Sermon Tone Analysis

***TALK ABOUT BABY DEDICATIONS COMING UP***

Intro

The real story of Tisquantum (Squanto)

Wrap-up Story

We all have this same choice at different times in our lives.

We’ve just been wronged, there was injustice, we don’t agree on petty things and so we choose to do one of two things.

1) Shut down and let resentment stir up inside of us

2) Become bitter, seek revenge and lash out

Our passage today, Matthew 5:9 will help us to understand what it looks like to be a true peacemaker.

We often mix up a peacemaker with a peacekeeper.

We’ll look at this concept in a few minutes.

(SLIDE) READ MATTHEW 5:9

PRAY

SHOCK TO THE PEOPLE

What Jesus was saying here in this passage was probably a shock to his Jewish audience.

The thought that the coming kingdom at this point of the Messiah was to be a military one, a national one, a political and materialistic one.

Jesus reminded them by saying Matthew 5:9 and He must’ve started it off by sounding something like this:

“No, no you got it all wrong.

You don’t understand… Blessed are the peacemakers.

My kingdom is not of this world.

If it were then my citizens would be fighting for this sort of thing.

But it’s not that- you are entirely wrong in your whole outlook.”

William Barclay, a theologian and commentator, wrote that there were 3 common interpretations of this certain passage.

Being a peacemaker is pursuing action to make the world a better place to live in.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

So the first interpretation is that we are responsible for making this world a better place for everyone.

People make peace in their own heart, within their own soul because there is always inner conflict between food and evil.

So blessed are those who have given their hearts fully to God and figured this out.

Jewish Rabbi’s held that the highest task that anyone could is to establish “right relationships” with others.

And that is exactly what Jesus is referring to in Matthew 5:9.

Some people thrive on being the center of things.

The center of storms.

Drama, trouble, bitterness just to stir the people up around them.

You may think, yea! That’s me, people are always causing drama around me and I do nothing… I got news for you.

If drama, storms and conflict seems to be everywhere around you, maybe you’re part of the bigger issue in your relationships.

The people who attract or create these storms, troubles and conflicts are troublemakers, not peacemakers.

They are not doing God’s work but instead helping out the enemy accomplish mayhem.

On the other hand there are those people who are following Christ, who may have occasional storms, however pursue peace, bitterness and resentment can’t set in them for long because they are filled by God, they desire to heal burned bridges and troubled waters in relationships and engage in this peace on the front line.

And they know this is all for God’s glory and fulfilling the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

See the blessings apply to those who are peacemakers.

Not peace-lovers.

It’s one thing to say you love something, it’s another to prove it by your actions.

Many think they love peace when they’re actually creating future trouble for themselves and others.

What do I mean by this?

They avoid conflict for the sake of “keeping the peace”.

Remember we said earlier that peacemakers are not peacekeepers?

And the title today is “Don’t keep peace, make it?”

So these people love the idea of peace so they let things go and let resentment stir.

They refuse to face the situation and take action which the situation demands.

The peace that God offers us is not from avoiding issues but facing them.

These problems or issues in life seem so overwhelming we thinnk it’s better to let them go but it’s not.

These issues are God sized and they demand a God sized peace.

(SLIDE)

When issues seem endless, impossible or daunting, good.

Give them to the Lord and trust His direction and that he will give you the right words.

We need God’s peace, not a world one.

We often leave relationships so easily today (marriages, friendships, churches, families… because it seems to be the easy way out BUT it does not promote or result in true peace, as God desires for us.

MEEK> PURE IN HEART > PEACEMAKERS

If you think about it, Jesus’ transition from being meek, to pure in heart, to peacemaking is a perfect one.

We can’t be pure in heart and filled by God if we are not meek and humble toward Him or others, and we can not be a peacemaker if we are not both meek and pure in heart before God and others.

Andy did an excellent job last week.

I continue to be amazed by him and his love for God’s Word, serving and everyone of you.

He and Steve both have been such a blessing to me and many of you over the years.

We are a blessed church.

There are two verses I’d like to look at before we transition to the last part of Matthew 5:9 and they are James 3:18 and Romans 14:19.

They offer us two important truths.

Peacemakers sow peace to harvest righteousness.

They know that the effort and intentionality to reconcile with others is worth the eternal gain.

Peacemakers realize that peace leads to edification of others.

It helps others grow in Christ as they see God working through your character.

It multiplies the blessing so to speak.

I know, there’s that annoying little brother or elephant that’s been in the room ever since I said the word peacemaker.

We all have that person, family or uncle in our life that we’ve tried and tried everything to make peace with.

It seems like you’ve exhausted yourself and can’t do anything else.

I don’t have all the answers for you, but I will give you this...

READ ROMANS 12:17-21

In the end, you can not make peace or have the best relationship with everyone, but you can be kind and respectful.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Let’s look at some practical things to do regarding being a peacemaker:

Learn to control your tongue

(SLIDE)

James 1:19

We love to lash out and get the last word.

Don’t.

In fact, don’t speak at all if you get to that point.

We love to gossip about the person that wronged us.

Don’t, in fact… pray for them.

2. View every situation in light of the gospel.

We should not speak but instead, think.

Ask yourselves

“what are the implications of me speaking?”

“what is cause of all this?”

“how will speaking affect my relationship with this person, the family, the church, an organization, my workplace, etc.?”

“how will this look to the people who are dependent on me?

To the people watching my character- my children?”

See our response can be selfish or it can be humble and purposeful.

3. Simply put- be positive and go look for means and methods to make peace.

a.

When we love our enemies we are showing we love God.