SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY

 SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY

 As Christians, what is our responsibility for the place where we live? Historically, there has been five basic responses. Dr. Jeff Myers lists them for us. 

1. Leave the secular things to the sociologists and we will take care of spiritual things.

2. Cities are not worth redeeming. The church is just about rescuing souls from hell.

3. We really can’t change the cities. We have to work on just changing people.

4. Our only concern should be for the church. The city can take care of itself.

5. The church should be actively engaged in their city and increase their influence. 

I have encountered all of these attitudes over the years, often in me! All these views are probably represented in our church this morning!

 What does the Bible say? We have looked this year at three areas of concentration: providing for ourselves, providing for our family, providing for our city. These come from Jeremiah 29. 

 Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NKJV) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

 Today, we are looking at providing for our city. In the next few weeks we will take a deep dive into providing for our families. 

 Look at the last verse again. 

 Jeremiah 29:7 (NKJV) And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

 First, we are to ‘seek the peace of the city.’

 Seek means to actively inquire, request, pursue. It is a command; it is something we must do. Why? If the city has peace, we have peace. 

Romans 12:18 (NKJV) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Peace here means more than no war or fighting. It is the Hebrew word, Shalom. It means peace, prosperity, success, welfare, health, friendliness, deliverance, salvation, completeness, soundness. It is used three times in this passage. 

 How do we bring that about here in our city? Isaiah has some answers.

 Isaiah 58:6–12 (NKJV) Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 Those from among you

Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,

The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

 Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV) And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.

 To be totally honest, this is the vision of our church, Restoration Fellowship, restore, refresh, rebuild. Where? Not inside our walls, but outside these  walls, in the community. Listen to Jesus…

 Mark 2:15-17 (NKJV) Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

 Hebrews 13:12-16 (NKJV) Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

MINISTRY TIME