#2 PEACE KEEPER VS PEACE MAKER?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Thanks to Pastor Joe Girdler,
Kentucky District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God for the
fodder that started the thinking of this lesson...
This is part #2 of a 2 part series.
TEXT:
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had
thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
Philip. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I. ALL SEEMED SO HOPELESS AND WAR SEEMED INEVITABLE...
A. IN 1902 AGENTINA AND CHILE were having terrible disagreements over the disputed location of the border between the two countries.
The two countries were slipping closer and closer to war.
There seemed to be no resolve.
Then it was proposed to BUILD A HUGE CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF THE ANDES
statue at 12,572 feet high in the mountains on the border between the two nations.
In 1904 the pieces of the statue were moved as close as they could get by train, then they down loaded the pieces of the statue to be pulled by mules to the high point between CHILE and AGENTINA and the CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF THE ANDES was constructed.
In CHRIST’S LEFT HAND --- HE IS LIFTING THE CROSS HIGH BETWEEN THE
TWO FEUDING NATIONS...
B. 3,000 Argentines and Chileans climbed the mountain on March 13, 1904 and celebrated together ... A FEW DAYS EARLIER THEY WERE READY TO GO
TO WAR TO FIGHT OVER THE BOUNDARY LINES... now the 3,000 soldiers
were shooting their guns and celebrating gun salutes together at the
FOOT OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF THE ANDES...
C. AT THE PEDESTAL OF THE CHRIST HOLDING THE CROSS HIGH...
IS A PLAQUE OF FRIENDSHIP THAT SAYS:
"SOONER SHALL THESE MOUNTAIN CRAGS CRUMBLE TO DUST THAN
CHILE AND ARGENTINA SHALL GO TO WAR AGAIN WITH EACH OTHER...
TEXT:
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God
II. REVIEW:
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE BLUE HAT OF A PEACEKEEPER?
I would like to ponder what a PEACEKEEPER and a PEACEMAKER are?
A. Is there any difference between a PEACEKEEPER and a PEACEMAKER?
If there is a difference --- what is it?
WHICH AM I?
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
B. Peacekeepers may only require PASSIVE ACTIVITY...
Peacemakers require talent, effort and finding a creative use of conflict.
C.When I landed in Haiti, one of the first things I noticed were the BLUE HATS OF THE UNTIED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCE.
I talked with many of the troops...
1. Most of them hated being there...
2. The troops hated having contact with the Haitian people...
3. They could not wait to return home... this duty was painful to them?
SOMETIMES I PONDER THAT CHURCH MINISTRIES GROW THE SAME
ATTITUDES OF PEACEKEEPERS WHEN GOD CALLED US TO BE PEACEMAKERS...
D. As I was preparing for this lesson, I asked several of my friends to
comment on peacekeeper vs. peacemaker...?
I received a note from a pastor friend Bill Meeks in Tennessee.
Bill told about the PEACEMAKER?
What is a PEACEMAKER?
I looked it up... THE PEACEMAKER was a Colt Single Action Army Handgun.
The Peacemaker was a Colt .45 handgun used by the Army from
1873 to 1892.
The PEACEMAKER was also known as the EQUALIZER.
I can understand the EQUALIZER, but I have never thought of the value of a gun as a PEACEMAKER?
E. Years ago I was in Oliver Springs, TN, traveling playing music.
After service we went home with an old lady named Morgan.
The Oliver Springs Police Force consisted of one man.
The Policeman was called, there was two drunk men causing big a scene.
They were fighting and refusing to co-operate with the policeman.
He arrested the men and told them to submit to the handcuffs...
One of the drunk men said: THERE ARE TWO OF US AND ONE OF YOU!
The officer said: I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. COLT AS HE
TAPPED HIS PISTOL.
He then stepped to the Police car and pulled out a shotgun, he then said:
THIS IS MR. WINCHESTER, THAT MAKES IT 3 AGAINST TWO.
Both men quietly turned around and was handcuffed and walked and
climbed into the officers car.
F. Perfect peace is available to every believer...
few believe in it... even fewer have the FAITH required to completely trust all to the UNSEEN HANDS... we have a blessed assurance...
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
III. DO WE ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A DIVINE SHALOM... A GOD GIVEN PEACE?
Numbers 25:12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
A. JEHOVAH-SHALOM: The Lord is PEACE! THE LORD SENDS PEACE.
DO WE ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A DIVINE SHALOM... A GOD GIVEN PEACE?
B. In the Bible SHALOM and all the words that spawn out of it is ONE OF THE GREATEST THEOLOGICAL IDEAS. Shalom is much more than a PASSIVE
AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT...
Shalom is in the Old Testament more than 180 times.
C. SHALOM IS NOT PASSIVE BUT IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT --- SHALOM IS
NOT NEGATIVE... Shalom has to do with the TOTAL PUZZLE OF LIFE. It brings wholeness and completeness.
SHALOM carries with it the idea of SEEKING THE OTHER PERSON’S
BEST WELFARE with the promise of COMING TO THEIR AID WHEN NEEDED.
IV. THANK GOD FOR THE SHALOM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT WE MUST KNOW
THERE IS A DEEPER PEACE FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT... IT IS MORE THAN
SHALOM --- IT IS EIRENE... A GIFT OF PEACE.
A. There is a deeper than SHALOM PEACE of the New Testament, it is a peace beyond peace, a hope against hope, a sustaining peace that will weather all storms that may come our way.
Philip. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
B. The word: EIRENE is the NEW TESTAMENT WORD for PEACE.
EIRENE appears in every New Testament book but 1 John.
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
C. John has a real lesson about the gift of DIVINE PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES A GIFT OF PEACE! DIVINE PEACE IS A GIFT GIVEN BY GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.
You don’t earn a gift, it is given...
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 21 Jesus said to them again,
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
V. DO WE KNOW A PEACE SO GREAT THAT NOTHING SHALL OFFEND US... ?
PEACE IS MORE THAN THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT...
A. JESUS WARNS US IN THE LAST DAYS THAT THERE WILL BE A SPIRIT
OF BEING OFFENDED THRIVING WITHIN THE CHURCH...
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
B. THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART!
C. OFFENDED:
To be angry,
To wound the feelings of;
To displease,
D. People tend to carry a CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER and dare others
to knock the chip off... Don’t preach on that preacher.
KJV
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
NIV
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
LB
Psalm 119:165 Those who love your laws have great peace of heart and mind and do not stumble.
VI. WE MUST BE AT PEACE WITH FOUR AREAS:
A. PEACE WITH YOURSELF...
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the
children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
B. PEACE WITHIN THE FAMILY...
Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
C. PEACE WITH OTHERS...
KJV
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
MSG
Romans 12:18 If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.
LB
Romans 12:18 Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.
Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?
And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus,
And who is my neighbour?
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
D. PEACE WITH GOD...
2 Cor. 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephes. 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
IF THERE WAS EVER A DAY WE NEEDED DIVINE PEACE IT IS TODAY.
THE BATTLE RAGES HIGH. THE STORMS AND CONTRARY WINDS ARE
BLOWING AND TRYING TO SINK OUR LITTLE VESSELS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
The water was racing into the little ship, the enemy appears to have
defeated the whole group of ministries on board the vessel.
There was good news: THEY HAD JESUS ON BOARD... any one could
have exercised their faith and spoke to the storm, Their faith could
have launched BELIEF and then DIVINE PEACE could have calmed
the storm, they didn’t? For what ever reasons they could not launch
their faith, but there was GOOD NEWS --- THE PRESENCE OF JESUS
WAS WITH THEM... WAKE HIM UP... JESUS CALMED THE STORM
AND PEACE STILLED THE WATERS... ARISE FAITH AND RELEASE PEACE!
COME PEACE OF GOD AND CALM THE STORMS ALL AROUND US.
Thanks to Pastor Joe Girdler,
Kentucky District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God for the
fodder that started the thinking of this lesson...
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
You could enlarge my hands reach and send this to another.
