“Blessed Are The Peacemakers”
Matthew 5:9
Just as Jesus predicted our world is a constant hotbed of continual armed conflict (Matt 24:6).War is a constant reality of life. At least one source I read said that there are at least 33 ongoing conflicts in the world today. In spite of mankind’s intellectual accomplishments, we only seem to devise more efficient means of killing each other. It is said that our nation’s capital is full of peace monuments; “We erect them after every war.” [Don MacLean quoted in Lloyd Cory, “Quote Unquote.”] One cynic remarked that, “Peace is the moment when nations take time to reload.”
Terrorist attacks have convinced us that we are not safe even within our own borders. It into this world filled with violence and hate that Jesus sends his disciples (followers) as ministers of peace. In Matthew 5:9 He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
I think I can say with complete honesty this morning that I am here today because I desire peace:I desire peace in my own heart! I desire to see peace in your heart! I desire to see peace exist between each of us! And I want each of us to learn to be peacemakers.
In order to understand this Beatitude, we must as we have with each of the Beatitudes, begin by understanding what Jesus means.
First, The Meaning Of Peace
In reality in this world in which we live we do not have economic peace, religious peace, racial peace, social peace, family peace, or personal peace.
When two Jews meet they exchange the greeting; “Shalom” or “Peace,” but they mean much more than “May you have no battles!” Peace is obviously more than just the absence of war! “Shalom” is a positive word, not a negative one. When a Jewish person said “Shalom” they are not talking just about the absence conflict but it is a wish for something positive in their lives. And when Jesus speaks of peace in this Beatitude, He is not referring to the mere absence of conflict but the presence of peace.
Secondly, The Enemy To Peace – Sin
Have you ever wondered, “Why has every human effort at lasting international peace failed? Why did the League of Nations fail? Why will the United Nations ultimately fail? What is the problem?” There is but one adequate answer to the question; it is not political solution, it is not social solution, it is not economic solution. The one answer is essentially and primarily, moral and theological.
Scripture states it this way, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1)The trouble then is in the heart of man, and until the heart of man is changed, you will never solve his problem by trying to manipulate his circumstances.
Third, The Source Of Peace - God
The word “make”(poieo) means “to make” or “to do.” The point is that peace must be made. Peace never happens by chance. But we may get a false idea from the phrase “peacemaker” that making this peace up to us; that is not it at all – we are to be the messengers of peace.
Men are without peace because they are without God the source of peace. Our God is the God of peace. Six separate times in the New Testament our Father is called the God of peace. The source of peace is God – there is no other source. Jesus Christ the Son is the manifestation of peace – Prince of Peace. The Holy Spirit is the agent of peace. It is the Holy Spirit applies and supplies the peace of God in our lives. The God of Peace sent the Prince of Peace who sends the Spirit of Peace to give the Fruit of Peace (Galatians 5:22). If you and I are to be peacemakers we must know God and draw upon His supply of peace.
Fourth, The Messengers Of Peace: Believers
• What a peacemaker is not!
We need to understand what being peacemaker is not!
Peace is not found in appeasement.
History has proven when peace is pursued “at any price” – peace is precisely what you do not get! At the outbreak of hostilities in Europe in 1937 when German invaded Czechoslovakia the English Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain went to Germany to talk with Adolf Hitler about peace. He basically gave Hitler the territory he wanted and he returned with a signed peace agreement and said we have achieved “peace for our time.” The next year German invaded Poland.
Peace is not found in compromising truth.
When you tell someone the truth is will not always be received gratefully. Any one in a position to preach the Word of God is well aware of this! When the Word of God is preached truthfully it is not all that unusual to find out that it made someone in the congregation angry. When the preaching of the Word of God evokes a reaction, that message has been effective. The word of God when given out effective provokes a reaction. If you can hear the Word of God preached Sunday after Sunday and it never provokes a reaction from you, “Either I am Not preaching or you are not listening.”
That is why it is so dangerous to hear of preachers whose messages never make their listeners uncomfortable about themselves. Which makes me think about preacher like Joel Osteen who, by his own admission, doesn’t ever talk about sin from the Lakewood Church pulpit. On Larry King Live, Larry King asked him if “sinner” was ever a word he used.
Osteen replied: “I don't use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don't. But most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change. There can be a difference in your life. So I don't go down the road of condemning.”
While I agree that people do not need to be verbally beat to a pulp, the Word of God should convict us. When we are convicted we should be uncomfortable. That discomfort should move us to repent over the sin that causes the conviction. Confession results in real Biblical peace.
• What being a peacemaker is!
Although we talk a lot about valuing peace, we don’t really. To be a peacemaker is to risk misunder-standing. In 1993 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a peace treaty with Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization. When someone asked how he could sign a treaty with the people who had been the mortal enemies of Israel, he replied, “You don’t make peace with your friends, only with your enemies.” Many of his own countrymen sharply disagreed with his actions, so much so that he was assassinated. Not by an Arab or a Palestinian. But an Israeli, an Orthodox Jew who thought by shooting Mr. Rabin in the back he was doing God’s work.
The world does not honor peace as much by its standards and actions as by its words. In almost every age the greatest heroes have been the greatest warriors.
Three things that characterize a peacemaker
Peace with God (Romans 5:1, 2 Cor. 5:18-20)
Personal Peace with God.
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)
The one who does not belong to God through Jesus Christ can neither have peace nor be a peace-maker. God can only work peace through us after he has worked peace in us.
Leading others to Peace With God
Having established peace with God one assumes the responsibility of actively working to reconcile others to God and one another. Peacemakers are to make every effort to get out the “good news” that God is not angry, that peace has been made and that the peace treaty has been signed. At the end of War World II, the United States signed a peace treaty with Japan, yet there were hold outs in the South Pacific Islands, who either did not get the word or did not believe the word that war was over and so they continued to fight a world that had official ended. The last officially confirmed Japanese holdout came out the jungle in the Philippines to surrender in 1974, 29 years after the war had ended. In the same way many people today isolated in their own worlds, still fight against God. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambas-sadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:18-20) Christians then are given the position of “ministers of reconciliation” (v.18) bearing “the message of reconciliation” (v. 19).
Peace within (John 14:27, Phil. 4:7)
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“and the peace of God, which surpasses all under-standing, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
The peace of God is not something you can manufacture, buy or earn. It is a result of a heart that is totally surrendered to God. The only way you can have the peace of God is to have peace with God. Individuals gain peace with God when they place their faith in Christ as their personal Savior (Romans 5:1). And we have the inner quiet peace of God when we walk daily with him.
When we transfer all our troubles to God through prayer and attain His peace, how obvious will this be to others? Paul says that it will “surpass all under-standing.” People simply will not be able to comprehend the peace that the believer can model in times of crisis.
Illustration – “True Peace”
“Two painters were asked to paint a picture illustrating peace. The first painted a beautiful picture evening scene in the foreground of which was a lovely lake, its surface absolutely calm and unruffled. Trees surrounded it, meadows stretched away to the distant cattle gently browsing; a little cottage, the setting sun – all spoke of perfect rest.
The second painter drew a wild, stormy scene. Heavy black clouds hung overhead; in the center of the picture an immense waterfall poured forth huge volumes of water covered with foam. One could almost hear its unceasing roar, yet perhaps the first thing to strike the eye was a small bird, perched in a cleft of a huge rock, absolutely sheltered from all danger, pouring forth its sweet notes of joy.
It is the second painter who could describe the peace that passes all understanding which is the Lord Jesus Christ…” [Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. “Two Pictures” # 4296 (Rockwell, Maryland: Assurance Pub., 1979) p. 989]
Peace with others
Paul advises Christians in his letter to the Romans, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)
Scripture says that "And the wise are peacemakers who go on quietly sowing a harvest of righteousness, in other people and in themselves." (James 3:18- ???)
Illustration – The Story of Heinz
“Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.”The principle for peace is the same as the principle for crops: Never underestimate the power of a seed.
The story of Heinz is a good example. Europe, 1934. Hitler’s plague of anti-Semitism was infecting a continent. Some would escape it. Some would die from it. But eleven-year-old Heinz would learn from it. He would learn the power of sowing seeds of peace.
Heinz was a Jew.
The Bavarian village of Furth, where Heinz lived, was being overrun by Hitler’s young thugs. Heinz’s father, a schoolteacher, lost his job. Recreational activities ceased. Tension mounted on the streets…
And as the streets became a battleground,… Hitler youth roamed the neighborhoods looking for trouble. Young Heinz learned to keep his eyes open. When he saw a band of troublemakers, he would step to the other side of the street. Sometimes he would escape a fight—sometimes not.
One day, in 1934, a pivotal confrontation occurred. Heinz found himself face-to-face with a Hitler bully. A beating appeared inevitable. This time, however, he walked away unhurt—not because of what he did, but because of what he said. He didn’t fight back; he spoke up. He convinced the troublemakers that a fight was not necessary. His words kept battle at bay.
And Heinz saw firsthand how the tongue can create peace.
He learned the skill of using words to avoid conflict. And for a young Jew in Hitler-ridden Europe, that skill had many opportunities to be honed.
Fortunately, Heinz’s family escaped from Bavaria and made their way to America. Later in life, he would downplay the impact those adolescent experiences had on his development.
But one has to wonder. For after Heinz grew up, his name became synonymous with peace negotiations. His legacy became that of a bridge builder. Somewhere he had learned the power of the properly placed word of peace. And one has to wonder if his training didn’t come on the streets of Bavaria.
You don’t know him as Heinz. You know him by his Anglicized name, Henry. Henry Kissinger. Never underestimate the power of a seed. [Max Lucado. “The Applause of Heaven” (Dallas: Word, 1990) pp.138-139]
Fifth, The Merit Of Peace: Eternal Sonship
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
At first glance one may assume that “sons of God” means the same as “children of God” (the KJV trans-lates it as “children”) but the terms are not identical. The phrase "sons of God" is a bestowed title indicating a special family relationship. The promise of this Beatitude is that you will be called, named, recognized, designated as a true son of God.
Maybe an illustration will help. Whenever I return to the area that I grew up or around people who knew my father, I am likely to be asked, “Aren’t you Jodie’s boy.” I may even hear the comment, “Man as you get older you sure look like your father.” Even today at over fifty years of age, I am still “Jodie’s boy.” You know today, that is a title that I like the most!
Whenever we make peace by bringing people into a relationship with God or by bringing two people together, we look a lot like God. It is the family resemb-lance that marks us as sons of God.
Conclusion
Some seven hundred years ago a remarkable man was born. Although he was the son of an Italian cloth merchant and destined to be a knight, he abandoned the path of wealth and fame, choosing instead to wear a ragged cloak tied with a rope borrowed from a scarecrow. He spent his days preaching and giving to others. He chose to live in utter poverty.
History records that he was a noble, kind, humble, Christ-like man–perhaps one of the greatest Christians who ever lived. We know him today as St. Francis of Assisi. Centuries after his death, someone translated one of his prayers into English. It was later set to music. Many of you know these words by heart.
“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy
When we live out this prayer, people will call us sons of God. We can do nothing more God-like than bring peace to those separated from God and from each other.
We are called to peace, we are actively to pursue peace, we are to strive for peace with all men, and so far as it is within us, we are to live peaceably with all
“Blessed Are The Peacemakers”
Matthew 5:9
First, The Meaning Of Peace
Secondly, The Enemy To Peace – __________ (James 4:1)
Third, The Source Of Peace- ____________
Fourth, The Messengers Of Peace: ______________________
• What a peacemaker is not!
Peace is not found in __________________________.
Peace is not found in compromising _____________.
• What being a peacemaker is!
Three things that characterize a peacemaker
Peace with ____________
___________________ Peace with God. (Rom 5:1)
_____________ others to Peace With God (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
Peace of God -Peace ___________ (John 14:27, Phil. 4:7)
Peace with _____________ (Romans 12:18)
Fifth, The Reward Of Peace: Eternal __________________________
