Encouragement Brings PEACE

Introduction

On the mountain tonight, you are here for a job interview…

BENEFITS/RETIREMENT

Dream home

Beautiful land that comes and remains perfectly kept

Everything want/need

EXPECTATIONS

Observe what is broken

Search for a solution

Willing to do what is necessary to provide the solution

“Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ and His Church through your attendance!”

Matthew 5:1–9 ESV

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Prayer Time

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Lets go over our repeated terms and definitions

What was the base for our 2 questions and this series? ENCOURAGEMENT

the ongoing reassurance that God sees you, God is for you, and God is working through you.

What were our two primary questions from Encouragement?

Where does it come from? UP ON THE MOUNTAIN

Where does it go? THIS QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED EVERY WEEK.

We have one word that shows up 9 times. What is it? BLESSED

What ways have we define it?

Happy

Fortunate

Good Life

This whole sermon is about offering and extending an invitation to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Receive Peace from God

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Over the weekend, I saw some tail-gate videos of GA fans heckling AL fans. Then the AL fans began to return heckling. With it being a video and not being there for the moment, I didn’t know how tense the moment was.

As the video progressed and heckling grew, the climax of the video ended with them shaking hands, dabbing up and laughing about the moment. Watching that video with this sermon in mind, I thought “THAT IS PEACE, or at least part of it.” There are differences but there is also respect for them as a person. We are ultimately God’s creation before we are a sports team, major preference, political ideas, think of ourselves as right.

Tonight we want to work towards being a PEACEMAKER in your homes, at school, with friends, and with strangers. Before we reach this moment, we have to RECEIVE PEACE IN OUR HEART.

John 14:27 ESV

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.

Your heart needs to be right with God! Before we look at the Benefits and Expectations of a Peacemaker job, peace must first rest in your hearth through resolving your brokenness before the Savior. We receive PEACE when we come before the throne of Jesus and offer our hearts in surrender and He extends Kingdom Grace to your heart.

When we receive the PEACE of God, we return it to others/we direct it to others by being a PEACEMAKER.

Return Peace to Others

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

With this idea of returning PEACE to the world around us, lets keep in mind some other common language of the Bible.

Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The job is to be a PEACEMAKER and a WARRIOR — it almost seems like these don’t match and have any overlap.

If we define PEACEMAKER as — — actively works to restore what is broken

If we define WARRIOR as — — guarding, protecting, defending the TRUTH

Our game from earlier, everyone was a warrior defending and securing truth, securing the ball in their goal.

This idea of WARRIOR and PEACEMAKER actually have an overlap…

recognize the enemy or what is broken

bring back to truth and restoration

Ephesians 6:11 “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

This generation is in NEED OF PEACEMAKERS: those who recognize the schemes of the devil and be prepared and equipped to do something. To develop a true heart of a PEACEMAKER is to recognize what really matters in this life — relationship with Christ.

If you never receive PEACE and make moves to share it with others… What else matters?

We want to offer some time in your study groups today and look at PEACEMAKERS.

What does Matt 5:9 say? Define PEACEMAKERS AND SONS OF GOD.

What does PEACEMAKERS mean when we look at the whole Bible?

What areas of your life need a PEACEMAKER?

-Recognize brokenness, frustration, false teaching and COME TOGETHER AROUND TRUTH NO MATTER THE COST. Steady stance for truth — never apologizing for being a Christian.

-When you get to the WHAT DO YOU DO, we want to hear from you on place your life that need a PEACEMAKER

show forgiveness with a sibling when wrong has been done

obeying your parents when a disagreement takes place

have conversations and disagreements that are not against or mock the person

Abortion: murder of innocent babies

Marriage between a husband and wife

CLOSING

In the Old Testament, when God’s people experienced peace — after battles, forgiveness, or covenant renewal — they built an altar and offered a “peace offering” to celebrate being restored to Him. The altar had to be made of uncut stones (Joshua 8:31), shaped only by God. This showed that true peace isn’t made by us — it’s given by God. So when Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” His listeners pictured peace as something God shapes and we help bring together — like arranging stones He has already prepared.