Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

I mentioned this in the beginning of our study on the Sermon on the Mount; people have politicize this sermon more than any other sermon in the Bible.

One of the chief verses that is often politicized is:

Political groups who are in opposition to war of any kind often use this verse to express their God-approved position, disagreeing with war.

The two main problems with groups of people that have politicize this sermon are:

They are not saved - This book is a spiritual book.

This book does contain natural events (events that we can understand), but these natural events must been viewed from the lens of the supernatural God.

Therefore, the issue is not a lack of intellectualizing this book; instead, the inability to connect the dots in a meaningful and spiritual way that enhances our relationship with God.

Paul wrote that the natural man can never understand the spiritual truth contained in this book.

The lost man will always view the words in this book from a material perspective; not a divine perspective.

There is not a stand alone verse in the Bible.

Let me put this in context: It is not that God cannot save people with one verse ( or ) because He can.

The Holy Spirit can open the eyes of the sinner to see the force, value and truth in the verse.

In other words, God can use a verse as a mirror reflecting the wickedness of the person and the holiness of God.

But how do we know if really happened?

There is not a stand alone verse in the Bible.

Let me put this in context: It is not that God cannot save people with one verse ( or ) because He can.

The Holy Spirit can open the eyes of the sinner to see the force, value and truth in the verse.

In other words, God can use a verse as a mirror reflecting the wickedness of the person and the holiness of God.

But how do we know if really happened?

Keep in mind, God did not just give us one verse, chapter or book.

He gave us 66 books, almost 1200 chapters, over 31,000 verses and more than 807,000 words.

This book was not put together to have stand-alone verses.

God designed this book to have supporting verses from a variety of books, in both Testaments, so there is no confusion over His words.

Therefore, “blessed are the pacemakers” is not a stand alone verse.

This verse must be taking into context with the beatitudes and the rest of the Bible.

Secondly, this evening, as I introduce this lesson, lets put this verse in Biblical context so that we do not make this a stand-alone verse.

In math, a student is taught numbers and formulas so that one day they can get to letters.

Secondly, this evening, as I introduce this lesson, lets put this verse in Biblical context in one particular area so that we do not make this a stand-alone verse.

God is no more anti-war than He is pro-war.

I challenge any pacifist who thinks is a call to pacifism to read parts of Numbers, Joshua and Judges.

In those books, God commands Israel to fight the enemy, and utterly and completely destroy them - from the oldest to the youngest.

David’s fall with Bathsheba took place when he should have been out fighting the sworn enemies of Israel; just like all the other kings.

One day Jesus will arrive and engage in conflict at the battle of Armageddon.

In this gruesome battle, Jesus will destroy the anti-Christ, False-Prophet, and all the armies allied against Israel.

The slaughter will be so devastating.

Millions upon millions (perhaps billions) of soldiers dead, the blood will rise to the horses bridle, and the span approximately 200 miles (Revelations 14:20).

Therefore, when we take a quick view of the Bible, we can clearly see that God will bring about world peace through the bloodiest of all wars combined.

This means, cannot support the pacifist movement.

SPIRITUAL

There is a spiritual component to the beatitudes.

These beatitudes are not material, earthly, or fleshly.

Poor in spirit, mourn, hunger and thirst after righteousness, merciful and pure heart are all spiritual qualities of a person.

This is who the disciple of Jesus Christ looks like on the inside.

Martyn Lloyd Jones said:

As we come to consider this further characteristic of the Christian man, we are once more constrained to suggest that there is nothing in the whole range of scripture which so tests and examines, and humbles us as these beatitudes.

When I was a transportation manager, one of the jobs I had to do annually was to do a driver review.

There were aspects of this job that I liked and disliked.

I enjoyed doing this with employees who wanted to develop and grow professionally.

However, I disliked this job with drivers who did not want to grow or develop professionally.

Within this process there was a series of categories that each driver was graded.

The process determined their pay raise, growth in the company or demotion.

This is how the beatitudes should be viewed for the Christian.

Jesus gives us eight categories and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can determine where we are in the discipleship process.

This process is enjoyable and productive if the Christian wants to continue to grow and develop; however, if he or she does not want to grow or develop than the process will be difficult and unenjoyable.

This verse is not dealing with peace treaty between nations; rather, where we are spiritually in the economy of grace.

The last few weeks, we have seen Peter command these scattered Christians how they are to respond to the government, employer, husband and wife.

Do you know how we are going to respond in a biblical manner, as God mandated through Peter?

By being a peacemaker.

Consider the flow of the text: blessed are the poor in spirit opens up the remaining beatitudes for us.

Even thought he remaining beatitudes are coequal, they do have an order.

Meaning that we cannot become peace makers in the way God wants us to be unless we mourn over sin, hunger and thirst after righteousness, desire to be merciful and are pure in heart.

we cannot be peacemakers without being the previous four beatitudes.

Today, there are a lot of combative Christians that enjoy being angry and always fighting or picking a fight.

They are the ones that will aggressively complain about everything, by drawing a line in the sand and name call if you disagree.

They are not the kind of person that can bring people together - they are divisive.

It is not because of the truth but the personality or arrogance in how they proclaim the truth.

They are just combative.

Do you know why they are combative?

They are not meek and instead of having a pure heart in a practical way, they have a heart filled with bitterness.

Today, there are a lot of combative Christians that enjoy being angry and always fighting or picking a fight.

They are the ones that will aggressively complain about everything, by drawing a line in the sand and name call if you disagree.

They are not the kind of person that can bring people together - they are divisive.

Today, there are a lot of combative Christians that enjoy being angry and always fighting or picking a fight.

They are the ones that will aggressively complain about everything, by drawing a line in the sand and name call if you disagree.

They are not the kind of person that can bring people together - they are divisive.

It is not because of the truth but the personality or arrogance in how they proclaim the truth.

They are just combative.

Do you know why they are combative?

They are not meek and instead of having a pure heart in a practical way, they have a heart filled with bitterness.

I come from Cincinnati, Ohio, in which there are a lot of Independent Baptist Churches or sister churches.

Within these churches there are a couple of pastors or church members that you stay away from.

It is not because of the truth they preach or teach but the personality or arrogance in how they proclaim the truth.

They are just combative.

Do you know why they are combative?

They are not meek and instead of having a pure heart in a practical way, they have a heart filled with bitterness.

Serious

Even though we are not talking about world peace there is a serious component to this beatitude.

The peacemakers of this verse is invested in the peace process between God and man.

What is this verse saying?

God had met Adam and Eve in the Garden , after they had sinned.

He had already dealt with Adam and Eve and now He has turned his attention to Satan.

Even though the verse opens up with the word “if,” this verse assumes the condition of hatred already exist between the world and God.

The good news is this hatred is not bilateral.

John 3:16

hn 3:16

Therefore, the Prince of Peace came to be the bridge that brings peace between God and man.

Jesus did this through the cross.

The only hope that people have with God is the cross.

And the only way the cross can be hope for people is if they hear.