is often linked to a covenant or a promise kept.

True peace is a gift from God (Is 45.7; Jn 14.27), and the presence of peace in our lives shows God’s blessing on our obedience and faith.

Peace can be counterfeited. It is too easy to make empty promises of peace (Obad 1.7). False teachers can speak of peace at a time when God speaks of judgement (Ez 13.10-16; Jer 6.14).

In the New Testament the primary word for peace is EIRENE = rest and tranquility. Isaiah predicted the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace (Is 9.6) and the angels sang of the coming of Jesus as bringing peace on earth (Lk 2.14).

As Christians we have an obligation to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Col 3,15), and peace is one of the 9 fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5.22-23).

There will always be wars and interpersonal conflicts until Jesus returns to establish true and lasting peace (Is 11.1-10), but God promises his inner peace to those who truly trust him. Once we have this peace we are obliged to share it with others; we are to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5.18).

 “Biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict or state of rest. It means completeness or wholeness, and points to the presence of something else.”

READ Philippians 4 verses 4-9

 A call for unity within the local church fellowship. Paul starts with quarrelling individuals, Euodia and Syntyche (2) but moves to a general exhortation to all believers.

How important is unity in a local church today? Do you see our church in Ashtead as a united church?

What do you understand by “keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”?

It is a mind renewed in Christ which needs to grow in our lives – without this we can easily go the way of the world and jeopardize the cause of the gospel. Our key focus in life should be to become more and more like Jesus.

Why do we need to know that the God of peace is with us?

The presence of God can easily become a credal statement rather than a living reality. We know God is with us (theoretically) but in practice we can easily lack a real sense of his presence. We need to know, deep within, the reality of God with us.

Three promises:

1                    that our lives will be touched with a mark of the supernatural – something which passes all understanding (7). We should expect things to happen in our lives which cannot easily be explained, other than, “This is the finger of God” (Ex 8.19). How often do people see the “finger of God” in our lives/the life of our church?

2                    that God’s peace will guard us and God himself will be with us. The picture is of a besieged castle. If the castle is captured, then this leads to backsliding and spiritual decay. If the castle is held, spiritual progress takes place. God’s presence in power and experience.

3                    the promise of peace. “Peace” can be like a soft marshmallow, full of softness and sweetness, but with little substance. The “God of peace” is a God who makes peace between himself and sinners. The God of peace is also the God of salvation who does away with sin by the cross of his Son.

“Each of us is placed in a position of great responsibility; the outward march and the resolute stand of the church in the world depends, in the final human analysis, on the state of my heart, the quality of my holiness.” (Alec Motyer) How does this make you feel? Do you see yourself as making a stand for Christ in the world?

This is not really about peaceful feelings. SHALOM has the root meaning of “wholeness”. It is a relational word which includes UPWARDS peace with God and OUTWARD peaceful integration within the community of God’s people. It is in outward and visible ways (e.g. Euodia and Synthyche restoring their relationship) that the effectiveness of God’s peace becomes apparent as a mark of the supernatural in our lives.

What do you think is happening when we share the “Peace” with one another in our Communion Services?

Pre-Covid (can you remember?) it was often a time of buzzing, kissing, hugging, the occasional handshake, and lots of smiling. To what purpose? At the start of the Service we have a time of confession – a time to get right with God. Now, just before we approach the Lord’s table and take bread and wine to remind us of what Jesus has done for us, we have an opportunity to be at peace with those around us; to restore fractured relationships. And then – and only then – are we in a position to approach the Lord’s table (Matt 5.23-24).

But to enjoy the promises we have to obey the commands. Can you pick out  the 4 commands in these verses?

1                    Relationships – the centrality of Christ (4-5). We should so long for the smile of his approval that nothing else really matters. What do you think Paul means when he says, “Rejoice in the Lord”? We are to imitate Christ in the way we live, until his coming again.

2                    Circumstances (6). The antidote to anxiety – and the prelude to peace – are to be found in prayer and thanksgiving. How might anxiety be resolved through thanksgiving? By accepting the situation we are in as something the all-wise, all-loving, all-sovereign God is aware of and will help you through it.

3                    Thoughts (8). Think about = ponder. Say you are in a difficult relationship – if you allow your thoughts/judgements to be clouded by half-truth, or allow damaging thoughts about the other person to simmer in your mind, then that is not being Christ-like. Can we think what is attractive and praiseworthy about the other person? Not easy!!

4                    Behaviour (9). The authority of the Word of God. How seriously do you submit to scripture?

If we ignore the commands, then we must be prepared to forgo the blessings.

A brief look at Colossians 3.15-17 (time permitting):

Let the peace of Christ rule … these words are sometimes seen as a guide to making decisions. But Paul is not here speaking of an inner sense of peace as God’s gift to believers. As Christians (very diverse in character) we have been called into a single body, so it is inconceivable that those who share the benefits of the peace-making work of Christ on the cross (1.20) should live in a way which is not at one with other believers. If Christ is truly ruling in our hearts then his peace will be seen in our relationships with one another.

Not always easy – is this something you need to change in your own life?

PRAYER

For peace – in the wider world. especially Ukraine but in many other situations too.

For peace in our hearts – that we may really know the peace which Christ came to bring

For peace in our church – that we may truly be at peace with one another. Take time to reflect on the implications of this.