Fortunate Are The Peacemakers
Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 01 June 2002 19:00
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. "
Illustration: Breadmaker - uses different ingredients and turns them into bread. So a peacemaker takes different circumstances and turns them into peace.
1. PEACEMAKER Descriptive not prescriptive
A. True that being a peacemaker is beneficial.
a. Have more friends.
b. Live with less conflict.
c. Even Biblical promise of joy - Proverbs 12:20 says "There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace."
B. But that's not Jesus point. He's not giving us a teaching about how to live more effectively. He's comparing those who are filled with God to those who keep God at a distance in their lives.
a. That's the point of whole sermon on the mount.
b. Christians live righteous lives. (Mt. 5:20 "For I tell you unless you righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.")
c. Uncle William
C. I said a peacemaker takes different circumstances and turns them into peace. Jesus spells some of that out in Mt. 5:43-45. Look at the kind of circumstances within which Jesus calls us to make peace.
a. Enemies
b. Those who persecute us
D. Questions:
a. Is your life in perpetual conflict?
b. How do you handle conflict? Honestly, lovingly so that genuine peace results?
c. Are you afraid of anger?
d. Is there anyone you would describe as an enemy? How do you feel about them?
e. Genoa, Texas firefighters were accused of starting fires. That's what it is like when Christians start and perpetuate conflict.
2. THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.
<< Illustration: Robin - how much I love her and appreciate her. Dawson - everything I have is his. >>
A. This is the kind of relationship we have with God.
a. "Called" means to be it.
b. Sons of God - in real loving relationship with God of the most intimate kind.
B. How does this happen?
a. Answered by John 1:12 (receive him - means to recognize who he is and to welcome him as the eternal Word, as the source of life. Believe in him - means to make him God of your life.)
b. And Galatians 3:26 (through faith in Christ Jesus - meaning life altering, will bending encounter with God)
c. Not talking about going to church. Not talking about trying to be a good person. Talking about encountering God, allowing Him to work in your life and He makes you a good person.
C. Fathers are terribly important.
a. An avalanche of research over the last couple of decades has demonstrated the importance of fathers in homes. In particular, I believe they influence your view of God. I once heard Christian psychologist H. Norman Wright say that your relationship with your earthly Father was the singlemost important influence over your view of God.
b. I also understand that Father's exercise powerful influence over their daughter's sexuality.
c. And Fathers are the most important influence in shaping the self image of sons.
d. Some of you had wonderful fathers. Great picture of God (like seeing a picture of the Rockies, but the real thing is still breathtaking.)
e. Some of you did not.
f. God wants to be our Father! And when we enter that kind of relationship with Him, our character more and more becomes conformed to His.