PEACEMAKER OR PEACETAKER
MATTHEW 5:9
TODAY I WANT TO FINISH THIS SERIES ON THE BEATITUDES BY LOOKING AT VERSE 9. I THINK EVERYONE WOULD WANT TO CLAIM TO BE A PEACEMAKER, BUT IF WE WERE TO DO A HARD SELF EVALUATION CAN WE SAY THAT IN REALITY?
ALL ORGANIZATIONS BE THEY CHRISTIAN OR NON-CHRISTIAN ARE MADE UP OF THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE. THEY ARE PEACE-MAKERS, PEACE-KEEPERS, AND PEACE-TAKERS. IT’S FAIRLY EASY TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO AND THE LAST ONE, BUT MUCH HARDER TO SEE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO. THE FACT REMAINS THAT EVERYONE WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE TODAY, MYSELF INCLUDED, WILL BELONG TO ONE OF THESE THREE GROUPS.
PEACE IS NOT A NATURAL RESULT IN THE WORLD. ALL OF THE 3100 YEARS OF RECORDED HISTORY, SHOWS ONLY ABOUT 286 YEARS OF PEACE, OR SHALL WE SAY AN ABSENCE OF CONFLICT WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE CALL PEACE. OVER 8,000 TREATIES HAVE BEEN MADE AND BROKEN.
HADEN ROBINSON SAYS:
“NO PEACE WILL EXIST BETWEEN NATIONS UNTIL PEACE REIGNS IN EACH COUNTRY. AND NO COUNTRY WILL HAVE PEACE UNTIL PEACE DWELLS WITH THE PEOPLE. AND NO PEOPLE WILL HAVE PEACE UNTIL THEY SURRENDER TO THE PRINCE OF PEACE.”
UNTIL WE ARE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO THE KING, WE WILL ALWAYS BE WANTING WHAT WE THINK ARE THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAS LED TO CHURCH MEETINGS WHERE POLICE HAVE HAD TO BE CALLED TO RESTORE ORDER, AND THE FINAL SOLUTION TO SUCH SERIOUS MATTERS AS THE COLOR OF HYMNBOOKS AND CARPETS WERE SETTLED BY GETTING SHAINSAWS AND SAWING THE CHURCH BUILDING IN HALF.
THE SAD STATE OF SOME CHURCHES WAS EXPRESSED BY A FATHER WHO WHILE READING IN HIS STUDY HEARD HIS DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND PLAYING OUTSIDE. WHAT SEEMED TO BE HARMLESS PLAY BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE AN ARGUMENT. THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO GIRLS BECAME MORE HEATED AND ARGUMENTATIVE. THE FATHER FINALLY FELT IT WAS TIME TO STEP IN SO HE OPENED THE WINDOW AND SAID, “STOP IT HONEY, WHAT’S WRONG?” HIS DAUGHTER QUICKLY RESPONDED, “NOTHING, DADDY, WE WERE JUST PLAYING CHURCH.”
I AM SO GLAD AND BLESSED TO HAVE PASTORED CHURCHES WHERE THIS TYPE OF THING HAS NOT OCCURED. IF WE MAINTAIN A PROPER SPIRITUAL FOCUS IT NEED NOT OCCUR.
TODAY I WANT TO OFFER WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CONCERNING PEACE. I WILL SHOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A PEACEKEEPER, A PEACEMAKER, AND A PEACETAKER. WE WILL CONCLUDE BY LOOKING AT THE RESULTS OF PEACE-MAKING.
POINT ONE: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PEACE?
THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY WORDS USED IN THE BIBLE THAT SPEAK OF PEACE:
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE WORD IS, SHALOM WHICH MEANS A GOD GIVEN PEACE
ISAIAH 54:10: THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE SHAKEN AND THE HILLS BE REMOVED, YET MY UNFAILING LOVE FOR YOU WILL NOT BE SHAKEN NOR MY COVENANT OF PEACE BE REMOVED,” SAYS THE LORD, WHO HAS COMPASSION ON YOU
SHALOM IS USED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT OVER 180 TIMES. WHEN USED AS A GREETING THE PERSON IS ASKING DO YOU HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD TODAY? IT CARRIES WITH IT A FEELING OF WHOLENESS AND COMPLETENESS. IT CARRIES THE IDEA OF SEEKING THE OTHER PERSON’S BEST WELFARE AND THE PROMISE OF COMING TO THEIR AID WHEN NEEDED.
JOHOVAH-SHALOM, THE GOD OF PEACE SHOWS THAT GOD WILL COME INTO A COVENANT OF PEACE WITH HIS PEOPLE. IT’S A WONDERFUL PLEDGE TO CARE FOR THEM, TO BLESS THEM AND PROTECT THEM. WE HAVE HIS PROMISE:
ISAIAH 26:3: YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE THOSE WHOSE MINDS ARE STEADFAST, BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN YOU.
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE GREEK WORD IS, EIRENE. IT CAN MEAN AN ABSENCE OF WAR, BUT IT CAN ALSO MEAN AN ABSENCE OF HATE, ANGER, RAGE, ENVY, AND THE REASONS WE WAGE WAR. THE WORD CARRIES WITH IT THE IDEA OF UNITY AND ONENESS. THERE IS ONLY UNITY AND HARMONY.
JOHN 14:27: PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO REALIZE ABOUT THIS VERSE IS THAT JESUS IS NOT JUST REFERRING TO PEACE DURING THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, BUT PEACE AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR CHRISTIAN LIVES.
EIRENE CAN BRING A CALMNESS IN THE MOST TRYING OF SITUATIONS. IT IS FOUND IN THE FACT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SURRENDERED TO THE KING, WE DEPEND ON THE KING TO GET US THROUGH OUR DIFFICULT TIMES. THIS IS THE REASON THAT PAUL WAS SO FORCEFUL IN HIS TEACHING TO THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH:
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7:
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN: REJOICE! 5 LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL. THE LORD IS NEAR. 6 DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. 7 AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
THE PEACE THAT GOD GIVES IS A PEACE THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS. IT IS NOT JUST THE ABSENCE OF VIOLENCE, IT IS THE PRESENCE OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
SHALOM AND EIRENE ARE NOT COMPROMISING OUR FAITH, AS THEY DO NOT MEAN PEACE AT ANY COST. JESUS DID NOT TEACH US TO ACCEPT ANYTHING TO AVOID TROUBLE.
MATTHEW 10:34-36:
“DO NOT SUPPOSE THAT I HAVE COME TO BRING PEACE TO THE EARTH. I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE, BUT A SWORD. 35 FOR I HAVE COME TO TURN “ ‘A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW— 36 A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.’
OUR FAITH WILL NATURALLY LEAD US TO POLARISED VIEWS WITHIN OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THOSE WHO ACCEPT CHRIST AND THOSE WHO DO NOT. WE DO NOT LOOK FOR CONFLICT, BUT WE DO NOT COMPROMISE OUR FAITH EITHER. WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH DIFFERENCES.
NOT ALL DIFFERENCES NEED TO END UP IN MAJOR ARGUMENTS. PAM AND I DISAGREE ON HOCKEY TEAMS, BUT IT WOULD BE SILLY TO END A FRIENDSHIP OVER SOMETHING AS MINOR AS THAT.
THE PEACE THAT THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF IS THE PEACE THAT IS GAINED THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF A NUMBER OF TYPES OF PEACE:
1. REDEMPTIVE PEACE: THIS IS THE PEACE WE HAVE THROUGH A SALVATION EXPERIENCE WITH THE LORD.
ROMANS 5:1: THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
2. SANCTIFIED PEACE: THIS IS THE PEACE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DAILY LIVES THROUGH THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ROMANS 8:6: THE MIND GOVERNED BY THE FLESH IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND GOVERNED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE.
3. WITNESSING PEACE: WE CAN BRING GOD’S PEACE TO OTHERS THROUGH THE SHARING OF THE GOOD NEWS.
ROMANS 10:15: AND HOW CAN ANYONE PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? AS IT IS WRITTEN: “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS!”
4. TESTIFYING PEACE: WE CAN ILLUSTRATE GOD’S PEACE TO OTHERS BY TELLING THEM HOW GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU PEACE IN LIFE’S SITUATIONS
ROMANS 14:19: LET US THEREFORE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO WHAT LEADS TO PEACE AND TO MUTUAL EDIFICATION.
5. VICTORIOUS PEACE: WE CAN HAVE PEACE REALIZING THAT GOD WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER SATAN.
ROMANS 16:20: THE GOD OF PEACE WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET. THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS BE WITH YOU.
POINT TWO: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEN A PEACE-KEEPER AND A PEACE-MAKER
IN 1873 SAMUEL COLT INTRODUCED A PISTOL THAT WAS NAMED “THE PEACEKEEPER”. BECAUSE OF IT’S SIMPLE DESIGN, AND THE USE OF SHELL CARTRIDGES RATHER THAN OLDER STYLE LOADERS, ANYONE COULD LEARN HOW TO USE THE WEAPON. IT WAS EASY TO LOAD AND THE GRADUATED SIGHT MADE IT SIMPLE TO AIM AND FIRE. IT WAS SAID THAT GOD MADE EVERY MAN DIFFERENT BUT SAM COLT MADE THEM EQUAL. WHAT FORMERLY DEPENDED ON STRENGTH NOW DEPENDED ON SPEED AND ACCURACY.
IN 1982, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN DUBBED THE NEW MOBILE M-X MISSILE, “THE PEACE-KEEPER.” BECAUSE OF IT’S MOBILITY AND MORE MODERN GUIDANCE SYSTEMS, IT WOULD BE A GREAT DETERRENT TO FOREIGN AGGRESSION.
A POLICEMAN CAME UPON TWO MEN WHO WERE DRUNK AND FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER. HE ARRESTED THEM AND TOLD THEM TO SUBMIT TO HANDCUFFS. THERE ARE TWO OF US AND ONE OF YOU THE MEN STATED. THE POLICEMAN SAID “NOT SO, I HAVE FRIENDS.” HE TAPPED HIS PISTOL AND SAID “I WANT YOU TO MEET MR. COLT.” THEN HE PULLED OUT HIS SHOTGUN AND SAID “AND MEET MR. WINCHESTER. THAT MAKES IT THREE AGAINST TWO.” THE MEN WERE QUIETLY HANDCUFFED AND PLACED IN THE OFFICERS CAR.
A PEACEKEEPER TRIES TO STOP CONFLICT, BUT DOES NOT TRY TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. PEACEKEEPERS ACT OUT OF DUTY AND HAVE NO PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE SITUATION.
CANADA HAS A GOOD WORLD-WIDE REPUTATION AS BEING A PEACE-KEEPING NATION, SENDING FORCES INTO MANY AREAS TO KEEP THE PEACE. THEY ARE SENT IN WITH WEAPONS, AND HAVE NO PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE COUNTRY THEY GO TO. IN FACT MOST DON’T WANT TO BE THERE AT ALL. THEY ARE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND ARE THERE UNDER ORDERS.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU DO THINGS OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY, YOU ONLY DO THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO.
PEACEKEEPERS ENFORCE, BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY, BY FORCE OF PERSONALITY OR BY SUPERIOR WEAPONS, A TRUCE. THEY DO NOTHING TO SOLVE THE CONFLICT THAT CAUSES THE VIOLENCE. PEACE CANNOT BE IMPOSED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP A PEACE THAT IS NOT THERE.
JOHN MacArthur SAYS:
“A TRUCE JUST SAYS YOU DON’T SHOOT FOR AWHILE. PEACE COMES WHEN THE TRUTH IS KNOWN, THE ISSUE IS SETTLED, AND THE PARTIES EMBRACE EACH OTHER.”
MANY PEOPLE IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID CONFLICT IN THE CHURCH BECOME PEACEKEEPERS RATHER THAN PEACEMAKERS. THEY WILL AVOID THE SITUATION ALTOGETHER RATHER THAN TO SEEK A SPIRITUAL ANSWER TO THE SITUATION. THE CONFLICT IS STILL THERE. IT IS JUST HIDDEN UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS CIRCUMSTANCES FORCES IT’S EXPLOSION, WITH DEVESTATING CONSEQUENCES.
A PEACE-MAKER ON THE OTHER HAND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. PEACEMAKERS ACT OUT OF LOVE, SEEKING AN END TO THE CONFLICT BY BRINGING A RESOLUTION TO THE SITUATION.
A PEACEMAKER IS COMMITTED TO BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT. THEY HAVE TO WANT BOTH SIDES TO WIN. BOTH SIDES HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER, IN THE SENSE THAT THE CONFLICT CAN BE RESOLVED, AND WE WILL MEET UNTL THAT RESOLUTION IS REACHED.
PEACEMAKERS WILL DARE THE PASSION OF CONFLICT, IN THE REALIZATION THAT BOTH SIDES CAN SEE THE IMPORTANCE EACH OTHER PUTS ON IT.
CONSIDER JESUS’ TEACHING HERE IN MATTHEW:
MATTHEW 7:3-5:
“WHY DO YOU LOOK AT THE SPECK OF SAWDUST IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE AND PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE PLANK IN YOUR OWN EYE? 4 HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, ‘LET ME TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR EYE,’ WHEN ALL THE TIME THERE IS A PLANK IN YOUR OWN EYE? 5 YOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER’S EYE.
A PEACEMAKER GOES INTO A SITUATION OF CONFLICT AND WORKS FROM BOTH SIDES. LITERALLY JESUS TEACHES US HERE TO REMOVE BOTH THE PLANK AND THE SAWDUST FROM THEIR EYES. THERE IS A PROBLEM ON BOTH SIDES, AND THE PEACEMAKER SEEKS TO RESOLVE BOTH.
THIS IS WHY JESUS COMMANDED US TO BE PEACEMAKERS NOT PEACEKEEPERS IN MATTHEW 5:9. HE WANTS TO RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS, NOT JUST AVOID CONFLICT IN THEM.
JESUS WAS THE GREATEST PEACEMAKER THE WORLD WILL EVER KNOW AND WE ARE CALLED TO BE JUST LIKE HIM. PEACEMAKERS ACT OUT OF LOVE, AND THOUGH THE CROSS WAS THE MOST VIOLENT CONFLICT KNOWN TO MAN, JESUS CHOSE THE CROSS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN MAN AND GOD.
IT WAS IN THE CROSS THAT JESUS WORKED TOWARD THE RECONCILIATION OF HUMANKIND.
JESUS DEATH CAME AS A RESULT OF SUPREME CONFLICT ON THE CROSS. HIS DEATH THOUGH FULFILLED THE LAW, PROVIDING THE SACRIFICE TO ERASE THE ENMITY BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.
COLOSSIANS 1:19-22:
FOR GOD WAS PLEASED TO HAVE ALL HIS FULLNESS DWELL IN HIM, 20 AND THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS, WHETHER THINGS ON EARTH OR THINGS IN HEAVEN, BY MAKING PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD, SHED ON THE CROSS. 21 ONCE YOU WERE ALIENATED FROM GOD AND WERE ENEMIES IN YOUR MINDS BECAUSE OF YOUR EVIL BEHAVIOR. 22 BUT NOW HE HAS RECONCILED YOU BY CHRIST’S PHYSICAL BODY THROUGH DEATH TO PRESENT YOU HOLY IN HIS SIGHT, WITHOUT BLEMISH AND FREE FROM ACCUSATION
HE RESOLVED THE SITUATION WITH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION SO NOW HE COULD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT OFFER THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.
CONCLUSION:
THE RESULT OF BEING A PEACEMAKER IS THAT WE WILL BE THE CHILDREN OF GOD. PEOPLE WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR EFFORTS TO BE LIKE HIM IN PEACEMAKING.
JOHN 1:12-13:
YET TO ALL WHO DID RECEIVE HIM, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD—13 CHILDREN BORN NOT OF NATURAL DESCENT, NOR OF HUMAN DECISION OR A HUSBAND’S WILL, BUT BORN OF GOD.
A PEACEMAKER KNOWS THEIR PEACE COMES FROM A LOVING, MERCIFUL, AND FORGIVING GOD THAT GAVE HIS SON ON THE CROSS TO BRING PEACE TO ALL WHO ACCEPT HIM. A PEACEMAKER IS ONE THAT LIVES AND COMMUNICATES THE MESSAGE OF PEACE IN JESUS. THEY KNOW PEACE IS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE GREAT PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. A PEACEMAKER DOES NOT ALWAYS AVOID CONFLICT, BUT IN TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, ENTERS IT IN THE STRENGTH, SINCERITY, AND COMPASSION OF THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD, TO BRING GLORY TO GOD.
ROWDY WAS A SIX YEAR OLD PITCHER WITH A GOOD CURVE BALL. HE WAS PITCHING IN THIS PARTICULAR GAME, WINNING, AND TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
TAYLOR WAS A BOY ON THE OTHER TEAM WHO HAD DOWNS SYNDROME. HE WASN’T FAST ENOUGH TO GET TO FIRST BASE, SO HE ALWAYS BATTED LAST. EVERY TIME THE BOY CAME UP TO BAT, ROWDY WATCHED HIS TEAMMATES EASILY THROW TAYLOR OUT.
AT HIS LAST TURN AT BAT TAYLOR HIT THE BALL BACK TO ROWDY. HE BENT DOWN TO GET IT BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED. HE SAW TAYLOR STRUGGLING DOWN TO FIRST BASE.
HE BOBBLED THE BALL AND THEN KICKED IT WITH HIS FEET. TAYLOR WAS RUNNING FOR ALL HIS WORTH, AND MADE IT TO FIRST.
ROWDY FUMBLED THE BALL AGAIN AND TAYLOR MADE IT TO SECOND.
ROWDY CONTINUED TO ACT LIKE HE COULDN’T GET A HAND ON THE BALL AS TAYLOR MADE IT TO THIRD.
ROWDY’S TEAMMATES DIDN’T UNDERSTAND AT FIRST, BUT SOON THEY BEGAN TO FOLLOW ROWDY’S LEAD. A THROW TO THE CATCHER WAS WIDE AND BEHIND HIM. TAYLOR STARTED FOR HOME.
THE FIRST BASEMAN KICKED THE BALL AWAY FROM THE CATCHER AND ROWDY PICKED IT UP. HE MADE SURE TO THROW THE BALL TO THE CATCHER AFTER TAYLOR CROSSED HOME PLATE.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME TAYLOR HAD EVER SCORED IN HIS WHOLE LIFE AND HIS SMILE WAS AS BIG AS THE BALL DIAMOND. THERE WASN’T A DRY EYE IN THE PARK AS TAYLORS DAD HUGGED HIM AND ROWDY’S DAD HUGGED HIM.
MAY WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO RESOLVE CONFLICT IN OUR LIVES BY LOOKING AT THE OTHER PERSON, AND SEEK TO COME TO A RESOLUTION THAT WILL MAKE EVERYONE BETTER PEOPLE, JUST AS JESUS WOULD.
