THE GIFT OF PEACE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TRIANGULATION: It takes at least 3 people to hurt you. One person to say or do something mean. The second person hears that. Then the second person goes to the you, the third person and says what the first person said. Take out one of the three and you will have peace.
LET US PONDER ARE THE UNITED NATION’S FORCES PERSONAL PEACEKEEPERS OR ARE THEY PEACEMAKERS.
The UN Charter states PEACEKEEPERS shall maintain peace and security around the world. 130 nations make soldiers available. The UN Peacekeepers wear blue hats… They go into areas of conflict and they try to keep the warring parties separated.
3 KINDS OF PEACE… 1. PEACE WITH GOD. 2. PEACE WITH FELLOW MAN. 3. PEACE WITH YOURSELF.
HOW MUCH DO WE VALUE PEACE?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEACEMAKERS AND PEACEKEEPERS… THERE ARE TWO ATTITUDES ABOUT PEACE… Do we set a goal about peace?
PEACEMAKERS WALK IN HOPE…
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
PEACEKEEPERS DO NOT LOOK FOR UNITY, THEY LOOK FOR CO-EXISTENCE. Peacekeeper use force to maintain peace with no more fighting.
THERE ARE SOME DRAMA QUEENS THAT LOVE TO STIR UP THE HORNETS NEST…
We had a friend that called these people MAYTAGS --- AGITATORS… agitators can stir up a lot of dirt…
Our goal is peace… WE CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE TO CO-OPERATE AND GET ALONG. We try.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
It must be our goal to do everything we can to live in peace with everyone. This is a goal “If POSSIBLE.”
HOW DO WE KNOW A SKUNK? WHY DO WE KNOW SKUNKS? BY THEIR SMELL? THEY ARE MARKED!
The norm might be if people cannot walk together there is HIDDEN SIN.
WE KNOW ABOUT JOB 7:20, Job says: IF I SIN GOD MARKS ME… MY POISON IVY THEORY… AVOID
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Do people walk TOGETHER hand in hand if they aren't even going the same direction? God does not like DIVISION and a lacking of HARMONY. A divided house cannot stand.
MY SECOND SON IS VERY ALLERGIC TO POISON IVY. Every summer we had to spend several hundred dollars to cure his poison ivy. One day the third year, we walked through the woods. I taught him how to IDENTIFY POISON IVY and POISON OAK. We spent several hours until he knew POISON IVY BY SIGHT. Once he learned to identify poison ivy we never had another problem.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST… MARK OF 666…
BUT DO WE KNOW WE ARE SUPPOSE TO MARK THE PEOPLE THAT CAUSE DIVISION --- THEN AVOID THEM.
THEY SERVE THEIR OWN GOD… THEIR OWN BELLY.
Some people love to play the victim. Other people are hurt and they will hurt everyone they can. Then there are those that are BITTER and ANGRY. Paul warns us of DIVISIVE people that love to create problems, debates and obstacles. ALL YOU CAN DO IS AVOID THEM.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
MY POISON IVY THEORY… AVOID THOSE THAT REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND WALK IN PEACE.
NEVER BE MEAN! NEVER BE UNKIND! JUST AVOID THEM WHEN POSSIBLE AND WALK IN PEACE.
JESUS LOVES PEACEKEEPERS… BUT THE HEART OF GOD IS WITH PEACEMAKERS!
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
You're blessed when you can BE AN EXAMPLE and show people how to cooperate instead of arguing, debating or fighting. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
WE HAVE AN IMPERATIVE COMMAND --- WHY WOULD ANYONE KNOW GOD HAS A FREE GIFT OF PEACE AND THEN REFUSE TO LIVE IN IT DAILY?
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
WHY DO WE NOT REALIZE THERE IS A DIVINE PEACE THAT IS FREE TO ALL THAT WILL RECEIVE? WE HAVE A DUTY AN OBLIGATION TO KEEP GOD’S PEACE IN THE CAMP.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God has the gift of peace. God can bring peace to you, to others and to yourself. Seek peace and before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
COME WITH ME INTO THE REALM OF DIVINE PEACE… THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY
CONCLUSION: BEWARE OF THE CRY FOR A FALSE PEACE.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
NO GOD ---NO PEACE! KNOW GOD --- KNOW PEACE.
We know many examples of PEACEMAKERS… #1 ON THE LIST IS JESUS CHRIST. Others are people like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln. Are you a peace maker?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Live in peace.
