Article | - 11:48 am
True and Complete Peace Can Only Exist With the Presence of the Holy Spirit
Living together in peace is not merely a nice idea but a concrete necessity. In times of increasing intolerance, polarization, and conflict, accepting differences, listening to others, and respecting diversity are essential for building a better future.
That’s why the United Nations General Assembly officially declared May 16th as the International Day for Living Together in Peace in 2017. The purpose of this day is to mobilize governments, communities, religious leaders, and citizens to promote attitudes of reconciliation, dialogue, and forgiveness. In this context, peace is not simply defined as the absence of war, but as an active process comprised of conscious attitudes: acting with compassion, listening with empathy, and respecting others even when disagreements occur.
However, while the concept of peace sounds wonderful in theory, the desire for harmony often collides with the selfishness, pride, and ambition of individuals unwilling to compromise for peace. According to 1 John 5:19, “the whole world is under the power of the evil one.” Until people surrender to God, they end up allowing their sinful nature to dominate their thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.
The truth is that only through the Holy Spirit can a person attain and share the peace they desire. The fruit of the Spirit, as stated in Galatians 5:22, includes: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Bishop Macedo explains, “The virtues of God in a person lead to conduct pleasing to themselves and others. Those who possess an Adamic nature cannot bear this fruit because it results from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces in humans everything that reflects His Holy Nature, leading them to have a disposition of love, joy, and gentleness, among other virtues. While those filled with the Holy Spirit may have differing opinions and thoughts on secular matters, they never diverge or disagree regarding Divine Direction.”
Therefore, before seeking global peace, invest all your efforts and focus on having the Holy Spirit living within you to achieve complete inner peace. By doing so, you will be able to share peace with those around you and spread it wherever you go.
The church is open daily, and a special meeting occurs every Wednesday to strengthen our spiritual lives and seek the Holy Spirit. All are welcome regardless of religion, background, or circumstances. Come as you are.
Wednesday at 10 AM, 4 PM, and mainly at 7 PM at The Universal Church. For more information on locations, please call 1-888-332-4141 or text 1-888-312-4141.
For those who live in areas without a location of The Universal Church, you may also connect to our Virtual Church via Zoom Conference.
Be sure to check out a special message from Bishop Macedo on this topic:
Contributors:
Rafaella Rizzo (Translated and Adapted From Original)
