Biblical Peacemaking
In the Young Marrieds class on Sunday Mornings, Pastor Matt ¬†has been teaching on the Beatitudes. ¬†It has been a huge blessing and has opened my eyes to many areas in which I am growing. This post is from this past Sunday’s lesson. It is about Peacemakers and it was exactly what I needed this week. This is just the notes from the fill-in paper that we had, but I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.
Matthew 5:1-9 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
This ACCEPTANCE by God began by realizing the extent of my sinfulness – by seeing that I am poor in spirit. (5:3)
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
MOURNING over my own personal sin. (5:4)
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Creating within me a MEEK character toward others as fellow sinners. (5:5)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Developing a hunger for righteousness. (5:6)
Blessed arethey which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Which prepares me to see the OFFENSE others have committed against me, causing me to REMEMBER the offenses I have committed and thereby forgive.
I then see the misery of others and I begin to reach out with the mercy that CHrist gave me first and now SUPPLIES through me to others. (5:7)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
The Beatitudes
When God prohibited the Israelites from mixing with the nations of Canaan, He not only desired to preserve true worshippers, but He also desired to protect His children from the evil religious practices of these nations.
Why would all these cultures do this?
Deep in the heart of every human is the RECOGNITION that the heart is evil.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 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. Colossians 1:19-20
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Because of this truth, there is a domino effect set into motion if this *PEACE has been truly been experienced in your life.
*Salvation
Another way of defining the word “reconcile” is PEACEMAKER.
Christ reconciles man to God and then gives man the ministry of reaching out to others in peacemaking.
Jesus said “peacemakers are sons of God”
That is exactly what occurs within us, the seed of God is implanted within us and we become what it DICTATES.*
*The seeds of the apple are what dictate what it becomes so the seeds planted in us are what we become
We all face at least three common relational scenarios.
Self Others World
How can we practice peacemaking within each area?
SELF РWhat must the peacemaker’s attitude toward himself be?
It must be free from self— surrendered to    God and humble.
OTHERS РWhat must the peacemaker’s attitude toward others be?
We must be merciful— we must feel compassion for the condition of the other person.
WORLD РWhat must the peacemaker’s attitude toward the world be?
It must be concerned about God’s purposes for the world; it must be committed to the ministry of peacemaking.
Jesus calls this ministry a ministry of “peaceMAKING” not “peaceLOVING”
because we are not just lovers of peace but makers of it…
The ministry of peacemaking is a ministry that requires MOVEMENT, activity, INTENTION and work.
Christ reconciles man to God and then gives man the ministry of PASSIVE and ACTIVE peacemaking.
1. Passive Peacemaking
Passive peacemaking has a purpose of maintaining peace where it is DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY.
It is :
Holding OUR WORDS
Not RETALIATING
Overlooking an intentional or unintentional OFFENSE
Not repeating damaging STATEMENTS
Not GOSSIPING
Not being ARGUMENTATIVE
2. Active Peacemaking
Active peacemaking are efforts to make peace once peace has been BROKEN.
It is:
Speaking the truth in love by SHARING the Gospel
Taking positive initiative when there has been a breach— practicing FRIENDLINESS
APOLOGIZING
Seeking SOLUTIONS to conflict
MEDIATING—acting as a third party in resolving conflict
Fostering COMMUNICATION
Promoting UNDERSTANDING
Bringing a PROBLEM out in the open and resolving it
Not AVOIDING conflict but CONFRONTING it gently and appropriately
Diffusing TENSION
One last thought . . .
How do you typically respond when given the opportunity to practice the ministry of reconciliation?
My toes were really stepped on throughout this message… I hope it is a blessing to you!
Tags: peacemaking
That was a lot of reading! Good thoughts though.