Ripple Effect: Blessed are the Peacemakers

Intro: Good Morning FE, we are coming back to a series we started last year, called Ripple Effect.

If you were a kid like me, when you were around a lake or a pond, you enjoyed skipping rocks on the water. When you throw a rock into a still pond, or skip a rock on the water you will see the ripples from the impact of the rock dropping/skipping on the water. The ripples will start small and grow wider much like the series photo you see.

When the Lord changes the heart of a person, you should see an impact, it may start small but that impact will widen as the person grows in his relationship with his Lord, Jesus Christ. Look at what Paul says in Romans 6,

Romans 6:1–4 (ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

¿Qué diremos, entonces? ¿Continuaremos en pecado para que la gracia abunde?

Paul explained in chapter 5 how we have peace with God through Christ and how through the obedience of Christ many will be made righteous. When Paul opens up chapter 6, he asks a question, should we continue to sin, so we can receive more of God’s grace?

By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death,

2 ¡De ningún modo! Nosotros, que hemos muerto al pecado, ¿cómo viviremos aún en él? 3 ¿O no sabéis que todos los que hemos sido bautizados en Cristo Jesús, hemos sido bautizados en su muerte?

When God changed your heart and gave you a heart that desired God and desires his Word, you have died to sin, the way you were before you knew Jesus, is buried in Christ death, it buried away in an empty tomb. Why

in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

4 Por tanto, hemos sido sepultados con Él por medio del bautismo para muerte, a fin de que como Cristo resucitó de entre los muertos por la gloria del Padre, así también nosotros andemos en novedad de vida.

So that, we too can walk in newness of life. That is the ripple effect of salvation, you are dead to sin, free from sin, so that you can walk in the newness off life. Listen to what Paul says later in this chapter,

Romans 6:22 (ESV)

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

22 Pero ahora, habiendo sido libertados del pecado y hechos siervos de Dios, tenéis por vuestro fruto la santificación, y como resultado la vida eterna.

The fruit you get leads to sanctification? What does Paul mean? Now that you are free from sin and a slave of God, the fruit of your life leads to holiness, leads to obedience to God’s word, that is the ripple effect of heart transformed by the Gospel, which culminates where, eternal life.

In this series, some of the ripple effects we want to look at in the scriptures are known as the one another's, they are commands like love one another, bear one another’s burdens, today we will look at live at peace with one another.

When Jesus started one of his most famous sermons recorded in scripture, the Sermon on the mount, he started by talking about qualities or characteristics that describes someone is part of God’s kingdom, we call them the beatitudes. One of the beatitudes says, “Blessed are the peacemakers”. Blessed are the people who work at restoring peace.

One of the Ripple Effects in our lives as followers of Jesus, is we are a people characterized by peace.

We are characterized by peace because we as

Followers of Jesus have peace with God and we have access to the peace of God.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Por tanto, habiendo sido justificados por la fe, tenemos[a] paz para con Dios por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo,

As followers of Jesus, we have the assurance and confidence that I am no longer on enemy of God, through Christ I have peace with God, my sins are forgiven, my debt has been paid and I have made whole in Christ. You see peace is not just the absence of conflict but it also has to do with bringing you to a place where you can be made whole and flourish. This is what Jesus has done for us through his death and resurrection.

Not only do we have peace with God, but how many have experienced hard times, when you felt the pressure or you were worried about how you were going to get by, past through hard, trying times. Paul says not only do you have peace with God but you have access to the peace of God.

Philippians 4:6–8 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Por nada estéis afanosos; antes bien, en todo, mediante oración y súplica con acción de gracias, sean dadas a conocer vuestras peticiones delante de Dios. 7 Y la paz de Dios, que sobrepasa todo entendimiento[b], guardará vuestros corazones y vuestras mentes en Cristo Jesús.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts. This peace is available to you and me, because we have peace with God in Jesus. A peace which guards our heart and calms our souls, in the most difficult times. Paul says do not be anxious, but… so instead of sitting their worrying about your situation what does Paul say to do, pray and ask with thanksgiving and make your request be made known to God. it almost sounds like Peter “Cast your cares upon him, because he cares for you.” God will give you peace which surpasses all understanding, in other words you will be given the peace of God and be at peace in your time of difficulty. This is the peace we have access to.

Because followers of Jesus are at peace with God and have the peace of God,

Followers of Jesus should be at peace with one another.

Romans 12:16 (ESV)

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

16 Tened el mismo sentir[m]unos con otros; no seáis altivos en vuestro pensar, sino condescendiendo con los humildes. No seáis sabios en vuestra propia opinión.

Paul tells the believers in Rome to live in harmony with one another, another way of saying this is be harmonizing with one another. I want you to imagine something with me, imagine Jonas trying to lead us in one of the songs he played today, but the other instruments and singers sang a different song each. How do you think that will sound? Horrible right?

Part of living at peace with one another is to be harmonizing with one another, each person playing there part for the mutual edification with each other, in the way God designed you to benefit the church.When I use my gifts and all of you use your gifts and talents, for the purpose of making disciples who live by God’s grace and for his glory here in Little Rock and across the world, we are harmonizing together. You see that word harmonizing is to set your mind, to focus your mind and when you have group of people known as the Fellowship Espanol focusing their mind and talents for the purpose of making disciples who live by God’s grace and for his glory, we aer harmonizing together.

The book of James warns us of disrupters of peace and harmony. Listen to what James says,

James 4:11 (ESV)

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

11 Hermanos, no habléis mal los unos de los otros. El que habla mal de un hermano o juzga a su hermano, habla mal de la ley y juzga a la ley; pero si tú juzgas a la ley, no eres cumplidor de la ley, sino juez de ella.

Speaking evil against your brothers is a disrupter of peace and harmony. When you speak evil of your brother or sister in Christ, just look at her, she just thinks she is better than every one else, can you believe her, look at him, i heard that he did so so, can you believe that?

Speaking evil of your brother, is speaking mindless, careless, thoughtless critical, derogatory, untrue statements to tear them down. To judge your brother, in this passage is not talking about constructive criticism but destructive criticism and condemnation. James says when you do this you are judging the law, judging God’s word, why? What does God’s word say? Love your neighbor as your self, but when you speak evil and judge wrongly, my words are more important than God’s word.

Another disrupter is grumbling or complaining about one another. James in the very next chapter says

James 5:9 (ESV)

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

9 Hermanos, no os quejéis unos contra otros, para que no seáis juzgados; mirad, el Juez está a[f] las puertas.

If you are a parent, you know what grumbling and complaining is.

You see too often we let sinful thoughts control our words with one another, and we lash out against one another disrupting peace. We speak evil to our kids, maybe our spouses or another church member and we disrupt the peace and harmony. James says brothers, don’t do this because the judge is standing at the door.

Another reason we should not do speak evil and grumble against others is because that is not what God through Christ did to us. We should pursue peace with one another.

So what should I do if my brother offends me?

The Bible says do not speak evil against him, but go speak to your brother. This is how you deal with offenses with one another, you go to your brother and speak to them, with the mind set of pursuing peace with your brother and sister. Now don’t go to your brother or sister, wife or whoever you have the conflict with, with the mindset of putting them in their place, or tell them you were right, no go with the mindset of pursuing peace.

Followers of Jesus should strive for peace with all people.

Look at wha =t the rest of Romans 12 says,

Romans 12:17–18 (ESV)

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

17 Nunca paguéis a nadie mal por mal. Respetad lo bueno delante de todos los hombres. 18 Si es posible, en cuanto de vosotros dependa, estad en paz con todos los hombres.

If possible, so far as it depends on you. What does that mean?

We are to do everything possible to pursue peace.

With who?

Just the people that agree with us?

Just the people we like?

Just the people that don’y annoy us?

live peaceably with all.

Listen to what the writer of the Hebrews says,

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

14 Buscad la paz con todos y la santidad, sin la cual nadie verá al Señor.

That word strive, means pursue or persecute and gives the idea of some one working hard, to attain something. What are we supposed to work hard at?

Peace. With who?

Everyone.

If I were to jump on twitter, right now, within a minute, I can find a believer arguing with a believer, or a believer arguing with an unbeliever, not just arguing but speaking in way that is rude, arrogant, you could say speaking evil. Brothers this shouldn’t be.

The call to strive for peace with everyone is not a call to leave your convictions at the door, it isn’t a call to sacrifice the truth at the altar of compromise. But there is a way to have a healthy conversation and disagreements in a way that when you both leave the conversation, you are at peace with one another. But too often we want to demean the person we disagree with in order to win an argument.

Another tactic we see sometimes people unfairly represent the views of others. I remember, having a conversation with a friend who is a pastor. We were talking about a well known pastor in America and he mentioned, I am not too sure about him, he doesn’t believe what the Bible says about gender and sexuality. So I asked what book or sermon did you hear him say those things. He said I read it in an article where another person said that about him. SO you never heard him say that, well no, but I trust this source. I replied, I have read several of his books and listened to hours of his sermons and podcasts, including series of talks concerning Gender and sexuality and I can assure you that he holds to a biblical view and he wouldn’t believe me. I even sent him the leaks to listen himself. If you want to have a healthy dialogue with people, you have to fairly understand their viewpoint and Christians should not be the ones who misrepresent other people.

So how do I live in peace with all? How do I become a peacemaker, because remember, Blessed are the peacemakers.

All we have to is be like Jesus, what did Jesus do pursue peace with us, his enemies.

Jesus took the initiative and pursued peace by moving toward the trouble not away from it. Jesus takes the responsibility of reconciliation on himself. When you know there is no peace between you and someone else, take the initiative and pursue peace, quickly, the longer it lingers the harder it is to pursue peace.

Jesus approached conflict with humility. Look at what Paul says Phil 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

5 Haya, pues, en vosotros esta actitud que hubo también en Cristo Jesús, 6 el cual, aunque existía en forma de Dios, no consideró el ser igual a Dios como algo a qué aferrarse, 7 sino que se despojó a sí mismo tomando forma de siervo, haciéndose semejante a los hombres. 8 Y hallándose en forma de hombre, se humilló a sí mismo, haciéndose obediente hasta la muerte, y muerte de cruz.

3. Jesus gave love before love was returned.

Each of the beatitudes is given a promise, “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God”

When we are peacemakers we are living out what Jesus lived and taught and that is why peacemakers shall be called the sons of God.

Lord teach us this week to live in peace with one another, teach us to be peacemakers, to live out the life Jesus lived in our relationships with others.