SF457 - HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS (Matthew 5 9)

SF457

HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Matthew 5:1-10 key v. 9

INTRODUCTION

Series Background

“The Attitudes that Ought to Be”

“Blessed” = satisfied, secured, complete, full of joy

Guiding principles

Ø            All Christians are to be like this.

Ø            All Christians  are to have all of these characteristics.

Ø            These are supernatural in origin.

Ø            These show the difference between Christians and non-Christians.

Ø            Jesus is more interested in who I am than what I have.

Sermon Background

Peace cannot be purchased

West Town Expansion

There is a desperate cry and call for peace.

We can do a great deal but we cannot produce peace.

We have made the world a neighborhood but we cannot make it a brotherhood.

400 + references to peace in the Bible

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1A.          THE ATTRIBUTES OF PEACE

What do we mean by peace?

1B.          What It Is Not...

Appeasement

Getting along with everybody

Everyone has enemies

If you stand for God You will have enemies.

Truce making

Truce is a ceasing of open hostilities.

Just the absence of war

2B.          What It Is

OT - shalom =  safe, well, happy, prosperity,

NT - heirana =harmonious relationship

A Right Relationship with God that leads to a Right Relationship with Self that brings us into a Right Relationship with others.

It is the fruit of righteousness

it is the only way to peace.

(Psalms 85:10)  "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other."

Pure of heart comes before peace.

No peace without Purity

(James 3:17)  "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, ...."

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2A.          THE ADVERSARY OF PEACE

If peace is rooted in righteousness - the lack of peace is rooted in sin!

James 4:1-4

1B.          Three Wars

1C.          War among ourselves (v.1)

“truce” = when we stop to reload

2C.          At war within ourselves (v. 1b)

We are not at peace within therefore we cannot be at peace with anyone else.

3C.          At war with God (v.4)

(Isaiah 48:22)  ""There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked.""

Until you are right with God you will be a trouble maker and not a peace maker.

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2B.          Sin separates men from God and from one another

(Jeremiah 8:11-12)  "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 loathsome 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."

No peace without repentance

3B.          The Bible does not teach peace at any price

(Matthew 10:34)  ""Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Jesus is known as the prince of peace

What does he mean?

I came with a sword of righteousness to divide - like a scalpel it must first hurt before it heals.

God will never make a peace treaty with sin.

You must surrender to God before you can have peace with God.

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3A.          THE ATTAINMENT OF PEACE

1B.          Planned By The Father

(Jeremiah 29:11)  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God plans for you are plans of peace

6 times in the NT He is called the “God of Peace”

2B.          Purchased By The Son

(Ephesians 2:13-14)  "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14} For he himself is our peace,..."

(Colossians 1:19-20)  "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, {20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things, ...by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

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How does the Cross Bring Peace?

Wickedness was confronted

Sin was atoned

God’s greatest righteousness confronted man’s greatest wickedness and righteousness WON!

We don’t make peace - Jesus already has!

3B.          Provided By The Spirit

(Galatians 5:22)  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...,"

John 15 - another comforter

(John 14:27)  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

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4A.          THE AGENTS OF PEACE

“will be call the sons of God”

“sons of God” = to share the nature and character of God

Believers! - You are a sacred agent!

(2 Corinthians 5:18)  "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:"

Characteristics of a Peacemaker...

1B.          Has Made Peace with God

“reconciled us to himself“

2B.          Leads Others to Make Peace with God

“the ministry of reconciliation”

3B.          Makes Peace with Others

(Romans 12:18)  "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

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APPLICATION

Cory Ten Boone

“Look outward you will be distressed. Look inward you will be depressed. Look upward and you will be at rest!”

Do you have peace with God?