Week 4 ~ The triad of peace
Truth Verses
1. Peace with God
Colossians 1:20 Through the Son, God also reconciled all things to himself, whether things on
earth or things in heaven, thereby making peace through the blood of his cross.
(read Romans 5:1 John 16:33 Ephesians 2:14-17)
2. Peace with others
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
(read Romans 12:18 Romans 14:19)
3. Peace within
Philippians 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit is…peace
(Read John 14:27; Romans 8:6; Romans 14:17; 15:13)
Truth Story
Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite. In the course of developing the explosive, he experienced tragedy when his brother Emil was killed, when a shed housing his less stable invention nitroglycerin exploded. After several similar accidents, the death of his other brother Ludvig caused several newspapers to publish obituaries, mistakenly thinking it was Alfred who had died. A French obituary stated, "The merchant of death is dead". Alfred, however never intended hurting anyone, as his products were used primarily for positive purposes such as mining. Alfred was in fact a pacifist, opposed to war or conflict of any kind. In light of this bad press, the wealthy Alfred was inspired to create a lasting legacy; intentionality encouraged the notion of global peacemaking.
The last will and testament of Alfred Nobel left much of his wealth for the establishment of an annual peace prize, specifically targeted at those whom it was deemed had "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.”
Much of the interest that accrued on his fortune was annually given to the person who has done "the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
Until the time of writing there have been 89 such Nobel Peace Prizes awarded since 1901.
Truth Unpacked
It's is hard to miss the similarities of the ideals encouraged by Nobel and that advocated by Jesus when he stated blessed are the peacemakers.
Will and testaments are supremely important as they indicate the essence of a persons desires and deepest passions. Jesus' last will and testimony is often thought of in terms of what is stated in the Synoptic Gospels. Here the Great Commission focus is on "making disciples." However, Johns Gospel takes a departure, emphasising another dimension to this commission. In John 20:14-17 Jesus' repeated emphasis is on receiving His peace, receiving the Spirit and receiving forgiveness and then becoming carriers of His forgiveness.
Having already categorised the New Testament scriptures related to peace, we discover that there are actually three main fields that make peace complete.
The first is finding peace with God. The truth verses above demonstrate how there can only be this peace through the blood of the cross. Being reconciled with God is only received by faith in the work of Jesus as both Saviour and Lord of our lives.
Secondly, efforts like Nobel’s, honour peacemakers. It awards those who make a tremendous effort in reconciling people to each other, often restoring friendly relations between people in conflict or at war.
Lastly, this peace is also to be a daily, Holy Spirit enabled, experience as a peace within. This is a holy repose and a God-given tranquility in our hearts and minds. So many live with inner turmoil, troubling thoughts and personal inner conflict. This peace from the Spirit is given by receiving God’s mind and spirit on an issue. It becomes a calming and protecting antidote to feeling disquiet and angst. Paul likens it to a sentry or garrison surrounding our hearts, protecting us from life’s hurts, habits and hangups. This is none other that the calm and serenity of the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Jesus.
Quote PEACE - It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart (Anon).
Praying the Word
Lord we realise that all of the qualities that the Spirit of Jesus produces flow from our relationship with you (1 John 1:3). Lord, thank you for peace in being reconciled with you through your crucified son and our saviour Jesus.
Lord, help us in turn to be peacemakers in this world of conflict (Matthew 5:9). Help us be ministers of reconciliation at every stratum of society (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). Let us pursue peace today (Psalm 34:14) to become a person of peace (Psalm 37:37).
Calm any restlessness and anxiety in our lives (Philippians 4:6-7). May we know your touch and partake in your peace (Romans 15:13). Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), let your peace guard our hearts from all anxiety. Impart your calm, your serenity and your repose we pray, as we trust in you. Amen (Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 23; John 16:33).
Lectio Divina [Prayer reading]
Pray, read and reflect.
• Have those that are willing pray, asking that the Holy Spirit would help them hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Read the scriptures again.
• Then go around the room [allowing for ‘neighbour nudging’ to let people opt out should they not want to share]. Have everyone willing then reflect, acknowledging one thing they sense the Holy Spirit is saying to them as they read.
Pray, reinforce and contemplate.
• Close the connect group time by praying that the Spirit would help empower everyone to demonstrate this Jesus-like characteristic of peace within.
• Reinforce this by participating in symbolic gesture or creative activity that does something to express our desire to receive this change (Setup a church candle in the centre of a table surrounded by several tea lights. Ask people to light the church candle (representing Jesus) and have others light their tea lights from it).
• Ask everyone to contemplate; to consider how they can demonstrate this characteristic more in their everyday lives.
