Reading: A Curious Peacefire Question - Slides
Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice
Lecture 8
A Curious Peacefire Question
A Curious Peacefire Question
When a conflict wildfire is intense, it is not easy to choose the Lord’s purpose ahead of our desired outcome.
A Curious Peacefire Question
When a conflict wildfire is intense, it is not easy to choose the Lord’s purpose ahead of our desired outcome.
How do we stay focused on the Peacefire in such situations?
A Curious Peacefire Question
When a conflict wildfire is intense, it is not easy to choose the Lord’s purpose ahead of our desired outcome.
How do we stay focused on the Peacefire in such situations?
There are three principles that help us keep our focus on the Peacefire.
Three Things Every Conflict
Firefighter Must Know
The Lord is always at work.
Three Things Every Conflict
Firefighter Must Know
The Lord is always at work.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is at work in every one of your conflict stories.
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is at work in every one of your conflict stories.
If the Lord is always at work in the midst of conflict, what is He doing?
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is at work in every one of your conflict stories.
If the Lord is always at work in the midst of conflict, what is He doing?
We will consider three things He is always at work doing – but there will be additional things He is doing that He will reveal to you as you seek Him at the Peacefire in each conflict.
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work looking for someone to empower and use to glorify Jesus Christ.
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work looking for someone to empower and use to glorify Jesus Christ.
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work looking for someone to empower and use to glorify Jesus Christ.
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
A Curious Peacefire Question
Lord, are you looking for me?
A Curious Peacefire Question
Lord, are you looking for me?
Here I am, what do you want me to do in response to this conflict wildfire?
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work transforming His people into the image of Jesus Christ.
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work transforming His people into the image of Jesus Christ.
For we are God’s handiwork (workmanship), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, … Romans 8:29a
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work transforming His people into the image of Jesus Christ.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6
A Curious Peacefire Question
Lord, is there something this conflict has exposed about me that you want to change to be more like Jesus Christ?
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work accomplishing His purpose and good pleasure.
The Lord is Always at Work
The Lord is always at work accomplishing His purpose and good pleasure.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil. 2:12-13
The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” Jer. 1:12
A Curious Peacefire Question
Lord, how do you want to use me to accomplish your purpose and good pleasure in this conflict?
Three Things Every Conflict
Firefighter Must Know
The Lord is always at work.
The Lord corrects those He loves.
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord’s correction is the path to life.
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord’s correction is the path to life.
For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life. Proverbs 6:23
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord often uses conflict to teach us and correct us in areas of life where we need to learn His ways. Conflict exposes these needs.
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord often uses conflict to teach us and correct us in areas of life where we need to learn His ways. Conflict exposes these needs.
There are promised benefits to submitting to the Lord’s correction.
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
When we submit to the Lord’s correction, He pours out His spirit on us and reveals His Word to us as we seek Him.
Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts (Spirit) to you, I will make known to you my teachings. Prov. 1:23
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord’s correction is a sign of His love for us.
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Prov. 3:11-12
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Lord honors those who listen to His correction.
Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
Those who listen to the Lord’s correction are considered wise.
Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
The Bible warns us against rejecting the Lord’s correction.
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
Those who reject the Lord’s correction despise themselves.
Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Proverbs 15:32
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
When we reject the Lord’s correction, we can lead others astray.
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17
The Lord Corrects Those He Loves
Those who reject the Lord’s correction are considered foolish.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:1
A Curious Peacefire Question
Lord, is there something I have said or done in this conflict that you want to correct?
Three Things Every Conflict
Firefighter Must Know
The Lord is always at work.
The Lord corrects those He loves.
The secret of giving thanks in all circumstances.
Giving Thanks
When we give thanks to God, it directs our attention away from the Wildfire story and onto the Peacefire.
Giving Thanks
When we give thanks to God, it directs our attention away from the Wildfire story and onto the Peacefire.
Giving thanks brings us into God’s presence – where He can reveal His purpose and power to us.
Giving Thanks
It is God’s will that we be thankful at all times, even in the midst of conflict.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18
Giving Thanks
When we pray with thanksgiving, we can give the Lord our anxious thoughts in exchange for His peace that protects our hearts and minds in the midst of the wildfire.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Giving Thanks
The Lord wants His peace to rule in our hearts – our thankful hearts.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
A Curious Peacefire Question
Have you given thanks as you stand in the midst of your conflict story?
Lecture 8
A curious Peacefire question: How do we continue to keep choosing the Peacefire over the Wildfire when a conflict gets intense, personal, and risky?
Three things to remember.
The Lord is always at work.
The Lord’s correction is a path of life and blessing.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
Last modified: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 11:18 AM