1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,240 I'd like to take this time in preparation for the Lord's 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:07,320 Supper to share a few thoughts from the Scriptures. 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,520 Obviously that's been brewing in my heart for the past few weeks. 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,320 You know, one of the beauties of walking with the Lord Jesus 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:20,640 Christ is that His Word can grip you in such a way, especially a 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,720 passage. It can be sometimes even a word 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,880 that you find yourself returning to it time and time again in 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,040 your thoughts and meditations. And that's what's been happening 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,560 recently from a recent morning reading in the book of Genesis, 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:42,240 as I revisited the story of the man whose name is Isaac, the son 11 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,240 of Abraham and the father of Jacob. 12 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,520 And what's interesting about Isaac is that out of all the 13 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,400 patriarchs, the three main ones, he lived the longest, 180 years 14 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,720 to be exact. That's a lot of life. 15 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,640 And yet the Holy Spirit, out of all the stories that he could 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,760 have preserved about Isaac, chose to give us the most 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:11,160 extensive chapter of his story regarding him digging wells. 18 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:18,280 I'm sure that in our culture today, cultivating wells has 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,480 very little to offer us in terms of practical or even spiritual 20 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,800 inspiration. But it's not about the wells 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,760 necessarily. It's what happened to Isaac 22 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,040 around those wells that deserve some attention. 23 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,240 What you'll find when you read Genesis chapter 26 is that Isaac 24 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,760 around his possessions and how he was treated by outsiders 25 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:51,280 turned out to be a wonderful model for a godly peacemaker. 26 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,160 Isaac was a peacemaker, and more importantly, what you discover 27 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:04,280 in that chapter is that the Lord loves, honors, and blesses 28 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:11,760 peacemakers. The Bible has a lot, a lot to 29 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,360 say about peace and has a reasonable about to say about 30 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,560 peacemakers. And even as I'm speaking about 31 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,720 this subject, perhaps the famous words of the Lord Jesus Christ 32 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,960 is flashing in some of our minds from Matthew chapter 5, the 33 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,960 Sermon on the Mount, where he said blessed are the peace 34 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:33,000 makers, for they shall be called sons of God. 35 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,480 I think most of us in here memorize that verse. 36 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,920 I'm afraid that those who are very familiar with it aren't too 37 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:44,800 sure what it actually implies. It's weighty. 38 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,640 Just by looking at Christ's words in that single statement, 39 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:51,640 we know something about peacemakers. 40 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,040 Whatever that is, whatever a peacemaker is. 41 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:03,080 It's an attitude that affirms 1's relationship with God, and 42 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,160 it is a testimony that relays and conveys to others that his 43 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,440 holy character is reflected in US. 44 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:20,920 Christians are to be peacemakers, and when we gather 45 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:23,960 all the scriptural data of what it means to be peacemaker, I 46 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,920 think you can come to this definition. 47 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:29,120 It's very simple. A peacemaker is someone who 48 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:34,360 actively seeks to reconcile and restore relational harmony, 49 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:41,040 somebody who actively seeks to reconcile and restore relational 50 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:49,000 harmony both with God and man. You see, in a very real sense, 51 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,520 we as Christians are peacemakers because we preach the gospel. 52 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,320 The gospel is a message of reconciliation. 53 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,400 And as the Lord sends us out to go and reach others with this 54 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,800 news, what we're essentially doing is calling those who stand 55 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:11,000 as enemies of God to be restored to the God of peace through his 56 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,720 Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is known as what, the Prince of 57 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,839 Peace. So the fact that we have this 58 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,640 gospel in our hearts, in it leaves our mouths, makes us 59 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,720 peacemakers. You know, there's this wonderful 60 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:28,960 little statement or way of description that Peter gives 61 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,360 when he was preaching to the household of Cornelius, and he 62 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,520 describes the gospel in the following way. 63 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,160 Let me just quote it to you from Acts 1036. 64 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:37,600 You don't have to turn there. Just listen carefully. 65 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:42,040 Listen to how Peter describes the gospel. 66 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:48,200 As for the word that he sent to Israel preaching good news of 67 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:56,000 peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all the King. 68 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,200 James I believe would say preaching peace. 69 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,680 When you witness to a Co worker, when you're sitting at the 70 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,840 dinner table, maybe around Thanksgiving, and are leaning 71 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,000 towards your cousin and telling you about the gospel, you're 72 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,520 preaching peace. You're telling them how they can 73 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:17,200 have peace with God. Isn't that remarkable? 74 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:22,960 We're peacemakers as Christians, but it's not limited to that 75 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:29,040 glorious calling. Being a peacemaker also includes 76 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:34,200 someone who seeks to mend relationships between men, and 77 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,000 that emphasis isn't primarily about us inserting ourselves 78 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,280 into every strained marriage or fractured relationship between 79 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:44,360 friends to try to bring resolution. 80 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,880 We have to be careful there. There's a proper time and 81 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:53,160 protocol and place for when and how we get involved with 82 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:58,320 conflicts that do not immediately involve us now. 83 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,440 Instead, the the primary meaning of us being peacemakers 84 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:07,280 horizontally is that we are called to be initiators in 85 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:11,720 receiving peace and accepting peace and granting peace when 86 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,800 there is animosity between US and others, when we know that 87 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,680 there's some kind of tension between people and us, being a 88 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,480 peacemaker means that we have that primary responsibility. 89 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,720 We should be the ones who take the first step in building 90 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,440 bridges. And I want to tell you that 91 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,560 Matthew 59 is not the only passage that highlights just how 92 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,720 essential this is. Can I ask you something? 93 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,160 How many of us in this place consider the call to be 94 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,760 peacemakers? As Christians, we know that 95 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,280 there are many things that we are responsible for as 96 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:47,000 Christians, but I want to remind you that there is a great 97 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:51,000 premium. There is a high observation in 98 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,720 the Scriptures for us as followers of Jesus Christ to not 99 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,720 just preach the gospel, but to also see relationships healed, 100 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,600 especially the ones that we are involved in. 101 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,600 You and I understand that one of our identities as Christians is 102 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:09,400 to be salt, right? The salt of the earth. 103 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,240 And that's a wonderful picture, right? 104 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,720 But I always love to ask the question, what does that 105 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,080 practically look like? What does it mean for me and 106 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,000 you, because of our faith in Christ, to be agents of healing 107 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,320 and preservation in a society that is slowly decaying because 108 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,080 of sin? Well, there are many 109 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:34,200 ingredients, but I want to present to you at least one in 110 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,360 relation to what we're speaking about today that I think is 111 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,920 often overlooked. Let me just ask you this again. 112 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,440 When you think salt of the earth, what comes to mind in 113 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:47,120 terms of practical relational responsibility or duty or 114 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:47,720 discipline? What? 115 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:48,880 What right? You don't have to answer out 116 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,880 loud, but I'm just asking. Let me tell you what Jesus made 117 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,920 so clear. Now I ask you to go to Mark 118 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,400 Chapter 9 and your Bibles and look at verse 50 because I want 119 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:59,960 you to see it with your own eyes. 120 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,880 Mark 950. I'll wait for the wrestling of 121 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:09,560 the leaves to settle before I read it. 122 00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:20,700 I'll read it slowly now. Salt is good, Jesus said. 123 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,560 But if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it 124 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,040 salty again? Have salt in your cells and be 125 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:36,440 at peace with one another. This is astounding. 126 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,039 Jesus is teaching that if you and I want to secure our 127 00:08:41,039 --> 00:08:49,160 distinct Christian flavor and witness in this rotten world, we 128 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,240 must strive to be at peace with one another. 129 00:08:54,840 --> 00:09:00,920 Our spirit empowered efforts to achieve and maintain harmony in 130 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:07,360 relationships is imperative to our witness. 131 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:15,920 And wherever there is a weakened community due to a lack of 132 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,400 tranquility and peace, you have a deficiency in their 133 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:25,320 effectiveness to testify to the world of why we're different and 134 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:30,400 how powerful this gospel is. Here's another verse to 135 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,800 consider, Hebrews chapter 12. Let's turn there now. 136 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,560 I believe in my experience, at least 90% of the time when this 137 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:42,560 verse is quoted, people cut out the first part. 138 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:54,560 Hebrews 12 verse 14 Strive for peace with everyone and for the 139 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:57,320 holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 140 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,560 In my experience again growing up in the church and even being 141 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,880 in ministry, when people come to this text, they usually quoted 142 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,240 in the following ways. Strive for a holiness without 143 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,320 which no one will see the Lord. Is that true of you? 144 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,280 You can't leave out the first part. 145 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:21,640 Before he says strive for holiness. 146 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:28,240 He says strive to be at peace with everyone, with everyone. 147 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,120 I wish I can expand on this first, but we got to stay on 148 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,440 track. You know what the word strive 149 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:40,200 means to pursue aggressively. It conveys the idea of running 150 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,280 towards the finish line, to be chasing something until you 151 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,320 catch it. It's an intense word. 152 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:53,000 Strive, strive to be at peace with everyone. 153 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,760 And the Holy Spirit through this wants us that that kind of 154 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,960 ambition for achieving enmity with everyone, everyone. 155 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:06,640 Your husband, your wife, your children, your coworkers, the 156 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:13,360 members of your church, the neighbors on your street, I can 157 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:14,960 go on. Let me just summarize with this 158 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:22,240 anyone who still has a pulse. You and I as peacemakers, so 159 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:30,600 strive to be at peace with them. And I want to examine this 160 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:35,640 further, but I have to 1st ask you to extend grace to me from 161 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,600 this point on, please. I'm fully aware that whenever a 162 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,760 preacher speaks on relationships, there are 163 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,840 countless situations that listeners may be facing, each 164 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,960 one requiring unique instructions. 165 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:53,240 And sometimes the example shared in a message may not directly 166 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,200 apply to your unique case. So let me be clear. 167 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,040 This sermon today will not attempt to cover every possible 168 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:08,440 scenario of strife complexities. Instead, I'm simply offering a 169 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,160 few insights from one single account. 170 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,840 And I ask that you would take it upon yourself to ask the Lord 171 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,440 how, in this brief message, one or most or all of these points 172 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,240 could apply and resonate with you. 173 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,240 And these will be quick looks for now. 174 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,720 We won't be able to cover these things at length, but I want, I 175 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,640 want to tell you is that Isaac is a wonderful illustration in 176 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:43,360 Genesis 26 of what peacemaking entails, what it looks like, 177 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,040 what it doesn't look like. And so let me give you the 178 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,640 background of Isaac's story. In Genesis 26, there was a 179 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,160 famine in the land, and so he felt the need to leave and to 180 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,560 plant him and his family in a place called Garar. 181 00:12:56,680 --> 00:12:59,240 And while in Garrard, there were things that happened that 182 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,120 compromised his witness, and we don't have time to get into that 183 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,440 now. But Isaac chose to establish 184 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:09,240 himself in Garrard, and he decided to invest in land and to 185 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,880 build his resources. And what you find following that 186 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,520 decision is nothing short of a miracle from the Lord. 187 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:19,320 Now let's turn to our main text in Genesis 26, beginning in 188 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,240 verse 12, to see what I mean here. 189 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,720 It says here in Genesis 26, verse 12. 190 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,440 And Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a 191 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:41,080 hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the 192 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,240 man became rich and gained more and more until he became very 193 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,640 wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and 194 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,960 herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 195 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,520 Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the 196 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,760 wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham. 197 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:03,400 His father and Abimelech said to Isaac, go away from us, for you 198 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:09,240 are much mightier than we. We might think that this is 199 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,920 where the story ends, but I'm here to tell you it's just 200 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,840 starting. And from this point on, for the 201 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:19,160 rest of this chapter, we're going to consider 5 insights of 202 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:24,920 Peacemaking, 5 clues, 5 marks of being a peacemaker. 203 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,280 Consider this just as discipleship time from heart to 204 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:37,400 heart. Number one, to be a peacemaker 205 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:42,040 sometimes requires us to surrender our rights. 206 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:46,880 We need to be very wise with this point because the truth of 207 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,560 the matter is there are times when we need to fight for our 208 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,960 rights and not be passive with troublemakers. 209 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,360 The apostle Paul at times appealed to his legal 210 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,800 entitlements for the sake of the advancement and the integrity of 211 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,400 the gospel, right? He would often say, hey, I'm a 212 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,440 Roman citizen, you can't treat me this way. 213 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,560 And that's legitimate. However, there are also moments 214 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,280 where he did not wield his citizenship. 215 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,800 He did not appeal to his Apostolic prerogatives for the 216 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,840 same goal. So it's a case by case 217 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,440 situation. And there are times where we 218 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,200 also have to, especially in personal conflicts, choose to 219 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:36,080 walk away instead of choosing to fight, resist. 220 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:44,360 We're not told why Isaac gracefully dismissed himself at 221 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,640 the confiscation of his wells, but whatever his reason was, he 222 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:53,320 thought it to be the better option than digging his heels in 223 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:58,240 the ground and potentially getting into a war with the 224 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:03,520 Philistines. He refrained from retaliation. 225 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,440 And that's incredibly difficult for us to do, especially when we 226 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:12,960 are being mistreated, especially when we sense that we are being 227 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:19,720 treated unfairly. But choosing silence, refusing 228 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,880 to retaliate, and not wasting time or energy with something 229 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,040 that doesn't seem worth it can at times be the more righteous 230 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,800 path. And if you need any motivation 231 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,480 to trust in God's wisdom with that option, I believe Isaac 232 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:34,760 gives us the secret. You know why? 233 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:39,680 I believe Isaac could do this with great humility and 234 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:44,080 consistency. He believed in God's Providence. 235 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,600 So I want you to see this in verse 17. 236 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,040 Look what happens. So Isaac departed from there and 237 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,120 encamped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 238 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,920 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the 239 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,920 days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had 240 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,000 stopped after the death of Abraham, and he gave them names 241 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,119 that his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in 242 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,079 the valley and found there a well of spring water, the 243 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:15,000 herdsmen of Gerard quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying 244 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,640 the water is ours. No, it's not. 245 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,240 That's my commentary. No, it's not. 246 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:26,520 It's not yours. So he called the name of the 247 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,920 well Isaac, because they contended with him. 248 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,400 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also. 249 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,480 So he called its name Sitna. And he moved from there and dug 250 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,640 another well. And they did not quarrel over 251 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,000 it. So he called its name Rehoboot, 252 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,680 saying, For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall 253 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:52,360 be fruitful in the land. The Lord. 254 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,760 I'm recognizing God's leadership in this. 255 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,480 I'm recognizing God's provision in this. 256 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:04,160 I'm recognizing that even though this is unfair, God has blessed 257 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,760 me. And listen, you have to remember 258 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,080 here that these repeated offenses were beyond Isaac's 259 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:10,840 control. What did we read earlier? 260 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:16,840 The Philistines envied him. Have you ever tried to build a 261 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,280 meaningful relationship with somebody who envies you? 262 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:21,800 It's nearly impossible. Why? 263 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,120 Because they feel this anger and this bitterness towards you. 264 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:26,720 For what reason? Because God's blessing. 265 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,040 You're using you in a certain way. 266 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,720 It's very difficult to work with somebody like that. 267 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,960 What am I supposed to change? The Philistines envied him. 268 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,240 Despite that, Isaac realized that the Lord was able to lead 269 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,440 him to a broad place. Because the Scripture tells us 270 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:46,640 that even the wrath of man can praise God. 271 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,760 God can turn the wrath of man to a testimony in your life. 272 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,040 And that's what this man believe. 273 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,920 The Lord has made room for us. I recognize God in this. 274 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,360 I'm trusting God in this. And listen, if if anyone ever 275 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,640 unfairly takes something that belongs to you, could be a piece 276 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,520 of your reputation, it could be a possession, it can be even a 277 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,520 position. A peacemaker will step back, 278 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:19,120 calculate, pray, and consider the possibility of just walking 279 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:23,640 away and trusting God to deal with it. 280 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:29,080 This is a call for wisdom. How do I know when to stand and 281 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:33,360 to fight? And how do I know when that I 282 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:36,960 should just leave and let God deal with it directly? 283 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:39,720 You might think this sounds unrealistic. 284 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,200 It's not. It's found in a New Testament. 285 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:42,840 You remember what Paul told the Corinthians? 286 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,560 These Christians were taking each other to court. 287 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,840 And what did he say there in First Corinthians 6-7? 288 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,680 Hey, why don't some of you choose to rather be defrauded? 289 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,320 Why don't some of you just surrender? 290 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:01,520 Why don't you just give up for the sake of being salt? 291 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,600 You're going out to the world and you are bearers of names of 292 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,920 of Christ, and you're fighting with each other over temporal 293 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,640 things. This is a defeat for you. 294 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,600 Paul said suffer wrong. Surrender. 295 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,320 Your right. Sometimes to be a peacemaker 296 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:20,760 means that you have to do just that. 297 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,160 Isaac did that. We come to the second point of 298 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:26,520 what it means to be a peacemaker. 299 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:31,040 To be a peacemaker does not mean that we don't feel the pain or 300 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,640 the frustration caused by people's aggravations. 301 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,400 So again, you might feel like this is a tall order. 302 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,600 This seems unrealistic. You're asking me to walk away. 303 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:44,040 You don't understand. OK, look in verse 20. 304 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:48,880 I want you to notice that with each well that was taken from 305 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,840 Isaac, he named it something and in verse 20 we read that he 306 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,080 named the 1st wall Isec. You know what Isec means? 307 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,960 Contention and the next one sit now which means enmity. 308 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,760 So as much as we we can say Isaac was impressive in walking 309 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,080 away, he was also not living in denial. 310 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:17,000 It was painful. He did sense the injustice, he 311 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,800 was bothered, and he recognized that these interactions for what 312 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,040 they were. And I'm sure that there was some 313 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,840 kind of emotional processing when he named these wells. 314 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:34,560 Here's why this is important. You need to be free that you are 315 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,720 not harboring unforgiveness or you are not qualified to be a 316 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,760 peacemaker just because your heart is still bruised by the 317 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,960 carelessness or the selfishness caused by somebody else's 318 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,760 action. Just because it hurts doesn't 319 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,080 mean that you are not in the right. 320 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,720 It doesn't mean that you are not walking in faithfulness, doesn't 321 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,280 mean that you're not walking in faith. 322 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:02,200 It's a bruise, it's a wound, and sometimes bruises last longer 323 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:07,200 than others. So the presence of emotions that 324 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,080 are hurtful, memories that are painful does not mean that you 325 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,800 are not in the will of God, does not mean that you're outside of 326 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:16,320 Christ. Like character. 327 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:22,000 The Bible's so realistic. At the same time, you got to be 328 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,280 careful that painful memories don't blind you to potential 329 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,520 opportunities to be reconciled with those who have caused pain 330 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,360 in your life. There's a very fine line, right? 331 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:37,800 You can revisit those scenes and those words to the degree that 332 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:43,560 it calluses you to the point where it numbs you from your 333 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:47,240 calling to be a peacemaker. It should the opportunity arise. 334 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:52,040 If you've allowed your heart to become Diamond Hard, it'll 335 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,400 become much more difficult to be the initiator of reconciliation. 336 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:01,840 Isaac was realistic with how this whole thing made him feel. 337 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:08,040 But we come to point #3 to be a peacemaker does not mean you 338 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:11,240 abandon or ignore the truth for the sake of harmony. 339 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:16,320 So Isaac moves on and we read here. 340 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:17,480 We're going to skip a couple verses. 341 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,440 We'll look at them in a second, but look down at verse 26. 342 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,120 This is interesting. When Abimelech went to him from 343 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:29,040 Garrar without who's that? His advisor and Fee Cole, the 344 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,800 commander of his army. Isaac said to them. 345 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,800 Why have you come to me seeing that you hate me and have sent 346 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:40,320 me away from you? So we see here that Abimelech 347 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,360 and his top advisors pay Isaac a visit. 348 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:45,320 They learned about his new address and they thought, let's 349 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,160 go visit him and let's try to make a truce. 350 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:54,720 Let's try to make an oath with this man but the past behind us, 351 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,880 and to promise to never go to war with each other from this 352 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,840 day forward. But what I find so interesting 353 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,280 is that with this unannounced arrival, Isaac, before 354 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,600 entertaining any other conversation, confronts these 355 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,360 philistines for their behavior. What are you doing here? 356 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,760 Don't you hate me? You drove me away from you. 357 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:22,360 Now you might be wondering. I thought we were looking at 358 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:28,200 Isaac as model for peace. We are, and he is no less a 359 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,600 peacemaker here than when he walked away from his own wells. 360 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,480 Because, you see, a biblical peacemaker does not try to 361 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:41,360 appease others or excuse unrighteousness for the sake of 362 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:46,440 relational tranquility. A true peacemaker will invite 363 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:51,480 God's truth into a conflict and will surrender to what the 364 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,120 living God asks of both parties involved. 365 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,240 So we have to be reminded of this fundamental truth. 366 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,720 We never do away with the truth in the name of peace. 367 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:09,520 There are a lot of people who are tolerating evil and sin in 368 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:14,280 the name of being a peacemaker. That's not biblical peacemaking. 369 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:21,000 That's compromised calm. Now, this model here showing us 370 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,760 that we should never accept or rationalize evil so that someone 371 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:30,240 can feel accepted, That's unloving and deceptive. 372 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:35,600 You know, it was Jesus who said that I had not come to bring 373 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,120 peace to the world. What? 374 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,880 You're the Prince of peace? No, I did not come to bring a 375 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,560 certain type of peace of the world. 376 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,680 I've actually come to bring a sword. 377 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,240 What did he mean by that in Matthew 10? 378 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,000 He meant that he was coming into the world with a saving message 379 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:02,600 that carried the potential of bringing division in different 380 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:07,280 circles because of one or more than one party accepting that 381 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:12,400 saving message. And in Christ's mind, if that 382 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,560 division occurs because of the truth being embraced, then that 383 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:22,360 division is worth it, because true peace can only come from 384 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:30,200 accepting the truth. James speaks about godly wisdom, 385 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,520 and he actually describes what it looks like in detail, the 386 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,520 qualities of godly wisdom, what godly wisdom, when somebody 387 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:39,480 possesses it, what does it look like? 388 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:43,200 And in it you have this wonderful equation, this 389 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:48,280 wonderful principle of even what true peace is all about in James 390 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:55,840 317, James says, But the wisdom from above is first pure, then 391 00:26:56,040 --> 00:27:01,000 peaceable. What comes before peace, Purity, 392 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,840 purity, The renouncing of sin, the renouncing of compromise, 393 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,640 the renouncing of anything that compromises or contradicts the 394 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,480 truth. There can't be true peace unless 395 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:16,600 there is the honouring of purity. 396 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:25,600 What gave Isaac the courage to speak up in this way? 397 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,640 It's found in the verses that we didn't read when Isaac went up 398 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:35,320 to Beersheba. In verse 24 of Genesis 26 it 399 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,120 says this. And the Lord appeared to him the 400 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:41,560 same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father, fear 401 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,760 not frying with you, and will bless you. 402 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,480 Multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake. 403 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:57,520 Sometimes it's a fearful thing to forsake peace for the sake of 404 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,640 the truth. Sometimes it's difficult, just 405 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:05,360 as a general rule, to approach anybody and to confront them for 406 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:07,840 their wrong or to stand for that which is right. 407 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,760 And I see that following this, Isaac was able to speak up 408 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:18,480 because God promised him his presence and God promised him 409 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:23,280 his reward. And you and I need to find the 410 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,920 same courage from that same place that when there are 411 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,280 situations in your family, at your workplace, where you have 412 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:38,000 to choose the truth, even if it means inviting turbulence, the 413 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,800 Lord is with me. The Lord sees me, He sees my 414 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,080 heart. He sees that I want to please 415 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,960 him above everything else. And He will honor you for that. 416 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:52,200 And we're told in Romans that as far as it depends on you, be at 417 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:57,040 peace with all men teaching us what it's not always possible. 418 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,280 Even though you're the peacemaker, it doesn't mean that 419 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:01,840 you're going to have guaranteed peace with everybody. 420 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,400 And one of the reasons why it's not always possible is because 421 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,000 there are many people who don't want purity. 422 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:08,640 They don't want to admit they're wrong. 423 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:10,520 They don't want to repent of their sin. 424 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:16,400 And so you've done your part by upholding the truth and yet 425 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,760 still trying to be a peacemaker, even though the results don't 426 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:26,200 come out the way you desire #4 to be a peacemaker means you 427 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,280 will do your part to achieve peace. 428 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,600 Let's read back in Genesis 26 what happens after Isaac 429 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:38,080 confronts the Philistines. And this is what I read a few 430 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:44,480 weeks ago in Genesis that made me realize how much Isaac shined 431 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,800 as a peacemaker. Are you there? 432 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,960 In verse 28 they said, this is the Philistines. 433 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,200 We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. 434 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,560 So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and 435 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,360 us, and let us make a covenant with you that you will do us no 436 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:09,360 harm, just as we have not touched you and have not done to 437 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,560 you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. 438 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,800 Read that last part again. Have done to you nothing but 439 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,120 good and I've sent you away in peace. 440 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:27,000 So when I read this, I don't know if it was this last time or 441 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,640 a previous time. I put a green marked question 442 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:35,520 mark beside that phrase. What do you mean? 443 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:40,280 You've done nothing wrong? OK, I, I see here that you did 444 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,480 not touch him. That's true, but there's an 445 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,800 incomplete approach here. We've done nothing wrong to you. 446 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:50,840 Be honest. How would you react to that? 447 00:30:52,240 --> 00:31:00,530 What kind of confession is that? To our surprise, to our 448 00:31:00,530 --> 00:31:04,650 amazement, Isaac doesn't even address it, doesn't even comment 449 00:31:04,650 --> 00:31:08,090 on it. He chooses to move on with the 450 00:31:08,090 --> 00:31:14,280 proposal, which in principle means that he does not insist on 451 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:19,600 the faults of his offenders. And now we have to be very 452 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:25,360 careful of not miss applying this part, because Isaac is not 453 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,720 accepting reconciliation without repentance as he prepares to 454 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:30,480 make a deal with these men. That's not what he's doing here. 455 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,200 If you're carefully reading, you'll understand that he 456 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,520 acknowledges the effort of the Philistines and is willing to 457 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:42,720 bypass the weakness of their attempt for the sake of his own 458 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,520 conscience and the promise of peace. 459 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,000 And this is someone who recognizes the opportunity to 460 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,440 resolve something with his neighbors. 461 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,960 He does his part, and he leaves the details to God. 462 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:06,560 You and I can't be stubborn and expect to flourish as 463 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:10,800 peacemakers if we're truly peacemakers. 464 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,360 Then again, it depends on the nature of the relationship and 465 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:19,480 the dynamics of the problem. But a peacemaker will be on the 466 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:27,240 lookout for any opportunity to infuse peace in that strained 467 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:31,000 relationship. So in some cases it, it will 468 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:35,200 only look like this whenever you cross paths with somebody that 469 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,400 is at odds with you, that has maybe mistreated you with 470 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,880 unresolved conflict, your responsibility as a peacemaker 471 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,240 is to extend a greeting according to Jesus words in 472 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:49,360 Matthew, the extended greeting, because if you only greet your 473 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,400 brothers, you know, different than the Gentiles. 474 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:56,520 I quoted to you earlier what Paul said in Romans 1218. 475 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,400 If possible, it's not always possible. 476 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:04,760 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably 477 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:09,000 with all, just live at peace with people. 478 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:17,280 And in that same passage you have an insight of what that 479 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,640 might look like. This is this is the problem of 480 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,080 taking verses out of their context. 481 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:23,640 You, you miss out on the full meaning. 482 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:27,040 So most of us know Romans 12/18 and most of us know Romans 483 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,800 12/20, but have we ever considered how they're married? 484 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,440 What does it say in Romans 12/20 to the contrary? 485 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,040 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. 486 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:38,880 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink for. 487 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,000 By doing so, you'll heap burning coals on his head. 488 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,080 That's in context of being a peacemaker. 489 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:50,440 So peacemaker like Isaac will recognize opportunities to 490 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:58,200 sprinkle peace, maybe even on a person who's caused problems in 491 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:03,560 your life. That might look like an awkward 492 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:11,600 hello or may look like visiting somebody who is very sick, may 493 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:18,760 not have another day to live. This man convicted me. 494 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:22,600 He didn't get into a shouting match. 495 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:31,960 Oh, you did nothing to me. He just, he sees what this 496 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,800 relationship will entail. He's not marrying the 497 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:38,120 Philistines, He's not going to be working with the Philistines. 498 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:42,560 He's just agreeing on these terms of peace. 499 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:46,199 There'll be no retaliation, I'll give you that. 500 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:51,600 I accept your incomplete confession. 501 00:34:56,600 --> 00:35:06,560 Lastly, being a peacemaker opens heavenly blessings. 502 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:15,200 Look at verse 30. So he made them a feast, and 503 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:19,160 they ate and drank. In the morning they rose early 504 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:24,240 and exchanged oaths, and Isaac sent them on their way, and they 505 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:31,480 departed from him in peace that same day. 506 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,280 I underlined those 3 words twice. 507 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:37,720 That same day, Isaac's servants came and told them about the 508 00:35:37,720 --> 00:35:40,560 well that they had dug and set them. 509 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:42,560 We have found water. Stop. 510 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:47,400 Coincidence. Coincidence that on that very 511 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,280 day he made peace with his enemies. 512 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:58,520 Fresh water sprung from that land, shot out from the earth. 513 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,400 No, and Isaac knew it was in coincidence. 514 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:05,480 Look at verse 33. He called it Sheba. 515 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:08,640 Therefore, the name of this city is Beer Sheba to this day. 516 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:10,560 What does Sheba mean? Oath. 517 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:16,920 He memorialized as well and made a connection between its 518 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:19,640 arrival. It's a blessing, God's provision 519 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:28,560 and the oath that he made with the Philistines, you and I, 520 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:33,560 making the decision to be peacemakers, to be agents of 521 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:39,520 reconciliation and relational harmony will open God's favor in 522 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:50,240 your life, will win his smile. I give those insights to you. 523 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:56,640 They are now in your lap. And now I ask you, as we reflect 524 00:36:56,640 --> 00:37:00,440 on the God of peace, who has made peace with us, who 525 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:05,120 initiated reconciliation with us, who in a sense surrendered 526 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:10,840 his rights so that he can reach down to us to ask how what we 527 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:15,120 just scratched may apply in your life. 528 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:19,440 I'll tell you, you convicted me. You did convicted me. 529 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:24,640 I'm not sure how much thought I've given as a Christian to be 530 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,000 a peacemaker. Yeah. 531 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:28,880 Living free from sin? Sure. 532 00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:30,680 Reading my Bible? Absolutely. 533 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:33,720 Serving in the church. But peace making? 534 00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:40,920 Strive for it. Pursue it if possible. 535 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:44,160 Be at peace with everyone you know. 536 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:48,800 Lord, we ask that you help us in this moment. 537 00:37:54,520 --> 00:38:02,720 With all the unique predicaments, maybe the 538 00:38:02,720 --> 00:38:07,000 intensity of the pain makes it even difficult to digest any of 539 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,840 these thoughts. Whatever the case may be, we ask 540 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:14,360 that you would give us the spirit of wisdom to know how to 541 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:17,640 apply what you have given to us through Isaac's life. 542 00:38:22,860 --> 00:38:26,060 And now, though, we ask that you give us eyes to see if we lack 543 00:38:26,060 --> 00:38:35,720 any motivation, the God of peace, who is our God, who did 544 00:38:35,720 --> 00:38:39,400 not allow us to have our own way and to walk in our own way 545 00:38:39,720 --> 00:38:45,320 without making an attempt to reconcile, to restore us. 546 00:38:49,720 --> 00:38:55,840 We pray for our enemies as you commanded us to, Lord, even if 547 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,680 they were in the wrong, that you would forgive them, that you 548 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:03,280 would convict them, that they would see their errors so that 549 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:08,320 they can be ultimately reconciled to you and Lord. 550 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:17,560 We also ask that should the opportunity arise to extend 551 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:23,200 peace, it may look different. Show us with these different 552 00:39:23,240 --> 00:39:26,400 options, different limitations, how to do that. 553 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:31,240 We want to please you. You are a reward, we love you, 554 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:36,640 we honor you in Jesus name, Amen. 555 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:43,240 If the praise team can join us and prepare us through your 556 00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:49,080 gifts to sing to the Lord and reflect on these truths 557 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:53,920 together. If you're more comfortable 558 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:59,200 remaining seated so that you can better receive the truth that we 559 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:01,680 will sing, or maybe you're still dealing with the message and you 560 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:04,800 want to pray about it, you can do that for those who would like 561 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:06,240 to stand. Let's stand and let's sing to 562 00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:07,440 the Lord before we partake.