Peaceful dwelling places
2009-11-10 - Bert Pretorius
As mothers and fathers of this nation we need to understand that the state of our nation is in our hands, we need to grasp that the blessing, prosperity, peace and joy of this nation depends on us. We have been learning in the past few months that the crisis in our country is not the economical situation neither the crime nor the AIDS pandemic, it is the moral state of our homes. It is when we change our homes that we can impact our communities, provinces, this country and ultimately this continent and it all begins in our own homes. It is when we have established the peace of God in our homes that we can establish it into the homes of other people. Change is accelerated not only when we have our own homes established in His peace, but when we have the homes of others in our community established in His peace that can we make a difference in this country. In order to effectively establish peace in another’s home we need to understand what the peace of God entails and what role do we play in establishing the peace of God
Peace:
A gift from God
“LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us.” Isaiah 26:12 (NKJV)
“The LORD will give strength to His people. The LORD will bless His people with peace”.Psalm 29:11 (NKJV)
A gift is something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without it being earned; something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favour toward someone. One of the gifts of God is peace; contrary to popular belief peace does not have to be earned. We sometimes do not live in the peace of the Lord because we have allowed so many other contradictory emotions and thoughts into our homes and our lives. We need to realise that it is God who establishes His peace in our homes and once that has happened we need to do some “miracle maintenance” and actively establish peace every morning in your home and in our hearts by uprooting every little thought that tries to become a stronghold in our homes.
Surpasses understanding:
It is when the true peace of God that is found in His presence becomes a vital necessity to you that you can face any situation and be at peace about it. It is when you understand that God and His peace are the constants in ever changing variables that you can allow this peace to operate in your home and in your heart.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
Is evident where there is trust;
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”Romans 15:13 (NLT)
Where there is trust, there will be peace and where there is peace you will overflow with confident hope and where there is confident hope the power of the Holy Spirit is evident. We need to trust in the Lord because trusting in the Lord is the foundation of peace, with no trust there can be no peace in your home.
Dislodges anxiety:
“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. Lev 26:6(NLT)
Now that we know what the peace of God is we can effectively establish it in our homes and in the homes of others through being a peace maker in another person’s home.
Peace Through Establishing Houses of Peace
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. Matthew 10:13 (NIV)
This scripture teaches us that before you can establish peace in somebody else’s home we must first have peace ourselves. It is when we have peace that we can establish it in another person’s home and if they do not want your peace then it will return to you showing us that we have nothing to lose by establishing peace in a home.
“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”Mark 9:50 (NLT)
In the last few weeks we have learnt that we are the salt of the earth and when you are not being that which you need to be, there can be no peace. If you lose your flavour, if you lose that which makes you the difference, if you lose your time spent with God then it becomes difficult to establish peace in another person’s home. The word of God to us has reveled that we need to have the qualities of salt which are to establish the covenant, season, bring about a thirst and preserve, bringing about these qualities in their lives that they’re houses may be houses of peace.
Being a Peace Maker:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
We need to understand that in us doing houses of peace we by default become peace makers and it may seem like a menial task but to be a peacemaker entails many aspects because being a peacemaker means that you protect; which means that you get involved in the home. Establishing house of peace is about more than a mere regurgitation of the notes given it is a getting involved with the family and hopefully changing their lives for the better.
“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness”. James 3:18 (NLT)
We,as peacemakers establishing houses of peace, need to understand that we are sowing seeds of peace and will reap a harvest of righteousness. Expect a harvest of righteousness over every home that we establish.
As mothers and fathers of this nation and peacemakers we need an understanding that there will be challenges and struggles along the way, but the reward will be well worth the wait. As we sow seeds of peace in our homes there we will reap a harvest of righteousness, and when we sow seeds of peace in our communities and cities we will reap a harvest of righteousness to our provinces then to our country and ultimately to this continent. What an honour to be chosen to be a peacemaker, an architect of peace in our communities. I encourage you to start a house of peace in your area today and be a part of changing this continent with God in a miraculous way!
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