The Peacemakers

MPBC Camp ‘24: Upside Down  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction

Final Day of camp - who’s excited?
Matthew 5:9 ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
This is about relationships.
God desires us to live at peace with all men Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Time to look seriously at the relationships we are holding on to, and even the ones we have written off

Peace Maker, not Peace keeper

One of biggest misinterpretations is that Jesus says blessed are peace-MAKERS, not peace keeper
Peace KEEPERS - keep the peace through appeasement of all sides
Peace MAKERS - are not appeasers but actively fight to overcome evil with good to achieve lasting peace.
Peace MAKERS are not just people pleasers - huge misconception
Peace makers always seek greater peace, even if it means going through conflict
Peace MAKERS are those who actively seek to end hostilities and bring opposing parties together.
Especially relevant in area of relationships
Peace MAKERS - fulfil what membership in the family really means. This is why they are called “Sons of God”.
I find that many Christians take relationships lightly
We do not deal with rifts in relationships, leave hurt unaddressed, do not seek to make amends
We have forgotten our mandate as peace MAKERS
Relationships, especially within the church, are close to the heart of God.
1 John 4:7–8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
This is a serious allegation against believers who make light of relationships within the Body.
To be a peace MAKER you have to understand that all are made in God’s image and have intrinsic value
It does not matter whether you like them or not - that weighs absolutely nothing next to the command to love them
It does not matter the degree of disagreement you have with them
It does not even matter how much they have wronged you
You are a peace MAKER not only when you are directly involved but even when you see disagreement among others
you are always seeking peace - not just when it is your problem directly
Are we drawn to gossip? Slander? Do we find joy in hating on people?
Or are we altogether too comfortable with unforgiveness, with relational rifts
The bible has a severe warning for us:
1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
This is perhaps one of the most ignored warnings in the entire bible
If we do not love our fellow believers, then we cannot love God who we cannot see
If our love for God is real - then it WILL manifest itself in our love for the church. That is just that.
ILLUSTRATION: Attacking Others, Hurting Jesus
A young lady named Sally took a seminary class taught by Professor Smith, who was known for his elaborate object lessons. One day Sally walked into class to find a large target placed on the wall, with several darts resting on a nearby table. Professor Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone who had made them angry—and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.
Sally's friend (on her right), drew a picture of another woman who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his younger brother. Sally drew a picture of Professor Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on his face! She was quite pleased at the overall effect she'd achieved.
The class lined up and began throwing darts amidst much laughter. Some of the students threw with such force that they ripped apart their targets. But Sally, looking forward to her turn, was filled with disappointment when Professor Smith asked the students to return to their seats so he could begin his lecture. As Sally fumed about missing her chance to throw the darts, the professor began removing the target from the wall.
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled image of their Savior—holes and jagged marks covered his face. His eyes were virtually pierced out.
Professor Smith only said these words from Matthew 25:40 ‘Truly, I say to you, whatever you have done for the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

The Curse of Unforgiveness

One of the most dangerous breaches we can have of this beatitude (peace) is Unforgiveness
Matthew 18:23–35 (ESV)
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The reason unforgiveness is such a significant sin is BECAUSE of the fact that WE have been forgiven
Our debt, much like the first servant (which represents the debt between man and God), is far far bigger than that of the second servant (which represents the debt between men)
The power to forgive comes with the realisation that we are forgiven (1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.” )
It becomes the highest form of hypocrisy if we choose not to forgive someone else
If we choose to leave relational rifts, especially within the context of the church
We live in the age of CANCEL CULTURE
Find something wrong with everything, everyone
Almost like trained to find the bad in things
We live in an age of offense
We can become so easily offended by everything and anything
Unforgiveness THRIVES in this kind of environment
We’re called, as Peace MAKERS, to combat this. How?
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
peace comes from Christ - we need to seek that peace that comes from Him. It’s SUPERNATURAL
No point trying in our own strength, needs to come from a changed heart
(Luke 6:45) the mouth speaks what the heart is full of
Only Christ can change the heart - do you have peace from which you can sow?
how can you make it if you don’t have it?
ILLUSTRATION: African woman forgives
A South African woman stood in an emotionally charged courtroom, listening to white police officers acknowledge the atrocities they had perpetrated in the name of apartheid.
Officer van de Broek acknowledged his responsibility in the death of her son. Along with others, he had shot her 18-year-old son at point-blank range. He and the others partied while they burned his body, turning it over and over on the fire until it was reduced to ashes.
Eight years later, van de Broek and others arrived to seize her husband. A few [hours] later, shortly after midnight, van de Broek came to fetch the woman. He took her to a woodpile where her husband lay bound. She was forced to watch as they poured gasoline over his body and ignited the flames that consumed his body. The last words she heard her husband say were "Forgive them."
Now, van de Broek stood before her awaiting judgment. South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission asked her what she wanted.
"I want three things," she said calmly. "I want Mr. van de Broek to take me to the place where they burned my husband's body. I would like to gather up the dust and give him a decent burial.
"Second, Mr. van de Broek took all my family away from me, and I still have a lot of love to give. Twice a month, I would like for him to come to the ghetto and spend a day with me so I can be a mother to him.
"Third, I would like Mr. van de Broek to know that he is forgiven by God, and that I forgive him, too. I would like someone to lead me to where he is seated, so I can embrace him and he can know my forgiveness is real."
As the elderly woman was led across the courtroom, van de Broek fainted, overwhelmed. Someone began singing "Amazing Grace." Gradually everyone joined in.
This woman understood what it means to be a peacemaker
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