["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
Good morning and welcome. Let's find our seats take our song books to 263
Song number two six three
Verily verily 263 on the first
You
263 on the second
You
Oh
263 on the last
You
Good morning, we want to welcome you to very Baptist Church this morning. We're glad you're with us
Let's go ahead and begin the service with the word of prayer and let's bow our heads together
Heavenly Father Lord, we do thank you for allowing us to gather together today Lord
We pray that you would bless everything that's happens today here in the service Lord
We pray that you bless the music the preaching that we would draw closer to you as a result of what we hear today in
Jesus name we pray amen
Turn to start 422
For to to
Thou didst leave thy throne 422 on the first
You
On the second
Oh
Let's sing it out on the last
Oh
Amen all right well
Let's take our bulletins this morning
And we'll look at some announcements if you did not receive a bulletin on your way in just raise your hand and one of our
Ostrus can get one for you
If you need a bulletin just put your hand up and we will get one for you the verse this week Proverbs 12 and verse
20
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil but to the counselors of peace is joy
That's a good verse that we like that if you open up your bulletin
You'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m
And we are glad that you are here of course on Sunday morning on the Lord's Day for church Sunday evening service at 6 p.m
We'd love to for you to join us tonight for the evening service
The evening service is different than the morning service different songs that are sung different sermon
That's preached just one more opportunity in God's house with God's people
Under the preaching of the Word of God and then of course our Wednesday evening Bible study at 7 p.m
We'd love for you to join us on Wednesday night
If you look at our soul winning times our main soul winning times on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m
And then we have additional sewing times on Thursdays and Fridays and Sundays at 2 p.m
As well and we'd love for you to join us for any of these soul winning times soul winning
Of course is when we go out in the community
We knock doors
We invite people to church and we preach the gospel to anyone who's interested
If you're a first-time guest if it's your first time here at ready Baptist Church, we're glad you're with us
We have a gift
We'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building
This morning if you go out our main foyer if you've got our secondary foyer
You'll see a little table set up and on that table. You'll see these little gift bags
Please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you for being our guest this morning
There are several resources in this bag that we'd like you to have
The one I like to highlight is this documentary that our church made it's called being Baptist. It's very well made very interesting
We think you'll like it and we want to give this to you as a gift
So, please make sure you don't leave here this morning without grabbing one of these gift bags on your way out
And if you are a guest we ask that you please take a moment and fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin
If you need a pen just raise your hand and one of our ushers can bring you by a Verity Baptist Church pen
You're welcome to keep the pen as a gift from us as well. And we'd like to have a record of your attendance
We actually would like to send you a little gift, but we need your information to do that
So, please take a moment to fill the card out when we're done with the announcements
We're gonna sing a song when we're done singing
We're gonna receive the offering and as the often play goes by you can drop this card in the offering plate or you can hand
It to me after the service. I'll be standing at the main door greeting people on the way out
If you look at our bulletin there, we of course are a family integrated church
What that means is that children and infants are always welcomed in the church service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason. We do have mother baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience
So if you have a child that's been distracting during the service
So if you need some privacy
We would encourage you to use the mother baby rooms and the daddy rooms all of the rooms have comfortable seating
You have monitors set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
If you're not sure where the mother baby rooms are
You can look at the back of the bulletin and you'll see a layout of our church building
It'll show you where the mother baby rooms are where the daddy room is. I'll show you where the restrooms are
So, please make sure you use those rooms as needed
If you have a child that's being distracting during the service or if you need some privacy if you need to be baptized
Please let us know we'd love to baptize you on your communication card
You can check off that you would like information about baptism and we will follow up with you and talk to you about that
If you look at the announcements and upcoming events
We are continuing this morning our series
We started last Sunday morning called the Christmas spirit and we're learning about how to get into the Christmas spirit last Sunday
We learned about joy. And today we're going to continue that
Series on Sunday mornings and then of course, we want to let you know about our cookies and hot chocolate
Chocolate
Event is on you're invited to the cookies and hot chocolate and in our fellowship call on Wednesday evening December
21st after the evening service so not this Wednesday, but next Wednesday
There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. So if you could bring cookies or dessert for the cookie fellowship
That is on Wednesday, December 21st. We'll have a good time a fellowship after the midweek service
So we encourage you to be here for that
and then of course, we have our New Year's Eve service coming up on Saturday, December 31st at 7 p.m. and
This is something we do every year. We'll have a potluck and so it'll be a good time a fellowship
We'll also watch a film together and we'll pray in the New Year
If you stay till midnight, if you make it till midnight, we'll pray in the New Year
So we'll have popcorn and a popcorn machine. We'll watch a movie have a potluck
It'll be a fun time if you're looking for something
Clean to do Christian to do on New Year's Eve
We encourage you to be with us for that
And and of course if you're just gonna go to bed earlier than do that too
That's fine
Nine chapters a day challenge is coming up and we hope that you are getting ready for the nine chapters a day challenge
Every year in January. We call January our Bible month here at Verity Baptist Church and every year
We challenge our church family to read nine chapters a day
Every day in the month of January now if you take the challenge if you accomplish the challenge
What you will do is you will read the entire New Testament in the month of January and we've got plaques in our foyer
If you take a look at our foyer
We've got plaques for every year
Our church has done this every January since we started and you'll see that
Every year the people that meet the tasks that accomplish the goal they get their name put on a nice plaque
So in your bulletin, you've got the nine chapters a day
Chart there and we want you to just start
Psyching yourself up for this. All right, making sure that you're ready to do this now on the chart there
There's a two there's a couple different ways. You can read through the nine chapters
You can go you can do the straight through reading
Which means you read nine chapters every day just in order Matthew 1 through 9 Matthew 10 through 18 and so forth
Or you can do the split up reading which is still nine chapters every day
but it's split up between
The front of the New Testament and the end of the New Testament because the chapters at the end are shorter than the ones at
The beginning so sometimes it's a more balanced reading where the straight one is a little harder at first
But that's okay because it's January 1st
You're motivated and then at the end it gets easier which so whichever way you want to do. It doesn't make a difference
We just want you to read the Bible and want you to read the New Testament the month of January
You'll notice that there's two grace period days there for you that you can use during the month
But we hope that a lot of you will decide to take the nine chapters a day challenge and in your communication card
There's a place for you to check off that you are accepting the challenge
And we want to know that you are planning on reading nine chapters a day
So, please make sure you check that off
There's choir practice today at 5 p.m
For the adults here in the auditorium and for the children at 515 in the playroom and we want you to be aware of the
Holiday schedule the last Sunday of the month and the first Sunday of the year
are Sunday our Sunday December 25th
Which means that it's Christmas Day on a Sunday and then also New Year's Day not New Year's Eve
But New Year's Day on a Sunday and we have a special holiday schedule. So our service is going to begin at 11 a.m
We're gonna begin half an hour later on both of those days just to give you a little more time in the morning
Of course on Christmas Day so you can open gifts and do whatever you need to do on Christmas Day and then on New Year's
Day since you'll probably be up late the night before so we'll start a little later and then we're also going to have an earlier
Afternoon service. So instead of having our evening service at 6 p.m. We're gonna have an afternoon service at 115
It's gonna be a short service
Our goal is to be out of here by 2 p.m
And we want to be able to give you the evening off especially on Christmas Day to have Christmas dinner or do whatever you need
To do we will be providing a quick lunch for those of you staying for the second service in the fellowship hall on
Both days and we're not putting on some Christmas meal for you. Okay, it's just gonna be sandwiches just to hold you over
You do your Christmas meal at home
We're just trying to hold you over for the church service and we don't want to cancel church
You never want to cancel church. All right, and we definitely don't want to cancel church to celebrate the birth of Christ
That's never made any sense to me at all, but we are trying to help you with that schedule
So if you're staying for the second service
Then we'll have lunch for you in the fellowship hall and the key word there is if you're staying
All right, if you're not staying for the second service, then you can go get your own sandwich
So upcoming cleaning crew you can check for your name there other things there for you to look at
Please don't forget to turn your cell phones off replace them on silent during the service
Not a distraction to anybody if you look at the back of the bulletin birthdays and anniversaries for the month of December
Today is miss Victoria Nell Tesco's birthday December 11th
So happy birthday to her and then tomorrow is brother Victor's Uniga's birthday December 12th
brother Aldo's birthdays on December 13th and
Miss Kim Borrello and Checho Pompa and Levi Taylor
All have a birthday on December 17th and brother Scott and miss Lisa Sweet and have an anniversary on December 17th as well
Praise report money matters. All those things are there for you to look at and don't forget about the Christmas gifts for Jesus
There's an insert in your bulletin if you would like to as you're out and about
Purchasing gifts for the holidays if you'd like to purchase something for the church
There's a list here of things that we use on a regular basis
There is a drop-off in the main foyer a Christmas gift for Jesus table there
So, please make sure if you'd like to participate to purchase something off the list and you can drop it off in the foyer
For the church, I think that's it for all the announcements
So let's go ahead and take the chorus of the week, which is the other insert in your bulletin and we'll sing
born to die upon Calvary
Let's go ahead and sing it out on the first
Oh
Boy
Good sing it out on the second in your course of the week on the second stanza
Oh
On the last
Oh
Amen good singing we'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time
And let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father Lord, we do thank you for allowing us to gather together today Lord
We pray that you bless the offering the gift and the giver
We ask that you would meet with us as we take time to open up your word and study scripture together in Jesus name
We pray amen
You
Turn your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9
Isaiah chapter 9
If you do not have a Bible raise your hand international bring you one
Isaiah chapter 9 we will read the entire chapter as their custom
Isaiah chapter 9 just keep your hands up international bring you a Bible
Isaiah chapter 9 the Bible reads
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation
when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulon and the land of neptali and
Afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea
Beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light
They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them had the light shined
Thou has multiplied the nation and not increased the joy
They joy before thee according to the joy and harvest and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil
For thou has broken the yoke of his burden and a staff of his shoulder
The rod of his oppressor as in the day of Midian for every battle the warrior is with confused noise and garments
Rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire
For unto us a child is born
Unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful
counselor the mighty God the everlasting father the prince of peace of
The increase of his government and peace there shall be no end
Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this
The Lord sent a word into Jacob and it hath lighted upon Israel and all the people shall know
even a for him and the inhabitant of Samaria
That say in the pride and stoutness of heart the bricks are falling down, but we will build with hewn stones
The sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars
Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of resin against him and join his enemies together
The Syrians before and the Philistines behind and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth
For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still
But the people turneth not unto him that smite at them neither. Do they seek the Lord of hosts therefore
The Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail branch and rush in one day
The ancient and the honorable he is the head and the prophet that teacheth lies
He is the tail for the leaders of this people cause them to err and they that are led of them are destroyed
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men
neither shall he have mercy on the fatherless and widows for everyone is a hypocrite and an evil door and
Every mouth speaketh folly for all this his anger is not turned away
But his hand is stretched out still
For wickedness burneth as a fire it shall devour the briars and thorns and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest
And they shall mounts up like the lifting up of smoke
Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the Lord darkened and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire
No, man shall spare his brother and he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry and he shall eat on the left hand
And they shall not be satisfied. They shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm
Manasseh Ephraim and
Ephraim Manasseh and they together shall be against Judah for all this his anger is not turned away
But his hand is stretched out still let us pray
Lord God Almighty. Thank you for this day. Thank you for the opportunity to come together
Please bless pastor bless the message. Let it bring glory and honor to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray amen
Amen
Alright, we're there in Isaiah chapter number nine
And of course we are going through a brand new series
We started last Sunday morning called the Christmas spirit and we are learning about the spirit of Christmas and how to get into
the spirit of Christmas and
we started
Last week with this idea that as you think about Christmas and about the spirit of Christmas you
Realize that there are some recurring themes when you think about
Christmas or the attitude of Christmas and of course
Oftentimes when you're looking at Christmas decorations or putting up Christmas decorations a lot of these themes
Are displayed in those decorations things like joy. Peace. Hope goodwill. These are words that come up a lot regarding
Christmas and the spirit of Christmas and what we are doing is we are studying from the Bible these different
Attitudes regarding Christmas, of course
We're in the Christmas season and we're learning about how to get into the Christmas spirit
You're there in Isaiah chapter number nine and in verses number six and seven you find a passage of Scripture
That's often referred to during the Christmas season because of the fact that it is a prophetic reference to the birth of
the Lord Jesus Christ in Isaiah 9 and verse 6 the Bible says this for unto us a child is born unto us a
Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called wonderful
Counselor the mighty God the everlasting father
I want you to notice this little phrase at the end of verse number six the Prince of Peace
the Prince of Peace and this morning
I want to preach to you on the subject of the spirit of peace and
I want to speak on peace and the subject of peace from the Bible because peace is
Something that is often referred to when we reference Christmas and we talk about the Christmas spirit here
one of the most famous Christmas passages is
Talking about the Lord Jesus Christ and of course it tells us that he will be called it gives us all these great titles
Wonderful counselor the mighty God and of course that is a reference to deity the everlasting father
And then we see this phrase the Prince of Peace. I want you to notice that the Bible calls Jesus
the Prince of Peace and
When you see that word Prince in the Bible it is often when you and I think of the word Prince we think of it
as a title of
Some sort of like a royal title and the Bible definitely uses the word in that capacity
But oftentimes the word Prince is simply used as a
positional phrase
Meaning that it is the principle or the primary the first and here though. Jesus is the Prince of Peace
I mean, we know that he's the King of Kings. He's the Lord of Lords
He's the Prince of Peace, but the word Prince there is actually a reference to the fact that he is the
principle or the
First or the source or the beginning of peace if you want peace you must begin with the
principle or
Principality or the Prince of Peace which is the Lord Jesus Christ
notice there in verse number seven
the Bible says of the increase of his government and this is of course a reference to the millennial reign and
The the not only in verse six we have the first coming of Christ the first advent in verse seven
There's a reference to the second coming or the second advent of the increase of his government notice the words and peace
There shall be no end
Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth
Even forever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this and I want you to understand that when it comes to peace
There is a connection between the Lord Jesus Christ and peace
He is the Prince of Peace which is why peace is a theme for the Christmas story because it's connected to
Christ and to the birth of Christ now you're there in Isaiah 9
I'd like you to go with me to the New Testament book of Luke Luke chapter 2 if you would in the New Testament you have
Matthew then Mark then Luke Luke chapter number 2 and look down at verse number 10
Of course Luke chapter 2 is the most famous
Passage regarding Christmas in the Bible it is the most
Specific or detailed account of the birth of Christ Luke chapter 2 and verse 10
Matthew Mark Luke Luke 2 10 the Bible says and the angel said unto them fear not for behold
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people remember we talked about joy last Sunday verse 11
Notice what he says notice how much this sounds like Isaiah 9 6 for unto you is born this day
Isaiah 9 6 begins for unto us a child is born here the angel says
to the shepherds for unto you the prophet said unto us a child is born because the prophet is speaking as
part of the people unto whom Jesus is coming to for unto us a child is born the angel is
Speaking to human beings and saying for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior
Which is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts
Praising God and saying glory to God in the highest notice the words and on earth peace
Goodwill toward men notice the emphasis on
peace
Why because of the fact that Jesus is the prince of peace the word peace is defined as a state of tranquility
Freedom from conflict freedom from fighting freedom from war freedom from disturbance freedom from
disquieting or
Oppression when we talk about peace we are talking about a state in which we are not in
Conflict with others, and we are not in conflict with anyone now
You're there there in Luke go with me if you would to the book of Romans Romans chapter number 15
If you're there in Luke you're gonna go past the book of John into the book of Acts and then into the book of Romans
Romans chapter 15
And when it comes to peace there are different things that you need to understand regarding the biblical teaching on peace and this morning is
Going to be really a Bible study on the subject of peace and the theology of peace what the Bible teaches about peace and there
Are different headings in which you need to understand peace and I'd like to give you three thoughts or three points this morning
Three different headings regarding the subject of peace and if you can write these down
I think that would be beneficial on the back of your course of the week
There's a place for you to write some things down and let's begin this morning with talking about the accepting of peace
The accepting of peace before because in order to have peace you first must accept peace is what the Bible says now
When it comes to and we've already talked about this a little bit when it comes to peace you must understand that there is no
Peace aside from the God of peace
You're there in Romans chapter 15 Romans chapter 15 look at verse 33 notice the Bible says now the God of peace
Be with you all
Amen the reason that there is no peace in this world and isn't our world
Just absorbed with this idea of peace. I mean when it comes to political leaders
What is the number one thing that they're always talking about peace?
Peace in the Middle East, but let me tell you something there will never be peace aside from God
And aside from the Lord Jesus Christ and by the way when you can get the entire world together all working together to get peace
And they can't have peace. It's because of the fact that they're missing the source of peace which is God
The Bible says that he is the God of peace now the God of peace be with you all amen
You're there in Romans 15 go to Romans chapter 16 just flip over one chapter
Romans 16 look at verse 20 notice again, and we could look at a lot of passages like this
I'm not gonna take the time to do that. I'm just gonna show you a couple of here Romans 16 verse 20
Notice the phrase again and the God of peace and
The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
Amen, so I want you to notice that there is no peace aside from the God of peace peace comes from God
He is the source of peace Jesus is God. He is the prince of peace the
The Bible says there in Isaiah 9 6 the mighty God the everlasting father the prince of peace
Now you're there in Romans 16 flip over to Romans chapter 10
Romans 10
When it comes to this idea of accepting peace we need to begin with the realization that God is a source of peace
There is no peace aside from the God of peace
But let me also say this there is no real peace aside from the gospel of peace the Bible
Refers to the gospel as the gospel of peace are you there in Romans 10 look at verse 15?
Romans 10 15 and how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach notice the words the gospel of peace?
This is not the only place in which the gospel is referred to as the gospel of peace. There's many other places
I'm not gonna take the time to go to them because I've got other stuff
I want to cover but I want you to notice that the reference is the gospel of peace and bringing glad tidings of good things
It's the God of peace and it is the gospel of peace
There is no peace aside from the God of peace
There is no peace aside from the gospel of peace go to Romans chapter number five Romans five
We're gonna look at a lot of passages here in Romans Romans talks a lot about this idea of peace
Especially the idea of us accepting peace
You say why well because of the fact that in Romans 5 and verse 10 the Bible says this I want you to notice the words
Romans 5 10 for if notice these words when we were enemies
Now the word enemy is a word opposite of the word peace if you've had enemies you don't have peace
The whole point of having peace is that you don't have any enemies is that you don't have any conflict is that there is no battles
There's no war. There's no there's no fighting going on here
The Bible says for if when we were enemies see what you need to understand is that before salvation and I'm hoping you're saved this morning
Before salvation and for anyone out there who's not saved before salvation. They were the enemies of God
They were at odds with God
The Bible says that the world is the enemy and is in enmity with God
The Bible says here for if we for if when we were enemies notice what the Bible says we were
Reconciled to God by the death of his son much more being reconciled
We shall be saved by his life go to Romans 5 and verse 8 there in verse 10
Just look up a couple of verses verse 8 very famous verse in the Bible Romans 5 8 but God
Commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
You say why is the gospel referred to as the gospel of peace?
It's referred to the gospel of peace because it is the gospel that makes peace between
You and God between me and God before salvation we were at odds with God
We were enemies with God
But because of salvation because of the fact that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us now
We can have peace with God
Look at verse 1 same chapter Romans 5 verse 1 notice how the chapter begins Romans chapter 5 verse 1 therefore
Notice what he says therefore being justified by faith, that's the gospel
That's the death bring on resurrection of Jesus Christ faith in Jesus Christ therefore being justified by faith notice the words
We have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
When you begin to talk about the subject of peace you must begin with this idea of accepting peace
You cannot have peace without God and you cannot have peace without the gospel of God the gospel of peace
And you have to know this morning, and I hope you know this morning that you have peace with God
That you're not the enemy of God that you're not at odds with God that you have accepted the gospel
You've believed you're justified by faith and as a result we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
So do you see why the world has no peace you got a bunch of unsaved people?
Who are enemies?
Literally enemies with the source of peace God himself
So we have to begin and I know it's simple, and I don't want to dwell on it too much
We have to begin with the gospel
Say I want peace well then get saved
I want peace and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
Accept the gift of the Prince of Peace because there is no peace aside from the God of peace
And there is no peace aside from the gospel of peace and you have to be able to say this that you have peace
with God
That you're not the enemy of God
That you have been reconciled unto God
And by the way, that's why the Bible says that our job is soul winners our job is to go out and be soul winners
It's called the ministry of
Reconciliation
Why because there is a world out there that is at odds with God
against God and our job is to bring the gospel of peace and
Reconcile them unto God that they might be able to say that they have peace with God
So we see this idea of the accepting of peace
Then I want you to notice secondly this morning
There in Romans go with me to 2nd Corinthians if you would you're gonna go past 1st Corinthians and 2nd Corinthians
I've got three thoughts for you this morning and I will spend the majority of my time on the second thought or the second point
The first point I hope is easy to understand you must accept peace
You must accept the Prince of Peace
There is no peace aside from the God of peace. There is no peace aside from the gospel of peace
We must be reconciled unto God that we might be able to say that we have peace with God
But I want you to notice secondly this morning
Not only the accepting of peace
But I'd like you to notice the extending of peace
The Bible teaches that we should endeavor to keep peace
Are you there in 2nd Corinthians chapter 13 you were in Romans past 1st Corinthians into 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 13
I want you to notice these verses look at verse 11
finally brethren
farewell
Be perfect. I want you to notice what the Apostle Paul is saying here
Because
This might seem like it's just a
Greeting or a farewell
That he's giving here and there's just flop here. But please understand there's there's nothing there. Nothing in the Bible is just flop
Everything that's in the Bible is in there for a reason
And here Paul. Yes. He is giving a farewell. He says finally brethren farewell
He says be perfect
And I've taught you this before and we talked a lot about it because it comes up a lot in the Bible the word perfect
In your King James Bible does not mean what you and I think of when we think of the word perfect
We think of something being flawless or being
Without error, but that's not the word perfect. That's one definition of the word perfect
There's another definition for the word perfect
Which is the one that's primarily used in our King James Bible and still used today in different circumstances
And the word perfect means to be complete
When something is perfected it is completed. It has become a whole and
Here Paul says be perfect
He's looking at these Corinthian churches and he says I want you to be whole I want you to be complete
The idea when it comes to growth is that I want you to be mature
When someone is a baby
Physically, they are not yet perfect. They have not yet completed their development when they become a mature
Grown adult now they are mature now. They are complete now
They are perfect here. He says be perfect be of good comfort then notice these words be of one mind
one mind whenever the Apostle Paul uses this idea of one mind it is an idea of unity in
Philippians he famously said that we should be striving together
He talked about being of one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
He says I want you to be perfect. I want you to be mature
I want you to be of good comfort be of one mind unity and then notice the words these words and here's the point
That I'm making and I'm gonna make the point these words are not just being randomly thrown in by the Apostle Paul
Oh, yeah, that sounds good unity
Comfort perfect though those sound like spiritual words. He's using these words for a reason
He says be perfect be complete be mature be of good comfort be of one mind unity then he says this live in peace
And knows what he says
live in peace and the God of
Love and peace and notice we just saw it in Romans. He's the God of peace
He's the God of love the Bible says that God is love
Meaning he's the source of love
But he's also the God of peace meaning he's the source of peace the God of love and peace shall be
With you notice that Paul is telling us here that we should endeavor to keep the peace
He says live in peace and the God of peace shall be with don't you think that the God of peace would want?
We we as Christians to live in peace
Go to Ephesians
Keep your place. Do me a favor. Keep your place in second Corinthians if you would we're gonna come back to no
I'm sorry, not second with this go to Ephesians and keep your place in Ephesians. That's what I meant to say Ephesians chapter 4
You're there in 2nd Corinthians
You're gonna go past
Galatians
into the book of Ephesians and then keep your place put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there in Ephesians because we're gonna leave
It and we're gonna come back to it Ephesians chapter 4 notice these words
Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 3
Notice the word endeavoring
Endeavoring or endeavor that word means to attempt to try
to put in the effort
To do everything possible. He says endeavoring notice the words to keep the
unity
That's what he said in second Corinthians 13 11 when he says one mind he's referring to unity
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit notice the words. They're not just thrown in here randomly
They're here for a reason in the bond of peace
He says I want you to endeavor to keep you say keep what keep unity
I want you to endeavor to keep what keep what peace
Notice peace should be something that bonds us together the Bible says
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace now
I want you to keep your place there in Ephesians if you would and go with me to the book of Matthew the first book
In the New Testament keep your place right there in Ephesians
We're gonna come back to it and go to the very very first book in the Bible the book of Matthew
Here's the thing about peace. There's so many verses in the Bible
Regarding peace. I can't even preach them all in one sermon. I in preparation for this sermon
I went through and read every verse in the Bible that uses or has the word peace
Hundreds of verses hundreds of times in the Bible is the word peace being used and I couldn't even use them all in fact in
this sermon I had to just
Primarily force myself to focus primarily on the New Testament
There's a couple of Old Testament verses
We're looking at but primarily on New Testament because the Bible talks so much about this idea of peace now
I want you to go to Matthew 5 and
While you go there
Let me just read to you some verses that I'm not I'm just gonna read them to you because I can't even
Have you take the time to turn there because there's just so many
You go to Matthew chapter 5. Let me read to you from Hebrews 12 14 now
Please listen to this as I want you to hear it Hebrews 12 14
Notice what the Bible says with this idea because we've accepted peace, right? We're saved Lord willing. Hopefully you're saying you're not safe
Please don't leave here this morning without letting somebody show you from the Bible how you can know for sure that you're on your way
To heaven so that you can have peace with God. We want you to have that
We've accepted peace, but then the Bible says that once we've accepted peace we must extend peace
You ever heard the phrase extend the olive branch. It's an idea of peace
The olive branch is a picture of peace represents peace. We must extend peace
The Bible says that we should endeavor to keep peace you go to Matthew 5. Let me read to you from Hebrews 12 14
Here's what the Bible says follow
peace with all men
Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord
The Bible says that you must follow peace with all men and holiness
Without which no man shall see the Lord now
Sometimes people get this and they say well, you're not gonna see the Lord without having without having peace
Is that some sort of work salvation? That is not the idea here when the Bible says to see the Lord
It's the idea to know the Lord
The Bible says that the the pure in heart shall see the Lord
Saying you want to see God?
You want to know God you want to see God and have God be real in your life there's requirements
You must follow peace with all men and holiness
The Bible says that without which no man shall see the Lord James 3 18 and the fruit of righteousness
is sown in
peace of them that make peace
So I want the fruit of righteousness in my life
Okay, well here's how you have the fruit fruit means what you produce the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
Notice the words you're not there, but just I want you to notice them as I read them of them that make peace
1st Peter 3 11 the Bible says let him eschew
Evil the word eschew means to avoid or abstain let him eschew evil and do good. Let him see I love this phrase
I love this just this little phrase. I just love the Bible how the Bible is worded. It's beautiful
Let him eschew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it
The Bible is telling you and I that we should eschew evil
We should avoid or abstain from evil from that which will hurt us from that which is wrong
we should do good, and then it says that we should seek peace and
ensue it the word ensue means to follow as a result or as the consequence of here's what the Bible is saying as a
Result of your life and as a result of my life as we mature and grow in our Christian life
What should result as a result of our lives is peace?
what we should we should seek peace and
ensue it the idea is this that you and I eschew evil we do good we seek peace and then as a result
Everywhere we go we ensue peace the result of our
Influence there is the fact that there's peace. Let me ask you something is the result of your influence peace or conflict
Is the result of your presence in your home your presence at your job your presence at church?
Your presence with your family with your friend is the result of your presence peace or is it conflict?
Because the Bible says that we should seek peace and then we should ensue it but to ensue it
It's not something we do we don't ensue peace. It is the outflow it is the production
It is the result of our lives is peace
You've got to ask yourself the question are you there in Matthew 5 look at verse 9
Matthew chapter 5 and verse 9 notice what Jesus said
blessed are
The peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers
Say, why does he say that he wants us to be peacemakers because if you?
eschew evil
Do good and seek peace you will ensue it
You will make it
You will produce it
See what we're learning in this Christmas spirit series. I hope this becomes very clear
Is that these things in our lives are not things that just happen
People think oh, I'll have joy in my life if everything goes well
I'll have joy the Bible does not teach that you don't happen upon joy you create it
You make it you say what about peace you make it
You make peace in your life if you have no peace in your life
You have nobody to blame, but yourself
Because
Peace is something that should be ensued by us
we should be peacemakers blessed are the peacemakers notice what the Bible says for they shall be called the children of God and
Again people will take this out of context and say see you can't be saved without being a peacemaker
That's not what Jesus is teaching what Jesus is teaching is this that when you are a peacemaker
When you eschew evil and do good when you seek peace and ensue it people will look at you and say there's a child of God
There's someone that's not bringing conflict not bringing anger not bringing problems not bringing gossip, but bringing peace
When you and I live in such a way that we make peace others will notice and say that's a child of God
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
They live in such a way that people recognize them or acknowledge them as the children of God see it's one thing for you
And please understand this
Or let me say it this way. Please don't misunderstand this I
don't believe in lifestyle evangelism as
a mode for reaching the world
The Bible teaches that the way that you and I are to reach the world with the gospel of peace is to go confront them
to go out and minister to them and
Reconcile them unto God all right so our job is not to just live in such a way that people will look at us
And ask the question what must I do to be said no no our job is to go
When it comes to the gospel the word that comes up over and over and over again is go go go ye therefore
So I don't believe in lifestyle evangelism as a mode for reaching or accomplishing the Great Commission
But please know this I do believe in lifestyle evangelism I
believe that your lifestyle should match your evangelism and
The point that I'm making is this that you can live your life look there is power
you can go to work and tell people I'm a Christian and
Then you go and get drunk on Friday night with all your co-workers I
Go to very Baptist Church and
Then you're listening in and laughing with all the dirty jokes
around the water cooler
You can tell people you're a Christian all day long, and I hope you do tell people
I hope that if you tell people you're also having a life that matches that testimony
But you know what's more powerful than telling somebody
That you're a Christian. I think we should tell people we're Christians
I think we should come from people with the gospel, but you know what's more powerful is when people can watch you
And just say there's a Christian I
Don't even know him he works in another department. I just but what I've seen of him
I can tell you I don't know anything about right though something about that guy
something different about that gal
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
We should endeavor to make peace now, please I want you to get this and I'm gonna spend some time on this cuz I want
to
Make sure that I'm clear regarding this teaching
Jesus taught that we should be peacemakers. We should ensue it
He taught it primarily here in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 these three chapters are known as the Sermon on the Mount famous sermon that Jesus gave on the Mount I
I often tell people the Sermon on the Mount is the Sermon on spiritual maturity
He begins we're seeing here this Beatitudes with his introduction one of his introductory points is blessed are the peacemakers
For they shall be called the children of God Jesus taught that we should be peacemakers on the Sermon on the Mount
Why here's why because the Sermon on the Mount is the sermon of spiritual maturity
Please understand that
You want you want to get into real Christianity I'm talking about I'm not talking about salvation salvation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
I'm talking about discipleship living the Christian life study Matthew chapter 5 6 & 7 and that's where the rubber hits the road
Oftentimes people think as we teach and I believe this we teach and tell people you need to go to church Sunday morning Sunday night
Wednesday night
You need to read your Bible every day. You need to pray every day
You need to be a soul winner you need to give and people think okay
Well, if I hit those things then that makes me a good Christian no, no, that's the starting point
That's where we begin
We need you in church Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night soul winning read your Bible every day pray every day and and giving
Just to get your heart to the place where we can actually begin to deal with real Christianity
Which is what you find in Matthew chapter 5 Matthew chapter 6 Matthew chapter 7
So if you've been patting yourself on the back because you show up to all three services and go so many
Hey, I'm thankful for that as a pastor, but please realize according to God we're unprofitable servants
We have only done that which is required of us
We have done our duty
Jesus taught that we should be peacemakers in the Sermon on the Mount which is a sermon on spiritual maturity. Why?
Go back to Ephesians
Here's why?
Because the measure of Christian maturity I
Should say one of the measures but one that is emphasized a lot in the Bible
One of the measures of Christian maturity is
How well do you get along with others
Please don't miss that
You said I'd like to measure how mature my Christianity is
Well, if you can't even show up to church consistently don't even ask the question because you're not gonna like the answer
But
Your church attendance and your Bible reading and your prayer and and all of that is not a measurement of your maturity
Say pastor, why are you trying to get us to read nine chapters a day in the month of January?
It's not some magical formula if you can check these things off your life will be better
I'm just hoping that while you're reading the nine chapters a day to check them off to meet a goal something hits you
You learn something the Holy Spirit of God helps you like whoa. I didn't Matthew 5. That's amazing
Matthew 6 that's amazing. Matthew 7. I don't know God caught these things
The measure of a Christian's maturity
Is measured by their conflict level?
with others
Is there any Ephesians 4 wait verse 11?
And I'll be honest with you I'm gonna expound to you right now versus 11 12 13 14 and 15
But I just I'm just gonna say this to you because I'm afraid I'm gonna the wrong thing will come out and if it comes
Out I just want you to understand the context these five verses 11 12 13 14 and 15 have haunted me
These verses have haunted me
As a pastor in ministry
The Bible says and he gave some
this is a reference to you and he gave some apostles he didn't give you one of those and
some prophets you can make the argument maybe but the office of the prophets is gone and
Some evangelists some people have evangelists you don't have one and some pastors. That's what you do have
Bible says that he gave some pastors and teachers you have you actually have both of those
I mean, I like to think that I'm a pastor and a teacher
And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers why
Why has God given you a pastor a?
Spiritual leader
Ordained leadership. Why?
Notice what he says verse 12 for here's the reason here's the reason I'm here
Here's the reason I exist the reason my position exists the reason that this
task this job the responsibility I have as a pastor ready Baptist Church exists why verse 12 for the
perfecting of the Saints
Perfecting remember the completing the maturing the making whole of
You say what is the job of the pastor the job of the pastor is to help you become mature
That's why I try to get you to show up to Sunday night church
That's why I try to get you to show up to Wednesday night church
You say you just try to get us to show up so there could be a crowd for you to preach to to an extent
That's true
But not for the reason that you're thinking I need a crowd to preach to because if I can get you to show up to
Two services or three services. I've got two more chances or three more chances to maybe help you mature
For the perfecting of the Saints notice for the work of the ministry my job look I'm look
I'm just gonna give you all my secrets my job
What I'm trying to accomplish here is to help you mature become a complete whole Christian and then put you to work
For the work of the ministry
Why we have work appreciation Sundays and all the different volunteer opportunities and soul-winning all these things why and we're we want you to
Help us with the mailers help us with this and why because my job is to help you mature and then put you to work
For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry notice for the edifying of the body of Christ
My job is to build up the body of Christ
And here's what I believe if I can perfect the Saints and put them to work the edifying of the body of Christ
We'll take care of itself
Notice the emphasis verse 13
Till how long am I supposed to do this till?
When am I done?
Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
Please please don't miss it. These are not just words that are being thrown in here by the Apostle Paul randomly
He's saying pastor your job is to perfect the Saints to put them to work for the edifying of the body of Christ
How long do I do that till Paul till we all come in the unity of the faith?
And on the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man. Here's what he's saying until
We are all united
until we've all grown in the knowledge of the Son of God until
We are come unto a perfect complete mature man
And when I read that I think to myself I'm gonna be doing this for a while
Until notice notice notice the emphasis unto the measure of the stature of the
Fullness of Christ, what are these words referring to maturity?
He's using words that we would use regarding a physical maturity
People often say recently about my son man. They've grown there. My sons have grown a lot. Praise God for it
They're both taller than I am which doesn't take much but praise God
Wow, they've grown so much
Someone was after they see him and they haven't seen him for six months man. They've really shot up
What are they talking about? They're growing they're maturing
Paul saying
till we all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of
The fullness of unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. He's talking about maturity
Spiritual maturity verse 14 that we henceforth notice again the emphasis
What is the what will happen when you come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the statue the forms of Christ?
Here's what will happen. We will henceforth be no more children
the emphasis spiritual maturity
Tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and the cunning crafted is whereby they lie
In wait to deceive but speaking the truth and love notice again
Just the emphasis notice it may grow up in him in all things which is the head even of Christ now
Here's what Paul says Paul says that we need to have the unity and he says the only way to have unity
Is for you to grow spiritually
Is to mature
Because the measure of Christian maturity is
How well you get along with others?
This is why Jesus said don't turn there. Let me just read this for you
Look, you can't get away from this. You cannot get away from this. You're gonna argue with me and fight with me
Which is weird because I'm preaching about peace, but whatever
But you can't get away from this thought John 13 35
Here's what Jesus said by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have
love one to another
No by this shall all men know that you have that you are my disciples based off my Instagram post that's not what he said
Based off my Facebook post that's not what he said
Based off the shirt that I wear that says something about God
That's not what he said
I'm not against all those things. I mean I'm against some of those things
But he said by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have loved one for another
Here's what John said first John 4 20 if a man say I love God and hated this brother. He is a liar
For he that love is not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Here's all I'm telling you Christian maturity is based off. It's measured off your
Conflict or really lack of conflict with others
Is there any features go to 1st Corinthians 3?
1st Corinthians 3
You say pastor why do you say that this has haunted you
Because you would be surprised
In a church like this, I mean this morning, I think we have 199 people here in church or something
almost 200 people
Got a lot of people sick and out of town, whatever
You'd be surprised in a church this size how much conflict there is in a church like this
And I don't mean that and please understand this I I don't think that our church is any worse than any other church
There's conflict in every church
To be honest with you
I probably there's there's less conflict in our church than most churches from my experience and what I've seen
But what I will tell you is that there's enough conflict around here to really depress a pastor
There's enough fighting between church members around here to really discourage a pastor
I'll be honest with you. Sometimes I don't feel like showing up
Sometimes I want to just give my resignation and say I'm done because sometimes I think to myself have I so failed as a pastor
To teach people to have Christian maturity
That there's so much. I mean you look at grown people and you think yourself you've been saved for so long
You're so old. You're so you're can this really be that grown adults would treat themselves each other like this
It's something I think myself is a joke, right?
Things happen and people say things to me and when things are brought to my attention, I'm thinking this is a joke, right?
There's a hidden camera somewhere
You're gonna be like I just kidding cuz I think myself those words didn't actually come out of an adult. Did they?
That thought didn't actually come out of an adult did it?
Can it be I mean sometimes I want to ask people and I don't
Because I'm trying to be mature and I'm trying to make peace and ensue it
But sometimes I want to ask people how did you make it so far in life?
How are you not dead? I?
Mean I want to strangle you
How can it be that you've made it this far in life acting this way thinking this way being this way
It's enough to make you want to quit
It's
Enough to make you wonder what am I doing?
First Corinthians 3 look at verse 1
First Corinthians 3 and verse 1 and I brethren
Sometimes that makes me feel better when pause struggling to
Because I think well if he's struggling then a good night, of course I will
Here's what Paul said to his?
conflict driven church members
And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual. That's how I feel
Sometimes I think myself I can't I cannot speak to this person right now like a mature Christian because they're not and
I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto don't miss it
But as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ, I have fed you with milk and not with meat
There are some times that my wife and I have to withhold we think to ourselves
I would have said this this is what I think they need, but they can't even handle it. I
Can't even those words can't even come out of my mouth yet because their heads would just blow up. I
Brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ
I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto you were not able to bear it
And before you think that I'm proud and arrogant by talking that way. I'm just that's what Paul is saying
You were not able to bear it
Neither yet now are ye able and you still can't
Verse three for ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you
Now notice what Paul says he says you're carnal for whereas there is among you and being and strife and
Divisions and ye are not carnal or excuse me. He says are ye not carnal and walk as men
Notice what Paul says define you say am I a carnal Christian? Well, is there strife and divisions?
among you
in your life
in your marriage
with your children
with your fellow church members
with your neighbors
With your are you just the type of person just constantly in conflict with somebody in the Greek. It says drama mama. I
Mean, are you a drama? I mean some people I think myself they just like this. I mean they must like this, right?
This is the only comfort like it's something that got messed up in their childhood
They're the only come they're only in comfort when they're in conflict. There's something wrong with that
For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you and being and
Stripe the word strike means fighting and divisions. That's one against the other are ye not carnal and walk as men
And you would be surprised
And I'll just be honest with you I'm actually ashamed and embarrassed sometimes
How much fighting and contention
You find in a ministry that has been given to me as a responsibility
And I wonder have I just failed to teach these things
Because he gave some pastors for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ for the work of the ministry
Till we all come in the unity of the faith
And of the knowledge of the Son of God
until perfect man
Under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
See the reason that many Christians cannot make peace or be peacemakers
Is because most Christians are just not spiritually mature
They're just not ready to handle it
And sometimes people ask me advice should I talk to this person about this?
Should I and I think myself you can't you can but they're not ready for that
They're just not there
First Corinthians 1 look at verse 11
You know the Bible says only by pride cometh contention
If you are in conflict with somebody listen to me very carefully if you're fighting with someone I don't care who it is
Your wife your husband your mom your dad your siblings your pastor
If you're fighting with someone whenever there's conflict
Pride is involved now. I did not say that everyone involved is dealing with pride
I will say this ninety nine point nine percent of the time everyone involved is dealing with pride
You're not job
Sorry to burst your bubble
But there's pride somewhere
Because if there was no pride there'd be no contention only by pride cometh contention
First Corinthians 1 11 for it had been declared unto me
Here's Paul for it had been declared unto me of you my brethren by them
Which are of the house of Chloe that there are contentions among you
And that I could just I could just quote that verse to you as it had been declared unto me
That there are contentions among you go to Romans 8 you're there in 1st Corinthians flip back Romans 8
Look you don't have to like me. It's fine
You don't have to like what I'm saying. I still love you, and I'm still gonna ensue peace
But you can't argue this Romans 8 verse 6 for to be carnally minded is death
Carnality brings death death to relationships death to potential death to ministries
For to be carnally minded is death notice, but to be spiritually minded is life
Don't miss it life and peace
Go to Romans 12
Romans 12
Jesus taught on the subject of making peace
In the Sermon on the Mount which is a sermon on spiritual maturity
Because let's just be honest the average Christian cannot have peace most Christians many Christians
Maybe I should say it that way cannot have peace because they're just not spiritually mature
And and and that's not an excuse
That's not I hope you don't okay. Well great. Thank you pastor now. I got the verbiage. I can't do it cuz I'm carnal
That's not the point the point is get spiritual
The spiritually mature person
I
Am gonna say unfortunately and I don't really mean that but I just I mean that for me and my wife is really what I
mean that
The spiritually mature person
side no unfortunately
When you're the pastor and you're the pastor's wife
Will always be the one who reaches down to the less spiritual person
Romans 12 16 don't miss it
Be of the same mind one towards another I
Hope you're getting it. It's unity
Mind not hide things notice these words, but condescend to men of lowest state
The word condescend or condescending in our modern vernacular is a negative term usually when someone says they're condescending
It means they're talking down to you
But that is not how this term is being used and that's not how it can be used when Paul says but condescend to men
Of lowest date he is saying to reach down to not reach out to that's a different thing
He says you sometimes have to reach down to notice the wording men of low
estate
And then he says this be not wise in your own conceit
Here's the point that he's making don't miss it
Because that is the context in which he says
Recompense to no man evil for evil provide things honest in the sight of all men verse 18 if it be possible as
Much as lieth in you
live peaceably with all men and
the unfortunate lesson that I have learned over the last 12 years of ministry is that it's going to usually require the more
spiritually mature individual to
Condescend to men of low estate to reach down to those that are less spiritual
To try to reconcile
To try to take responsibility for their part
To try to make things right you say why is that unfortunate? Here's why it's unfortunate
It would not be unfortunate if everybody was spiritual
It wouldn't be unfortunate if everybody was spiritual because everybody is spiritual that everybody would be saying well
Here's my here's what I did wrong, and here's where I'm willing to take responsibility and the other priority would say well
Here's what I did wrong, and here's where I'm willing to take responsibility, and then they would
Apologize and move on
It's unfortunate because of the fact that some people are so
spiritually deficient
That in order for you to have peace in a church the more spiritual one has to say well
I really didn't do anything but
I'm gonna steam others better than myself
I
Want to turn the other cheek I?
Mean you think it's you think I'm joking, but I've literally over the years have sat in counseling office
I mean I've sat with married couples who are just unwilling to take responsibility
Just like look
I'm not saying that you're 100% at fault
I'm not even saying you're 50% fault, but but no one is you're not you're not the Lord Jesus Christ
I mean, what are you willing to take responsible?
I mean sometimes. I'm telling people look. Let's say that 99% of your marriage problems are my fault
99% of your marriage problems are me. I failed you somehow. Okay. I'm willing to take that. What are you not nothing?
I've done nothing wrong
There's no way it's not my fault in any way shape and I think myself can grow people really talk like this
Do adults really think this way
I
Have I so failed you as a pastor
To literally have people in a church, but I think to themselves I must be the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ cuz I'm
It's enough to make you want to quit
It's enough to make you want to
Submit a resignation later and let her and say find somebody else to do this good. I'm not good at it
Be of the same mind one toward another
Mind not hide things
But condescend to men of low estate
Be not wise in your own conceits
Recompense to no man evil poor evil provide things honest in the sight of all men if it be possible
As much as lies in you live peaceably with all men
I
Was talking with my wife she gave me a great quote
She said sometimes I don't think people understand that you will never have peace in your life until you make peace with others
It's funny because I often hear my wife say this. I often hear my wife say this to our children
We've got six children. Our four youngest are girls and they sometimes quarrel
And I'll hear my wife say to the girls
Okay, let's say I'm sorry and start over
Okay
All right, it happened. Okay, it shouldn't happen
you
Apologize for what you did wrong you say sorry for what you did. Okay, let's say I'm sorry and let's start over
Sometimes I literally want to just bring a grown-up dolt into my office and say, okay. Let's say I'm sorry and start over
You take responsibility for what you did and you take responsibility for you did and look at each other okay hug, okay
Okay, let's say I'm sorry you start over
Because what I'm doing is obviously not working
Look at verse 19
Dearly beloved avenge not yourselves
But rather give place unto wrath
For it is written
This is this is spiritual maturity
Well, they did no no it is written vengeance is mine. I will repay saith the Lord
You know what a spiritual mature person says when they are wrong
You know what a spiritual mature person says when someone does them wrong treats them wrong. They say the Lord knows
God knows
I'm going to seek peace make peace ensue peace for it is written vengeance is mine
I will repay saith the Lord
Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirsts give him drink for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head
My job is not to mistreat those that mistreat me
only spiritually mature people
Can think that way
And by the way, this is why Jesus said I mean
This is pretty much a quote from the Sermon on the Mount the Sermon on spiritual maturity Matthew 5 44
But I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them
They hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you
You
Romans 12 21 be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good
Romans 14 19 let us therefore follow after
Romans 14 19 just a couple pages over let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace
and
The things wherewith one may edify one another
You say how do we make peace here's how you make peace
You take the step to reconcile
And you don't show up saying hey, you know when you did this, you know you say hey
I'm I'm going I want to reconcile this and there was wrong on both parts. Here's what I'm willing to take responsibility for
I'm sorry about that. You're genuine
And you don't give these disclaimers and you go you'll give these a little but this and but that no no
It's just here. I'm just that's it. That's it. There's nothing else to add
There's no other words to play. It's just here's what I did wrong, and I'm sorry
And
Hopefully hopefully the other person is mature enough to say
Here's what I did wrong, and I'm sorry
Let's start over
Maybe they had a mother that taught them that when they were little
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify one another
Go
To Philippians if you would Philippians chapter 4 you're there in Romans go past for a second Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians
Sometimes people tell me should I go apologize and I'm like no because your apologies are more offensive than what you did
The way you apologize goodnight, it's a leave you leave it alone
You
Know when we apologize we should not make excuses and not minimize
Just say here's what I did
Here's I'm well and look and that doesn't mean that you sometimes can't confront somebody say you offended me when you did X Y & Z
But you should be able to do that in a spirit of reconciliation. You offended me when you did X Y & Z
Here's my part. Here's the part I played. Here's what I did different could have done different. Here's what I did wrong, and I'm sorry
So
Well, what if they don't?
Say it back
Well, then hopefully you are mature enough to say I will esteem you don't think that happens. I mean, it's the most awkward thing in the world
You go to somebody that you would honestly think like 90% of the problem is you 10% problem is me
I'm gonna go ahead and initiate this thing. I'm sorry. I mean just
Whoa, you're crazy. I
Mean they don't say anything
You don't think that happens
I preached a sermon years ago things your parents should have taught you to say one of the things was I'm sorry because grown adults
What did they don't have the ability it can't come out of their mouth and I think to myself, how are you alive?
That the words can't even come out of your mouth you can't even lie
You can't make yourself say I accept your policy
Let's start over it's crazy. It's crazy. I don't know what to do about it
Here's the truth our love for Jesus may separate us from the world
Don't you know that?
Luke 1251 you have to turn there you go to Philippians suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth
I tell you an a but rather division. I
Understand that our love for Jesus our stance for Jesus might cause the world to hate us I get that
But there's no reason in the world why Christian people believers church members cannot get along
No reason other than pride and carnality period
Psalm 133 one behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
We talked about the accepting of peace
We talked about the extending of peace
Let me just real quickly if you don't mind
Talk about the experience of peace
The Bible says that there is a peace that the world cannot understand
Philippians 4 7 I want you to notice this phrase and the peace of God
The peace of God
We saw earlier that he was the God of peace and we saw earlier that we can have peace with God
But here he says the peace of God, please understand this
There is a difference between having peace with God and having the peace of God. Those are two different things and
the peace of God which passeth all
understanding
Shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ
The Bible says that there is a peace that you can have a peace of God
Where can you have it in your heart and mind and it's a peace which passeth all understanding
Go to Colossians 3 you're there in Philippians Colossians chapter 3 and the peace of God which passes all understanding
Shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Colossians 3 15 and let the peace of God Colossians 3 15 and let the peace of God rule in your heart
To the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful
Let the peace of God rule in your heart
Bible says the peace of God should rule in your heart
There's this peace of God which passes all understanding which will keep your hearts and your minds
It's this internal peace and there is this peace that you can have that the world does not
understand this peace that when everything is falling apart around you when the world is chaotic and everything is crazy and all the church members
are fighting
You can have this peace inside at least
That comes from God
As I was studying for the sermon I told you I read every single verse in the Bible that has the word peace
I think it was almost 400 verses or something like that
One verse that I came across that I thought was interesting you have to turn I'll just read this for you Isaiah 66 12
I'd never noticed as I read the Bible of course scores of times, but I'd never noticed this verse until I was
Reading it in the context of peace
I'll just read you the first part of the verse Isaiah 66 12 for thus saith the Lord behold
I will extend peace to her like a river
For thus saith the Lord behold I will extend peace to her like a river and
the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream and
When I read that some of you know where I'm going to go nice
It immediately made me think of a hymn
For thus saith the Lord behold I will extend peace to her like a river
There is a famous
Hymn that uses this terminology, and I did not realize that it came from Isaiah 66 12
I will extend peace to her like a river, but the interesting thing
You go to John real quickly John
The interesting thing is that this is about
Experiencing peace in your heart and in your mind. There is a peace that the world cannot understand and that peace comes from God
Let me just read to you real quickly. I know it's already. I've already been going for an hour
Let me just read this quickly what we've done in a couple minutes
We're not talking about peace with God, I hope you have that
We're talking about the peace of God and by the way you cannot have the peace of God without having peace with others
That's just that I've taught I've taught that a lot
your relationship to God
Vertically it's connected to your relationship with others horizontally you cannot get away from that
Your
Peace with others will determine the peace that you have in your heart
you cannot have peace until you learn to have peace with others and
You have to learn to get peace because life is difficult
Horatio G Spafford lived in 1828 to 1888
Had established a very successful legal practice as a young businessman in Chicago
He was a very devout Christian
Spafford's fortune evaporated in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871
Having invested heavily in real estate along Lake Michigan's shoreline. He lost everything overnight
In a saga reminiscent of Job his son died a short time before his financial disaster
But the worst was yet to come
Desiring arrest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to take part in
evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain
Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873
In November of that year due to an unexpected last-minute business development
He had to remain in Chicago, but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the SS
Bill doe Harvey
He expected to follow in a few days
On November 22nd. The ship was struck by the lock Hearn an English vessel and saying in 12 minutes
Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff Wales and miss Spafford cabled her husband these words saved
alone
Spafford left immediately to join his wife
As he was traveling by ship. It was announced that they would be passing over the area where the SS Bill D Harvey
Was thought to have sunk
It is said that Horatio Spafford sat down and took out something to write as he passed by the watery grave of his four daughters
He penned these words
when peace like a river
attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
That has taught me to say it is well
It is well with my soul. I
Hope you have peace with God
You know, what I really hope is that you have the peace of God
Because there is a peace that passeth all understanding a
Peace that can only come from the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus Christ
Here's what Jesus said John 16 33
These things have I spoken unto you
That in me you might have peace
In the world you shall have tribulation
But be of good cheer I have overcome the world
John
1427 peace I leave with you
My peace I give unto you
Not as the world give it
Give I unto you
Let not your heart be troubled
Neither. Let it be afraid. I
Hope you have peace with God
but I really hope you have the peace of God and
realize
That you can never have peace
If you don't learn to make peace with those around you that's about our heads and have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father
Thank you Lord for your word
Thank you for the Bible
Lord I know it's not my job to make people force people to grow spiritually. I know that
But sometimes when it's clear that your job is to help people mature
And there's just this realization that people is not they're not as far along as you would hope they would do
It can be hard
But thank you
Thank you for always giving us peace and heart
Help us to work harder
Help us to dig into the Bible
Help us to learn the Bible read what it says apply it to our lives and grow
And I think we'll be shocked how much peace we can have in our lives
We love you
In the matchless name of Christ we pray
Amen
We're gonna have for the Mac come up and lead us in a final song
Just let me give you a couple of reminders if you would not mind first of all
I always want to remind you to invite someone to church with you next week. We're gonna continue our
Spirit of Christmas sermons and we'll be learning we learned about joy. We learned about peace
We'll continue learning about the spirit of Christmas. I do want to let you know that tonight
I'm gonna be preaching out of Luke 21
We're gonna be in our gospel of Luke series and we're gonna be learning about Jesus is teaching on end times
Tribulation on the end times tribulation period which is interesting because the end times tribulation period is the world's attempt at peace
And it doesn't work. So we want to encourage you if you're interested in Bible prophecy
I'll be preaching tonight on Jesus is teaching on the end times tribulation period and
Just want to remind you of a couple of things in the foyer
There is a sign-up sheet for the Christmas cookies and hot chocolate fellowship
if you'd like to sign up to bring cookies or dessert, we appreciate you stopping by and
Filling something out there and then if you're able to pick something up for the Christmas gifts for Jesus table
That would be great as well. If there's anything we can do for you, please. Let us know
We'll have brother Matt come up and lead us in a final song
Song 425
No room in the end
225 on the first
Oh
25 on the second
Oh
Amen good scene before we leave here if anybody has questions about salvation church membership or baptism pastor will be at the door
He'd love to talk to you or direct you to someone who's trained to talk about that ask brother Adam
Would you close a prayer for us?
a
Ah
You