WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PEACEMAKER- SADELL BRADLEY - 09/16/2020

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD 

PEACEMAKER

Sadell Bradley

09/16/2020

"Jesus said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' And I think a lot of people don't understand that there's a difference between a peace lover and a peacemaker. Everybody loves peace, but wearing jewelry around your neck and saying 'I love peace' doesn't bring it. " - Mike Huckabee

 

WORSHIP IN THE PARK!

THIS SUNDAY we will COME TOGETHER for Worship in Washington Park. Activities for Children begin at 11:30AM Worship begins at 12:00 NOON. 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202. If you happen to have a Warehouse T-Shirt, please wear it. Invite your friends and family as we worship Jesus and invite an atmosphere of UNITY!

WAREHOUSE T-SHIRT FUN-RAISER

Got your Warehouse T-Shirt yet? For every T-Shirt sold, $10 will go to the Warehouse for Missions. Click here to purchase one of the many styles available. Our goal is to sell 500 T-Shirts to raise $5,000 for AV/Sound renovations in the lower level of our church, and to assist parents of CPS students. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

A PEACEMAKER is a person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries. PEACE has many meanings: freedom from disturbance, tranquility, mental calm, serenity; a state or period in which there is no war; freedom from dispute or dissension between individuals or groups. When Jesus declares to his disciples in Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God," He used the word eirenopois which means one who bravely declares God's terms, which makes someone whole. He links the ability to bring an end to strife and division, promote unity, and leave everyone in one piece, a mark of identity. Those who have not just the ability but the willingness to engender peace will make a name for themselves...sons and daughters of God.

ARE YOU A PEACEMAKER OR A PEACE LOVER? As you look at your conversations, social media posts and interactions, especially in this tumultuous season, would others call you a peacemaker? There is indeed a difference between a peace lover and a peacemaker. For us to just say we enjoy peace-filled atmospheres is not enough. Peacemaking requires humility, and a willingness to risk yourself and your reputation to intervene and bring God's truth to combatant parties. Someone said there are always 3 sides to every story: your side, my side, and the LORD's side. Which are you really representing? Can Scripture support it? Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, "1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Have you been doing this lately?

WISDOM FROM ABOVE

James warns us that the tongue is hard to tame. It's like a fire, and delivers deadly poison. We bless God, then we curse people who are made in God's image with the same tongue. (James 3) It's as if PEACE, not to mention love, joy, meekness, gentleness, self control...were not the fruit of God's Spirit living within us. (Gal. 5

:22) We think we're right, and would rather be right than reconciled. James says, "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (vs. 17-18) Here's a challenge for the rest of 2020 and beyond, let's engage in speech and activity that affirms that we are Children of God.