BY AL BUCHANAN
I would like to begin by asking you to turn to Isaiah chapter 9. This is a Scripture that I used in a message at the Feast and we commented on it there and I’m not going to duplicate those comments, but I just want to begin here. Isaiah 9 verse 6.
Isaiah 9:6. For unto us a
Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His
shoulder. And His name will be called
And we pointed out that I believe that what this is communicating to us here is that this Being is going to be introduced and is going to be revealed in a sense to all of those who live over into the Millennium period. People who have never even heard of this Being, perhaps, that will live over, but then some who will live over who have heard the name, but have never known this Person, never known this Being, this great God who emptied Himself and became a human being and walked on this earth and now coming back in power and glory to shoulder the government on this earth. And the people on this earth are going to need to know Who it is, Who this Being is. And He’s going to be introduced to them.
As we pointed out at the Feast, not only will He be introduced, but His Bride’s going to be introduced as well to those living over because they don’t understand what’s been going on. The vast majority of humanity does not have any glimpse into what God is doing and what His great plan is all about. And so, they don’t know about the Bride in the sense that the Bride is going to fill this very integral role in the Family of God. I think many people who have some connection with “Christianity” might realize and know that Christ is going to marry the Church. I think that is kind of commonly known and understood, but to the level that this Wife is going to be involved in what the Family is going to be doing, I don’t think that hardly anybody and I don’t know that we grasp that to the level that we ought to.
But this Being, along with His Bride, is going to be introduced. And this Being is going to be introduced this way.
Isaiah 9:6b. And His name
will be called Wonderful,
And I think it’ll take time for those living over to come to appreciate just what this word means and what this description means about this Being being Wonderful. We attach that word to different things. You might say, “Well, we had a wonderful time at the Feast,” or “This is a wonderful dessert,” or something like that. But this takes on far deeper meaning when it is applied to this Being who is described as being Wonderful. And it’s going to take those individuals living over quite a long time to come to appreciate that. And even right now, I don’t think we appreciate to the level that we ought to that this Being should be described in our thinking as Wonderful.
He’s going to be known as the “Counselor.” He is the Word of God. That’s one of His descriptive names. He is the Word of God. He communicated God’s Word to human beings on this earth and we’re the recipients of those words that have come down to us. And He’s the Counselor. He will be the Counselor. He is now the Counselor.
He is the “Mighty God.” And they’ll come to see that and understand that.
That He is “Everlasting.” That it was in the beginning that He was with God and He was God.
He is “Father.” Now as I pointed out, this word, this Hebrew word that’s rendered “Father” is Av in the Hebrew, a simple two letter word. And it can mean father. It can mean parent. It can mean progenitor. And we think always of His Father as our Father. But this word can also mean originator, the creator, the inventor. And we know that God ultimately is our Creator, but He created human life as well as all other life through this Being that’s being described here. Whether or not this has application on into the future as God expands His Family through His Son and His Son’s Wife, that there’s children that’s, if this “Father” becomes applicable to Christ under those conditions, I’m not sure here. But certainly there’s room within the definition of this word that defines Him even now as our Creator, the One, the Originator, the One that originated life, that created life here on this earth.
And He is described also and will be known at that time as the “Prince of Peace.” And if you remember the first sermon that I gave at the Feast this year and we kicked it off was, that was the title, Prince Of Peace. And He is the Ruler who will bring peace finally to this earth, an earth that has never known peace. Not really. Not real peace. Not the kind of peace that He’s going to be bringing. This earth has never known that other than perhaps for a very short time before Satan began to do his work. There in the Garden of Eden is our only description of a condition of peace that existed on this earth. It was only, again, for a very short time. Only two people apparently experienced that. And that is among those things that are going to be restored. There’s going to be a restoration of all things. So that level of peace that was extant there is going to be experienced by all of those who live over, and eventually by those who take part in the second resurrection and accept these truths of God and become part of what is happening. They, too, will experience this peace that this Prince of Peace is going to bring.
It says in verse 7
Isaiah 9:7. Of the increase
of His government and peace there will be no end,
And so this level of peace that we’re talking about here is going to be commonplace. Once it gets in place, it’s going to be commonplace from that point forward.
Isaiah 9:7b. upon the throne
of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and
justice from that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the [Eternal] of hosts will perform this.
And I think we can say without question that one of the characteristics of God is peace. One of the characteristics of God is peace.
Turn to Philippians just for one verse, Philippians chapter 4. There are at least seven Scriptures in the New Testament, seven verses that refer to God as the “God of peace, the God of peace.” Here in Philippians 4 verse 9, it says
Philippians 4:9. The things
which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God
of peace will be with you.
So he said, “The things which you learned and received,” these precious words that Jesus Christ came to this earth to deliver and had then been passed on to them and they had received these words. It says, “these [things] do.” We’ve heard so many times it’s not the end of the story when we hear these words, but what is important is if we do them. And then he said, “If you do, then this God of peace will be with you.”
Now here back in Isaiah 9 verse 7 where He is referred to as the Prince of Peace, that word Peace in the Hebrew is shalom. And I think we understand that that is a word that was used commonly among the Jewish people and the Hebrews as a greeting. When they would greet someone, they would greet them with, “Shalom.” In other words, “I’m coming in peace and let’s have peace.”
This word “peace,” this word shalom means—it can mean, it can mean the absence of strife, but it actually means much more than that. It means much more than just the absence of strife. It expresses—and this is interesting and we’re going to read a verse later that uses this terminology—it expresses completeness. Now you might not think of peace, a word that would be rendered peace as shalom as expressing completeness, but if you think about what this kind of peace is about because it goes on to show that it can mean harmony and fulfillment. Completeness, harmony, and fulfillment! Without peace there would not be completeness. That would be obvious. Peace would be required for a level that would be described if it’s completeness to be happening.
This word “peace” in the Greek is—I don’t know if that would be pronounced “Irene”—it’s eirene—probably not, probably different than that. But this word in the Greek means peace. And it too can mean the absence or end of strife, but, again, it goes far beyond that. And it actually is noting a state of untroubled and undisturbed wellbeing.
Now think about a state like that! Just try to imagine being in a state where you would be untroubled. That has wide meaning. Untroubled and undisturbed! We have so many distractions, so many disturbances, so many things that cause us trouble of every level, all around us, all over this earth that to think about a state in which you would be untroubled and undisturbed is just almost hard to imagine. But that’s what we’re talking about here. This peace is not just the absence of war. It is something that goes far beyond that.
And God is a God of peace. And, again, this is one of His characteristics. Their relationship with each other involved that of peace.
We talked about relationships there at the Feast, our relationship with God, relationship within our marriages, within our families, and then in relationships with each other. The title of this message today is Peace In Relationships.
Jesus Christ will return to this earth in great power and authority as the Prince of Peace. We read there in Isaiah 9 that the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. So when He shoulders this government during the Millennium, He will bring about a state of peace, this undisturbed and untroubled state. The earth will rest from war, from crime, from injustice, from fighting, from quarreling, etc., etc., etc.
The firstfruits, again, will be at His side as His Wife when this is transpiring. That husband-wife relationship will be one of peace. And we talked about that at the Feast. And it will be an example for all to see. That perfect marriage will be an example for all to see. It’ll be on display for all to see, this relationship with this perfect peace. And all of us are looking forward to that I think. I hope that we’re looking forward to being able to participate in a state that is undisturbed and untroubled that is at perfect peace. We’re looking forward to that, but we don’t have it now. We don’t have that kind of peace now.
What about now? Are we to experience this kind of peace now? Can we? Is it possible to experience anything close to this level of peace now? If we’re among the firstfruits, the ones who will make up Christ’s Bride, shouldn’t we be at peace now? If we’re looking forward to it, we desire it. We want it. Shouldn’t we be experiencing it at least to some level now?
In Psalm 85, let’s turn there. To the Eighty-Fifth Psalm, I want to read verses 8 through 13. I’m just going to read all of them and then I’m going to come back to verse 8. Let’s notice how this reads, Psalm 85 verse 8.
Psalm 85:8. I will hear what
[the] God the Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them
not turn back to folly.
Or as the margin has it “to foolishness.”
Psalm 85:9. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Verse 10.
Psalm 85:10. Mercy and truth
have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].
I didn’t read this in The Authorized Version, so I don’t know how it’s rendered there. But I thought that this was a very interesting way to make a point here.
Psalm 85:10b. righteousness
and peace have kissed [each other].
Hold your place there. Turn to Isaiah 32 real quickly. Isaiah 32 and in verse 17, it says
Isaiah 32:17. The work of
righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and
assurance forever.
So the work of righteousness, where there is righteousness, the result will be peace. There is a very close relationship between righteousness and peace.
Psalm 85:9. Surely His
salvation is near to those who fear
Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10) Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace
Verse 10, Psalm 85.
Psalm 85:10b. have kissed
[each other]. 11) Truth shall spring out
of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12) Yes, the Lord will give what is
good; and our land will yield its increase.
13) Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.
It’s talking about a Millennial setting here, but it’s talking about here how righteousness and peace go hand in hand to the point of kissing.
Back in verse 8.
Psalm 85:8. I will hear what
[the] God the Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn
back to folly.
Now the question I would ask is “Has this occurred yet?”
We know that much will be taught about peace during the Millennium. We know that will occur there. We know that that perfect example is going to be there for peace. And this great Being that’s coming back is going to be able to control circumstances on this earth to the point to where peace can be established on the earth.
But what about now? Has God spoken peace to His people and His saints during this age? Has He spoken peace to us? This must be speaking of the Church. Who else could it be speaking about here where it says, “He will speak peace to His people and to His saints”? Now it could project on into the world tomorrow I suppose. But has it happened now?
Notice that it is occurring at a time when the people are exhorted not to return to folly. So it’s at a time when it seems to me that even though He has spoken peace to us, we still have the option of returning to folly, to foolishness.
In John 14, John chapter 14 verse 25.
John 14:25. “These things I
have spoken to you while being present with you.
So while this great God was present with us in the human form, did He speak peace to us?
John 14:26. “But the Helper,
the Holy Spirit, [which] the Father will send in My name, [it] will teach you
all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
He knew that at that time prior to the Day of Pentecost coming that year that they didn’t grasp what He was saying fully. They heard the words, but it would have to be brought back to their consciousness later for them to really have meaning.
Then verse 27.
John 14:27. “Peace I leave
with you. My peace I give to you;
[and it says] not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid.
So, that this is His peace. He said, “My peace I give to you.” This is true peace. This is peace that He and His Father experienced. “My peace,” He said, “I give to you.” This peace will not be experienced fully, I don’t think, until verse 20 of chapter 14 is fulfilled where it says
John 14:20. “At that day you
will know that I am in My Father, and
you in Me, and I in you.
Clearly referring to that day when He returns and we will have the opportunity to view Him face to face. At that time we will experience this fully.
But isn’t He offering His peace now? He said, “My peace I give to you.” Shouldn’t we be experiencing it to some level at least now? At least should we not be striving for peace now? Should we not be attempting to bring it about now?
Now it says that this is not peace like the world gives. There are times that governments are able to negotiate and bring about conditions of peace where there is an absence of warfare at least for a time, but it’s generally always just an illusion of peace that it’s only temporary and it only lasts for a short time and it’s always a threat. There’s always a rumor of war it seems in this life.
So it’s not that that He’s giving us. He’s not giving us this illusion of peace, but He says, “My peace I give to you.”
Over just a couple of chapters later, over in John 16 and in verse 32, He said
John 16:32. “Indeed the hour
is coming,
So He was approaching the end of His time in which He would be able to share these thoughts with these people. He was about to be arrested. He was about to enter into that period where He would go through the whole crucifixion process here.
John 16:32. “Indeed the hour
is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered,
He was speaking here specifically of them scattering right then and leaving Him just before His ordeal would begin.
John 16:32b. you will be
scattered, each to his own,
The margin shows “his own things” or “his own place.”
John
But He said
John
He had a relationship with the Father even though He was disconnected from the standpoint that His Father was on a spirit plane and He’s now in a human form here on this earth with a lot of the pulls and distractions and disturbances that human beings experience, the pain that He was about to experience. He was disconnected from His Father from the level of existence that They were in at the time, but the relationship was maintained. The relationship continued.
Mr. John Ross made a point in the sermon that he gave at the Feast that I thought was important for us to consider that there’s very little that you can take out of this life, very little you can take out. But you can take with you the relationships that you’ve established. Your consciousness, your next moment of consciousness, you’ll remember the relationships that you established, certainly the relationship with God the Father, with His Son, the relationships within the human plane, certainly within our marriages and our families and those that are our extended families in our spiritual family. Those relationships will be remembered. I’m confident of that.
He said He was not alone, even though humanly He was all alone. He said He still had that relationship with His Father.
Verse 33.
John 16:33. “These things I
have spoken to you,
So is He referring back to Psalm 85 when He’s going to speak peace to His saints or His people?
John 16:33. “These things I
have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
I don’t think there’s any question here. He’s not talking about the future. He’s talking about now.
John 16:33. “These things I
have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
Because He goes on and qualifies His statement by saying
John 16:33b. In the world
you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
So even now when we have all the disturbances, we have all the distractions and all of the troubles and the tribulations and everything else that we experience in this human plane, we’re going to have that. That’s not going to go away. And we can’t really remove that from our experience. But He said
John 16:33. “These things I
have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
So Jesus Christ has given us His peace He said. In Him we are to have a level of peace. And this is a condition that should exist in our relationships. Once again, peace in relationships is what we’re talking about. And so there should be peace in our relationships. And if we are attempting to relate to our God in a proper way, He certainly will grant peace in that relationship with Him. And if we’re in a proper relationship with Him, there will be peace in that relationship.
But in our families, in our marriages extended out to the children in the family and in our relationships beyond that, do we experience peace? Is there peace in the relationships that we now have entered into?
In 1 Corinthians 7 verse 15, it clearly states—and please don’t turn there—“God has called us to peace.” Now that context there—if you want to go back and look at it later—is in the context of marriages. And when he makes this statement, he is saying that our marriages should remain intact. However, he said, “If the marriage is a situation where you’ve got a believer and an unbeliever and the unbeliever opts on himself to leave the relationship and leave the marriage,” Paul was inspired to write, “Let it go. Let it happen because God has called us to peace.” He wants us to have peace. And so in a situation—and he clearly states earlier that as long as this unbelieving mate wants to retain the marriage, the marriage should remain intact and the very best should be made of that marriage. But if it’s a hostile situation, if there’s a situation where the unbeliever does not want any part anymore and is only wanting to cause disturbances and that person opts on his own to leave, then Paul said, “Let him leave because God has called us to peace.”
Certainly within our marriages when we have two individuals who are both believers, there should be a high level of peace there. After all the human marriage is a type of the coming marriage of Jesus Christ and the Church where there will be peace. And it’s going to be, again, on display for all to see.
But what about now? What about the peace within our marriages now? Is it on display for all to see? Or is there something less than that on display for all to see? Or in our families as a whole how much peace is there there? How much peace is there in our relationship with others?
2 Corinthians 13 and verse 11, Paul concludes this second letter with this statement. Let’s just read this. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 11.
2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally,
brethren,
After all he had said in the two letters, he said
2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally,
brethren, farewell. Become complete.
Two word sentence but it says so much. It speaks volumes because remember this is a
part of the definition of shalom that
there is to be completeness.
2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally,
brethren, farewell. Be complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in
peace;
Now I would ask that it might be something good for you to do a study on where in the New Testament it exhorts us more than once, many times to be of “one mind.” And do a study on that and notice what it’s almost always connected with as it is here.
2 Corinthians 13:11b. Be of
good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will
be with you.
It has to do with bearing with one another, learning to bear with one another, learning to be at peace. This “being of one mind” is, I think, the mind that God has of desiring peace, desiring that which is good, that which is right.
Not necessarily being of the same opinion on everything because I’ll guarantee you there is not a marriage—and Peggy and I are a good example of that. We don’t agree on everything. We’re not of the same opinion on everything. There’s probably not a single marriage where both partners are in agreement on everything. We’re not. And no matter what the relationship is there will never be—or at least I doubt—where there will ever be two people in this human plane at least that will be in agreement on everything. We’re just not. But are we of the mind to be at peace? Are we expressing the love that God pours out in our hearts through His Holy Spirit?
2 Corinthians 13:11b. Be of
good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love
Notice how this is connected! That
2 Corinthians
Verse 12.
2 Corinthians 13:12. Greet
one another with a holy kiss.
I wouldn’t advise that for as a couple of guys did one
time. [Laughter.] For those of you who don’t know, at the end
of the Feast in
But anyway we are to have a good relationship. The point here and this was common practice in those days for them to have a holy kiss. And I know even today in many cultures that men will greet one another with a kiss on the cheek. It’s just common practice that they do that. And you wouldn’t think a thing about it if you were there. That would just be the common practice. And since we don’t practice those things normally, it seems odd to happen by two grown men in public. But anyway.
2 Corinthians 13:12. Greet
one another with a holy kiss. 13) All
the saints greet you. 14) The grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and [Notice!] the communion [or
fellowship] of the Holy Spirit be
with you all.
So the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and that engulfs such a large area. It involves all the gifts that have been given to us.
2 Corinthians 13:14. The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the [fellowship] of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
In 1 Corinthians 1, let’s go there. 1 Corinthians 1, this is interesting. I just hadn’t looked at it just this way
before, but let’s notice this. We know
that the Church at
1 Corinthians 1:1. Paul,
called to be an apostle of Jesus
Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2) To the
Or set apart.
1 Corinthians 1:2b. in
Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
theirs and ours:
Then verse 3 and Paul every once in a while in his letters opened them this way.
1 Corinthians 1:3. Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4) I thank my God always concerning you for
the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5) That you were enriched in everything by
Him in all utterance and [in] all knowledge,
And think of the value of those words that were communicated to us and the value of them as we place ourselves in these words.
1 Corinthians 1:6. Even as
the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
Verse 7.
1 Corinthians 1:7. So that
you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
So they were eagerly waiting for Christ’s return, waiting for the Prince of Peace to shoulder the government of God to bring peace. They were looking forward to that. They were desiring that. They were wanting that.
Verse 8.
1 Corinthians 1:8. Who will
also confirm you to the end, that you may
be blameless to the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9) God is faithful, by whom you were called
into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This word “fellowship” is a very intimate level of relationship that this Greek word is referring to. A fellowship with or participation with someone, to be a participant in something in an intimate participation, intimate relationship.
Then verse 10.
1 Corinthians 1:10. Now I
plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all
speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you, but that
you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11) For it has been declared to me concerning
you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions [or quarrels] among you.
Now he had just said in verse 7 they were eagerly waiting for this revealing of Jesus Christ when He’s going to bring peace to this earth. That they’ve been called into this fellowship, this intimate fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ and our Lord, and yet at that same time they’re involved in these quarrellings and so forth. This certainly there at that time was not an atmosphere of peace. It was far less than that. They were looking forward to a time of peace, but they were not experiencing it then.
I don’t know. It was
interesting this year. I heard and I
think this is true that there were at least seven different groups or
organizations keeping the Feast at the same time in
In verse 12, it says
1 Corinthians 1:12. Now I
say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am
of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13) Is
Christ divided?
Verse 13. Is He?
1 Corinthians 1:13b. Was
Paul crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of Paul?
We all have a common denominator here. We all worship the same God. We all have the same Savior. We all are begotten with the same Spirit, but we’re anything but united and in harmony. And we’re anything but at peace with one another.
Over in chapter 2, 1 Corinthians 2. Before I get there up in verse 24 of chapter 1 Paul wrote
1 Corinthians 1:24. But to
those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God. 25) Because the foolishness
of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Then down in verse 1 of chapter 2.
1 Corinthians 2:1. And I,
brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of
wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ
and Him crucified.
So the focus was on what was common among them, this common denominator Jesus Christ, Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:3. I was
with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4) And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
So Paul didn’t come to them with this very charismatic eloquence of speech to the point to where they would be enamored by his personality and what he had to say. But he said
1 Corinthians 2:5. That your
faith should not be in the wisdom of men but [rather] in the power of God.
Again, we all worship this same God.
Verse 6.
1 Corinthians 2:6. However,
we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor
of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a
mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
ordained [or predetermined] before the ages for our glory,
We all have the same hope. We are all looking forward to that glory.
Verse 8.
1 Corinthians 2:8. Which
none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory. 9) But as
it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor
ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him.” 10)
But God has revealed them to us
through His Spirit.
We all have the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:10b. For the
Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11) For what man knows the things of a man
except the spirit of the man which is in him?
Even so no one knows the things of God except [through] the Spirit of
God.
I wish that all of us—and I’m including myself in this—could
focus more on what we have in common than on perhaps what we see
differently. We have so much in common,
so much in common. The condition in
I would ask us all to carefully look at ourselves individually as to where we as an individual stand in all of this. Now we’ve talked about before that there’s absolutely nothing that we as an individual can do to resolve the problem. We just can’t. If you set your hand to resolve this problem, I think you would be totally frustrated. You wouldn’t get very far. But what can we do as an individual? Where do we stand as an individual? Are we humbly yielding to God’s Holy Spirit, that Spirit of peace? Are we humbly yielding to the Holy Spirit?
Recently we spoke about Opening The Door. Remember that series on Opening The Door? We’re encouraged there in Revelation to let Jesus Christ come into our lives. This needs to be literal in our thinking concerning this. We need to let this Being come into our lives. Just ask the question, “Is His peace in us?” He said, “My peace I give to you.” Is His peace in us? Am I as an individual contributing to peace? My actions, day in and day out, in the relationships that I have, whether in the Church or out of the Church, whether in the marriage or out of the marriage, whether in the family or out of the family, are my actions, my thoughts contributing to peace?
In 1 Corinthians 11. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 23. We commonly look at these words as we approach the Passover or at Passover. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 23.
1 Corinthians 11:23. For I
received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took
bread; 24) And when He had given thanks,
He broke it and said, “Take, eat;
this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25) In the same manner He also took the cup
after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26) For as often as you eat this bread and
drink this cup, you proclaim [or you officially announce] the Lord’s death till
He comes. 27) Therefore whoever eats
this bread or drinks this cup of the
Lord in an unworthy [or irreverent manner] will be guilty [of profaning—I think
it should be] the body and blood of the Lord.
Verse 28.
1 Corinthians 11:28. But let
a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
This word “examine” in the Greek means to try, to test, to examine, to prove by testing, discern, scrutinize. It has the notion of proving a thing whether it be worthy to be received or not. We really need to test ourselves in this manner regarding whether we are contributing to peace or not.
2 Corinthians 13. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 5.
2 Corinthians 13:5. Examine
yourselves as to whether you are in
the faith.
This word “examine” is a different Greek word. It means to try, to prove, to test, to make a trial of. There’s a little difference there in the meaning. That you can make a trial. In other words, put oneself on trial fairly, honestly where you present the facts as you know them and make the determination whether or not we pass the test or not. In particular right now whether or not we are contributing to peace.
In Ephesians 4. Close by here so let’s flip over to Ephesians 4. It said that we are to examine ourselves there as to whether we are in the faith, whether we are in the faith. Ephesians 4 verse 1.
Ephesians 4:1. I therefore,
the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to [have a] walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called, 2) With all
lowliness and gentleness,
Now, again, as we read through some of these Scriptures like this, I think we ought to put ourselves on trial again. How lowly are we? How gentle are we? How longsuffering are we in our relationships?
Ephesians 4:2. With all
lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
And certainly in marriage! How well are we doing there?
And then it says
Ephesians 4:2b. bearing with
one another in love,
You don’t have to bear with somebody who is in total agreement with you. You don’t have to bear with somebody who is doing everything for you that you want them to do or doing everything just like you want them to do. You don’t have to bear with them. But it clearly says we are to bear with one another in love. So there are differences. There are things that require bearing with in our relationships, whether it’s marriage, whether it’s family, whether it’s extended family, spiritual family, whatever we’re talking about.
Verse 3.
Ephesians 4:3. Endeavoring
[Notice!] to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
And there it goes on to say
Ephesians 4:4. There is one body
There is but one body and if we’re begotten children of God, we’re all part of the same body. There’s just one.
There’s one Spirit that’s common to all of us.
Ephesians 4:4b. just as you
were called in one hope
We only have the one hope.
Ephesians 4:4 cont. of your
calling. 5) One Lord, one faith, one
baptism; 6) One God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all.
and in you all.
We all have that in common.
2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 22.
2 Timothy 2:22. Flee also
youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who
call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
So we are to pursue. That’s an endeavor. That’s not something that just happens. You pursue it. You put effort into it. You pursue righteousness. And again, there’s such a close connection between righteousness and peace.
2 Timothy 2:22b. but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart. 23) But avoid
Now is this maybe what the Psalmist was referring to back there that God inspired, “Don’t turn back to folly”? “Don’t turn back to folly.”
2 Timothy 2:23. But avoid
foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Am I really pursuing that which contributes to peace?
Colossians 3 verse 12.
Colossians 3:12. Therefore,
as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, [humbleness of mind], meekness,
longsuffering;
Here it comes again!
Colossians 3:13. Bearing
with one another, and forgiving one another,
Not only are we to bear with one another but we are to have a forgiving spirit about us.
Colossians 3:13b. if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Perhaps it would be good for each one of us to focus on how many times God and Christ have had to bear with us and how many times They have had to forgive us, as we consider this.
Verse 14.
Colossians 3:14. But above
all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15) And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts,
Let it have rule in your hearts.
Colossians 3:15b. to which
also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17) And whatever
you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
In other words, whatever you do, whatever you say, it’s all done as if you were representing Jesus Christ. I think that’s what this means here if you do it in the name of Him.
Colossians 3:17b. giving
thanks to God the Father through Him.
Galatians 5. Galatians chapter 5 and verse 16.
Galatians 5:16. I say
then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall
not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17)
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,
So there is a battle. And we’ve talked about this over the years that there is a battle between what the Spirit of God inspires us to do and what our own human motivators within us motivate us to do.
Galatians 5:17. For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are
contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
As Paul mentioned in Romans 7 there that he knew that he was supposed to do certain things, but he didn’t do them.
Verse 18.
Galatians 5:18. But if you
are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19) Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are:
Many very terrible things!
Galatians 5:19b. adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, [licentiousness],
20) Idolatry, sorcery, [then comes] hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21) Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries,
and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God. 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
And again, we pointed out before that here “fruit” is singular. The verb here is singular.
Galatians 5:22. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love,
The fruit of God’s Spirit is love. And it’s demonstrated through
Galatians 5:22b. joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) Gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24) And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. 25) If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.
In 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 8.
1 Peter 3:8. Finally, all of you be of one mind,
Again, here is the “one mind” now and notice what it is connected with.
1 Peter 3:8b. having
compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be
courteous; 9) Not returning evil for
evil
So this right here implies that there will be those who will do things that are going to be harmful to you. Do things that will bring hurt to you. It’s going to happen. Absolutely going to happen.
1 Peter 3:9. Not returning
evil for evil
But if it happens, don’t retaliate in other words.
1 Peter 3:9b. or reviling
for reviling,
You might want to look into those words there—which I have not done. It’s probably a very good study. What is meant by evil? What is meant by reviling?
1 Peter 3:9 cont. but on the
contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a
blessing. 10) For “He who would love
life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from
speaking [guile or] deceit; 11) Let him
turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue
it.
So this would be in all our relationships, whether a relationship with our wives or our family, our extended family or our spiritual family. That we are to “Seek peace and pursue it.” It takes effort.
1 Peter 3:12. For the eyes
of the Lord are on the righteous,
Again righteousness connected with this.
1 Peter 3:12b. and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face
of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
In James chapter 3, we’re winding down here. James chapter 3 and verse 1, I want to read through this without much commentary. Just listen to the words. James 3 verse 1.
James 3:1. My brethren, let
not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter
judgment. 2) For we all stumble in many
things. If anyone does not stumble in
word, he is a perfect [or mature]
man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3) Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we
turn their whole body. 4) Look also at
ships: although they are so large and
are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the
pilot desires. 5) Even so the tongue is
a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body,
and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7) For every kind of beast and bird, or
reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8) But no man can tame the tongue. It is
an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9) With it [Notice!] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse
men,
Let those words roll around a bit.
James 3:9. With it we bless
our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the
similitude of God. 10) Out of the same
mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not to
be so. 11) Does a spring send forth
fresh water and bitter from the same
opening? 12) Can a fig tree, my
brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and
fresh. 13) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14) But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not
boast and lie against the truth. 15)
This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16) For where envy and self-seeking exist,
confusion and every evil thing [will be] there. 17) But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18) Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in
peace by those who make peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11, you don’t need to turn there. We’ve already been there. I just want to finish with this one verse.
2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally,
brethren, farewell. Become
complete. Be of good comfort, be of one
mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Transcribed by kb