Good morning everybody. Happy Sunday. Welcome to The Edge Church. My name is Steven Van Denend and I’m one of the pastors here. For those of you who are joining us for the first time today, welcome. We’re so glad to have you sharing this time with us. For everybody else, welcome back. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to just share God’s word with all of you.
Today we are going to be continuing on in our sermon series that we’re calling Blessed. This is a sermon series where we’ve been looking at one of Jesus’ most famous sermons known as The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus is teaching us about how the truly blessed life is experienced and lived out by those who embody the character of the kingdom of God. And in this, it’s a part of scripture known as the Beatitudes. We find it in Matthew 5. We’ve been in this for the last six weeks. We’ll be in our seventh Beatitude today. So, this is where we’re headed.
I want to encourage you just to take some notes; write some things down. Something that you can hold onto; something that you can pray about over the course of the week; something to reflect on because here’s what I know — that when we open up God’s word, God has something he wants to speak to you. As always at the end of the message, we’ll have a time of reflection. I'll leave you with some questions for you just to consider; maybe for you to journal, for you to talk about with those in your home today or gathered in your house church. But let’s just take a moment to pray. Let’s invite the Lord just to speak to our hearts and prepare our hearts for his word.
Father, we just come before you today in the name of your son, Jesus. God grateful for this opportunity, Lord, to open your word, to hear your word. God, I pray that Lord, for every single one of us that our hearts would be open to you today. God, that our ears would be able to hear your voice, to hear you speak, and God that we would receive every single word that you have to say to us. So what I pray, that even now by your spirit, God, that you would just minister in every heart. God, that you would open up every heart right now to hear from you. God, that I pray against any distraction. I pray against anything that would get in the way of us hearing from you today. God, just let us receive of you. Pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you have your Bible, you can open it up to Matthew 5, and today, as I said, we’re going to focus on the seventh Beatitude that we find in verse nine. And here Jesus says this to us. He says:
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Now how many of you today would love to have peace? Peace in your life, peace in your soul, peace in your family and your relationships, peace in our nation, peace in our world. Doesn’t that just sound Good? This here is probably the least contentious of all the Beatitudes because peace is something that all of us desire in one way or another and yet peace is something that seems so elusive and hard to achieve and hold on to, doesn’t it?
Did you know that over the last 4,000 years or so of recorded human history, that only about 300 of those years have been without a major war? One writer was quoted as saying that peace is merely that brief, glorious moment in history when everyone stops to reload their weapons. Peace is a desire that we all share, but yet war and conflict is the norm. War and conflict, not just out there somewhere in our world and not even just amongst us, but even within us — within our own hearts and our own minds and it is into this reality of our lives and our world that Jesus speaks these words: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Now something important for us to note here and Dave pointed this out a couple of weeks ago in his message, Jesus isn’t making an if-then statement here. Jesus isn’t saying that if you are a person who goes to make peace, then you will become a child of God. Jesus isn’t saying that you can work your way into the family of God, rather Jesus is describing the character of God’s people as an evidence of their salvation. Jesus is saying that those who are truly children of God will be also peacemakers.
Guess what? Children reflect their parents and God is a peacemaking God. Jesus himself has called the Prince of Peace and he came, the Bible says, to make peace between man and God and between us to one another. Peace this way and peace this way, and the order here is really important because, according to God’s word, it has to start in our own hearts, in our relationship with God because everything else then flows from that place. There can never really be peace out here unless there is first peace here. The Bible teaches us that when the first man and woman rebelled and sinned against God that division was the result, that all of creation, all of mankind, including us from that moment forward has been marked by sin and separated from God.
So sin then is our nature. We want, we have a desire, to be Lord of our own life; to go our own way, to do what we want, when we want, how we want. To decide for ourselves what is good and evil, what is true and false, what is right and wrong, and to sit in God’s place. So we end up being contentious. We contend against God, we ignore God, we disobey God and there is a conflict between God and man rather than peace. The Bible tells us that there is nothing in and of ourselves that we can do to fix this or to change our condition. So Jesus comes to bring peace between man and God, by giving up his life unto death on a cross for our sin. Three days later then to be raised again from life, from death to life in victory over sin and death.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, it says that God has done it all. He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us. For God made Christ who never sinned to become sin for us so that we could be made right with God through Christ. Peace doesn’t come by your good works. It comes by you receiving, by faith, Christ’s good work for you. What Jesus has done for you on your behalf, taking your sin and mine upon himself, paying for all of it so that there’s nothing more that you could do to make, or to have peace with God, other than to simply put your hope and your trust in him and to follow him.
Romans 5:1-2 says it like this:
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Peace with God comes through faith in Christ, the Prince of Peace, and by receiving him, we then become children of God.
John 1:12, it says:
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
[Steve says 1 John 1:12 but quotes John 1:12]
Receiving Christ as Lord and savior gives you peace with God and places you into God’s family. It makes you a child, a son or daughter of God. Sons and daughters, children of God, reflect the character of their heavenly Father. So what God loves, his children love; what God pursues, his children pursue and because our father is a peacemaker, we then, as his sons and daughters will also be peacemakers.
In fact, Jesus gave us this ministry and this work. If you look at 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, it tells us:
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Listen, if you belong to God, if you are a son or a daughter of God, then you have been given a peacemaking mission and ministry — a peacemaking message. It begins by you calling all people to be reconciled to God, to turn from their sin and put their trust and their hope in God. There is no higher calling, no higher purpose, no higher ministry than to seek eternal reconciliation between God and people. To share with them, the love and the grace and the truth of God in Christ, that they might know him, that they might receive his salvation and become part of his family embraced by the love of the Father and that peace with God.
Now that word peace here in scripture is this Hebrew word shalom and it means more than the absence of conflict. It actually means that you may have all the righteousness and goodness that God can give, it is God’s highest good to you. We know that God’s righteousness can only come through faith in Christ. Peace without righteousness is just a truce with sin and so real peace begins with us being reconciled to God in Christ.
The question then for all of us today is, have you been reconciled to God? Do you have peace with him today? Because God says that you can. Christ died for you to have peace with God. If you have received Christ and have that peace of God, are you continuing Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation by sharing the good news of Jesus with those God has placed within your sphere of influence, by this is the primary work of a peacemaker? Now, it’s not the only work of a peacemaker but it is the primary work of a peacemaker.
A peacemaker is one who seeks to see others reconciled to God. Also though, a peacemaker is one who seeks reconciliation amongst one another — from us, one to another. Now, something to point out here is that Jesus says, blessed are the peacemakers, not blessed are the peacekeepers. There is a big difference between peacemakers and peacekeepers. Making peace is not something we just naturally have, is really what Jesus is saying. Peace is something that we’re going to have to help bring about. A peacekeeper rather than a peacemaker is one who generally just tries to avoid conflict. Generally speaking, they just ignore it or try to stay out of it.
I’m not talking here about overlooking offense. Overlooking offense is a great thing. It’s a godly thing. Proverbs 19:11 says, good sense or being smart makes one slow to anger and it is his glory to overlook an offense. It is the glory of a mature man or woman of God, walking by the spirit of God, walking in the grace of God, who understands what they themselves have been forgiven of, who have this ability then to absorb and overlook the sins of others against them. Maybe before you say, well, what about, fill in the blank? — and you send me some texts or emails. Let me just say that there are of course times where we can’t simply overlook sin, particularly in situations where there’s a risk of harm, where there’s danger, or where there’s abuse.
I’m talking about offense here, and sometimes God gives you the grace to overlook and absorb it but other times you really just can’t do it. You just can’t seem to shake that offense and here’s how, you know. You know that you haven’t because there is this root of bitterness that starts growing in your heart, where you’re just always frustrated with that person, where you can’t seem to be around them, where you’re no longer willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and you really have a hard time trusting them. That’s not you overlooking, that’s you then avoiding and denying and bitterness is starting to take over.
The Bible says in Hebrews 12:15, it says:
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Bitterness puts you and others in danger. That’s why peacemaking is a serious, God-glorifying work. Avoidance and denying is not peacemaking. Running away from an issue like, “I’ll just get a different job. I’ll just move into a different neighborhood. I’ll just get a divorce. I’ll just find a different church.” That isn’t peacemaking. To be honest, you really don’t have anywhere to go because you’ll still be there and you’re not going to find a workplace, a neighborhood, a relationship or a church where there won't be conflict and where there won’t be sin. Where you won’t be sinned against, and guess what? Where you won’t also sin. It doesn’t exist.
Now, maybe some of you’ve experienced people who don’t avoid. They’re just really aggressive, that they just go on the attack, sometimes even using scripture. They like to bully and they like to intimidate, which also isn’t peacemaking. God says vengeance is mine, instead, they go, “No, no, no, God, don’t worry. I got this one.” Right? “God I'll take care of this. God, I know how to better deal with this person.” If you want to talk about a proud and wicked heart, it is the one who believes that vengeance is better in their hands.
So the aggressor tends to be the one who goes on the attack. They slander and they gossip. They’ll wound someone professionally or financially or the reputation or soul, because they believe that vengeance is justice and that person deserves it. Now they themselves, they don't want that same kind of justice for themselves in their sin. They want mercy for themselves, but vengeful justice upon everyone else.
For others, perhaps they’re not the passive or the avoidant or even the aggressor, they’re just the passive-aggressive. This is the person who won’t go make peace with that person or address that conflict but they sort of make jokes around that person to dig at them. They’re the kind of person who will make posts on social media, that are really a response to someone or to take a dig at someone without ever naming their name or saying anything specific, for the sake of deniability. But, all of that is cowardice. All of that isn’t love and all of that isn’t peacemaking.
A peacemaker does the uncomfortable, God-honoring, reconciling work of entering into hurt and conflict with honesty and integrity and vulnerability to seek godly peace, reconciliation and restoration. This is so important that, to God, that Jesus says just a little bit later in Matthew 5:23-24, he says:
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus is like, listen, if you show up to worship but there isn’t peace between you and a brother or sister and the family of God, you go and you deal with that one first. And notice here, it’s not only, go and deal with your issue. He says also that if you’re just aware of an issue that a brother or sister has with you, okay? He says that you go and deal with that. You go and make peace. You own whatever you can, as much as you can, you be humble, you be gracious and you be reconciled for the sake of your own peace and for their peace and for our peace together as the body of Christ.
Listen, Church, if you are listening right now and there is just somebody or some people that continue to just pop up in your mind as I’m speaking, perhaps you have some peacemaking work to do. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to pray and ask the Lord about how you might step into that because this is serious. This is, it is your calling by God, from God to like your Father, be a peacemaker.
Let me also say this to hear though that it’s important that we don’t equate peacemaking with peace-achieving. A peacemaker longs for peace. A peacemaker works for peace. A peacemaker sacrifices for peace. But that doesn’t mean that peace will come.
Romans 12:18. It says it like this. It says that:
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
In other words, don’t let division and conflict be the result of your unwillingness to contend for peace and reconciliation. But there may be times where the other person isn’t going to participate, where the other person or people, they’re not going to acknowledge, or they’re not going to reciprocate — that happens. And so what scripture is saying is, listen, you own what is yours and let them decide what to do with what’s theirs, because it’s not up to you. You are responsible for doing your part.
Even at other times, there may be an ongoing absence of peace because to have peace would mean being unfaithful to the Lord, in his word. So in that sense, then we’re willing to take on whatever comes against us, whatever hostility or persecution, for the sake of honoring the Lord in his word. This is why being pure in heart comes before being a peacemaker. That’s why James 3:17 says that the wisdom from above is first pure and then peaceable. We don’t pursue peace at the expense of purity. We don’t align ourselves with the world or culture or with a cause at the expense of forsaking our devotion to the Lord and his word. So pursue peace as far as it is up to you and as long as it’s possible while remaining pure in heart and devoted to the Lord.
I want to just wrap up this message by giving you four principles of peacemaking and these are from a great book called The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. I’d encourage you to pick it up, read it, check it out and see. I just believe it will encourage you, bless you and it will teach you about how to be a peacemaker.
Four principles for peacemaking — for being a peacemaker. Let me give you the first one. It’s this:
1. Glorify God.
A peacemaker who is one whose desire is to bring glory to God. It’s not about me. It’s not about my glory. It’s not about what I think and how I think it ought to go. It’s about honoring and glorifying God. And so ask yourself, how can I please and honor and reflect the Lord in this conflict and situation with this person? How does his love and grace towards me compel me to respond? That’s the first one, glorify God.
Here’s the second one:
2. Get the log out of your own eye first.
Scripture speaks about this but essentially, here’s what this means. Start with yourself. Ask yourself, what have I contributed and what do I have to own in this conflict and situation? Have I presumed and assumed some things that maybe I don’t actually know? Am I guilty of reckless words or lies or gossip or falsehood or slander or other kinds of worthless talk? Have I kept my word and fulfilled my responsibilities? Have I treated others the way that I, myself, want to be treated?
Here’s where you can start — start by repenting yourself to God. Start by recognizing, God, there’s things that I haven’t done right in this, and Lord, would you forgive me? I want to turn from those things and God, I just want to seek your help.
Here’s the third thing:
3. Gently Restore.
Ask and consider, how can I lovingly and graciously serve this other person by helping them to take responsibility for their contribution in this conflict? Ask the Lord and consider, what would be the best way for me to approach this person? And when you are with them, share with them honestly and use I-statements. Tell them from your perspective, don’t start using you-statements and go on the attack. That never works. Speak the truth in love, with grace, as someone who also sins and is aware of their need of God’s grace and forgiveness as much as this person does. Listen to them, wait patiently. Ask clarifying questions, reflect on their feelings and agree with them in the places that you can and if you seek to do this and this doesn’t work, suggest inviting a spiritually mature advisor to help assist you both in the process.
Here’s the fourth principle:
4. Go and be reconciled.
Ask, how can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage us to move forward together? Start by asking God to give you a heart that wants to forgive them, that wants to be reconciled because sometimes you don’t, and then actually commit to going and doing that. Don’t just send an email or some long text or post. Don’t just call them on the phone. Go and be with them, unless it’s absolutely impossible to do that. Make it a point to sit down with that person and when you do, own whatever is yours and be specific about it, don't make excuses. Confess what you need to confess. Be humble. Ask for forgiveness for any of your attitudes or your actions and when it’s your opportunity to forgive, really do that.
To really forgive means that you’re not going to keep dwelling on it. It means that you’re not going to keep bringing it back up to use against that person. It means that you’re not going to be talking about it to other people. And it means that you’re not to allow that incident to stand between you and your relationship with that person. To be reconciled as to be restored. It is to come back together. It means that once we were divided and separate and against and now we are unified and together and for each other. It doesn’t mean that trust doesn’t still need to be built, it means that we’re moving in its direction. That’s the heart of God. That is the heart of God towards us to be reconciled with us and for us to experience reconciliation, one to another.
Blessed, Jesus says, are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who have been reconciled to God and who continue in Jesus’ ministry of reconciling mankind to God and us to each other, making peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
I want to just wrap up and leave you today with a few questions in closing; something for you to consider, think about, journal, talk about in your home or talk about with your house church. Three questions. Here they are, really simply.
Number one. What is your biggest takeaway from this message today? What is the one thing that just resonated in your heart, that just stood out to you, that you would say, I know that’s for me?
Here’s the second question. How is it that you tend to deal with conflict? Do you avoid, do you tend to ignore runaway? Are you aggressive or are you more of a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? And why do you think that is?
Here’s the third and final question. In what ways might God be inviting you to grow as a peacemaker? What are some active steps that you could take this week? And in that consider, are there people that are in your life, are there situations, conflicts in your life right now that God just might be inviting you into to be a peacemaker in?
I’m going to just pray for us and then you have the opportunity to either reflect on these questions or just give it a minute or so and we’ll have a closing song together.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this time. God, thank you that you are a peacemaking God, that you did the work, God to reconcile us to yourself, that you came for us. God, I pray that for every single person watching right now, for everyone who will, God, that they would know and experience peace with you. God, that they would know your love and your grace and your truth and God, that you would grant to all repentance, Lord, that all would turn from sin and put their hope and their trust in you. God, thanks for loving us that much to come for us. God, I pray also that God, we would be a peacemaking people. God, that we would reflect you in the ways that God, that we share the good news of Jesus with the people around us, God, and the ways that we enter into conflict and hurt and offense, Lord, to seek peace and to bring about reconciliation and restoration. Lord, would you do that work in our hearts, make us more like you? And God would you just bring to mind if there’s anyone or any situation, Lord, that you would have us step into to bring peace? God, thanks again for your word. Lord, I pray that it would just be a seed planted in hearts that produces good fruit in us and through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.