Blessed Are Those That Are Peacemakers
Beatitudes Of The Bible • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Over the last several weeks we have been studying through the theme of the “Beatitudes Of The Bible.”
We began in O.T. and now find ourselves in the last few of the beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount which means we are now at “Blessed Are Those That Are Peacemakers.”
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
I must say this lesson turned out different than I anticipated as far as the reality behind this blessing.
So let’s dive into our lesson for today.
The Peacemaker
The Peacemaker
Physical War.
Physical War.
War is a horrible and deviating thing that no one but the truly sick and depraved could enjoy.
Many today, and some here, have seen firsthand the atrocities of war.
WWI & II, Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and so on have caused a great deal of pain in peoples lives.
I remember my uncle at the Vietnam memorial.
A strong man brought to his knees who wept uncontrollably at seeing his friends names there.
On the other hand there is no greater joy from soldiers than hearing the news the war is over and they can come home.
They have made it and peace is here.
As terrible as these wars were and the wars fought even now are they don’t compare to the spiritual war God is in with mankind over his and her soul.
Spiritual War.
Spiritual War.
There is no doubt we are in a spiritual war each and everyday and the Bible is replete with passages concerning it.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
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.
7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
Because of sin mankind is at enmity with God.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The word “enmity” means “a state of deep-seated ill-will.”
This enmity is not God’s fault.
God wants each and everyone of us to possess a peaceful relationship with him not one of “deep-seated ill will,” however he won’t stop us from rebelling against him. He will allow us to even hate him if we so choose.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate.
The only way to not be at war but peace with the Father, Son, and Spirit is to be reconciled to God.
And fortunately for all of us God has already sent the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) to bring us peace and all others who desire it.
It’s this peace that Jesus has in mind when He declares “blessed are the peacemakers.”
Peace For All.
Peace For All.
The child of God is already assumed so how does one that is already at peace with God become a “peacemaker?”
We become peacemakers when we teach the lost and bring others to the Prince of Peace.
Let’s look for a moment at whom we are “bring” those at enmity with God to.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When we “bring others to Christ” we are bringing them to the Prince of Peace.
We are bringing them to the only one that can bring true peace to their lives it’s in that sense we become peacemakers to those that obey the gospel and find the peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ.
We didn’t create the peace, but we did help make it possible for them to achieve peace.
Summary
Summary
There is not a more noble work in all the world nor a higher calling in all the world than teaching the lost how to find peace in Christ.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
The reason every child of God should be striving to be “peacemakers” is because they shall be called…
Sons Of God
Sons Of God
Our Earthly Father.
Our Earthly Father.
There are many characteristics of my dad, George Rowell, that I strive to emulate in my life today.
Those that know him know he has a good name, is well respected, and a fine Christian man.
I’m honored when someone says to me “You’re a chip off the old block.”
Our Heavenly Father.
Our Heavenly Father.
God the Father, whom you and I are here to worship today, is the “God of peace.”
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Since God the Father is the God of peace (Hebrews 13:20), Jesus the Christ is the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the gospel is the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) then those who strive to be the “disciple of God” will also desire to bring others to that same peace they have.
Summary
Summary
When we mimic our Father’s desire for the souls of all his creation we then truly show ourselves to be sons of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
War is a nasty, vile, horrific thing that brings much pain and agony.
Uncle Jerry at the Vietnam War Memorial: A man I had never seen cry was brought to uncontrollable tears at the site of his friends that didn’t make it during the war.
Think of the untold millions that agonize and cry over the loss of their friends lives in war.
How much more should we feel over the soul that dies “outside” our Lord?
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.