The Beatitudes; Blessed are the Peacemakers

Introduction

Recap Series

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are those who Mourn

Blessed are the Meek

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Blessed are the merciful

Blessed are the pure in heart

Today , Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

If there was ever a time when we need peacemakers it is now...

two videos that came out this week… both involving black men

the first was of a white lady who had called 911 on a black man that was in the park

he was bird watching asking her to put her dog on a leash, which was required by law

if there was not a video, based on the 911 call alone, this man probably would have been arrested

second is that of George Lloyd, the black man killed by the police officer in Minnesota

unfortunately, at a time when we should be working and striving for peace, we see less of it

we immediately, upon seeing things like this, pick sides

attempt to justify one side or the other, or point out why they are wrong

if it is the videos, the virus or whatever the news of the day is, we tend to divide up, run to our corners and start attacking

it should not be so with us

PRAY!

Peacemakers Resemble the Father

Jet looks like me… their Pastor calls him Baby Doug

we can all look at ourselves and see features of our parents, or grandparents

that normally does not bother us until we start acting like our parents…

too many of us do not see the resemblance of our father in heaven in us for a couple reasons

satan doesn’t want us to see it

we see ourselves as we were

Ephesians 2:1-5 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

You were dead in your trespasses and sin

honesty of the Bible

before you came to know Jesus you were lost, you were living in sin

it does not matter at what age that was

you lived according to the world

fleshly desires, carrying out inclinations of the flesh

it is basically saying the same thing over again, or twice in a row

the repetitiveness shows how far away from God we were

and that it was not just this one thing

That is why James said that some murder some lie, we are all Lawbreakers

maybe we did not suffer from the same sin

but we all suffer from multiple sins that were running away from the father

children under wrath

that is what we deserve because of our sinful ways

it wasn’t an accident, we chose to sin

Adam and Eve did not accidently eat the fruit

they intentionally chose to eat of the tree that God told them not to

the same with us… we chose to sin, even if we were tempted, we still made the decision to do what we wanted to do

the penalty for that is death

an eternal separation from God in a real place called Hell

Hell was not created for man, but for Satan and those demons who follow him

but every person who chooses to go his way, the opposite way of God, will spend eternity in Hell

BUT GOD!

look at the words that are used in this passage… were, previously

Christian… this is not who you are anymore

I shared with somebody this week that my favorite word in scripture is “but”

you were a sinner destined for hell… BUT

God is rich in mercy… constantly giving us more than we deserve,

not but you accomplished these things

why… because he is a show off? no

because of his great love for us…

God’s love is not measured by earthly blessings,

but that you were dead and now you are alive!

God takes everything and forms us into the image of his son!

life experiences, good and bad, and allows us to be changed from the inside out

what did the son do,

whatever the father asked

pointed people to the father

he told his disciples, if you know me, you know the father…

and we, as redeemed people, as children of God, resemble our father

Peacemakers Seek Reconciliation with Believers

One of Satans ways that he attempts to limit the church is in-fighting

allowing offenses to linger, taking looks, or comments that we over hear to be about us

the amount of people who have left churches, stay away because of a glance or word misspoken or misunderstood

and we can put blame on all parties,

ones for not saying they are offended except to disparage the bride of Christ

some who are not understanding what their words and looks say

Romans 14:19-21 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. (This should be a focus on what we do every time we come in here) 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.

Paul references food in this passage, but the truth does not change by changing the topic

explain what Paul was talking about...

some believed that there were certain things that was sinful to partake in certain things

wine… meat…

for example, I do not drink. I have read so many different things on the topic, both sides that think that it is sinful to drink and some do not

I know it is sinful to be drunk, because I do not know where the line is as to where I am in control of my actions and words, and when I am not in control, I stay away from it

some of you drink… and do it around me, I do not care

for some, drinking is a big deal, and it would only cause friction to drink in front of them

Paul says seek peace… not telling them why they are wrong and drinking in front of them is not the correct answer

But this pursuit of peace is more than what we eat and drink

So how do we seek peace with fellow believers that we may disagree with

care about more than yourself

in our consumer church society that we have built, we must care for one another

not in a what can they do for me way,

but in a how can I lift them up

prayer…

pray for them, their walk with Christ

do you know how hard it is to be mad at somebody and pray for them at the same time

pray for reconciliation between you

if it is a scriptural issue, search the bible together

some will and some will not,

and if it is not a foundational doctrinal issue agree to disagree

we do not do something that is going to make our brother stumble

if you drink, do not drink with somebody that struggles with it or who is offended by it

Peacemakers Seek Reconciliation with the Lost

So I deleted some social media apps from my devices…

there are multiple reasons, one of them being, I could not stand reading some of the garbage that I would see on there

and that is what some who are believers are saying about some of this situations that are going on in our country

the way we talk about the other political party, current affairs

we have this access to these different platforms and it leaves us with this feeling that we need to voice our opinion, regardless of how ignorant we are on a topic

Romans 12:18-21 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head., 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Our country is divided… and as divided as we were in 2016, I would venture to say that it is worse

the question is, are you adding to it, or seeking to make it better

seeking to make it better does not mean that you tell the others why they are so wrong

and in terms of politics, I hate to be the one to inform you, but there are good solid christians on both sides of the political isle… they may not be the ones you hear from the most

I struggle with this… watch you mouth

watch what we are saying

in our nation, with social media and everything else where everyone has a voice, are you speaking peace over things

Between the lost and God

Our job is not to correct the behavior of the lost… our job is to love them and point them to the Lord

what Jesus did… everything that he did, pointed to the father

am I saying that our desire for people to be reconciled with God should trump everything else

YES!

more than our political leanings, more than our opinions on social issues

more than our comforts or success we are followers of Jesus Christ and are called to make disciples

in all nations starting right here at home