Pursuing Peace In Perilous Times

First of all, what is peace?

Garret Graff recently published a book providing an oral history of the attacks that took place September 11, 2001. Quoting one young lady, Chloe, who was born September 11, 2001 and had her 19th birthday this weekend:

“Every single day since I was born, we haven’t been in a time where we were at peace.”

Surely if we think of the demonstrations, peaceful and otherwise, the riots over injustices around the world, the conditions in Beirut, Sudan, Yemen, Afganistan, North Korea, tensions between Greece and Turkey, and of course the recent news of conflict along the sprawling border between China and India, we live in a time when peace seems to be escaping nations.

Add to that a global pandemic, and other threats to our health, hurricanes and typhoons, and fires burning hundreds of thousands of acres, we may get caught up in the news to the point that we lose our own peace of mind and heart.

How can we find peace in such times?

If you can relate to all this, this message is for you.

There are many resources you can turn to if you are trying to find peace.

I suppose many of those sources may help you find more peace in your life.

Today I’d like to focus on what the Bible says about the subject, because I think many of us have been looking for peace in all the wrong places (or we simply don’t know where to look).

First, i think it’s important to understand that a biblical perspective of peace is that it is MORE than simply a lack of conflict..

Peace-(Greek eirene, Hebrew Shalom) is active and proactive-it is psychological, social, and physical wellbeing.

How do we find this kind of wellbeing?

Here are

5 tips to

Proactively Pursue Peace

Jesus said

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Do not let . . . do not

We have to govern our hearts-to govern our thoughts 2 Corinthians 10:5 Bringing every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ.

We must NOT merely pursue our passions or obey our thirsts. We must choose who we become, what we do with the thoughts that come into our hearts and minds, and bring everything into subjection to Jesus.

We MUST be PROACTIVE

But

HOW?

Peace is created within us by

1. Invest time with God

John 20 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

You cannot have the peace of God until you have peace with God.

(Grace & Peace)

Psalm 23

Isaiah 26:3

2. Focus on the Mission of God

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

a. Avoid Conspiracy Theories;

b. Avoid Comparisons with others’ calling

John 21 “What about that disciple?”

3. Receive the Spirit of God

22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. . .” . . . . 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

a. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Spirit is the Spirit of Peace. Receiving Him is receiving peace

b. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is PEACE –Galatians 5-for the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace . . .

4. Talk about your problems with God

Philippians 4 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

5. Think about the Things of God

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.

We MUST Proactively pursue peace

Jesus said

John 14:27 Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We have to govern our hearts-to govern our thoughts Bringing every thought into the captivity of obedience to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

We do this by

Investing Time with God

Focusing on the Call of God

Receiving the Spirit of God

Talking about our Problems with God

&

Thinking (choosing to think) about the Things of God

Peace be with YOU today.