The Call to Be Peacemakers

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Introduction.

Matthew—Matthew chapter 5—and we will soon examine these Beatitudes, "the attitudes that should be," the characteristics of those who are like God.

And we call these Beatitudes "The Way to Authentic Happiness." We have learned a lot from studying the Beatitudes.

The Canton Fair, officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, is the world's largest trade fair and takes place in Guangzhou, China. The fair complex covers approximately 1.1 million square meters (12,174,000 sq ft) and they are expanding …. The fair attracts thousands of exhibitors and buyers from around the world.

The Canton Fair is truly gigantic market place! But there's one thing you won't be able to buy there—." No one can put it in a box and ship it overseas. No one can put it in a jar. There's no way, no matter how big that export fair is, you won't buy the commodity we are going to talk about today, and that's a commodity the world needs more than anything else—and that is peace.

There's something terribly wrong with our world, and you don't need me to tell you. Just watch any news channel and you can see for yourself.

And let's begin reading—verse 1:

Matthew 5:1–9 NIV

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I. The Call to Be Peacemakers

Illustration:

A retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war and so undertook a serious study of every inhabited place on the globe. Their goal was to determine which place in the world would be least affected by a war. They searched for a place of maximum security. They studied and traveled, traveled and studied. Finally, I arrived there, and at Christmas, I sent their pastor a card from their new home… in the Falkland Islands. However, their "paradise" soon turned into a war zone between Great Britain and Argentina. This so-called "paradise" was plundered by war.

We live in a very violent world that seems bent on destruction. Now, what causes all this?

Read James chapter 4 with me—and I want you to read it. James chapter 4, I think, is one of the most important passages in the entire Bible on the subject of peace. James explains everything.

James 4:1 NKJV

1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

James says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you?"

"Why can't we live together?" James asks, "Where does all this confusion come from?" …

I read a very interesting story. There were two men who were taken captive by the Americans in World War II. They were captured in Germany with other German prisoners. They were brought back to the United States and placed in a prisoner of war camp. But these two young men were different from all the other German soldiers. They seemed reserved. They seemed scared. They seemed perplexed. No one seemed able to communicate with them. The other Germans said they really didn't know anything about them. And every attempt to talk to them led to frustration, as they moved further and further away from the interrogators. No one knew who they were. They couldn't understand them. They were simply different. They didn't even place themselves with the other Germans. After a while, they brought in an expert. And he began to talk to them. He said, "No wonder you couldn't talk to them. They're from Tibet. You don't even understand their language." This man understood their language and then understood their story.

Let me tell you what happened to these two men. They lived in Tibet and were tired of living there, in their small village. They had never been anywhere or seen anything, isolated from the outside world, so they decided to go from Tibet to the northern border. They end up in Russia during World War II. However, they were detained by the Russian authorities. They didn't know who those boys were. Soon, they were shipped by train to the West. When they arrived there, outside a large city, they were given army uniforms. They were sent to a training camp. They were handed a rifle and there they were, on the Russian front, fighting the Germans. Never...They had never seen anything like it: people in hand-to-hand combat. They were shooting at each other with guns. These young men, frightened, retreated; and when they retreated, they were captured by the Germans. And the Germans took them, put them on another train, and ended up in a German prisoner-of-war camp.

At that time, the Allies arrived with the Normandy invasion. The Germans were retreating. They needed every man they could find. So they took these boys, shoved a gun in their hands, and told them to fight the Americans. And then they were out there again, scared to death. They started retreating. And the Americans captured them. And this time, they were put in an American prisoner-of-war camp and ended up in the United States. And finally, the whole secret was revealed. These boys from Tibet knew nothing. Finally, after talking with them for a while, they asked, "Do you have any questions?" They replied, "Yes, we have a question: Why are all these people trying to kill each other?" They couldn't understand. "What's going on?"

And that's the question James is asking here: Where do wars and fight come from? Where does this confusion come from?

James asks the question, but he himself gives the answer:

James 4:1–4 NIV

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

And here James mentions three wars.

The first war: Men are at war with one another—fights and quarrels among you—v. 1

Historian Will and Ariel Durant, in his book The Lessons of History, begins the chapter on “History and War” with these words: “War is one of the constants of history and has not diminished with civilization and democracy. In the last 3,421 years of recorded history, only 268 have not seen war.”

We are a people at war across the face of this globe.

From time to time we will have a truce. But there is no peace.

The second war: Where do fights/wars and quarrels among you come from? Don’t they come from the desires that battle within you?

This is the second war. The first war is that we war among ourselves. Why do we war among ourselves? Because we are at war within ourselves.

That's what James said. There is an inner war that wars within our members. People are not at peace within themselves. And that's why they can't be at peace with anyone else.

We live in a tense and turbulent world because people are at war within themselves.

And James says that the war on the outside is because of the war on the inside.

And why the war on the inside? Because of the third war.

The third war: we are at war with God.

Look at verse 4, where he says: "Friendship with the world is enmity"—and that word means "war"—"with God."

See, we are at war with each other—why? Because we are at war within. And why are we at war within? Because we are at war with God.

Isaiah 57:21 NIV

21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

So, my dear friend, let me tell you very clearly and directly: until you are at peace with God in this world, you will be a troublemaker, not a peacemaker.

II. The Attribute of Peace

The Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

The first thing I want you to see today: the attributes of peace. What do we mean by peace?

Peace is not appeasement.

Don't think that to be a peacemaker, you are obligated to get along with everyone.

There's something wrong with the person who says they can get along with everyone. You just can't. But you can try.

The Bible says: Romans 12:18 “Make every effort to live at peace with everyone.” Which means it's not always possible. All of us who defend the cause of the gospel of Christ will have enemies.

A young seminarian was in a class at a liberal seminary, and the professor was telling them, "Oh, we should never have enemies; we should never be controversial; there should never be problems," and so on. And what he was preaching was the gospel of appeasement. And then he said, "What we need to do is follow the example of Jesus." And that young preacher raised his hand. He said, "Professor, if Jesus Christ was so beautifully diplomatic and tactful, how did He get crucified?"

Friend, listen. Jesus Christ didn't get along with everyone, and not everyone got along with Jesus Christ.

When the Bible uses the word peace, it is a positive word.

In the Old Testament, and today, modern Jews greet each other the same way: with the word shalom. And that word means "peace."

When you meet someone and say "shalom," it doesn't mean "let's get out of the war." It infers that something good, something wonderful, something positive is happening.

The Greek word for "peace" is eirene. That's where our beautiful name Irene comes from. Irene means "peace." Eirene: that's the word he's using here. It's a positive word.

Now, my dear friend, let me tell you what peace is. Peace is not appeasement. Peace is not making a truce. Peace is not even the mere absence of war. What is peace?

Peace is a right relationship.

(The technical point) - Listen carefully, because this is a technical point in the text, but a very important one.

Peace is a right relationship with God that leads to a right relationship with oneself and guides us into a right relationship with others.

That's what peace is. It's a sense of well-being. And, literally, peace is the result and fruit of righteousness.

If you hear nothing else, I want you to hear this.

I want you to see how righteousness and peace are linked. -

“‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’”

If you are an unrighteous person, you can never have peace.

The only way to have peace is to have righteousness.

Notice the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure in heart,” and then “Blessed are the peacemakers.” There is no peace without purity of heart.

Write down these verses (screen)

James 3:17 NIV

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Got it? First, purity; then, peace.

“Blessed are the pure in heart.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

“The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving.”

Note — Psalm 85, verse 10:

Psalm 85:10 NIV

10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Isn't that a beautiful verse? “Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

There is a love affair between righteousness and peace; there is a marriage between righteousness and peace.

And what God has joined together, let no man separate. (Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9)

In Hebrews, chapter 7, verse 2, the Bible speaks of Melchizedek. He is a figure, a type, of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is called two things:

Hebrews 7:2 NIV

2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

First, He must be "King of righteousness." After being "King of righteousness," He becomes "King of peace." See, righteousness and peace have kissed.

My dear friend, you cannot have peace without righteousness.

What is peace? Peace is a right relationship with God, a right relationship in your heart, and consequently a right relationship with one another.

Peace is God's righteousness ruling and reigning in your heart.

III. The Adversary of Peace

Second, I want you to see the adversary of peace.

Consequently, if peace is linked to justice, then war—the lack of peace—is linked to sin. It always is.

Let me present these verses. Isaiah, chapter 48, verse 22:

Isaiah 48:22 NIV

22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

//

Ladies and gentlemen, “There is no peace for the wicked, says the Lord.” Justice and peace are intertwined. Sin separates men from God. Sin brings inner turmoil. And it separates men from men.

Here is another verse—Jeremiah 8:11-12

Jeremiah 8:11–12 NIV

11 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord.

Do you remember the 1960s, when the hippies were walking around saying, “Peace, brother?” But, my dear friend, they lived ungodly and immoral lives. There can be no peace without the Prince of Peace. There can be no peace without purity.

And so the Bible says in Jeremiah that people give a false peace, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. And then it says in Jeremiah 8, verse 12:

“Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they are not ashamed, nor do they even know how to blush—nor do they know how to be ashamed.” (Jeremiah 8:12)

We have a group of people today shouting, "Peace," and they can't even be ashamed of their sins.

Did you know that humans are the only animals capable of shame? But we've forgotten how to be ashamed.

The text says these people are saying, "Peace, peace, peace." The Bible says they have committed an abomination—this generation of people who are unashamed, wondering why we have no peace. It's very obvious: the enemy of peace is sin. That's why the Bible doesn't teach peace at any price.

One of the strangest verses that ever came from the lips of Jesus isThis—Matthew 10, verse 34. He said:

Matthew 10:34 NIV

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

This is incredible, because the Bible calls Him the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) That is, He is known as the Prince of Peace. When He was born, the angels said: Luke 2:14 “14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those on whom His favor rests.””

The Bible says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

And yet, in this passage, Jesus Christ said: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace. I have not come to bring peace; I have come to bring a sword.”

What is He talking about? He is saying: “I have not come to bring some kind of false peace at any cost. I have come with a sword to draw a line between truth and error, between light and darkness, between sin and righteousness."

Now, what Jesus is saying is this: when God's standard of righteousness is established, there will always be division.

Without righteousness, there can be no godly peace. And the sword Jesus wields is like a scalpel. It must first wound before it can heal. Peace can never come where sin remains. God will never make a peace treaty with sin—never!

My dear friend, there are many people who simply think they can walk up and pat the Lord Jesus Christ on the shoulder and say, "TMJ."

Jesus, my dear friend will never make a truce with sin—never!

In this sense, Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace. I have come to bring a sword."

What He meant by this is: there can never be peace without, first and foremost, a surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

III. The Achievement of Peace

Now, here's the third thing I want you to see. I've already talked about the attribute of peace, which is righteousness.

I've already talked about the adversary of peace, which is sin. "There is no peace for the wicked, says my Lord."

Now, I want to talk to you about obtaining peace.

I said you can't buy it not even in the biggest market in the world. You can't buy it at any mall… Amazon, so how can you acquire peace?

Let me give you some wonderful news.

A. Peace Was Planned by the Father

First, this peace was planned by the Father. Jeremiah 29, verse 11—if you don't know this verse, you need to learn it:

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

When God thinks of you, do you know what He wants for you? Peace.

That's what God wants for you. God's thoughts for you are not thoughts of turmoil.

God is not a vengeful deity sitting on a throne, creating a bunch of rules and laws that make you writhe like a worm in hot ashes, trying to comply with them, hurling lightning bolts of wrath. That's not God's idea.

God says, "The thoughts I think toward you, the plans I have for you, the plans I have for you, are plans of peace."

Six times in the New Testament, He is called the God of peace. In the book of Judges, chapter 6, verse 24, He is called Jehovah Shalom—Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace. Peace, was planned by the Father.

B. Peace Was Purchased by the Son

Secondly—are you listening?—peace was purchased by the Son—planned by the Father, purchased by the Son.

Write down these verses—Ephesians 2, verses 13 and 14:

Ephesians 2:13–14 NKJV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

So write this down—Colossians 1, verses 19 and 20:

Colossians 1:19–20 NKJV

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Jesus Christ provided this peace on the cross. How does the cross bring peace?

On the cross, sin was not appeased; sin was confronted.

On the cross, sin was not ignored. On the cross, sin was atoned for and paid for, and God's greatest justice confronted man's greatest evil.

And justice won, and peace was achieved through the blood of the cross. Thank God for that.

C. Peace is provided by the Spirit

Now, listen. It was planned by the Father—God says, "I know the plans I have for you, the plans for peace"; purchased by the Son; and, my dear friend, it is provided by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. Look, the Bible says in Galatians, chapter 5, verse 22:

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

It is provided by the Spirit.

Remember Jesus. In John chapter 14, Jesus said: John 14:26

John 14:26 NKJV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

And then He says in verse 27: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”

It is the Holy Spirit who brings this to our hearts and minds. He is the one who gives us this peace in our hearts, which tells us we are at peace with God.

Planned by the Father, purchased by the Son, provided by the Spirit: the Holy Spirit is the executor of the will of Jesus Christ, the last will and testament of Jesus before He died. He said to you, "My peace I give to you." That is what He left you. This is His legacy, my dear friend: His peace.

And then He said, "I do not give as the world gives."

It is peace, as the old song says, the world did not give it, and the world cannot take it away. The world did not give it to me, and the world cannot take it from me.

It is the peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) No psychologist, no psychiatrist, without Jesus Christ, can have any understanding of this.

IV. The Joy of Being a Peacemaker

Now, finally, look at our text, and it says it very, very clearly. Wonderful: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

If you are born again, led by the Holy Spirit … then

You are God's agent of peace. You are God's agents.

You are an ambassador. Do you know the job of a peacemaker is? It's reconciliation.

And the Bible says in 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 18: "All things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ"—we were saved; we received peace; and then He says, "and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18)

This is our ministry, and what is the ministry of reconciliation? It's simply winning souls.

It's simply telling people about Jesus. He gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

We are ambassadors for Christ. He entrusted us with the ministry of Reconciliation.

The greatest joy, the greatest thing you can do, is to receive the peace that Jesus Christ gave on the cross and let the peace of God rule and reign in your heart.

Then you will be not only a lover of peace, but, my dear friend, a peacemaker, not one who makes peace with sin and injustice, but one who exalts the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Final Reflection: The world remembers dividers (like war generals), but heaven celebrates peacemakers—because they resemble the Father. Have you joined the business of the family of God?

Do you have peace? Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look around, you will be distressed. If you look within, you will be depressed. But if you look to Jesus, you will be at peace.” This is where peace comes from. Do you have peace with God? Do you? Remember that you will never have peace until something is done about this problem of sin.

Prayer: "God, make us instruments of Your peace. Help us bring light, not fuel to the fire of conflict. Show us where to build bridges and give us courage to act. Amen."