Blessed Are The Peacemakers

We are in week 7 of our series “An Upside Down Kingdom”

We are going through the Beatitudes that Jesus started the Sermon on the Mount with.

These are characteristics that followers of Jesus should be living by.

Matthew 5:3-8 “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.”

If you missed any of these messages you can find them on our website, app, Facebook page, or YouTube channel.

Today we are jumping into verse 9.

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

This kind of peace is not the peace we talk about when it comes to the peace that God gives us like in Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That’s peace that only God can give us in which we have confidence in who God is and that He is with us!

This also isn’t talking about us being at peace with God.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

When you come to faith in Jesus Christ you have been justified or made righteous by God and you now have peace with God.

That’s not what this is talking about.

This is talking about peace with other people.

If you need a peacemaker that means something is happening.

There’s a word that comes to mind.

CONFLICT

Conflict is the opposite of peace.

The definition of conflict is, “a serious disagreement or argument, clash or battle.”

Isn't it good to know that we live in a country where there is no conflict!!

All we hear about is the different conflicts going on in our country.

Just watch the news and all it reports on are different conflicts.

Political conflict

Racial conflict

Economic conflict

Etc.

People make millions of dollars making reality shows that put people with strong personalities together because they know there will be conflict within the group and it’s entertaining to watch people handle conflict.

And it’s really easy for us to get caught up in conflicts.

We feed into it.

Things like social media have escalated conflicts in our lives.

Because now we can sit behind a keyboard and say everything we’ve ever wanted to say and just let people have it.

And then we can sit back and watch the fireworks as people respond in anger with one another.

The other day a person that I know posted on Facebook, “Do I have white privilege?”

I’m sure I don’t need to say much because you all probably know how that conversation went on there.

People on both sides stating their opinions on the matter.

And the truth is they’re not really accomplishing anything.

I don’t know anyone who has changed their opinion or view of something because of something someone said on Facebook.

But conflict is everywhere.

I don’t go on social media nearly as much as I used to because I found myself just getting angry every time I look at stuff.

It’s not worth it to me.

A lot of people would have WAY less stress in their lives if they just stayed off social media.

But the fact is it’s here and people use it.

So how should we use it as believers?

I think this scripture will help us figure that out today.

Naturally when we think of a peacemaker we probably think that it’s someone who just stays out of conflict.

What do we say when there are no wars going on between two countries?

We say there is peace between them.

So a peacemaker would be someone who gets a group of people who would be fighting to not fight anymore.

But that’s not what Jesus is saying when he uses this word.

Which this is the only scripture in the New Testament that uses this word peacemaker.

But one of the definitions of this word is, “reconciler”.

So a peacemaker is not just someone who keeps two groups of people from fighting, but he actually causes them to reconcile, to forgive.

Someone defined it this way, “A peacemaker is someone who takes responsibility for reconciling broken relationships.”

So Jesus is saying that not only should we be keeping others from fighting but WE should be the ones that are helping them reconcile.

My question to us today is are we doing that?

Or are we part of the problem that is causing conflict or at least helping stir the conflict up?

So this morning we are going to look at what Peacemakers are and what they ARE NOT!

PEACEMAKERS ARE NOT ANTAGONISTS

I think too many Christians today are more interested in being antagonists to the world rather than finding peace with them.

We say things and post things not because we truly want to show people the truth but we want to upset people.

Like when people post something on social media like, “Homosexuality is a sin!”

What they said is 100% true.

So many of you might be thinking, why would that be a bad thing to post?

Because a lot of times when people post something like that it’s not to try to teach someone the truth of the Word of God.

It’s meant to tick somebody off.

To antagonize somebody.

You know by posting that statement alone it’s going to trigger some people and you don’t care because that was your goal.

You’re accomplishing nothing for the kingdom and all you are doing is causing conflict with others.

That’s the opposite of what Jesus is asking us to do.

You can be a peacemaker and stand up for truth.

We’re supposed to reach the lost for Christ and it’s really hard to do that if all you’re doing is making statements to antagonize people.

You reach the lost by showing them the love of Christ and in the process bringing them back to the Word.

You can’t do that by just making random bold statements on social media that you know will tick people off.

Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Is what you’re saying to people or online helpful or building others up?

Are people actually benefiting from what you’re saying?

Or are you just making people angry on purpose?

PEACEMAKERS ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY ANGER

When’s the last time you lost your temper and what was the result of that?

Was there a lot of peacemaking happening at that moment?

Usually when we lose our temper or let anger control us it ends up bad for everyone.

But anger in itself is not sin.

Anger is an emotion.

God gets angry in the Bible.

Jesus got angry.

We just call that anger righteous anger which it was.

But it was still anger.

The Bible even clears this up for us.

Ephesians 4:26 NIV “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”

So Paul tells us to not sin in our anger.

Meaning, you’re going to have moments when you are going to get angry, the point is not to let that anger control you and cause you to sin.

For example when I’m walking in my living room and step on a razor sharp lego piece, how many of you know the feeling of joy does not come over me!

ANGER comes over me!

And then I think which one of my kids left this deadly trap on the floor for me?

Now it’s natural to feel anger in that moment.

But what I CAN’T do is now take that out on my kids and say things I shouldn’t say.

Or force them to jump on that lego piece over and over again with bare feet!

You can be angry, but don’t let it control you and cause you to sin.

One of the best things you can do in a moment of anger is keep your mouth shut!

Walk away from whatever is causing you anger.

Because anger is an emotion that can cause us to react in a way that we will regret later.

So take a breath, walk away, do whatever you need to do to not respond in anger.

And I know that’s easier said than done.

But then Paul says to not let the sun go down on your anger.

Anger is an emotion that you are not meant to hold onto for very long.

Ephesians 4:27 “ and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Hanging onto your anger gives the devil a foothold where he can speak lies to you.

Tell you that you have every right to be angry and to respond in a way that is not what God would want you to do.

So we need to address our anger, acknowledge it, and then try to resolve it before we go to bed at night.

Because if you go to bed angry, chances are you will wake up angry and bitterness will start to creep in.

So a peacemaker does not let anger control them.

If your anger controls you I promise you will have a very difficult time being a peacemaker.

Chances are you’re going to be the antagonist.

Because in your anger you are going to want to make others angry.

PEACEMAKERS LIVE IN HARMONY WITH OTHERS

Romans 12:15-16 NIV “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another...”

Did you know as a believer you should be able to get along with anyone?

That you can live in harmony with even non believers.

That doesn’t mean that you don’t have issues and there’s not things that are really hard for you to handle, but you can get along with anyone.

You know you are living in harmony when you can have a civil conversation with someone at work who has the polar opposite views as you.

But you make your points and you remain calm and don’t lash out and call each other names.

But you just talk and show love and appreciation for each other.

That’s how believers should be around others.

Now if someone is antagonizing you and trying to get you upset then you need to have the discernment and self control to walk away.

But our goal is to live in harmony with everyone.

When you can live in harmony with the world you will have an opportunity to share the truth of the gospel with them.

I’ve known plenty of people in my life that I DID NOT enjoy being around.

For whatever reason they just annoyed me.

I won’t mention any names (Pastor Tim)

But I had to learn to live in harmony with them.

To get along with them.

Because that’s how I am able to reach them.

And to be honest this is easier for me to do than others.

Every personality test or strength finder test I’ve ever taken has always had the same number one characteristic.

HARMONY

I did the Strength Finder test and my number one out of your top five characteristics was harmony.

I took the Enneagram test.

I’m a number 9.

You know what the description for a 9 is?

PEACEMAKER.

Basically I’m the guy when everyone is fighting that stands up and says, “Can’t we all just get along?”

But my natural personality is to want harmony and not have division.

Not everyone is wired that way.

And if you’re not you need to work extra hard to become a peacemaker.

Because ultimately that’s what we’re all called to do.

PEACEMAKERS BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS

The promise that came with this blessing was, “for they will become children of God.”

Peacemakers will be called children of God because they reflect their Father’s character.

If you have kids you’ve probably heard people make comments about your children like, “they are such a mini you.”

“They act just like you.”

Because many times our kids mirror how we live and they also look a lot like us.

It’s easy to tell a lot of the times who our kids are to other people.

People have looked at my oldest daughter or my son and said, “that is definitely a Zudweg!”

Or for my middle child, Penelope, it’s that is definitely Kate’s daughter.

Our kids reflect us.

And as followers of Jesus our lives should reflect HIM!

And our lives reflect Him because He is our heavenly Father and we are His children.

When you give your heart to Jesus you become a son and daughter of the living God!

And one thing that His children should be is peacemakers!

Bottom line is there are times when it’s necessary to fight.

When there is no other option.

Just like as a country we want peace with other countries, but if someone is going to attack us we must fight back.

But the goal is always peace.

That’s how we should live our lives.

Constantly striving for peace with others.

Living in harmony with those around us.

And if we do that successfully I think we will see ourselves be more effective for the kingdom than ever.

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