Peacemakers

Last Week:

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

We talked about purity of heart

What the heart is

What is means to be pure in heart

We only have a couple of more weeks left in the beatitudes but this week we are going to focus on peacemaking:

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 5:1–12 (CSB)

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Children of God - In the Family Business

This week we are going to start backwards from how we have been tackling the beatitudes

Instead of talking of the character traits mean and then talking about why they are a blessing,

We are going to start at the blessing first

The Peacemakers will be called Children of God

Look carefully:

Not “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be children of God”

But “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God”

This is an immense blessing

This isn’t telling us how to become children of God,

It’s pointing us to a way of living in which we will be recognized by others as children of God.

We are called Children of God

You aren’t only a child of God because you are adopted in but because we begin to resemble our God

Its just that we will be called God’s children because we are brought into his family by the Holy Spirit

We are called children of God because we resemble who he is

When people link me and my Dad together they say “Oh! You’re Sean’s son! I see the resemblance”

Or “She looks/acts just like her mother”, etc.

This is what this is hitting at,

This way of living will have others see God in us

Isn’t that such a blessing? For others to see God resembled in our love and actions?

Wow there truly is something different in this life

This person is ‘born again’

They have a life that is like Jesus’s

Being a part of God’s family is not simply a matter of believing (though that is crucial)

Being a part of God’s family entails behaving like a family member

One of my professor puts it like this:

We are freely invited to join God’s family by a gift of grace

But joining the family means joining the ‘family business’

There is a kingdom of heaven, there is a goal we are working towards, there is a cause we are fighting for

And this morning we are going to talk about a major aspect of this ‘family business’...

Peacemaking

This was one of Jesus’s chief aims on his mission:

Romans 5:10-11 (NLT)

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Colossians 1:19–20 (CSB)

For God was pleased to have

all his fullness dwell in him,

and through him to reconcile

everything to himself,

whether things on earth or things in heaven,

by making peace

through his blood, shed on the cross.

And it doesn't end there.

Jesus didn’t just reconcile us so that we can sit on the sidelines

He has given us the same mission He was on

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 (CSB)

Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus’s followers, God’s children, are people that are marked as peacemakers, people of reconciliation

James 3:13–18 CSB

Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Peacemakers in a World of Division

This sort of person truly stands out in the world we live in

We live in a world that is marked by division and hostility

1. People are in rebellion and at war with God

We see the values of our culture and the blatant sin that people not only live in but encourage others to do the same

We see this in the promotion and flaunting of sexuality in every aspect of our culture

We see this in the hatred people have for Christianity

We are not at peace with God

2. People are at war with each other

On an international scale, we see wars and conflicts all the time

On a national scale, we see mass shootings and protests all over the place

On a community scale, we see broken friendships, family relations, and work place problems

We are not at peace with each other

3. People are at war within themselves

We see the current mental health crisis

Anxiety and fear find their homes in Christians and Non-Christians alike

People are broken and hurting

We are not at peace within ourselves

And this isn’t just a problem that is unique to our day and age

This has been the state of humanity since Genesis 3

ASK: What happened in Genesis 3?

After they ate the fruit:

Genesis 3:7 (CSB)

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Peace within themselves

Then:

Genesis 3:8–10 (CSB)

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.

Peace with God

After this:

Genesis 3:12–13 (CSB)

The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Peace with others

And you see these themes brought up over and over again throughout Scripture

People in internal turmoil with their lives

People in external conflict with others

People in rebellion against God

Now Jesus comes onto the scene,

Offering us true peace

and calling us to be people marked by peacemaking

Now what would it look like for someone to live a truly peaceful life?

A flourishing life, not at war with God, others, and themselves

Again this is someone who pursues righteousness

ASK: What is righteousness?

Different Aspects of Peacemaking

Peace with God

We read those verses earlier about Jesus’s mission to reconcile us to God

Christians are people who live at peace with God

Colossians 2:14 (CSB)

He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

In Jesus, God holds nothing against us, he is for us and our well being

Now just because God loves us does not mean that he will approve of everything we do

We must strive to remind ourselves of the peace we have with God

And maintain peace, keep our relationship from being strained by sin

Imagine if we were people truly at peace with God and we lived it out:

We would never second guess God’s goodness

We would not believe the lies of the enemy that God is tired of us or done with us

We would know that God is pleased with us and be at peace with everything we do

Peace with Ourselves

People in God’s Kingdom are marked by an inward peace within themselves

This is not because all of their problems will be solved and their circumstances will always be great

Despite our circumstances we can have peace

Because our peace is a gift that is given to us

It is not something we earn or achieve

Some of Jesus’s last words to his disciples:

John 14:27 (CSB)

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

John 16:33 (CSB)

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Or like Paul prays:

Colossians 3:15 (CSB)

And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts.

ASK: What is our Heart?

Where does this peace come from?

Isaiah 26:3–4 (CSB)

You will keep the mind that is dependent on you

in perfect peace,

for it is trusting in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!

Sleeping in a thunderstorm (?)

Peace with Others

Citizens of the kingdom of heaven are also called to be at peace with others

Remember we have been given this ministry

This is the ‘family business’

2 Corinthians 5:19–21 (CSB)

That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 12:14 (CSB)

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

Now peace between two people is dependent on both people choosing to be at peace

With God, he is never changing, he will always seek peace and reconciliation with us

But the same isn’t always true for other people

Sometimes we try and try but people just don’t like us

Some people do not want to live at peace with us

Thats why Romans tells us:

Romans 12:18 (CSB)

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

Try your best to be at peace with others

Don’t make room for any stumbling block that would cause a rift between you and others

And if people continually choose to be in conflict with you, you learn to suffer well

This is what it means to be like Jesus

Offering peace to all, not wronging anyone, looking out for their best interests

And still being rejected, pushed to the side, and mocked

We should be people that offer peace and forgiveness to everyone

This is the ‘family business’

Peace among Others

Lastly, we are also people called to promote peace between others

This is a hard place to be, often not choosing a side means that both people are upset with you

But especially among believers, we have a role to keep peace within ourselves

And sometimes other people need to step in and remind us of these truths

House manager - do it - don’t complain

How can we Live at/in Peace Today?

With all that happens in our lives it can sometimes feel like peace is impossible

There is habitual sin that strains our peace with God

There are people in our lives that just seem out to get us

The circumstances in our lives keep us in fear and anxiety internally

But the truth is that peace is a gift

John 14:27 (CSB)

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Just like any gift, it can be accepted or rejected

You can leave a gift unwrapped and unopened

You can refuse a gift and return it back to the person that gave it to you

All we have to do is accept it

1. If you don’t feel like you have peace with God

Know that he offers you an open invitation at all times to be reconciled

1 John 1:9 (CSB)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. If you aren’t at peace with the people around you (family, teammates, friends, classmates)

Know that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation

That this gift is the gift that keeps on giving

The peace we receive from Jesus is more than enough to cover us and in its abundance it is meant to be shared with others

We freely offer peace and love to others despite how they treat us

This doesn’t mean that all of our relational problems will be solved but we will be at peace

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison

3. If aren’t at peace in with yourself, this gift is also for you

If circumstances seem out of control, the future is hard to see, there is no peace in our lives, Jesus comes to offer peace

I think of the story of Jesus in the boat with his disciples during the storm

Jesus asleep - Disciples freaking out

Despite whatever storms come our way we can remain in peace because we know that God is in control

Psalm 91 (CSB)

The one who lives under the protection of the Most High

dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust:

He himself will rescue you from the bird trap,

from the destructive plague.

He will cover you with his feathers;

you will take refuge under his wings.

His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

the arrow that flies by day,

the plague that stalks in darkness,

or the pestilence that ravages at noon.

Though a thousand fall at your side

and ten thousand at your right hand,

the pestilence will not reach you.

You will only see it with your eyes

and witness the punishment of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord—my refuge,

the Most High—your dwelling place,

no harm will come to you;

no plague will come near your tent.

For he will give his angels orders concerning you,

to protect you in all your ways.

They will support you with their hands

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the young lion and the serpent.

Because he has his heart set on me,

I will deliver him;

I will protect him because he knows my name.

When he calls out to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble.

I will rescue him and give him honor.

I will satisfy him with a long life

and show him my salvation.