KEY THOUGHT:

“To be a PEACEMAKER I must actively try to reconcile people to God and to one another”

INTRODUCTION...

As we continue our journey through the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I really want to remind you that Jesus is not making optional suggestions as he speaks…this sermon he is teaching is not a series of ‘suggestions’ on how to make the world better. On the contrary, Jesus is describing what a real disciple looks like and lives like…that having these character traits and actually living them out in the everyday stuff of life confirms that you are truly one of his own kids and that true joy and happiness can be our experience now and in the future eternity we have with him in his Kingdom! The teachings from his sermon are a message from God to urge you to get on that pathway and stay on that pathway so that you can be called sons of God at the last judgment. If you are on the narrow path, which leads to life, my purpose today is to help you stay on it. And if you are still in the broad way that leads to destruction, my purpose is to direct you to the path of life, Jesus the Prince of Peace.

—> Let’s Start At The End || "...THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD..." || True Children Resemble Their Father…

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” he is not telling us how to become a son of God. Rather, Jesus is simply saying that sons of God are, in fact, PEACEMAKERS. People who are PEACEMAKERS will be recognized as the sons of God at the judgment and welcomed into the Father’s house.

—> Be A PEACE ‘maker’ not just a PEACE ‘keeper’…

Clarity on what Jesus is saying here…not just a person who KEEPS the PEACE, but actually a person who is active in MAKING PEACE || this is not a person who is passive, just trying to keep everyone who is at odds with one another pacified so that there isn’t a big fight, but it is actually a person who is right in the middle of two parties in sharp disagreement or a situation that is difficult, actively working to bring about PEACE, trying to reconcile the two parties who are fighting and in conflict.

—> Sin is the destroyer of PEACE…

Here is the truth…PEACE is something that we see throughout the whole Bible, from beginning to end. Over 400 time in over 300 verses, PEACE is mentioned in the Bible.

PEACE is the at the beginning of the Bible with God and Adam and Eve living in PEACE with each other, mankind at PEACE with mankind and even mankind at PEACE with all of Creation.

We see PEACE at the end of the Bible where God finally sets up his eternal kingdom and reigns in PEACE forever.

But in the middle of the Bible, we see that PEACE is something that comes and goes…because the PEACE that God gave us and the PEACE that he will eventually restore, was destroyed by sin [Satan deceiving mankind], causing separation between God and man, man and woman and brokenness between mankind and the planet.

Sin destroyed PEACE. But there was a glorious plan in place to fix this brokenness, to bring PEACE!

—> Jesus is the “PRINCE OF PEACE” who destroyed sin and brought PEACE again…

We read in the prophecy of Isaiah 9 that a Messiah was going to come and fix what was broken, to bring PEACE and reconciliation to the people who had been separated from God because of their sin.

[Isaiah 9:2, 6-7]
“2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE. 7 Of the increase of his government and of PEACE there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

- This PRINCE OF PEACE is Jesus…He reconciled us to God by bringing PEACE through his death and resurrection

—> Jesus calls us to be PEACE MAKERS…

- What Jesus has done TO ME he desires to do THROUGH ME

[2 COR 5:17-21]
“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- We have been reconciled to God and now have PEACE where sin had once broken that PEACE…because of that, we now have been given the ministry of reconciliation, which has been passed on to us…God making his appeal for PEACE through us for those who have no PEACE because they are separated from him due to their sin…they need to be reconciled to God…to have PEACE with God.

--- Making PEACE between Us and God:
If we are going to be a PEACEMAKER we must…
1. Have PEACE with God personally (Be reconciled…)
2. Actively demonstrate and declare the good news (the gospel) to those who are not at PEACE with God because of their sin (ministry of reconciliation).

--- Making PEACE with and between People:
If we are going to be a PEACEMAKER we must…
1. Actively work to have PEACE with other people (be reconciled)
2. Actively work to reconcile people to each other (ministry of reconciliation)

1. PEACEMAKERS allow PEACE to rule their own heart...

[Philippians 4:6-7]
“6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2. PEACEMAKERS are “ACTIVE” not “PASSIVE” when it comes to PEACE...

[Romans 12:18]
“18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live PEACEABLY with all.”
-- (or put another way… “Never let yourself be the reason for an un-peaceful relationship with another person.”)
-- (“If possible, so far as it depends on you”…Sometimes peace doesn’t come)

[Romans 14:19]
“19 So then let us pursue what makes for PEACE and for mutual upbuilding.”

[Heb 12:14a]
“14 Strive for PEACE with everyone…”
-- be willing to admit our wrongs, apologize, make things right and forgive. Our own ego and pride and prejudices should never get in the way of living at PEACE with others.

3. PEACEMAKERS are HUMBLE, GENTLE, PATIENT...

[Eph 4:1-3]
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT in the bond of .”

-- Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he promised His Disciples that He would send to us the Holy Spirit, The Comforter, Our Advocate, Our Counselor…and if we would be led by the Spirit and walk with the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit, we would bear the fruit of the Spirit (PEACE being a part of that…Galatians 5)

4. PEACEMAKERS are led by PURITY...

[James 3:13-18]
“13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first PURE, then PEACEABLE, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in PEACE by those who make PEACE.”

-- As we seek to be a PEACEMAKER, we must be led by right motives (NOT REVENGE, JEALOUSY, SELFISH AMBITION, PRIDE, ARROGANCE OR A FIGHT TO BE RIGHT) we are to be like Jesus
-- PEACE comes from that place of a pure heart and deep seeded righteousness…as PEACEMAKERS, we bring PEACE and a harvest of righteousness is sown…which sprouts more PEACE!

5. PEACEMAKERS never compromise TRUTH in order to have PEACE or to resolve conflict...

-- The Bible is clear, however, that on matters of bedrock conviction, we must take our stand with grace, mercy, and integrity

[Hebrews 10:23]
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

-- When making "PEACE" is possible only by compromising the truth, or the commands of God, then peace is simply not possible, and the choice no longer depends on us. That stance might result in our own suffering or persecution.

[Acts 5:27-29]
“27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

-- Sometimes the temptation will come, for the sake of PEACE, to compromise your convictions or go against what God would command us in His Word. But we must never compromise truth in order to have PEACE…never.
-- That can/might lead to persecution, which we will end with next week…

[Matthew 5:10-12]
“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

PRAYER AND COMMUNION…

Q: Do you need PEACE with God?
Q: Do you need to make PEACE with someone?
Q: Do you need to facilitate PEACE between two parties in conflict?

ACTION STEPS...
1. Pray.
Take it to God, surrender (yourself, the situation) to him and pray for help from the Holy Spirit

2. Stop Critical Talk. Don’t talk bad about the person you are in conflict with or about a situation you are in

3. Initiate!
Make the first move to initiate PEACE and strive to make it happen

4. Don’t Compromise.
Sometimes PEACE can’t happen, trust in Jesus and again give it to Him.