Preaching Peace!

Ephesians 2:14-17, "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

It doesn't matter how religious a person may be, or how much they talk about or even sing about Jesus, if they are not "in Christ" they do not have peace with God. To be at peace with God means to be "at one" with God. It means any and all division and strife is removed. Our text tells us that Jesus "is our peace."

1. Consider the Reality of Strife. The opposite of peace is division, war and strife. The sad reality is that we live in a world filled with strife and division. Our cities, states, congress, and even our churches and homes are filled with strife and division. People are divided by religion, skin color, money, etc. a. Strife is a work of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Strife is never associated with the spirit filled believer. Strife is not a characteristic of a spiritual believer. Strife is a characteristic of the carnal ("fleshly") believer. Strife is a characteristic of the unsaved. 2 Timothy 2:24, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient..." b. Strife is a transgression of God's law. Proverbs 17:19, "He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction." - It is strange that a man would love strife. c. Strife is the result of wrath and anger (self love; self exaltation). It is the attitude that "I deserve better than what I'm getting." Proverbs 15:18, "A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." d. Strife is evidence of a fool. Proverbs 18:6, "A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes." e. Strife is evidence of a trouble maker. Proverbs 26:21, "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife." f. Strife originated with the Devil. In Genesis 3:4-5 we find the Devil putting a wedge and strife between man and God. g. Strife is a fruit of pride and immaturity. Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
   

2. Consider the Responsibility of the Church. Because of the reality of strife in our world, the Lord has given His church a great responsibility. a. The church is to preach peace. Ephesians 2:16-17, "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." Jesus Christ "preaches peace" through His people, the church. 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Man's fundamental need is peace with God. b. The Gospel is the message of peace. Peace with God is only found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. c. Thus, the church is responsible to preach the Gospel.
   

3. Consider the Believer's Response to God's Peace. In Matthew 5:9 the Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers..." Not only is it possible through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to have peace with God, but as believers we can be peacemakers! We can and must "preach peace" through the Lord Jesus to others. a. We are to avoid strife. David sought diligently to avoid strife. Psalm 35:11-14, "False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother." b. We are to agree with our adversary. Matthew 5:25, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." We must not always assume we are always right. We must allow for the possibility that I am mistaken. c. We are to accept that which we cannot change. There are things in life that we have no control over. There are things in life that we are not responsible for. We cannot control other people's attitudes and actions. Romans 14:1, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." We cannot control or avoid many problems that come into our lives. There are things in life that we cannot change and striving with them will accomplish nothing. d. We are to appreciate what God is doing. Genesis 50:19, "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." Joseph recognized God's hand in his brother's actions and in his circumstances, thus he was at peace with even his enemies.