Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers

June 19, 2022 - Lamar Morin - Hoffmantown Church

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers - We all want peace

4 Identifiers

• Personal Peace - one who has personal peace (shalom - an overall sense of wholeness and completeness); this is an absence of trouble and trials; wholeness; absence of trials. 
• Personal Pursuit - it is not to love peace, but to make peace. This is one who is making peace. Face it. Deal with it. Solve it. 
• Romans 14:19 - So then [This is a command:] we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
• Pain and Purity - Willing to risk pain and not let things slide. Is it worth the fight? Be honest with oneself. Purity of motive. 
• Jeremiah 6:14 - “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace."
• It is not enough to want peace. Peace must be fought for. [Personal - is this why we go to war? There is unrest and we want peace.]
• Price to be Paid - It is not easy. Must be willing to pay a price. 
• Colossians 1:19-20 - 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
• The Father made peace through the blood of the cross. God wanted peace with man. It was achieved through the blood of the cross Jesus bore our sins on. There is pain in the process. 
• Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace. 

Peace Robbers

• Sin - Until sin changes to righteousness there can't be peace. We are blinded by sin. Sin stains and strife follows. 
• Isaiah 48:22 - “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.
• Arguing - The elder/pastor qualifications are to be peaceful, not quarrelsome. We don't want to be a people that stirs up fights. But, we are also tempted to always be right. 
• Anger/Bitterness - Our anger will get the best of us. Hebrews 12:15 - See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
• Worry - I Peter 5:6-7 - 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Peace Promoters

• Look to God - I Cor 14:33 - for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
• Language - Prov. 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Mentioned a Fort Worth pastor from the early part of 20th century, J. Frank Norris, who in the pulpit criticized people. 
• Learn - We need to learn to pray for peace. 
• Lead - Lead with selflessness and sacrifice. 
• Look On - Look on to God's Word
• Lovingly - lovingly seek forgiveness

Peacemakers are called sons of God. We don't become sons of God by making peace. There is also the word "they" meaning our peace making affects more than one person. Nothing compares to being a child of God.