PAR·A·DOX: A SEEMINGLY ABSURD OR SELF-CONTRADICTORY STATEMENT OR PROPOSITION THAT WHEN INVESTIGATED OR EXPLAINED MAY PROVE TO BE WELL FOUNDED OR TRUE.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
THE PARADOX OF JESUS’ BEATITUDES Blessed are the peacemakers... Matthew 5:9 NIV
WHAT WE TEND TO BELIEVE: Blessed are those that are protestors; those that fire up their base!
PUBLIC CRITICISMS NEVER CHANGE ANYONE. HOWEVER, PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN LOVE DO.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NIV
ALL 3 VERSES ON ONE SLIDE
And the God of peace will swiftly pound Satan to a pulp under your feet! Romans 16:20 TPT
Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 TPT
Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus… Hebrews 13:20
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14
You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:43-45
AS GOD’S CHILDREN WE ARE CALLED TO STRIVE FOR PEACE AS WE…
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LOVE OUR ENEMIES
But I say, love your enemies! Matthew 5:44
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PRAY FOR THEM
Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44
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REJECT SELECTIVE PEACE
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. Matthew 5:47
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STRIVE TO BE THE BIGGER PERSON
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
THE PARADOX OF JESUS’ BEATITUDES Blessed are those who are persecuted because righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 NIV
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:43-44
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 NIV
If you were to give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you. I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine. John 15:19 TPT
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16
Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:6-8
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24
TAKE HOME
➡ DAILY INVITE GOD TO BE THE LORD OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1