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By Steve Yurek
Pastor, Kearny SBC
Ann Landers receives around 10,000 letters a month from people, mostly from people looking for guidance and/or direction with family or relational issues. A preponderance of letters come from people looking for PEACE but just can’t seem to find it. As I was preparing for this weeks message I went to Google to see just how many times the word PEACE was noted on the internet. Would you guess…1000 times….10,000 times….One million times…How about 916,000,000 times! Yes that is 916-million different references to PEACE. From Peace Gardens to Peace Corp…Woman for Peace…Jews for Peace…Musicals for Peace to Children for Peace. Nearly all these are based on human efforts to resolve conflict with others!
The Good News is that if we want real honest to goodness PEACE we need to establish the Gospel of Christ as the foundation for real peace. This weekend we talked about – “The Three Dimensions of Peace”. Do you have Peace with God? This is the vertical dimension of Peace. Do you have Peace with Yourself? This takes place internally. Do you have Peace with others? This is how we extend Peace horizontally. The reality is that the Biblical concept of PEACE is not always the easiest to grasp and/or live. We need to first take a self evaluation and ask – “Are you a PEACE-BREAKER? Are you a PEACE-FAKER? Or are you a PEACE-MAKER?
So what do I mean by a PEACE-BREAKER? These are people that go out of there way to deliberately confront, challenge, disagree with everything. They are manipulative and self-seeking with only one goal – Divide and destroy. Divisive people cut away at the very life principles of the local church assembly. They staunch the move of God and will destroy revival. We need to look at these people and evaluate what there motive is…is it self or is it to build up the Kingdom of God?
What is a PEACE-FAKER? The truth is we all (even I) have at one time or another assumed the Peace-Faker role. It is our natural temptation to guard against the everyday conflicts of life. These are people that prefer PEACE over TRUTH. They go out of there way to avoid conflict, confrontation and unrest. They settle on what I call a ‘counterfeit peace’.
And finally there is the PEACE-MAKER! This is very different kind of person. They are prepared to tell the truth and trust God for the outcome. Peace-Makers put others’ well being above there own comfort level. Guess what motivates Peace-Makers? I can say it in one word – LOVE! No other motivation but real love for someone else. Matthew 5:9 says: “Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God”.
Do you know why we will be called “sons of God”? Because when you are truly working for real PEACE you bear God’s likeness. You look like your Father in Heaven. So…what are you? We all need to examine our hearts on a regular basis. Are you a PEACE-BREAKER…a PEACE-FAKER…or a PEACE-MAKER?
This Friday night at 7 p.m. we continue with “FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE MOVIES” at the New and Exciting Kearny SBC showing “The Bee Movie”. Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue us. This is a GREAT family night out! We will have FREE popcorn and Lemonade along with a complete concession stand by the youth group of Fellowship Baptist Church. The movie is FREE, the popcorn is FREE, and the Lemonade is FREE! Bring a pillow to help cushion your bumpkin! 7 p.m. Friday.
Also, we have our regular Sunday night at 6 p.m. ‘Non-traditional’ service. Enjoy music by ‘Walking-180’ and a very special time of study of God’s word. But I warn you….this is NOT the kind of music your grandma listened to! Sunday night at 6pm at Kearny SBC…tell a friend…bring a friend…come be a friend of the New and Exciting Kearny SBC,
Don’t forget the Greatest Gift is still – FREE! That is the gift of Eternal Life through a personal relationship with our Lord – Jesus Christ! Please visit a church that shares the truth this weekend! So, there you have it…If you have any questions or comments please send me a note at kearnysbc@gmail.com or give me call at 520-363-9573.
Smile…God Loves You!
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