What I have Learned About Making Peace
Matthew 5:9
February 10, 2019 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Matthew 5:1-9)
A. We are in the Beatitudes - Learning how to live in the kingdom of God
B. We are focusing this morning on beatitude number 7… Blessed are the Peacemakers
C. There are three kinds of people in this room this morning
1. Peace-breakers
2. Peace-fakers
3. Peace-makers
4. Peace-breakers
a. They love a good argument - are quick to fight, never walk away from a fight without “winning”.
b. They rely on manipulation, a sharp tongue, or overt anger to compel others to give in to our wishes. Both of these approaches can wreak havoc on families, reducing them to superficial coexistence or burned-out battlegrounds.
5. Peace-fakers
a. Just never stand for anything - just keeps quiet
b. Deny that they have problems, are always giving in, or becoming distant from family members.
6. Peace-makers
a. These kind of people draw on God’s grace and practice the powerful peacemaking principles God has given to us in His Word.
b. Making real peace requires a lot of WORK and CHANGE (it is not magic), but it is the surest way to preserve your marriage and see your family mature in love, in character, and in its witness for Christ.
7. Which one are you?
D. Most people have no idea what real peace is or looks like
1. Definition: Peace is Being Free from agitation and frustration, from the grip of fear, or of terror, and anger, and any anxiety or the like; it is the quietness of mind; a tranquillity; calmness; and it is a conscience at rest. No stress or worry.
2. Real Peace is so rare… So hard to achieve – read up about marriage counselling and see just how rare real peace is in people’s homes
3. Only God’s people have real peace
a. Ps 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
b. Ps 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
c. Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
d. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
e. Ps 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace (NOT THE WORK OF SIN OR REBELLION); and the effect of righteousness (IS) quietness and assurance for ever.
4. Not so with the ungodly, and rebellious, and closed hearted
a. Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
b. Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
5. It is a priceless gift of the Lord Jesus Jn 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
II. Background
A. The Confusion About Peacemaking
1. We think peacemakers are pacifists only
2. People believe peace is the absence of conflict
3. That we can have peace if there was just no more war, or guns, or knives, or national boarders – if we all just got along
4. Most people who live under conflict believe that having peace means to just always give in and you will have peace!
5. So everyone just says, walk away, or give in
6. And no one is actually doing very well at “peacemaking”
B. The Meaning of a Peacemaker
1. To bring peace between two enemies, or people who disagree
2. To reconcile / reunite two enemies
3. To resolve differences so that two enemies can live in harmony.
4. No one has ever been converted and changed by violence!
a. Restrained, yes
b. But changed? No!
C. The Difficulty of Peacemaking
1. High cost to everybody involved – easier to just stay at war
a. Not only to the people at odds
b. But also to the peacemaker trying to bring things around
c. Psa 120:7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
2. When people are disagreeing, or fighting, or agitated, we usually seek the destruction of our enemies, and their defeat - not their fellowship
3. We humans are Normally ‘At War’
a. It is human nature – to fight, to argue, to demand our rights and our own way
b. We may THINK everything is fine much of the time, but the truth is, if there is any peace in your home, or at work, or on your social media, it is only because there is no conflict at the moment
c. No one seems to really want peace, much less, want to be peacemakers!
d. We are naturally at war
1) Everybody seems to be offended about everything – our generation today loves being offended!
2) Our mind is against God
3) Our nature is against God, and only for ourselves
4) Our flesh, our nature lives in direct opposition to the Spirit of God (Gal 5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
5) We do not naturally know how to get along with someone who disagrees with us
4. If not for supernatural intervention, we would have no hope for our homes or our nation – only hell on earth!
III. Message
A. According to Jesus Christ, Peacemakers are Special Kind of People
1. They Reconcile Enemies – have you ever tried that?
a. Have you ever stepped right into the middle of a fight and work through everything so that the fight is resolved and the offenses forgiven and the fellowship was restored?
b. That takes a special kind of person!
2. Restore families and marriages
a. They don’t give anyone any excuse for all the wrongs and hurts
b. They don’t help anyone execute justice and revenge
c. Peacemakers just always believe God can and will restore things! That who GOD is – a FIXER, REPAIRER, RESTORER
d. That’s why Christian counsellors are pretty cool – they actually help
3. Build bridges across infinite distances – seriously!
a. My Dad was a great civil engineer – that means he knew how to design and build massive bridges and roads
b. But the greatest “engineers” are those people who help build bridges between two enemies, that saves them from assured destruction
4. Listen and Learn, and Help People Change
a. They don’t just come in with all guns firing telling people what they need to do
b. They do what other people refuse to do – LISTEN and HEAR what is really being said
c. And they, like a good coach, stay with people through the needed changes
5. See more than the problems between two people – they see what God meant for those two people to be
6. Make a difference to the core of people’s lives
7. The world is in need of a load of peacemakers today
B. Examples of Peacemakers
1. The Bible is FULL of Peace-FAKERS, and Peace-BREAKERS
a. Most politicians are peace-FAKERS
b. The antichrist will be the greatest peace-FAKER
2. But thank God for Peace-MAKERS, like…
3. Abraham (Gen 13:8,9)
a. Family trouble between Uncle Abraham and his nephew Lot
b. Abraham sought peace between them
c. Lot only sought advancement and wealth
d. Abraham brought peace between his growing farm and Lot’s
4. Isaac (Genesis 26:12-22,32,33)
a. He and his men were busy digging wells in the desert for the cattle
b. The Philistines were envious of his wealth and set out to fill in all the wells Isaac and his men had worked so hard to dig
c. Isaac did not go to war – many nations have gone to war over water
d. He just moved on in the interests of peace
e. But the people of Gerar fought over water rights
f. Isaac and his men dug many wells, but lost almost all of them, until finally God gave them a couple of wells without conflict called Rehoboth and Beersheba
g. By the way ‘Beer’ is a Hebrew word that does NOT mean malted drink, but WATER!
5. Joseph (Gen 45:1-11)
a. His brothers hated him and wanted him dead
b. Sold him into slavery into Egypt - thought he was dead and gone
c. 22 years later, when they appear in Egypt looking for help, he could have revenged all his hurts, but instead, he made peace with his brothers!
d. Did not wait for THEM to do the right thing and humble themselves and beg his forgiveness… HE was way ahead of them and had forgiven them already in his heart, and loved and missed them, and made a way to RESTORE their relationship!
e. Joseph was a peacemaker!
6. The Offensive Brother (Matthew 5:23,24)
a. Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
b. Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
7. The Offended Brother (Mark 11:25,26)
a. Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
b. Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
8. And there are about a dozen more, including…
a. Abigal – saved her entire household from slaughter by wise intervention!
b. Phinehas – saved thousands of the Jews from oncoming judgment by intervening and getting rid of public sin right in front of the people
c. The Old Testament High Priests – that was their primary job – to atone (make one) sinful men and God through the sacrifice of innocent lambs in their place
9. The Bible is a record of GOD making peace with MANKIND
C. The Greatest Peacemaker - Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
1. All mankind is in trouble with God – and we all know it!
a. Mankind are rebels towards God and His will
b. Man is at war with God – plain and simple. Don’t be deceived thinking everything is honky-dory simply because God hasn’t struck you and I dead yet!
c. Carnal, self-loving Christians are at war with God
1) James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
d. And no one can win this war – Only God wins in the end
1) John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2. Most people do not know how to be at peace with the world around them
a. The 20th Century was filled with more war and death than all wars throughout all of time combined!
b. So people are stressed out and overwhelmed more and more
3. People don’t know even how to be at peace with THEMSELVES
a. Hate who they are
b. Constantly try and change who and what they are
c. Hate people who are content with who they are
4. So, thank God that GOD seeks to make peace with US!
a. Not by ignoring wrong doing, or changing the laws to allow for sin
b. But by paying for our sin and then changing the rebellion IN US – called TRANSFORMATION!
5. Jesus is our Peace
a. First between us and God
b. Then between us and the brethren
c. Then with ourselves
d. And ultimately with our enemies
e. Jesus took the blame and the punishment for our offenses against GOD
1) Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
2) Nothing you do brings peace where it matters – between us and God
3) Jesus is the reason why we and God can be family – be close – be not at war
f. Listen to Ephesians 2:11-19
1) Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye (THAT’S US) being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision (DEROGITORY TERM) by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
2) Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (THAT WAS US)
3) Eph 2:13 But NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (CLOSE) by the (SHED) blood of Christ.
4) Eph 2:14 For (READ THIS) he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (BETWEEN US AND GOD)
5) Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity (WAR), even the law of commandments contained in ordinances (THAT WAS AGAINST US); for to make in himself of twain (JEW AND GENTILE) one new man, so making (WHAT?) peace;
6) Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both (JEW AND GENTILE) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain (KILLED) the enmity (WARFARE) thereby:
7) Eph 2:17 And (JESUS) came and preached peace to you (US GENTILES) which were afar off, and to them (JEWS) that were nigh.
8) Eph 2:18 For through him (JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
9) Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the (JEWISH) saints, and of the household of God;
10) Wow!
g. Colossians 1:20,21 summarize it… And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
h. Listen to how God describes His Son… Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
i. Jesus proved His ability to make PEACE when He made the wind and storm to be at peace (Mk 4:39)
j. And then to top it all off, Jesus gives us His peace (John 14:27)
k. And then calls us all to be peacemakers with that same peace!
D. That’s Why WE Are Called to be Peacemakers Now
1. The Gospel is… Jesus laid down His life to make peace between God and sinners
a. There is NO real peace apart from a relationship with God (Romans 5:1). What may masquerade as worldly peace is merely a temporary lull in chaos (John 14:27).
b. True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22).
2. When WE take that message of peace to others, WE become peacemakers (Romans 10:15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
3. Those who bring reconciliation to broken relationships are carrying on the work of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
4. God delights in those who bring the gospel to the lost and calls them “beautiful” (Isaiah 52:7).
5. Those who give of themselves as Jesus did in order that others may know God are called "blessed."
6. So, who are Peacemakers in this room now?
a. Soul-winners – Ambassadors – are peacemakers
b. Pastors and Bible teachers – counsellors – peace-makers
c. The person in the middle of a conflict in their home or work or school who seeks peace instead of more conflict, and makes the first move
d. Christians who seek to change our world and save it instead of just co-exist in it
e. Who see the true condition of the world around them – lost and in trouble with God and headed for more war
E. The Truths About Peacemakers
1. Offenses Will Always Happen
a. Offenses will come. If we suppose we can walk through this life and never be offended, we are living in a fairy tale. The question isn’t whether or not we’ll ever be offended, but how will we deal with that offense. However, Jesus warned us that it is a serious and dangerous thing to offend someone. He said, “For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.”
b. There will always be wars and rumours of coming wars
c. There will always be conflicts and clashes and quarrels and arguments
d. There will always be tensions and controversies
e. It is how things are in this world – NOT in the Kingdom of God, ut in this world!
2. Peacemakers Resemble their Father
a. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” he is not telling us how to become a son of God. Rather, Jesus is simply saying that sons of God are, in fact, peacemakers. People who are peacemakers will be recognized as the sons of God at the judgment and welcomed into the Father’s house.
b. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
c. He is the Source of All peace 1Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
3. Anyone can be a peacemaker
a. You just need to follow Christ’s lead
b. You need to be careful with what you say – not everything that comes into your head should be said by your mouth!
c. You just need to CARE about other people MORE than you care about yourself! THIS is our biggest problem!
4. Peacemakers are More than Tolerant - They Please the Lord, Not People
a. Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
b. Jesus never implies anyone should ever tolerate SIN.
c. The idea of tolerance sounds “loving” and “Christ-like” until you get on an airplane with some guy that believes he’s doing God a favour by blowing you up!
d. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, but His purpose in doing so was to be at peace with them as sinners, but to make THEM more like HIM
e. Woe unto the churches and modern attitudes that make HIM more like SINNERS!
f. A peacemaker works to bring people OUT of sinful habits and bondage
g. Works hard to restore what is BROKEN – not make people comfortable IN their brokenness!
h. AMEN!
5. They Make the First Move – Seek Reconciliation
a. Get Along With Everybody Possible - Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
b. Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
6. They Forgive Fast and Completely
7. They Need the Filling Power of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:22)
8. They had to make peace with their own enemies
a. Mat 18:21,22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
F. Lastly, Three Blessings of Peacemaking
1. A Great Testimony to the World - they shall be CALLED the children of God
a. Not the sons of THUNDER like James and John were known at first
b. Because of their fiery opinions and attitudes about things
c. Peacemakers get people’s attention – that’s why EVERY politician wants to be seen as someone who “brings people together” – YEAH RIGHT!
2. Lasting Work in the World
a. War destroys
b. Peacemakers give life, and resurrection dead marriages and broken homes and estranged relationships!
c. THAT is something that lasts!
3. The Best Work in the World – Most Satisfying
a. If you EVER get to lead your son or daughter to faith in Jesus Christ, it will floor you! Thrill you! Bless your home and heart!
b. If you ever lead some sinner to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, you might just want to quit your job and do it full time for the rest of your life!
c. I DID!
IV.Conclusion
A. There are three kinds of people in this room this morning
1. Peace-breakers
2. Peace-fakers
3. Peace-makers
4. Which one are you?
B. It is super difficult being a Peacemaker
C. But, According to Jesus Christ, Peacemakers are Special Kind of People
D. The Greatest Peacemaker - Jesus, the Son of God
E. Make the First Move – Seek Reconciliation
F. Forgive Fast and Completely
G. Realize YOUR need for the Filling Power of the Holy Spirit
1. We cannot FORCE peace on anyone – we can only offer peace, and keep trying to intervene
2. People have to WANT to be changed!
a. We are not Magicians, or Hypnotists – can’t just wave a wand and bring peace.
b. At least one person in conflict needs to seek it – GOD already has
3. Someone needs to lose the war – Jesus already lost everything so that the whole world could win in the end
4. Someone needs to STOP accepting false peace, and start fixing the conflicts that really matter
a. Between you and God
b. Between you and yourself – so many HATE themselves! At war with themselves
c. Between you and your family
d. Between you and the brethren
e. And then you will be able to be at peace with even your worst enemies