#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 29/10/2017
Quarter’s Theme: CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE CHURCH
UNIT 3 – Steps To Resolving Conflict In The Church (Lessons 8-12)
LOYALTY CAMPAIGN MONTHS
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 206, 210
Devotional Reading: ROM. 12:10-18
Topic For Adults
SEEK PEACE
Topic For Youths
BE A MODEL TO ALL WHO BELIEVE
Topic For Intermediates
AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE
Lesson Scriptures
2 SAM. 1:17-27; MATT. 5:44-45; ROM. 12:15-18; MATT. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; HEB. 12:12-17
29/10/2017 LESSON 9
DEVELOPING PEACE MAKING CULTURE
MEMORY VERSE
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 29/10/2017
Be A Peacemaker
Matt. 5:3-9
You are blessed by God if you are a peacemaker. Jesus Himself pronounced this blessing. Peacemakers are those who promote peace between one person and another. In any conflict, a child of God is supposed to bring peace to the situation. Conflict must be resolved or settled amicably and timely. By doing this, God Himself will be pleased with us and the blessings for peace makers will be ours. Jesus called you to live at a higher standard to be a ‘peacemaker’. You will be tested. Ensure that the spirit of hatred does not have any root in you. Don’t be a trouble-maker.
Point of Emphasis: Your life as a child of God must impact positively on others as a peacemaker.
Prayer Point: Lord, let Your pronounced blessings for peacemakers be my portion.
BACKGROUND
Developing a peace making culture is mandatory for all believers because the Bible enjoins us to do all that lieth in our power to live peaceably with all men. Jesus also laid great emphasis on it to the extent that He said ”therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar and rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and so thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift “ – Matt. 5:23-24. This week’s lesson focuses on how and why we should develop peace making culture as children of God.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: NO ROOM FOR ENMITY (2 SAM. 1:17-27; MATT. 5:44-45)
The life of King David shows what is expected from the children of God. Although David had his own shortcomings, it did not include the tendency to hate even his enemy as carnal people will do. David’s actions revealed his loyalty to his slain friend and honour to the fallen King Saul who throughout his lifetime sought to kill him for no just reason.
If King David had allowed enmity,
he would have rejoiced over the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan, and probably this would have continued over the generations. In verse 19, David describes Saul and Jonathan as “the beauty of Israel” and “weapons of war” in verse 27 who “were swifter than eagles” and stronger than the lions (verse 23).In verse 24, he called for a solemn exhortation, “ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel” All these for an enemy? Yes, because that is what our Lord Jesus Christ commanded; love your enemies. Bless them that curse you, and do good to them that hate you. Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:44-45).
If actually you want to be counted among the children of the Almighty God, you must develop a peace making culture by not allowing the spirit of enmity. You should know that a virtuous soul is at peace with all men, foes and friends alike.
PART 2: BE COMMITTED TO PEACE-MAKING CULTURE (ROM. 12:15-18; MATT. 5:23-24; 18:15-17)
Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit that a Christian has to bear. The prerequisite for bearing this fruit is to have an encounter and relation-ship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Rom. 12:18 says as much as it lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. This means that you have the grace to overcome trouble with peace, through the grace that is in you.
Invariably, what the Bible expects from you is to be a peace loving person. To do this, you must: 1. Have had an encounter with the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ through salvation. 2. Be baptized in the Holy Spirit because it is when you are filled with the Holy Spirit that you can bear the fruit of the Spirit. 3. Act in Love: Love is the first fruit of the Spirit. Jesus gave the commandment that we should love one another–Jn. 13:35 because by this, all people will know that we are His disciples. Remember that love covers multitude of sins. 4. Follow the laid down rule of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that even if you bring a gift to the Lord and you remember that there is a grievance between you and your brother, leave that gift, go thy way and settle first with your brother. We are to hold peace in high esteem no matter the condition or the situation. 5. Seek wisdom from above–Jam. 3:13-14. Earthly wisdom will bring strife, envy, unnecessary rivalry etc but godly wisdom seeks only peace. When you are wronged, follow the due process of reconciliation procedure for restoring relationship between you and the person as follows:
- Take the initiative to go to the person you have disagreement with a sincere effort to settle the quarrels. Go with the spirit of humility with willingness not to be defensive but to forgive.
- If the person cannot be reconciled, go with one or two witnesses. The people who go with you should go with a view to listen, evaluate, analyse the fact and bring resolution to the problem.
- If the issue is not resolved, then tell the pastor. If the person still refuses to accept the reconciliation move, then the church leaders should arrange for special meeting with the party involved but if he or she still refuses to cooperate with the church, such a person should be regarded as a sinner (Matt. 18:15-17).
Though some may say that this Biblical guideline is difficult to implement in our modern culture, it is believed that no sincere believer who is heavenly focused will get to the extreme before reconciling with the erring member
PART 3:PURSUE PEACE (HEB. 12:12-17)
We must be determined to pursue peace, that is, make efforts to make peace with all others because peace itself is elusive (difficult to find) and unless someone makes up his or her mind to pursue it; one cannot attain it. This is because as you try to live peaceably with all men, Satan will induce people to cause quarrel or to fight you since Satan is the author of confusion. Satan benefits when there is absence of peace in a place that is why we must do everything within our capacity to pursue peace.
Pursuing peace is a responsibility that God has put in our hands. Jesus, while teaching on the Mount stressed the importance of making peace with people. In addition, Paul the Apostle in 2 Cor. 3:2 said “ye are our epistle written in our hearts known and read by all men”. Therefore, as Christians, we have no other choice than to pursue peace in order to be peace makers. We should be willing to give up our rights and privileges in some
cases in order to make peace with people.
Always insisting on our rights or desiring that things must be done in our way or as pre-determined by us will not lead to peace. Be ready to pay some prices or make sacrifices that will engender peace wherever you find yourself. It is equally important to support the vision of our spiritual leaders by adhering to the church standard of doing things in our denomination. If each one of us is committed to the tenets of the church, conflict will be reduced to the barest minimum.
CONCLUSION
Wherever we find ourselves, and any situation or position we may occupy, we must make up our minds to develop this peace making culture in order to be true children of God and to be good representatives of our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who is the Prince of peace. We must have good rapport with our neigbhours, colleagues etc and ensure we live at peace with all. As children of God, we must be peace makers no matter the conditions and in any situation.
QUESTIONS
- Explain briefly Christ’s teaching on developing a peace making culture.
- How can we as children of God develop this peace making culture?
- Why should we live peaceably with all men?
- Do we really have anything to gain as peace makers?
- Why should members be committed to the standard way which our spiritual fathers laid down to guide us?
