Happy Are The Peacemakers
Happy Are The Peacemakers!
Matthew 5:9
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
I. THE MEANING OF PEACE: RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH
A. It is more than the absence of conflict and strife – it is the presence of righteousness.
B. God’s way to peace is purity.
James 3:17
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Psalm 85:10
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
C. This is not “peace at any price”.
Matthew 10:34
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
D. The enemy of peace is sin.
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Isaiah 48:22
22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Jeremiah 8:11-12
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Mark 7:21-23
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
James 3:16-18
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
E. Believers cannot avoid facing truth, or avoid facing others with truth, for the sake of harmony.
John 4:18-22
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
F. The believer who is unwilling to disrupt or disturb in God’s name cannot be a peacemaker.
II. THE MAKER OF PEACE: GOD
A. Men without peace are generally men without God.
Ephesians 2:13-14
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
B. Christ brings back together God and men in reconciliation and peace.
Colossians 1:19-20
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
C. The Holy Spirit gives believers the fruit of peace.
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
D. The God of peace intends peace for his world, and the world He created in peace He will one day restore to peace.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
III. THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE: BELIEVERS
A. Only those who belong to the Maker of peace can be messengers of peace.
1 Corinthians 7:15
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
B. Characteristics of a peacemaker.
1. He is one who himself has made peace with God.
Romans 5:10
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:15
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Ephesians 6:15
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
2. He leads others to make peace with God.
Acts 10:36
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
3. He helps others make peace with others.
Matthew 18:15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
4. He endeavors to find a point of agreement without compromising God’s truth and righteousness.
Ephesians 4:15
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
IV. THE MERIT OF PEACE: ETERNAL SONSHIP IN THE KINGDOM
A. Spiritual heritage
Romans 8:17
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
B. Spiritual love
Zechariah 2:8
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Psalm 17:8
8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
C. Spiritual care
Psalm 56:8
8Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
- We will not always have peace in the world.
- We have forsaken the false peace of this world.
- We can always have God’s peace while in the world.
- We will enjoy God’s continual peace in the world to come!