Introduction

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We gather here today, bound by our shared faith and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. We convene not merely as individuals, but as a family, a community, a body of believers united under the banner of God's love.

In the words of the esteemed Charles Spurgeon, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." This simple yet profound truth reminds us of the essence of our faith. It's not about the abundance of our possessions, but the depth of our joy in the Lord.

Today, we direct our hearts and minds towards Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." This solitary verse, nestled within the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, holds a wealth of wisdom. It beckons us to become peacemakers, to actively seek harmony with God and our fellow man, and to strive for peaceful resolution in times of conflict.

As we unpack this verse, our focus will be on three main points: Pursuing Peace with God, Promoting Peace with People, and Processing Peaceful Conflict Resolution. These three pillars of peace will serve as our guide, our compass, pointing us towards the path of peacemaking.

But before we embark on this path, let us first humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day, for the gift of life, and for the opportunity to gather in Your name. As we open Your Word, we pray that You would open our hearts and minds. Help us to understand Your teachings and to apply them in our daily lives. We seek to be peacemakers, Lord, to reflect Your love and grace in all that we do. Guide us and lead us on this path. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let us turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God, as we seek to become peacemakers in a world that so desperately needs peace.

Pursuing Peace with God

In the sacred text of Matthew 5:9, we are called to be peacemakers. This divine calling begins with a pursuit of peace with our Creator. It's a pursuit that requires us to relinquish our pride, our self-reliance, and our stubbornness. It's a pursuit that demands humility, submission, and a heart that yearns for reconciliation.

The first step in this pursuit is acknowledging our need for God. We live in a world that often encourages self-sufficiency and independence. But the truth is, we are not self-sufficient. We are not independent. We are dependent on God for every breath we take, every beat of our heart, every moment of our existence. We need Him. And the sooner we acknowledge this, the sooner we can begin to experience the peace that comes from being in right relationship with Him.

Acknowledging our need for God leads us to the second step in our pursuit of peace with Him: confession. Confession is not merely admitting our wrongdoings. It's not just a list of our sins. It's a heartfelt expression of our sorrow for the ways we have grieved God.

Confession breaks down the walls of pride and self-righteousness that we often build around our hearts. It opens the door to reconciliation with God. And it's an act that paves the way for the peace that we so desperately need.

Confession leads us to the third step in our pursuit of peace with God: repentance. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sins. It's not just a momentary pang of guilt. It's a turning away from our sinful ways and a turning towards God. Repentance can be challenging, though it ought not to be as fallen sinners. Repentance requires us to let go of our old ways, our old habits, and our old desires. It requires us to embrace a new way of living, a new way of thinking, a new way of being. But it's a step that leads to transformation. It's a step that leads to growth. And it's a step that leads to peace.

The final step in our pursuit of peace with God is faith. Faith is a trust in God’s character, His promises, and His plan for our lives. It's a confidence in His love, His mercy, and His grace. The author of Hebrews says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith enables us to overcome our fears, our doubts, and our insecurities.

Promoting Peace with People

As we continue, we are called to extend the peace we have found with God to our fellow human beings ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO