Introduction: A henpecked husband was tired of being nagged by his abusive wife so he decided to take a course in being self-assertive. After a few weeks, he felt he had regained his confidence and decided to lay the law down at his home.
At the dinner table he announced, “Woman from now on there are going to be a few changes around here, I do not want to hear anymore nagging, your going to fix my dinner every night, after dinner I will be going out with boys and I will come home when I am good and ready”. His wife was surprised at the man’s tone of voice, but unfazed she replied, “You talk to me like that again and you will not see me for a week!”
The man repeated himself and sure enough Monday came and he did not see his wife, Tuesday and Wednesday passed with no sight of her, finally Thursday came and he caught a glimpse of her as the swelling began to go down around his eyes.
Some people have a difficult time with peace! Yet in the seventh beatitude, Yet Jesus calls us to be peacemakers - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
One of the obvious facts of history and of man’s existence is peace is almost non-existent.
The scarcity of peace has prompted someone to write, peace is that glorious moment in history when everyone stops to reload.
John MacArthur states…
There have been 14,683 known wars since the birth of Christ.
Since 1945, there have been 70 wars and over 200 outbreaks significant international violence.
Since 1957, over 100 countries have been involved in some form of armed conflict.
Historians claim that the U.S. has only had 2 generations of peace (a generation being 30 years) in her 231 years of history.
On the world stage, Peace is a missing, as conflict seems to reign.
The lack of peace is not simply conflict between nations, the lack of peace is found in our homes and in our churches as well.
Seems like every week I here of a church going through some type of conflict over leadership, styles of worship, philosophy of ministry, etc.
Home are filled with conflict as spouse seldom speak with one another or children and parents try to coexist until the next blow up occurs
Yet Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
Why is peace so hard to obtain? After all, does not everyone want peace?
In the 60’s, John Lennon asked us “To give peace a chance”
In the 90’s, Rodney King asked “Why can’t we all get along”
Today our country is divided by a war in Iraq, with both sides only wanting one thing – PEACE.
Yet peace seems so illusive. Now while we may not be able to do anything about the global conflicts, we read in the headlines, we can make peace a part of our life on a daily basis.
Paul urged the believers in Rome, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18.
Solomon said, There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. Proverbs 12:20
The Seventh beatitude calls us to be peacemakers. Jesus has called us to a special mission to help make peace or restore people back to a sound relationships, first with one another and ultimately with God himself.
The peace Jesus speaks of has nothing to do with armies or boundaries rather God’s peace is about restoration, bringing us back into a right relationship.
Notice Jesus did not say blessed are the peacekeepers.
Peacekeepers avoid confrontation, they will do anything to avoid an argument or upset the status quo.
ILLUS: Some people will do anything to avoid confrontation, I heard of a man who was going through a mid life crisis. He went out and bought a new car, but not just any car, but a new Corvette. As he pulled up on I-95 he noticed he was going 80 MPH, he thought boy that was easy. At that point, he wanted to know just how fast his new car would go, so he gave it the gas, 85, 90, 95 soon he was going 100 MPH. It was at that point he saw the blue lights in his rearview mirror. Knowing he was going to get a ticket, he thought to himself I wonder if I can outrun this trooper. SO HE TOOK OFF! He was way ahead of the trooper when he came to his senses and thought, what I am doing. I am a respected leader in the community, my family will be embarrassed, and I will never be able to explain my actions. So he decided to pull over and wait for the trooper, when the trooper arrived he asked him, how fast was he going? He admitted he did not have a clue.
The trooper said, “You deserve a ticket, but my shift ends in 20 minutes and there would be a lot of paperwork if I wrote up all of your charges – tell you what if you can give me a reason that I have never heard before why you should not receive a ticket, I will let you off
Without batting an eye, the man said, my first wife run off with a trooper, and I thought you were bringing her back.
Peacekeepers will say anything to avoid confrontation.
Peacekeepers want to sweep issues under the carpet. They want a smooth running operation without any confrontation.
God’s peace, the peace of the Bible never evade issues, it knows nothing of peace at any price. It does no gloss over or hide from issues, rationalize of excuse. It confronts problems and seeks to solve them. After the problems are solved, it builds a bridge between those who were separated by the problems. When we have God’s peace, we are able to speak the truth in love.
Having God’s peace in our life is the key to sound biblical relationships.
I believe the reason there is so much strife in our homes and in our churches today, is because we have tried to be peacekeepers rather than peacemakers.
Look at Jesus was he a peacekeeper. Listen to his words in Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
These words seem to be the opposite of what Jesus is calling his disciples to do in Matthew 5, but the peace Jesus is encouraging, reminds us there will be opposition before there is harmony. There will be strife before there is peace. Why? Because the peace of Christ must always be seen in terms of truth and righteousness – to which the world is in fierce opposition.
When believers bring truth to a world that loves falsehood, there will be strife.
When believers bring righteousness to a world that loves wickedness there will be conflict
Until unrighteousness is changed to righteousness, there cannot be godly peace.
Therefore peacekeeping is not an option for those who are called of God, peace making is the way of the true believer. Peacekeeping may seem easy, but peace making is where genuine relationships grow toward maturity.
Observations about peacemaking
Peace Making is Difficult and Costly
Truth will always produce anger before it produces happiness. The gospel brings bad news (we are sinners who deserve to die) before we can hear the good news (we are forgiven, our sins are washed away). Remember the first two beatitudes deal with becoming spiritual bankrupt, saying, “I need you” and realizing the brokenness of our sin that forces us to say, “I am sorry”
Listen, a person who will not mourn over their sin will never have true peace nor will they ever be able to make peace with God.
The greatest enemy to peace is sin
Sin separates man from God, and because we are separated from our heavenly father, we find it easy to be separated from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The world is filled with strife and war because it is filled with sin
Relationships are strained because of sin
Families are in turmoil because of sin
Peace does not rule the world, because the enemy of peace rules the world. Peace cannot reign where wickedness reigns.
It is for that reason if you want peace in your life you must guard your heart from wickedness. Jeremiah wrote these words regard the people of his day. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Jeremiah 17:9.
The gospel writer Mark said this to say about a wicked heart,
21 out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:21-23
Sinful man cannot create peace within themselves or among themselves. Sin only produces strife and conflict.
You have probably seen the bumper sticker that is a play on words … No God No Peace, Know God Know Peace.
Sin keeps us from knowing God and keeps us from having his peace.
Being a peacemaker is a result of a holy life.
True peace can only happen we choose to put away our sins and strive to make peace with God. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to, Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
God’s peacemakers understand God’s peace only comes in God’s way. The way of holiness and purity leads us to be peacemakers for his kingdom.
How was such peace accomplished?
How are we made holy?
How are we able to become peace makers?
Ephesians 2 gives us the answer;
14 He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Jesus calls us calls to be peacemakers, to a world that needs the peace of God
With that in mind we must ask ourselves…
What are the Characteristics of a Peacemaker – what are the identifying marks, which make us worthy to be called sons of GOD?
Peacemakers have made peace with God
The gospel is all about peace. Before we came to Christ, we were at war with God. You may have never thought of yourself as an enemy of God but that is what we were.
In Romans 5:10 Paul calls us the enemies of God who were reconciled by the blood of Christ. When we received Christ as our savior, our battle with God ended and our peace with God began. Moreover, because we have peace with God we can enjoy the peace of God. Philippians 4:7, promise the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3, encourages us to Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace
Because we have peace with God, we are able to carry out the second characteristic of a peacemaker
Peacemakers lead others to make peace with God
Believers are not an elite group of people who have arrived spiritually and are able to look down on the world in dismay. Once you realize you have made peace with God, your #1 priority is to help others make peace with God.
Our goal should be a desire to go to heaven and take as many people with us.
Evangelism is not reserved for only the ministers and leaders, but all of us have the responsibility to tell others about Christ and his coming kingdom. We are exposed to people who need to make peace with God. Peacemakers make it a priority to help others make peace with God.
You can help people make peace with God by giving a simple invitation “Come and See”
You can help people make peace with God by meeting a need or offering to serve them, babysitting, offer to take them to the doctor, be aware of family changes
You can help people make peace with God by simply building a relationship with a neighbor or coworker, which in turn will give you an opportunity to share your faith. Someone has defined evangelism as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. Peacemakers help other people find the bread of Life in Jesus Christ.
Peace makers help others make peace with others
A recent study of churches found that 60% of churches that are declining in attendance have had a conflict in their church in the past 2 years. Conflict does not allow us to experience the peace of God. Therefore, it is important we strive to be peacemakers and then help others to become peacemakers so that conflicts can be avoided and the kingdom can grow. In this series, we have discovered, at times we are porcupine people, in other words at times we can poke one another with our quills, when that happens. We must make it a priority to seek peace. Listen to the words of Ephesians 4,
26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27and do not give the devil a foothold.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
We have a ministry of reconciliation, as peacemakers we are to strive to help people make peace with others. Too often, in conflicts we are guilty of taking sides in a conflict, when that happens, according to scripture we grieve the Holy Spirit. Rather than grieving the Holy Spirit, we should strive to do everything in our power to bring about reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A Peacemaker seeks to find points of agreement
God’s people are called to be children of light therefore, we can disagree without being disagreeable, we can confront without being abusive and we can speak the truth in love.
How do we find points of agreement? By starting with Love and moving toward peace. Because a peacemaker is loving they always give others the benefit of the doubt. Peacemakers do not jump to conclusions or make assumptions wrongly. Peacemakers are patient with others, just as Christ is patient with us.
Peacemaking is not easy, I believe that is why Jesus made this the 7th beatitude, only a mature follower of Christ is able to be a peacemaker.
Matthew begins the Sermon on the Mount with the following words Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him
The Sermon on the Mount was for the disciples, but I like how the Message puts verse 1 & 2. I think it really drives this beatitude home. When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.
His climbing companions – that is what I want to be a climbing companion of Christ. The only way I can become a climbing companion is by becoming a peacemaker, and the payoff for becoming a peacemaker: We are called sons of God
Where are you today, are you a climbing companion if so you are a peacemaker and if that is true you are able to wear the title of being called a son of God.
However, if not I encourage you to make peace today – First with God and if need be with others as well.
Prayer
