WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.700 Amen. You may be seated, kids. You are now dismissed to your kids' classes. 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:12.259 And I would encourage you to open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5. 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:26.460 It's on page 962 of your Pew Bible. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:34.500 As you know, during this election cycle, we have been working through the Beatitudes, 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:44.679 the greatest sermon ever preached, where Jesus is kind of walking through this eight-point character profile of a kingdom citizen. 00:00:45.620 --> 00:00:49.280 It's to be true of every follower of Jesus. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:55.299 Let me read it. Matthew 5, I'm going to just read through verse 10. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:02.920 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him, just like we're coming to him now. 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:07.340 And he opened his mouth, and he taught them, saying, 00:01:07.340 --> 00:01:11.579 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:15.620 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:18.800 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:01:19.020 --> 00:01:23.520 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:27.219 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:31.120 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:36.740 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:45.120 Blessed are those who are persecuted, for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:47.439 May God bless the hearing of his word. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:02:06.060 If you're a Christian in the room, every one of us in the sanctuary has at some point grieved God by sinfully straining a relationship. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:08.780 You don't need to say, Amen. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:08.939 Amen. 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:09.020 Amen. 00:02:12.859 --> 00:02:17.840 We have sinned against others, and we have been sinned against. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:25.000 Our sin is a chaos maker. 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:31.079 It makes chaos in relationships. 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:36.240 It wreaks havoc in marriages. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.680 It does damage in parenting. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:46.020 And it is like a mold in a church. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:47.439 A black mold. 00:02:49.020 --> 00:02:51.200 That can have a toxic effect. 00:02:54.160 --> 00:03:01.300 Some of us this morning are seeking to navigate chaos wrought by sin in a relationship. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.719 Maybe we brought it. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:04.040 Maybe someone else brought it. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:04.639 Maybe we brought it. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:06.939 Maybe both sides contributed to it. 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:12.299 What is a Christian to do? 00:03:15.299 --> 00:03:16.639 We're to make peace. 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:29.120 Do you know that you have a patriotic duty as a kingdom citizen to make peace? 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:35.300 Especially with other Christians. 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:39.560 So let me start off this sermon by asking this question. 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.379 Are you bringing sinful chaos to your relationships? 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.120 Or are you bringing kingdom peace? 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:54.180 I want to make sure you know up front of some resources. 00:03:54.819 --> 00:03:59.960 Because I am so aware that this sermon cannot cover the waterfront of peacemaking. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:02.640 So I've got some resources for you. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:03.900 I'll remind you at the end of the sermon. 00:04:04.640 --> 00:04:06.400 We've got 20 of these books available. 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:08.240 10 outside of each door. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:09.560 Grab one if you're a family. 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:11.180 This is peacemaking by Ken Sandy. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:18.180 It is an excellent resource for all Christians to know how to be making peace when conflict arises. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:19.560 Especially in your families. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:23.160 I use this in all of my premarital counseling. 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:24.660 I do. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:30.360 There is an article that is a kind of a condensation of this. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:31.259 A condensed version. 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:32.639 It's the four G's. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.579 We've got a bunch of these outside those doors. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:41.620 And so if you want kind of like the abridged version or the full thing, grab them as you leave. 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:44.079 Blessed are the peacemakers. 00:04:44.339 --> 00:04:48.240 This will help you put into practice what I'm about to preach on. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.839 We've come to the seventh of the eight Beatitudes. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:05:00.860 This profile of a kingdom citizen. 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:03.439 It's to mark each and every one of us. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:07.460 And these eight character traits are sequential and they're progressive. 00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:09.139 They build off each other. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:11.740 And so last week I preached on blessed are the pure in heart. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:18.240 Those people who've had their hearts made alive by the Spirit and are being renewed by the Spirit. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:23.699 Those people who've had their hearts cleansed by the blood of Jesus and are being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:28.900 Those people who've had their hearts reordered for the glory of God and are being reordered daily. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:32.519 Those are the pure in heart. 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:40.659 And now the pure in heart seek peace in their relationships with other people. 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:48.579 Let me just give you an operating definition of what I mean by kingdom peace. 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:54.139 Kingdom peace is the experience of God's goodness in a relationship. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:03.639 Kingdom peace is the experience of the fullness of God's goodness in a relationship. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:11.719 And I know that many in the room are experiencing today incomplete and impartial peace in relationships. 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:15.420 And just the topic is hurtful and painful. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:20.240 But let's hear what Jesus has to say. 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:26.700 Let me help you understand what it means to be a peacemaker. 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:31.959 The scope of God's gospel peacemaking is huge. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:36.360 Jesus died on the cross to make peace between God and us. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:41.839 And this gospel that we believe in brings peace to ourselves and how we see ourselves. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.379 And it also brings peace in our relationship to others. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.860 And one day it's going to bring peace to our relationship to creation. 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:53.699 That's the scope and scale of God's peacemaking work. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:55.060 It's wonderful. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:59.280 And this morning we're going to focus on peacemaking with each other. 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:01.800 Five points. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:06.259 Kingdom peace is about fullness. 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:08.459 Not just absence. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:12.519 Kingdom peace is a kingdom mandate. 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:15.180 Not a kingdom maybe. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:18.560 Kingdom peace is dynamic. 00:07:18.899 --> 00:07:19.899 Not static. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:22.040 Kingdom peace is costly. 00:07:22.459 --> 00:07:23.259 Not cheap. 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:25.939 Kingdom peace is hopeful. 00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:28.139 Not hopeless. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:41.159 Kingdom citizens bring kingdom peace to others they're in relationship with. 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:47.300 It's your patriotic duty as a kingdom citizen. 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:48.920 So let's look at this first. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:51.759 Kingdom peace is about fullness not absence. 00:07:52.520 --> 00:07:58.280 Typically when I'm guessing is that when you think about peace you think about the absence 00:07:58.280 --> 00:07:59.639 of something not good. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.240 Like hey you know what our relationship is doing great. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:05.240 You know we're there's no tension. 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.460 There's no unresolved issues. 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:10.939 There's no awkwardness. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.379 There's no conflict. 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:17.019 There's nothing in the way. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:21.060 We can think about peace in terms of what is not there. 00:08:21.460 --> 00:08:21.480 Right? 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:25.680 So like with Israel and Hamas and Iran right now. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:30.600 Moving towards some kind of peace is being presented as a cease fire. 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:45.320 Is this idea of a cease fire the extent to the peace that God wants us to experience in our relationship with each other? 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:47.139 Is he just looking for cease fires? 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:49.620 No he's not. 00:08:51.699 --> 00:08:53.139 Here's what peacemaking does. 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:54.519 Biblically speaking. 00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:02.960 Peacemaking not only deals with the issues that are keeping you from experiencing fullness of God's goodness. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:08.419 It actually brings fullness of God's goodness in the relationship. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:10.980 It's just not solving the problems. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.279 It's bringing goodness to the relationship. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:23.639 So we resolve sinful conflicts in order to experience the goodness of God's, the fullness of God's goodness in relationship to one another. 00:09:23.939 --> 00:09:30.699 So peacemaking moves a relationship from fear to joy. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:37.779 From mistrust to growing levels of trust. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:39.079 That's what peacemaking does. 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.620 It's good. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:41.639 It's good. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:45.899 You see, peacemaking is about fullness. 00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:49.059 Not just cease fires. 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:56.559 Could you imagine if God limited his work of salvation, of peacemaking, with you to just a cease fire? 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:02.720 The extent of his work of salvation with you was just removing the penalty of sin. 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:03.600 Could you imagine that? 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.299 We would all say, well, that's good. 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:09.419 But God goes well beyond that. 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:16.559 Not only does he impute the righteousness of Christ to us, he gives himself to us. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.279 That's why God made peace with us. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.599 To give himself to us. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:29.440 What a glorious work of reconciliation. 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:33.659 That the end game of peace is a giving of yourself. 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.639 God gives himself. 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:43.920 A relationship with God was the goal of his peacemaking. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:49.860 Could you imagine a salvation without a relationship with God? 00:10:50.699 --> 00:10:51.819 That would be so shallow. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.500 The empty. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:10:58.799 What God gives us himself. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:02.939 Kingdom peace is about fullness of relationship. 00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:05.240 Not just a cease fire. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.079 We see it in our relationship with God. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.259 And he's making peace with us. 00:11:08.599 --> 00:11:14.059 And so now, in terms of our relationship with one another, we need to think about peace as fullness. 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:23.679 If you're in the chaos of a sinfully strained relationship, conflict with another Christian, whether it's your making or someone else's making, 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:28.739 in order to experience the fullness of God's good, you've got to resolve the conflict. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:31.939 So that you can move into the good. 00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:40.279 But if you're unwilling to resolve the conflict, you will only experience limited tastes of goodness in that relationship. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:49.679 When you're in a conflict, in a strained relationship, there tends not to be laughter and joy. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.019 Bearing with one another in love. 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.199 Weeping with those who weep. 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:56.620 A transparency with your struggles without fear. 00:11:57.579 --> 00:12:01.919 That gets sucked out of the relationship because of conflict. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:12.099 But when we pursue peace with one another, biblically, in a godly fashion, it brings laughter with it. 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:15.059 It brings joy in the relationship. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:18.779 Burden bearing, trust, honesty. 00:12:18.979 --> 00:12:19.839 There's goodness. 00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:25.839 Brothers and sisters, let's not settle for cease fires. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:34.360 Brothers, let's press into the goodness, the fullness of God's goodness in his relationship with one another. 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.300 Just imagine what it's going to be like in glory. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:46.440 On the other side of the judgment seat of Jesus, you are going to be experiencing fullness of peace with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.460 Everything will be removed. 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:51.100 No conflict whatsoever. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:57.540 Kingdom peace is about fullness, not just absence. 00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:03.800 Second point, kingdom peace is a kingdom mandate, not a kingdom maybe. 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:13.200 The kingdom peace, this fullness, is not optional for us. 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:16.040 It's a must. 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:21.699 Because God in Christ has made peace with us. 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:24.839 We now make peace with others. 00:13:25.079 --> 00:13:33.579 And so what I want to do under this point is just kind of like help you to see the mandates for peace in your Bible, in your New Testament. 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:42.120 The first one I want you to notice is if you're in Matthew 5, just look at Matthew 5, 21. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:45.279 Jesus is addressing anger. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:48.399 And he's going after the heart of anger. 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:52.039 And for those people struggling with anger, he says in verse 23, 00:13:52.039 --> 00:14:07.179 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you because you lost your anger with him, you lost your temper, leave your gift there before the altar and go. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.740 First be reconciled. 00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:11.219 Peace to your brother. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:14.000 And then come and offer your gift. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.639 Brothers and sisters, is this optional for us? 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.659 Is Jesus presenting this as a maybe? 00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:22.319 No. 00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:24.319 He's presenting it as mandate. 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:34.939 If you flip in your Bibles to Matthew 18, many of you, when you hear Matthew 18, the two words church discipline come to your mind. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:43.500 But the process Jesus lays out here is actually a peacemaking process. 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:52.799 It's to keep and maintain and preserve peace within a church, between brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.519 Let me just read it. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.840 This is verse 15 through 17. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.519 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:04.460 If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.200 Peace! 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:14.540 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others along with you that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:17.440 And if he listens to you, there's peace. 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.879 But if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:28.520 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:38.120 So, Matthew 5 is Jesus instructing us what to do when we know we have sinned against another. 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.220 You go immediately. 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:46.039 And here, in Matthew 18, Jesus is instructing us of what to do when someone has sinned against us. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:51.759 And what's behind both is peacemaking. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:16:03.379 Getting sin and the consequences, the chaos of it, out of the way so that we can experience the fullness of God's goodness in relationships with one another. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.139 It's a mandate. 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:16.960 In Romans 12, 18, Paul has just been talking about the body of Christ in Romans 12. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:25.680 And in verse 18, he says, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.379 Mandate. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.660 This is not optional. 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:33.920 We are to do what we can do in order to be peace with all people. 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:41.580 In other words, if you got cards in your hand to play in order to make peace with someone, you need to play those. 00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:43.720 All of them, as you're able to. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:48.120 And you do that unto Jesus to honor him in peacemaking. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:56.120 The issue isn't what is the minimal steps I can take to making peace. 00:16:56.360 --> 00:17:00.420 What is the maximum I can do to be at peace with all people? 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:08.660 Hebrews 12, verse 14. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:15.480 I'm going to read 14 and 15 because 15 has a warning. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:22.420 Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:32.480 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:37.519 I just want you to see an important connection in verse 14. 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:41.519 Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness. 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:48.039 Grammatically, the striving in that passage is both for the peace and holiness. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:52.519 In other words, peace and holiness aren't disconnected. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:55.920 Striving for peace is a striving for holiness. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:59.460 It's a holy peace. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.779 It's a blood-bought peace. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:06.460 It's a unity that Jesus has purchased between us with his blood, and we strive to keep it. 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:18.660 If you've been thinking about peace as optional, you need to rethink that. 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:22.700 In terms of the weight of your Bible. 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.740 It's not optional. 00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:27.220 It's not a maybe. 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.080 It's a mandate. 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:33.740 And is there a moment here, sometime today, this afternoon, even right now, where you're just like, 00:18:34.060 --> 00:18:38.140 okay, I've been treating this relationship and the pursuit of peace as a maybe, not a mandate. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.620 You confess that to your Lord. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:46.100 Say, forgive me, Lord, for minimizing this in your sight. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:51.619 Is kingdom peace a maybe? 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.279 No. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.539 Is kingdom peace a mandate? 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.299 Yes. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:01.899 And before we move on to the next point, can I just ask this question? 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.480 Why? 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.159 Why? 00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:14.959 Why take all this effort to pursue peace with people? 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:22.039 Well, God reconciled us to himself, and he reconciled us to each other. 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:24.139 That's the whole point of Ephesians chapter 2. 00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:29.980 The peace that we have is a blood-bought peace. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:36.019 But there's more to that. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:41.920 God has existed as a triune God. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:46.500 And he knows peace firsthand. 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:52.680 And he wants us to experience peace too. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:20:00.019 He wants us to experience the fullness of his goodness in relationship with one another. 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:08.039 And so, I hope you're starting to get this sense that the pursuit of peace with our brothers and sisters is a pursuit of goodness. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.099 Fullness. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:16.920 Kingdom peace is a kingdom mandate, not a kingdom maybe. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.400 Number three. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:23.240 Kingdom peace is dynamic, not static. 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:26.000 Let me define my terms. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:35.299 When I say static, I'm not talking about what happens when you pull your clothes out of your dryer and your sock is stuck to your sweatshirt. 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.079 Not that kind of static. 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:45.180 For the people who've been around the block, it's not the static that would be on your TV channel when the channel goes off the air. 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.299 Not that kind of static. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:50.240 Here's the kind of static I'm talking about. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:52.220 It's more of a technical use of the word. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.559 It's an equilibrium. 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.220 It's something that's unchanging. 00:20:56.159 --> 00:21:00.599 Did you know right now what the temperature of the earth core is? 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.059 9,400 degrees Fahrenheit. 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:15.159 And if you were to take the temperature of the earth core from, to take daily samples from January to December, 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:19.920 and you were to line graph it, you would have a static line. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.560 A straight, unchanging line. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:29.180 9,400 degrees Fahrenheit, January 1, December 31st. 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:41.180 But, if you were to line graph the air temperature of Kenosha from January to December, 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:44.400 that line graph would be a dynamic line. 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:48.240 You would be going up and down depending on the season, right? 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.759 So, static is remaining the same. 00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.360 Dynamic is changing. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.259 Ebbs and flows. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.640 It moves up and down. 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:11.100 Now, if you were to graph your experience of the fullness of God's goodness in, let's say, 20 of your relationships over the past year, 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:17.280 and you were to graph it on a line from January through December of 2024, 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:21.579 therefore, I doubt that they would be static lines. 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.579 I think they're going to be dynamic lines. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:27.519 Because we're complicated people. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.920 We sin and we're sinned against. 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.480 We misunderstand each other. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.440 We get in foul moods. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:41.080 Kingdom peace is dynamic, not static, because we're dynamic. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.140 God's grace is unchanging. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.600 That's static. 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:48.400 But our relationships aren't. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:54.380 Sin brings chaos to relationships. 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:59.600 Kingdom peace brings restorative goodness. 00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:02.580 It brings order. 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:05.340 Not in a controlling sense. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.960 In a goodness sense. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:13.559 Do you know why there are so many mandates in our Bible concerning peace? 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.700 Because the Bible is so realistic. 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:32.340 For Jesus to say, hey, if you become aware that you have offended a brother while you're going to church, 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:35.019 go to them before going to the church. 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.380 Do you know why he says that? 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:44.299 Because he knows we're going to lose our tempers with one another. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:50.860 The reason why Jesus has Matthew 18 and this sequence of peacemaking in our Bibles 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:53.620 is because he knows we're going to sin against each other. 00:23:54.440 --> 00:24:00.779 For there to be passages in our Bibles that are calling us, urging us, pressing us into, 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:04.059 as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all. 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:06.220 Strive for peace with one another. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:11.319 Those are there because God knows we're going to sin against each other. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.440 This is his goodness to us. 00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:19.920 We're going to experience ups and downs in relationships. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:25.339 That's what happens when you're living in close proximity with other sinful human beings. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:27.839 You end up sinning against each other. 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:30.259 The temptation is to sin back. 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:34.059 Jesus is saying, no. 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:37.720 Make peace. 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:40.880 So let me set some expectations. 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.240 Expectation number one. 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:45.960 Don't be surprised by conflict between Christians. 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:52.360 Don't be surprised when chaos brews. 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.500 Your Bible assumes it and instructs to it. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:25:06.799 Expectation number two, though, is we need to respond by faith to that, not by sweeping it under the rug. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:11.559 We are to respond as God's word instructs us to. 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:19.379 And when we're encountering, experiencing peace or conflict with another person, another Christian in particular, 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:22.319 there's a couple things I just want to make you aware of. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:29.839 In Matthew chapter 5, when this guy is going to present his gift at the altar, it's like us going to church, 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:32.879 and he becomes aware that he's sinned against a brother. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:36.339 Jesus is admonishing him. 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:38.859 There's this like, you go and you go quick. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.019 Deal with sin quickly. 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:46.819 Don't let sin get kind of a root of bitterness. 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:52.539 In Ephesians chapter 4, verses 26 and 27, you don't need to go there. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:55.859 But what Paul is saying, be angry and do not sin. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:59.099 Don't let the sun go down on your anger. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.559 There's a timeliness to dealing with conflict. 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:06.740 And in verse 27, we're told, don't give a foothold to the devil. 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:15.259 One of the things that just weighed on me all week this week is this. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:21.900 The prospect that we just see our conflict with one another just as something we need to work out. 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:26.319 When the reality is, it becomes a foothold for the devil. 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.819 Do you know what kind of chaos making the devil can do? 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:35.839 Kind of supercharges our peacemaking, does it not? 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.299 Don't be surprised by conflict. 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:45.000 But let's respond to conflict according to what God's word says. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:52.799 Now you might be wondering, well, Salvati, how do I prepare myself for that? 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:58.039 How do I get ready for conflict and to respond according to God's word? 00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:00.740 Well, I'm glad you asked me that. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.539 Jesus has already told us. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.180 Here's how you prepare. 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:13.799 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:17.140 Those who have declared spiritual bankruptcy. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.259 Blessed are those who mourn. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:23.200 Blessed are those people who are grieving over their own sin. 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:26.080 Boy, you are getting positioned in order to be a peacemaker. 00:27:27.080 --> 00:27:28.460 Blessed are the meek, the humble. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:32.640 They see themselves accurately as God sees them. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.740 They're getting positioned to peacemake. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:38.880 Blessed are those who are hunger and thirst after righteousness. 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:43.860 This inner righteousness, not this external pharisaical righteousness. 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:47.740 An inner righteousness that pleases God above all else. 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.180 Boy, you're positioning yourself for some peacemaking. 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:55.299 Blessed are the merciful. 00:27:56.120 --> 00:28:01.519 When you realize you are in desperate need of mercy, that actually positions you to be a good peacemaker. 00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:04.180 Blessed are the pure in heart. 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:11.400 Those whose hearts are being renewed daily, are being cleansed daily, are being reordered daily, 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.960 you're positioned to be a peacemaker. 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:15.559 Jesus already tells us. 00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:19.840 This is the beauty of the sequence, the progression of the beatitudes. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:23.460 Are you positioning yourself? 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:34.600 But what about becoming aware of someone else's conflict? 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.660 What do you do? 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:41.380 What happens when you're minding your own business, 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:48.280 either you accidentally are brought into this conflict between a brother and a sister or two people, 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:51.520 or someone else is gossiping about it. 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:55.000 Someone else is spreading rumors about it. 00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:58.080 Or slandering someone about it. 00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.520 What do you do? 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.320 Here's what you do. 00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.940 You check your heart quickly. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.720 It's what you do. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:13.160 You pray something like this. 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:15.840 Prince of beasts, bring your peace. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:20.580 And you've got to withhold judgment. 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:29.120 If you come into the knowledge of a situation accidentally or by some other person's sin of speech, 00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:35.660 you've got to be slow there. 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:40.500 Because there's always two sides of a conflict. 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.640 Always two sides. 00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:45.940 You've got to slow it down. 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:54.279 And then you've got to say something along these lines to the one gossiping, 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:57.019 or the one spreading the rumors, or the one that's slandering. 00:29:57.019 --> 00:30:00.019 That's chaos making, brothers and sisters. 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.819 That's not good for a church. 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:06.059 That undermines the health of a church. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:10.220 And so if someone's gossiping, someone's spreading a rumor, someone's slandering, 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:13.859 you need to be able to say at that moment, stop that. 00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:17.079 That is not pleasing to the Lord. 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.059 That's not building his church up. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.219 I don't want to hear it. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:27.200 If you've got an issue with that person, you need to go to that person. 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:43.779 Brothers and sisters, we can't talk about people in the guise of godliness when we're gossiping about them. 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.940 So you're praying for peace. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.900 You're withholding judgment. 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:50.460 You're confronting sin in the moment. 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:55.680 And maybe at this point you're like saying, okay, okay, I'm really concerned about this, 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.019 this information I've brought into. 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:57.579 What do I do? 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.740 Call elder support. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.600 Bling, bling, bling. 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.600 Yeah, Mike, elder. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.380 How can I help you? 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.220 Oh, really? 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.559 Well, how'd you find out about that? 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.039 Sorry to hear that. 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.079 Yeah. 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.880 The elders know. 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.579 We're praying for that. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:19.360 Thank you for concern. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:23.819 Has either one of that party asked you to be part of the solution? 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.419 They haven't. 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:25.740 Okay. 00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:28.000 Okay, pray for them. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.859 Thank you for letting me know. 00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.240 Yeah. 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.599 Keep praying for them. 00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.199 Thank you. 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.599 Bye. 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:38.959 Elder support. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:47.500 The elders of our church love our church and are eager to guard the unity of our church 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.819 and protect the peace of our church. 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:52.799 And if you find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to do, you don't know what 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:56.059 to step to take, feel free to call one of us. 00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.840 We'd love to help you. 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:03.779 Brothers and sisters, here's the case I'm trying to make here. 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:10.619 A healthy church does not ignore conflict. 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:14.059 It addresses it. 00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:24.200 Because we see conflict as an opportunity for God's glory, for God's goodness, for there to be health and peace. 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.279 Peace. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:30.960 John Piper wrote this article called, Don't Waste Your Cancer. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:35.200 Don't Waste Your Conflict, Church. 00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.079 Pursue Peace. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.240 Obey Jesus. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:43.519 Kingdom peace is dynamic, not static. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.299 We're always working on it. 00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:48.500 Kingdom peace is costly, not cheap. 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:52.579 There's a good gospel word here. 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.200 It's this. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.860 This is point four. 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.579 Kingdom peace is costly, not cheap. 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:59.939 The peace we experience with God. 00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.799 Full forgiveness of our sin. 00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:07.480 Full acceptance based upon the righteousness of Christ. 00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:09.579 That's not cheap. 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.899 That came at cost. 00:33:13.899 --> 00:33:15.939 The blood of Jesus. 00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:18.980 Is it worth it? 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.659 Oh yeah, it's worth it. 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.919 Would God say it's worth it? 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:25.220 He'd say yes, it's worth it. 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:27.620 To bring many sons to glory? 00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.819 Yes, it's worth it. 00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:33.600 To bring a host of sinners into relationship with me? 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:35.120 Oh, it's so worth it. 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:38.500 That they would delight and know and worship me? 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.660 Yes, it's so worth it. 00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:49.360 Brothers and sisters, it's going to cost us something to be peacemaking in our church. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:57.579 That the experience of the fullness of God's goodness in relationships will come with a price tag. 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.099 It will cost time. 00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:04.639 It will cost energy. 00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:12.619 Do you know how much energy it takes to carefully listen to someone to make sure you're understanding the nuances of what they're saying? 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:16.559 It will cost convenience. 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:25.960 Wouldn't it be great if you have a brother or sister in Christ and you're like, okay, you know, it's been a while since we've had a conflict. 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.000 How about we schedule one for this afternoon? 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:31.179 We can work it out real quick. 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:35.619 Point, conflict doesn't come conveniently. 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:40.219 And peacemaking is never convenient. 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:43.619 It's going to cost convenience. 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.639 But is it worth it? 00:34:47.459 --> 00:34:48.980 It's going to cost comfort. 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:54.419 You're going to have to risk some things when you have been sinned against. 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:59.500 And you go to that one who sinned against you and say, did you know that was really hurtful? 00:35:01.939 --> 00:35:03.279 That wounded me deeply. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:08.159 In fact, I think you sinned against me based upon what it says here in the Bible. 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:08.239 You know? 00:35:10.859 --> 00:35:12.759 Or you're the being one confronted. 00:35:12.879 --> 00:35:13.539 It's risky. 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:16.339 Because you want to defend yourself. 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:22.719 It's risky being honest and saying, you know what, you are totally right. 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.500 I was wrong. 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.199 I was sinful. 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:29.279 Oh, it's such a good risk, though. 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.759 It may cost your reputation. 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:36.519 You may say something to someone and they're like, you are such a weakling. 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:38.500 And they go blab about you. 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:45.119 Someone ask me. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:47.960 Pastor Mike, is it worth it? 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.619 Someone ask. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.519 Is it worth it? 00:35:52.159 --> 00:36:00.059 Is the inconvenience, the time used, all of these things that costs us for peace, is it worth it? 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:06.199 On one level, it doesn't matter. 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:08.239 Because it's mandated. 00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:12.440 But oh yeah, it is worth it. 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.460 Because when peacemaking is normalized in a church, 00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:22.940 when it's the thing that we, by faith, step into more and more, 00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:27.900 in a marriage, in a family, do you know what happens? 00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:31.380 There's less and less walking on eggshells. 00:36:33.260 --> 00:36:34.940 There's less and less grudges. 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:38.000 There's less and less avoiding. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.700 Less and less gossip. 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.800 Less and less rumors. 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:43.440 Less and less slander. 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:44.599 Less and less division. 00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:47.039 Less and less footholds for the devil. 00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:50.279 And more and more trust. 00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.119 More and more joy. 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:55.839 More and more mutual concern and burden bearing. 00:36:56.319 --> 00:37:00.199 More and more of what the Bible talks about as the one another's. 00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:02.699 It's this peacemaking. 00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:03.519 You know what it is? 00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:05.139 It's a way in which we love one another. 00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:10.420 So when Jesus says, just as I have loved you, you love one another. 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:14.159 Just as Jesus loved us and made peace with us, 00:37:14.359 --> 00:37:17.819 we are to love one another and make peace with one another. 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:22.019 That's the church I want to be a part of. 00:37:24.359 --> 00:37:25.819 Kingdom peace is costly. 00:37:27.819 --> 00:37:28.920 And it's worth it. 00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:35.760 If you were to encounter black mold in your basement, what would you do? 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.180 Turn off the lights? 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.380 Go back upstairs? 00:37:41.720 --> 00:37:43.360 Let it become more toxic? 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.480 Would you paint it over? 00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:49.360 And say, all is well. 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.519 Peace, peace. 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:52.240 But there is no peace. 00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:56.980 No, if you found toxic mold, 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:59.619 you'd turn on the lights, 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.719 you'd open up the windows, 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:05.440 you'd get your plastic gloves on, 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.360 you'd get your bleach, 00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:07.599 and you would start scrubbing, 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:09.059 and you would find the source, 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:12.519 and you would fix this problem at the source, 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.619 and you would say, 00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:14.679 that was worth it. 00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:18.480 Because now, my family lives in a healthy habitat. 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:24.960 Brothers, when we ignore sin, 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.400 it's toxic. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:32.980 But when we step by faith towards the chaos of sin making, 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:35.280 oh, 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:38.219 we start creating a healthy habitat. 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:40.820 A healthy body. 00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:42.099 Kingdom peace is costly. 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.480 And is it worth it? 00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.480 Give me a yes and amen. 00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:45.960 Yes and amen. 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:50.480 Finally, kingdom peace is hopeful, 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:51.840 not hopeless. 00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:53.179 I can be quick on this one. 00:38:53.179 --> 00:38:55.199 I'm going to be quick on this one, 00:38:55.359 --> 00:38:57.579 but it is really important. 00:38:59.259 --> 00:39:00.379 How many of you, 00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:01.579 right now, 00:39:01.859 --> 00:39:05.159 are in some kind of peacemaking process? 00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:07.259 Maybe it's just stalled out. 00:39:07.859 --> 00:39:10.539 You're experiencing imperfect peace with someone, 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.179 incomplete. 00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:13.319 You're not experiencing the fullness of God's goodness. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:18.799 Maybe even there's been a breach in your relationship. 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:20.360 Let's say it's with another Christian. 00:39:21.160 --> 00:39:22.280 There's been a breach. 00:39:23.640 --> 00:39:25.180 They will not talk to you. 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:29.660 And the days and months and years are adding up. 00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:32.899 When we're in situations like that, 00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:34.059 our minds go like this. 00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:34.299 Oh, 00:39:34.399 --> 00:39:34.759 this is, 00:39:35.299 --> 00:39:35.859 I am, 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.259 this is hopeless. 00:39:39.059 --> 00:39:40.519 Will this ever change? 00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:46.000 Will we ever experience the sweetness of fellowship again? 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:48.859 I've got a number of people in my life, 00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:50.279 and I pray for them. 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:54.199 I want fullness of God's peace. 00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:54.279 Peace. 00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:54.319 Peace. 00:39:54.319 --> 00:39:54.359 Peace. 00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:01.819 Are you without hope? 00:40:05.899 --> 00:40:07.319 There is surprising hope. 00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:10.139 It's the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. 00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:12.399 Here's how it works. 00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:17.079 When Jesus comes back, 00:40:17.899 --> 00:40:20.179 he's going to judge everyone. 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:22.699 And according to 2 Corinthians 5.10, 00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:24.940 all of us in the room who are followers of Jesus 00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:27.639 will stand before the judgment seat of Christ 00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:30.779 and give an account for every aspect of our life, 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:34.259 even our peacemaking or lack thereof. 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:36.319 And on that day, 00:40:36.879 --> 00:40:39.739 King Jesus sorts it all out. 00:40:42.679 --> 00:40:44.559 He makes all wrongs right. 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:48.739 He knows the ratios of wrong to right 00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:50.339 in the relationships and strains, 00:40:50.339 --> 00:40:53.819 and he's going to make it all clear and all right. 00:40:53.820 --> 00:40:58.340 So on the other side of his throne, 00:40:59.880 --> 00:41:02.900 fullness of peace. 00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:09.440 Embracing fullness of joy. 00:41:12.080 --> 00:41:14.660 Complete, full, perfect peace 00:41:14.660 --> 00:41:18.720 with the ones that you're strained with now. 00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:20.019 It's coming. 00:41:20.900 --> 00:41:21.660 It's coming. 00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:23.960 You're not hopeless. 00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:26.920 Not if this other person is another Christian. 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.619 You're not hopeless. 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:31.319 But the thing is, 00:41:31.359 --> 00:41:32.899 you can't let the hope 00:41:32.899 --> 00:41:35.619 be used to excuse 00:41:35.619 --> 00:41:38.980 not striving for peace now. 00:41:40.299 --> 00:41:41.859 It is a great hope 00:41:41.859 --> 00:41:45.819 that is ballast for our souls 00:41:45.819 --> 00:41:48.000 as we press into difficult situations. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:51.199 So if you're a heavy-hearted brother and sister in the room, 00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:53.780 experiencing the strain 00:41:53.780 --> 00:41:56.400 of a lack of peace in a relationship, 00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:58.159 there is hope. 00:41:58.300 --> 00:41:58.860 It's coming. 00:41:58.980 --> 00:41:59.940 There's always hope. 00:42:06.199 --> 00:42:08.260 Kingdom peace is about fullness, 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:09.880 not just absence. 00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:12.639 Kingdom peace is a kingdom mandate, 00:42:13.059 --> 00:42:14.260 not a kingdom maybe. 00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:16.139 Kingdom peace is dynamic, 00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:17.039 not static. 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.539 Kingdom peace is costly, 00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:19.259 not cheap. 00:42:19.839 --> 00:42:22.179 Kingdom peace is hopeful, 00:42:22.759 --> 00:42:24.420 not hopeless. 00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:26.480 The promise 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:29.539 in this beatitude 00:42:29.539 --> 00:42:31.379 is this. 00:42:31.639 --> 00:42:33.259 Blessed are the peacemakers, 00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:35.219 for they shall be called sons of God. 00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:39.819 When we're making peace now on earth, 00:42:40.279 --> 00:42:41.259 do you know what it evidences? 00:42:44.500 --> 00:42:47.000 That we're part of God's family. 00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:50.839 Like God-like child. 00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:53.779 As our God is a peacemaker, 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:56.639 we too are His peacemaking sons and daughters. 00:42:56.639 --> 00:43:02.460 It just proves what's already true, 00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:05.460 that we're peacemakers. 00:43:08.299 --> 00:43:10.039 If you're a non-Christian in the room, 00:43:11.179 --> 00:43:13.599 the peace that you need most 00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:15.679 is the peace with God 00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:17.440 that comes only through Jesus Christ. 00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:21.200 And if you fear God's wrath, 00:43:21.300 --> 00:43:22.639 you need to call out to Jesus 00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:24.119 and say, 00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:24.559 Jesus, 00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:26.599 would you give me the peace 00:43:26.599 --> 00:43:28.280 that you purchased on the cross? 00:43:28.500 --> 00:43:29.639 That's your next step. 00:43:30.720 --> 00:43:32.240 But if you're a child of God, 00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:34.179 if you're in the kingdom, 00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:37.519 what is your next step 00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:40.059 with someone in your life 00:43:40.059 --> 00:43:42.139 that is lacking peace? 00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.840 Let's pray together. 00:43:44.840 --> 00:43:49.559 God in heaven, 00:43:51.559 --> 00:43:52.860 we're so grateful 00:43:52.860 --> 00:43:53.700 that you, God, 00:43:53.780 --> 00:43:56.039 would initiate peace with us. 00:43:58.780 --> 00:44:00.519 Even before we breathe, 00:44:01.120 --> 00:44:01.840 draw breath, 00:44:03.300 --> 00:44:05.940 you had started a peacemaking process. 00:44:07.740 --> 00:44:10.340 God, thank you that in your love for us, 00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:12.160 you made peace with us 00:44:12.160 --> 00:44:14.680 so that you can give yourself to us. 00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:17.280 God, would you help us 00:44:17.280 --> 00:44:19.380 to be peacemakers with others, 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:22.039 especially within this room, 00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:24.059 especially with other 00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:25.880 blood-bought brothers and sisters. 00:44:27.420 --> 00:44:29.019 God, we need you for this. 00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:32.180 Would you help us to do this well 00:44:32.180 --> 00:44:33.300 for the glory of your name? 00:44:33.300 --> 00:44:34.860 Amen.