PROPHETIC WORDS

WHERE ARE THE PEACEMAKERS?

by Lyn Packer

January 2024.

Over the past few weeks, the Lord has given me more revelation surrounding this prophetic word, which has led to this updated version being posted. The original content remains the same, there is just some extra clarity and encouragement God has added.

In times of war and turmoil, there is a crucial role necessary for peace to be brokered between the warring parties. That role is the role of a ‘peacemaker’. These people bring the warring parties together and facilitate the brokering of peace agreements between them.

For the past few months I've been hearing God say, "Where are the peacemakers, those who will step into the breach and instead of waging war against others will become people who actively seek and broker peace? Where are those who will not only sit at the table I have prepared for them, in the midst of their enemies (Psa 23:5), but who will invite those they feel are their enemies to join them at the table of My peace, My reconciliation, and in doing so provide a meeting place where enemies can become friends and family?”

The Bible tells us in Isa 2:2  “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

As I have continued to carry this word in my heart and pray into it, I recently heard the Lord very clearly say that this table mentioned in Psalm 23 is God’s ‘peace table’.  We are familiar with that term regarding nations at war. The table in Psa 23 was not just meant to be a place for us personally to find peace in times of hardship, turmoil or war. It is His peace table, and much more than we had previously recognised it as.

God is calling us to step into our calling as ministers of reconciliation in a greater way as we recognise it is Christ's ‘peace-table’, and actively bring estranged parties to the table to meet the ultimate peacemaker, Jesus. To be those who facilitate the brokering of peace in families and between families, between generations, in churches and between churches, between cultures and between nations.

The Lord is calling us to examine ourselves and ask…

On a personal level…

• Have I switched from being a warrior, whose call is to battle "not against flesh and blood", to one who battles people, or even more, have I become one who enjoys getting an adrenaline rush out of confrontation with others?

• Have I inadvertently become a warmonger who instead turns on those I perceive to be a threat, or whose actions I dislike, tearing them down, calling them names, distancing myself from them, and in my heart seeing them as enemies, instead of operating and evidencing the fruit of the Spirit?

• Who am I fighting, and why? Is this actually a true spiritual enemy, or am I instead seeing things through distorted lenses, maybe even seeing threats where there are actually none, just misunderstanding?

• Am I attacking those I should be seeking to understand and broker peace with?

• Am I operating from a fear-based mindset that sees everything and everyone as a threat to what I believe?

As a minister of reconciliation…

• Where am I called to be a minister of reconciliation? Who am I called to?

• Am I walking in my role as a minister of reconciliation in an evangelistic sense – as one who shares the good news so that people can be reconciled with Jesus and the Father?

• But also, am I someone who brings estranged people / warring parties to Jesus, in order to see reconciliation and peace established between those warring parties?

• What needs to change in my attitude and lifestyle for me to actively walk in my ministry as an agent of reconciliation?

The Lord is not only reminding us to examine our lives and determine which spirit we are operating from, and what fruit our life is showing,... He is calling us to step up into a greater Kingdom reality – that of being peacemakers and true lovers of all mankind, just as He is. Even in the moment of His greatest betrayal, Jesus still called Judas ‘friend’. He could have looked on Judas as an enemy, but He chose not to do so. In doing so He modelled for us Kingdom life, love, forgiveness and mercy.

This year is a year to step up into a higher place above earthly disagreements and the second-heaven warring, to live from a place of seated authority and identity, from a place of peace and rest, and as ambassadors, to become peacemakers.

BIO