Texts: Eph 2:14-18 and Heb 12: 14 "For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were near."

Paul writes to the Ephesians – the Gentiles - who had accepted the gospel of Jesus. There was segregation between the Gentiles and the Jews. The Jews thought that the Messiah was only there for them and not for the Gentiles. He took the wall of separation away and made peace between the Gentiles and the Jews. Paul was a peace maker and wanted to bring Jews and Gentiles together. Then he writes and says that is why Jesus came – to take away the wall of segregation. That happened 2000 years ago. Unfortunately it is still like that today – there is separation between Christians, even though we read that He is our peace. That was the message that the angels sang when they announced Jesus’ birth. Unfortunately there is so little peace and unity among Christians, which is a terrible situation. Jesus came to bring peace. The Amplified Version reads: “He is our peace – our bond of unity and harmony”. I asked myself whether Jesus has been able to bring me together with my brother, sister, Jew and Gentile. Is there perfect unity amongst us? If there is something that does not unite us, what do we do about it? Do we leave it? Are we satisfied to live separate paths or do we work on it to live harmoniously together? That starts in our families. Is there perfect unity and harmony between husband and wife? It troubles me when I hear people say that they are losing their children and I ask whether there is perfect unity between husband and wife. There is nothing more frustrating for a child than when it realises that there is not perfect harmony between parents.  Is Christ pre-eminent in our families?

Do you have perfect unity with your brother? Has the Lord Jesus been able to break down that wall between you and the other person? We are different nations together. Is there perfect unity among us or is there separation? Can I go to anyone here and take him by the hand and say I am a true brother in Christ; we are of the same mind and spirit?  It is a challenge for each of us to strive for unity and holiness, without which no-one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)  Are you pursuing it? Are we really joined together in Christ? We pursue holiness because we say that without it we will not see the Lord, but the Hebrew writer says that we must pursue peace and holiness, without which we will not see the Lord. If we want the God of peace to reign in our hearts and become imitators of Christ then we will pursue peace with all people.

We pursue peace with God. That is where it starts. Have you made peace with God and broken down that wall of separation between Him and you? That wall that you have built with your own sin. When the Lord Jesus died on Calvary He took the wall away, but have you broken your wall down? Have you gone to Him with all that which you have done wrong and asked for His forgiveness and cleansing so that you can enter into a relationship with Him where there is perfect peace? If not, make peace with Him today. Ask yourself whether all is right between yourself and God.  Have you grieved the Lord and hurt Him in any way? Come and make peace with Him so that you have perfect peace and that there is nothing that separates you from the Lord Jesus.

 Now pursue to have that peace that you have with Him, with all people. For peace sake, be prepared to suffer, to lose your life, lose financially, because peace between you and your brother is worth more than money, honour etc. See Hebrews 12: 14.

Read Romans 14:19. My aim is that I may be able to lift up my brother or sister onto higher heights, and that is why I pursue peace. Read Romans 16:20. Do you want to devil to be crushed under your feet? Then make peace with one another and seek to edify one another. Do good to your brother, seek his best, and forget about yourself. Forget about the fact that you are white, or black, or Coloured, or Indian. Pursue peace with all people so that you can lift the other up instead of pushing him further into the mud.

The story was told of the elderly Russian writer who watched a group of 6 and 7 year olds playing war. He asked why they don’t rather play peace. They thought that was a good idea, but after a while of silence, one of the children approached him and asked how one plays peace.

A second story was told of a well-known Godly American man who built a hospital and cared for both Americans and English soldiers alike during a war between the two countries. One day he heard of an English soldier that had been captured and accused of spying. He was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. This elderly man decided to go to George Washington to plead this English soldier’s case and ask for him to be reprieved. After many days of walking he reached the president and put forward his request. The president eventually agreed and wrote out a letter pardoning the English soldier, annulling the judgement and death sentence. The elderly man began the long distance to the place where the soldier was to be hanged. He eventually arrived just in time; the rope had already be placed around the soldier’s neck. After the hangman read the letter, he stated that the rope should be removed from his neck and his hands untied. He saved the soldier’s life and the soldier could make peace with God and with America. Is that your life? Do you pursue peace?

Another story was told of an argument between the sun and a storm as to who was the strongest. They saw a man walking along with an overcoat and decided to see who could get him to take it off. The storm, boasting that it was the most powerful, blew hard and strong but the man clung even more tightly onto his coat. Then the sun started shining. The man got warm and took off his coat. That is what warmth, understanding and peace does. It melts people’s hearts. When that warmth of Jesus Christ comes to you, you can’t but take off your coat and say, “Lord Jesus, I come to You. I want to be a peace maker. I want to go out and tell others about the Lord.”

How long must the Lord wait for you young girls and boys to go out and preach the gospel of peace?

Once a small boy found a tortoise and started prodding at it with a stick in order to make it come out of its shell. The more he hit and poked the tortoise, the deeper it pulled into its shell. His grandfather noticed this, told him not to be so cruel, then took the creature and placed it in a warm place. Soon it stuck out its head and its feet and started walking. People are often like tortoises. Don’t try and force them, show them mercy and warmth.

Someone dreamt that he stood before the judgement throne of God. The Lord asked whether he had kept the Ten Commandments. He replied that he had kept them all. Then the Lord asked him to open his hands – and they were empty. He was a good Christian, but came to the Lord with empty hands. Have you looked at your spiritual hands lately? How many have you brought to the Lord of peace? When last did you do something good for your neighbour; your enemy or for the one you don’t get along with?

Let’s become messengers of peace.

Another summary:

There was segregation between the Gentiles and the Jews. The Jews thought the Messiah was only there for them and not for the Gentiles. Paul here writes to the Ephesians - even to those who believed on the Lord Jesus.

And Paul wanted to make peace between them and the Jews.

He writes to them that Jesus came to take away that wall of separation between the Gentiles and the Jews.

Unfortunately we find separation between Christians even today. But to this day we find that there is peace lacking among the Christians. We tend not to be concerned about it. But it is terrible to live without between my brother and sister. Jesus came to bring peace on earth. But we find so little of that peace among Christians.

In the Amplified we read "for He is Himself our peace ..." He brings unity. We should ask ourselves that question has the Lord been able to bind me with my Christian brother from another nation? Is there perfect unity and harmony among all of us.And if there is not perfect harmony among us what are we doing about it?Are we satisfied to live separated or do we live harmoniously together. And that starts in our families.

It is very frustrating for a child if there is not perfect unity and harmony among the parents. That's why we lose our youth when they see division among the parents.

Just see how the Amplified writes that Christ has brought down the wall of separation between us. Do you have that unity with your brother? We are different nations here together. Is there a perfect unity and harmony amongst us or separation.We must challenge each other, do we pursue and holiness without which we won't see the Lord? (Hebrews 12:14)Are we joined together and united in Christ?

What we do is we pursue holiness because we deem that important but skip glibly over the first point, to pursue peace "without which we will not see the Lord". By that we will see whether we truly love the Lord.

If we want the God of peace to reign in our lives we will pursue peace with all people.

Yes. we all pursue to make peace with God which is essential and where everything starts. Have you made peace with God? But now if we want to come to Christ we have to allow the Lord Jesus to break down that wall which we built. From His side there's no wall anymore for He broke it down at Calvary. But have you broken your side down?

Now if I treat my wife like a dog and in an ungodly way, but she forgives me freely, her relationship is right with the Lord. But if I don't go to her and apologize and ask for forgiveness do you think that will be pleasing to the Lord. I have to go and break down the wall that I have built even if she forgave me freely.Have you done the same with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Now that peace that you have with the Lord pursue it with all people. And for peace sake I'm prepared to suffer. I'm prepared to lose financially for the sake of peace, for the peace between my brother and sister is worth more than money or anything else. For we read that without that peace no one will see the Lord.

You should get disturbed when you read this. I get disturbed for I want to see the Lord. And if I cannot experience the Lord every day I will pursue after Him to make peace with all men.

Rom 14:19 Therefore let us pursue peace and edifying one another. That my brother will be edified and built up. That I will be able to lift my brother onto higher hights. That's why I pursue peace.

Rom 16:20 "and the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly"

Do you want the devil to be crushed in your life, then make peace with your brothers and sisters. Let us pursue peace one with another even if I should lose something. If I've got to lose materially or even honour. For the sake of peace I will humble myself and say sorry to my brother and ask his forgiveness. That I do good to my brother, help my brother and assist him. That I would forget myself and only seek the best for my brother and sister. That I forget that I am white or Black, Indian or Coloured. But to pursue peace with everyone. That I would be able to uplift my brother and sister even to my hurt.And that I could implant that God of Peace into the soul of my brother and sister that they might find Him too.We sing so much about peace, but can you live peace? To even give your life for the next person.Story of spy to be executed during America's war with England.Are you a peace-maker. Tell people to make peace with God and one with another.How long must the Lord wait for the people that will go and proclaim the Gospel of Peace?

You even have the opportunity with your life every day. What are you preaching with your life?Story of tortoise where boy try to get it to stick its head out but failed. The father put the tortoise into a warm room and soon it stuck its head out and walked around.

Warm others with godly love and they will be drawn to the God of Peace. In stead we want to Bible-punch people and they simply hide themselves more and more.

When last have you stretched out your hand and done something good for your brother and sister?