C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR AUGUST 15, 2021 LESSON 2 / DIVISION 2 : TOOPIC – FINDING LASTING PEACE

II. FINDING LASTING PEACE (Genesis 3:1ff; Ezekiel 37:26; Matthew 11:28-30)

Anything that is lasting is somehow permanent, or continuing for a very long time, or indefinitely

Lasting peace is that permanent peace that continues still eternity to is unending. There is nowhere on earth that this kind of peace can be found — homeless, hospitals, club houses, etc. How do we solve this riddle?

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).

i. Gen. 3:1ff: Man lost his peaceful/blissful condition in Eden, when he disobeyed God in eating the forbidden fruit. God never tolerates sin of any kind, though He loves the sinner. Anyone who disobeys Him cannot enjoy His peace (Isa. 1:19-20).

ii. vv. 8-10: The guilt exhibited by man, here, is an indication of the loss of peace with God (cf. Prov. 28:1). Their heart was no longer at rest.

iii. vv. 20-24: The moment man was ejected from the paradise of the Living Water and the Tree of Life (cf. Rev. 22:1-2), different diseases, disasters and death entered humanity. After all, God had forewarned them (2:16,17).

iv. 4:1ff: Sin bitterness, unrepentance and murder demonstrated by Cain against Abel are evidences of the loss of peace among humans.

v. Prior to the Fall, man lived with other creatures in peace and harmony. Dangerous creatures like lions, snakes, mosquitoes, etc., didn’t harm man because God’s glory was on him. However, sin changed everything. Man became enemy to creatures under his control (cf. Prov. 16:7).

vi. Isa 48:22: Above all, there is no peace… for the wicked. Who are the wicked? Those who have either chosen to follow the part of self-righteousness, or show total disdain for the Person, power and purpose of Christ. They won’t have PEACE until they come to Christ (cf. Matt. 11:28,29).

vii. The joy is that anything lost can be recovered, if the one who loses it is ready to muster the right efforts for the recovery. Recovering the lost peace isn’t cheap. It requires that we act like the man who lost one of his sheep and the woman who lost one of her coins acted (cf. Lk. 15:4ff) — consciously; determinedly.

‘But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,’ Pay me what you owe! (Matt. 18:28).

i. Matt. 11:28a: Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6; Mic. 5:2-5), empathises with the chaotic situation man has plunged himself into (cf. Heb. 4:15), hence His INVITATION — come to Me…

ii. v. 28b: Christ promises to give anyone who come to Him, rest — the condition in which everything around and inside one is at peace.

iii. vv. 29,30: This is possible by totally and irreversibly jettisoning the heavy yoke of sin (cf. 2. Cor. 6:14ff) and being yoked with (joined to) Christ — conversion (2 Cor. 5:17). That immediately restores the joy and peace of heaven in the convert’s heart and life, making life easy for him/her (v. 30).

iv. God promises to keep in PERFECT PEACE whose mind is rested on Him (Isa. 26:3). Restoration of peace is only possible when we return to the Prince of Peace.

v. Ezk. 37:26: You have signed the eternal peace covenant pact, sealed with the blood of Jesus, the day you accept the lordship of Christ. He would fill your with the fruit of His Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), so that you will live a peaceful, peace-loving and peace-making life (Rom. 12:18; Col. 3:15; Heb. 12:14).

vi. What a great relief! Peace isn’t totally elusive. However, that is not true with and for just everybody. Only those who answer in the affirmative to Christ’s invitation for salvation would have His peace. His peace is meant for His people. If you are not His, you can’t enjoy His lasting peace that He gives, not as the world offers.

1. Perfect peace eluded humanity the moment man rejected the Prince of Peace.

2. Individual peace is a function of our relationship with the Prince of Peace.

QUESTIONS

1. Jesus is the foundation of Peace anywhere. Do you agree?

2. Advise the world government on how to restore the lost peace in the world.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

i. Refers to division 1 A.

ii. Yes

iii. Jesus is truly the Source/Foundation of Peace. He is the Prince of Peace.

iv. He specifically came to destroy the works of the Devil (chaos) that the latter has been performing from eternity.

v. The Devil cannot be the foundation of peace, he can never be a man of peace. How then do you offer what you don’t have?

vi. Jesus is our Peace, whose Spirit enriches His own with peace as an Integral part of the fruit of the Spirit.

vii. Only Jesus can give and help sustain peace in any setting.

i. The nation that forsakes or look down on God will immediately and ultimately suffer for it.

ii. The government should return to the Source of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, for ever timely message and wisdom to address the lost peace in the world.

iii. The farther we go away from Jesus, the farther peace moves away from the world. Let governments return to Jesus Christ.

iv. Governments should come to terms with the fact that conflict resolution strategies, such as suppression, compromise, collaboration, avoidance, litigation, etc. Will not bring lasting peace in the world. Only Jesus can save and restore peace and order.

v. They should stop policies that negate the festering of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The government that fights against God will not find peace in its reign.

The terrible situation of the world today is an indication of the elusiveness of peace and its grave implications. The seeming intractable and unresolvable crises ravaging world governments, homes and communities are all evidence of the no-peace situations the world has been plunged into, since the unfortunate fall of man in Eden. Only Jesus can save the situation. May our people find it expedient to accept His lordship. May the Church find it expedient to present Him to the dying world. Amen.

There can never be lasting peace wherever people have chosen to reject Christ and His gift of redemption and salvation. The peace the world offers is ephemeral. It is man-made, and so, literally synthetic. It is far below what God desires for us. The peace Jesus offers is not like what the world gives. It comes with, and is the sign of eternal life, life in abundance, that Jesus immediately and ultimately brings (Jn. 10:10). Imagine anyone, or any society rejecting this kind of peace. It is suicidal! That is exactly what the world is, without surrendering to Christ. Accept the Lordship of Jesus, now, and if you have, remain in Him unreservedly. True inner peace that transcends all troubles is yours unstoppably. Hallelujah!

Mon. 9: Peace Is For God Lovers (Psa. 85:8,9)

Tue. 10: Peace Coms From God’s Word (Psa. 119:165)

Wed. 11: Peace Isn’t For The Wicked (Isa. 57:19-21)

Thur. 12: Peace Elude The Godless (Isa. 59:8)

Fri. 13: Peace Eludes Liars And Deceivers (Ezk. 13:8-14).

Sat. 14: Pursue Peace To Live in Peace (Heb. 12:14,15)