THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THE BEATITUDES PART 8
MATTHEW 5:9 BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.
INTRODUCTION: OUR STUDY OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND RIGHT NOW, THE BEATITUDES, WE COME TO THE PLACE WHERE JESUS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST AS BEING PEACEMAKERS.
YOU WILL REMEMBER AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS SERIES WE MENTIONED THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BEATITUDES ARE PRACTICE FOR HEAVEN. AFTER ALL THE SERMON IN ITS ENTIRETY WAS BEING PREACHED WITH THE DESIRE TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD REALIZED ON THE EARTH. THE REJECTION OF THE NATION, AND THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST PLACED THAT ON “HOLD”, AWAITING THE RAPTURE. AS A BY-PRODUCT, THIS ALSO ALLOWED THE GOSPEL TO BE PRESENTED TO THE GENTILES – READ US. AND WE ARE THE BETTER FOR IT.
WE ALSO BROUGHT TO LIGHT THAT THESE PRINCIPLES WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE APART FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, AND AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE SHOULD BE PRACTICING THEM DAILY AND CONSISTENTLY.
TRANSITION: PROBABLY NO BETTER PLACE CAN THIS BE SEEN THEN IN THIS BEATITUDE, AS HERE WE ARE CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS! SO, IN REALITY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
I. THE NEED FOR PEACE
JAMES 4:1 WHAT CAUSES FIGHTS AND QUARRELS AMONG YOU? DON’T THEY COME FROM YOUR DESIRES THAT BATTLE WITHIN YOU?
ALTHOUGH JAMES IS CORRECT, THE PEACE PROBLEM GOES FURTHER BACK --
a. THE JOURNEY OF PEACE FROM CREATION TO ETERNITY
i. THE CREATION OF GOD WAS PERFECT
ii. MAN WAS CREATED IN INNOCENCE AND AT PEACE WITH BOTH HIS ENVIRONMENT AND WITH HIS CREATOR
iii. PEACE WAS INTERRUPTED BY SATAN
1. THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF SATAN, SIN WAS BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD
2. SIN, BY DEFINITION IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND REBELLION IS THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE
iv. THE FINISHED CROSS WORK OF CHRIST BRINGS BACK THE PEACE THAT WAS LOST IN THE FALL
1. SALVATION BRINGS PEACE WITH GOD
a. NO LONGER ENEMIES
b. ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY
2. SPIRITUAL GROWTH, FELLOWSHIP BRINGS US THE PEACE OF GOD
a. AND IT IS SELF PERPETUATING
b. PHILIPPIANS 4:7 AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
c. THE PEACE OF GOD KEEPS US IN CHRIST JESUS
d. COLOSSIANS 3:15 LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, SINCE AS MEMBERS OF ONE BODY YOU WERE CALLED TO PEACE. AND BE THANKFUL.
v. AS THE PRINCE OF PEACE, JESUS WILL USHER IN WITH HIS SECOND COMING A 1,000 YEARS OF PEACE DURING THE MILLENNIUM
vi. IN THE FINAL ACTS OF GOD, WE WILL SEE A NEW HEAVEN, EARTH, AND WITH IT AN ETERNAL PEACE
b. OUR WAR AGAINST PEACE
i. INTERNAL WAR
1. WE STILL HAVE A VIABLE OLD NATURE
2. WE DIED TO IT
3. IT STILL DESIRES CONTROL
4. OUR OLD NATURE AVOIDS PEACE
a. IT DOES NOT SEEK PEACE
b. IT SEEKS CONTROL
ii. ENVIRONMENTAL WAR
1. WE LIVE IN A WORLD ENCOMPASSED WITH GREED, SELFISHNESS, PRIDE, AND JEALOUSY
2. OUR ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT SEEK PEACE, BUT APPEASEMENT
3. PEACE IS LOST WHEN WE WANT MORE
iii. SPIRITUAL WAR
1. NO BETTER PLACE TO SEE THIS THAN IN THE BOOK OF JOB
2. GOD ALLOWED SATAN TO TEST JOB IN ORDER TO REVEAL THE FAITHFULNESS OF JOB IN TIMES OF TURMOIL AND STRUGGLE
3. THROUGHOUT THE STORY, JOB WAS CHALLENGED BY HIS FRIENDS TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM.
4. EVEN JOB’S WIFE TOLD HIM TO CURSE GOD AND DIE.
5. ALTHOUGH JOB DESIRED TO ASK WHY FROM GOD, JOB WAS STILL FAITH FUL TO GOD.
6. FAITHFULNESS HAS ITS FOUNDATION IN OUR PEACE WITH GOD
FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE ARE TO BE DRIVEN TO PEACE
II. THE REALITIES OF PEACE
a. THE MEANING OF PEACE
i. MORE THAN SIMPLY HAVING NO CONFLICT OR STRIFE.
ii. THE ABILITY TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN PEACE BRINGS US BACK TO THE BEATITUDE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
MATTHEW 5:6 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED.
iii. WHEN WE CREATE AND ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE ARE HUNGERING AND THIRSTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOD GIVES US WHAT WE WANT – RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS EXPRESSED IN BEING MERCIFUL
2. THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS EXPRESSED IN HAVING NOT JUST A CLEAN HEART BUT A PURE HEART
3. AND NOW IT IS ALSO EXPRESSED IN BEING A PEACEMAKER
iv. THINK OF PEACE AS THE PRESENCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (DOING WHAT IS RIGHT) IN THE PRESENCE OF CONFLICT
1. WE CAN STOP FIGHTING AND QUARRELING WITHOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER.
2. THIS DOES NOT BRING PEACE, ONLY A CEASING OF HOSTILITIES
3. RIGHTEOUSNESS – DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE PEACE
a. WE CAN ONLY LIVE PEACEABLY WHEN RIGHTEOUSNESS IS INVOLVED – WHEN EACH SEEKS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND NOT WHAT WE WANT.
ILLUSTRATION: MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER – THOUGHT I WOULD INVOLVE HER IN AN ILLUSTRATION. TWO REASONS FOR THAT: FIRST, I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE BOTH BRIONY AND SHERRY A BREAK, AND SECOND, MY YOUNGEST, KELSEY, IS NOT HERE TO OBJECT.
WELL, ANYWAY, KELSEY HAS A DEGREE IN ART, AND HAS A PARTICULAR TALENT WITH SCULPTURE. SHE MAKES SOME REALLY AMAZING THINGS WITH MOLDABLE CLAY. SHE HAS MADE PENDANTS, FIGURINES, ETC. SHE ONCE EVEN MADE A MCDONALDS HAPPY MEAL OUT OF CLAY. BURGER, FRIES, AND A DRINK.
WELL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE SHERRY AND I WERE IN ALASKA, ONE OF THE EXCURSIONS WE TOOK WAS TO A GOLD MINING OPERATION. YES, SIMILAR TO THE ONES YOU SEE ON GOLD RUSH. WHAT AMAZED ME WAS ALL THE FOSSIL BONES THAT WERE JUST TOSSED OFF TO THE SIDE. THESE BONES ARE SO PLENTIFUL THAT UNLESS THEY FIND A WHOLE SKELETON, THE MINERS JUST TOSS THEM TO THE SIDE AND KEEP ON MINING.
WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT THESE BONES, SPECIFICALLY THE TUSKS, WERE IVORY. WOW! I WAS THEN ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IVORY WAS THE ONLY LEGAL IVORY TO POSSESS. AS YOU KNOW, IMPORTING IVORY IS NOT PERMITTED.
WHAT I DID WAS PURCHASE SOME PIECES OF IVORY FROM A JEWELER SO THAT KELSEY COULD WORK WITH AND PERHAPS COME UP WITH A UNIQUE PROJECT.
I TELL YOU ABOUT THIS STORY IN ORDER TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THERE IS A WAY TO OBTAIN IVORY WHICH IS NOT PEACEFUL (POACH IT AND SMUGGLE IT IN, HOPING NOT TO GET CAUGHT), OR IN THIS CASE, YOU CAN PICK IT UP OFF THE GROUND.
WHICH WAY DO YOU THINK BETTER REPRESENT THE RIGHTEOUS WAY?
4. WHEN RIGHTEOUSNESS ENTERS INTO CONFLICT
a. IT PUTS AND END TO HARMFUL ACTIVITY
b. IT BEGINS THE PROCESS OF HEALING WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE CONFLICT
5. PEACE IS AN AGGRESSIVE FORCE FOR GOOD AND GOODNESS
a. THE JEWISH GREETING SHALOM WISHES “PEACE” AND EXPRESSES THE DESIRE THAT THE ONE WHO IS GREETED WILL HAVE ALL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GOODNESS GOD CAN GIVE. THE DEEPEST MEANING OF THE TERM IS “GOD’S HIGHEST GOOD TO YOU.”
6. PEOPLE CAN NEVER BE AT TRUE PEACE UNTIL THEY RECOGNIZE THE WRONG ATTITUDES THAT BROUGHT THE CONFLICT AND LOOK FOR THE CLEANSING ONLY GOD CAN GIVE
b. THE MAKER OF PEACE – GOD
i. SIMPLY PUT MEN ARE WITHOUT PEACE BECAUSE MEN ARE WITHOUT GOD.
1. “WITHOUT GOD” IS THE DEFAULT POSITION OF ALL MEN
a. ALL HAVE SINNED
b. ALL HAVE COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD
c. ALL ARE ON THE PATH TO ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD
d. WITHOUT THE EFFORT OF GOD, THERE WOULD BE NO PEACE WITH HIM.
i. JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS
ii. SIN IS ALWAYS THE BARRIER TO PEACE
EPHESIANS 2:13–14 BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YOU WHO ONCE WERE FAR AWAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 14 FOR HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, WHO HAS MADE THE TWO ONE AND HAS DESTROYED THE BARRIER, THE DIVIDING WALL OF HOSTILITY,
2. GOD THE:
a. FATHER IS THE SOURCE OF PEACE
b. GOD THE SON IS GOD IN THE FLESH – THE PEACE OF GOD MANIFESTED FOR EVERYONE TO SEE
c. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT OF PEACE. IF YOU WERE HERE THIS PAST WEDNESDAY EVENING, WE WERE STUDYING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. ONE OF THOSE FRUITS GIVEN TO US IS PEACE.
c. THE PEOPLE OF PEACE
i. GUESS WHAT FRIENDS, THAT IS US.
1. SINCE REAL PEACE IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD
2. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN BRING REAL PEACE ARE THOSE WHO KNOW GOD
a. WE CANNOT SHARE WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE
b. NOT BY KNOWLEDGE
c. BUT BY SUPERNATURAL REDEMPTION THROUGH CHRIST
3. OUR TEXT BRINGS THAT POINT OUT AS PEACEMAKERS ARE TO BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD
a. THINK OF IT IN REVERSE – GOD CALLS HIS CHILDREN PEACEMAKERS
b. AS PEACEMAKERS GOD’S CHILDREN REFLECT THE CHARACTER AND IMAGE OF THEIR FATHER.
4. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION IS THE MINISTRY OF PEACEMAKING
a. PEACEMAKING IS LEADING OTHERS TO MAKE PEACE, FIRST WITH GOD AND THEN WITH OTHERS
b. INDIVIDUALLY
2 CORINTHIANS 5:19–20 THAT GOD WAS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF IN CHRIST, NOT COUNTING MEN’S SINS AGAINST THEM. AND HE HAS COMMITTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION. 20 WE ARE THEREFORE CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS, AS THOUGH GOD WERE MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US. WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST’S BEHALF: BE RECONCILED TO GOD.
c. CORPORATELY
ACTS 10:36 YOU KNOW THE MESSAGE GOD SENT TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, TELLING THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS LORD OF ALL.
d. THE BENEFIT OF PEACE
i. PEACEMAKERS ARE DEFINED AS SONS OF GOD
ii. THOSE WHO TRULY REFLECT THE CHARACTER, QUALITY AND NATURE OF GOD
iii. THE WORD “SONS” SPEAKS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILD AND PARENT IN TERMS OF DIGNITY AND HONOR
iv. WORD OF CAUTION – THE PERSON WHO IS NOT A PEACEMAKER IS EITHER
1. NOT A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
2. A DISOBEDIENT FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
v. THE PHRASE, “SHALL BE CALLED” IS PASSIVE AND FUTURE
1. MEANING HERE IS THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO CALL OURSELVES “SONS OF GOD”
a. WE WILL BE CALLED THAT BY OTHERS
b. JUST THINK ABOUT HOW THE ANGELS IN GLORY WILL BE REFERRING TO YOU AS “SONS OF GOD”! AND DOING IT FOR ALL ETERNITY!
III. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BE PEACEMAKERS TODAY?
a. WE NEED TO BE HONEST. FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN ORDER TO BE SOLVED, NOT SUGAR COATED OR DILUTED
b. WE NEED TO RISK PAIN. OTHERS MAY NOT RESPOND TO OUR DESIRE TO BRING THE ISSUE TO LIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE PEACE.
c. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
i. ACCORDING TO ISAIAH HE IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE
ii. THE ANGELS DECLARED, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE TO MEN ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS.
iii. CHRIST MADE PEACE THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD – COL 1:19-20
1. JESUS KNEW THE PROBLEM OF THE WORLD AND REFUSED TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.
2. HOW DO WE KNOW? HE WENT TO THE CROSS
iv. HE WAS THE LIVING EXAMPLE OF PEACE
PHILIPPIANS 2:3–8 DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES. 4 EACH OF YOU SHOULD LOOK NOT ONLY TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. 5 YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS: 6 WHO, BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED, 7 BUT MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. 8 AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH— EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS!
SO, AS I CLOSE THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, ARE YOU WILLING TO STEP UP TO BE A PEACEMAKER FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING MORE LIKE OUR SAVIOR AND THE GRATITUDE OF HEAVEN FOR ALL ETERNITY?
