General-Theme: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Sub-Theme: Peace: An essential Ingredient for Christian Living
Texts: Isaiah 1:11 – 22; Romans 12: 9 – 21; Matthew 5: 9, 23
Aim: To teach every true Christian that peace is indeed an essential ingredient for Christian Living.
INTRODUCTION:
More wars have been fought and more blood has been shed in the name of religion than any other cause. Countless millions have been slaughtered in the name of God, Allah, Budha, Mohammed, Christ – for thousands of years, Christian killing Jew, Jew hating Muslim, the Muslim against Hindu, Christian fighting Christians, Shiite versus Sunni, Sikh against Hindu, endless rivers of blood, supposedly shed to rid the world of evil men and make way for peace.
Is it possible for people of varied faiths and cultures to live at peace in this world? When one considers the fragmentation and divisions even among Christians or the never ending conflict between Palestinians and Jews, Muslims and Christians, prospects for peace seem dim indeed. Some, aware of the dark record of history, would abolish all religions, some would combine all religions!
Some years ago, leading statesmen and religious leaders were proposing a New World Order, a plan that many sincerely believed could bring peace on earth. A unity was envisioned that would transcend instinctive barriers that had long separated cultures and religions. Sadly, peace has not been attained globally as expected. It is obvious that the world cannot achieve or provide peace. (Jeremiah 6:14; John 14:27; 16:33), because it cannot deal with the problem of sin. Thus God’s peace that guards the Christian’s heart and mind “surpasses every thought” (Philippians 4:7).
WHAT IS PEACE AND WHERE CAN WE FIND IT?
Peace, according to this context, means the inner calm that results from confidence in one’s saving relationship with Christ – the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Peace as Christian character, is one of the nine graces emanating from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). A combination of all the graces present a moral portrait of Christ. (cf Numbers 6:26; Psalm 29:11; 85:8; Isaiah 32:17; Micah 5:5; Matthew 10:13; Romans 15:33; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrew12:14). We can find peace in Christ (Isaiah 9:6,7; John 14:27; 16:33, 20:19; Luke 1:79; Colossians 3:15).
In Isaiah 1:11-22 – Judah and Israel were in a state of hopelessness, fear and imminent attack by their enemies, to sum it up, they had no peace.
God cautioned them against empty ritualism as He showed total aversion toward their hypocritical religion (verse 11-15). God advised them to put away the evil of their doings while encouraging them to engage in good works such as deeds to the fatherless and widows (vs. 16-17). Like a court session, God called Judah and Israel to come to Him in repentance so that He would cleanse them and bless them once again (vs. 18-20). God lamented over the degenerate State of His people which was a result of their unfaithfulness (vs. 21-22).
In Matthew 5-7 – “The Beatitudes” Jesus highlights the essential ingredients for Christian living of which in Matthew 5:9 He says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”. The peacemakers have been reconciled to God. They now strive by their witness and by their lives to bring others, including their enemies (v 23) to peace with God.
In Romans 12:9-21 Apostle Paul addressed followers of Christ on the need for them to behave as Christians without hypocrisy, hate evil.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
- Why is peace an essential ingredient for Christian living?
- Peace is an essential ingredient for Christian living yet elusive to so many people, why?
- At what point did mankind lose peace?
- How can an individual, a family etc., have peace?
- Give biblical examples of people who enjoyed peace.
- Peace does not mean absence of troubles – Discuss
(John 16:33, Romans 8:35-39)
CONCLUSION:
Status does not give peace.
Money does not give peace.
Alcohol does not give peace.
Drugs cannot give peace.
Sedatives will not give peace.
Movies and theatres do not give peace.
The world cannot give peace.
Jesus is the only hope and safe arbiter of peace (Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27), and only those who have received Him as their Lord and personal Saviour can have peace which is an essential ingredient for Christian living. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
MEMORY VERSE: MATTHEW 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.