May it please the Lord to be
with us and bless us this evening as we meditate further in his
word and in the Sermon on the Mount which we've been considering
the last few weeks. Let us turn to the Gospel of
Matthew chapter 5 and we'll read the ninth verse. The Gospel of
Matthew chapter 5 and reading verse 9. Blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called the children of God." It is indeed
a wonderful situation to be amongst those who are called the children
of God, who indeed are God's children. those whom he has called,
those whom he has led and directed, and those whom he has blessed. And the evidence of that favour
is to be numbered amongst those who are called here, who are
blessed, and they are spoken of as peacemakers. Well, by nature,
you know, we're not peace-loving, are we, really? By nature. We
want certain things and we desire certain things and we really
discount peace up to a certain extent with regards to our brethren
and the situation in the world. We see how often today there's
war here and war there. You see, people are so proud
and so selfish, they don't really desire peace above everything
else. They may say so, but in the heart of man, there is that
sinful situation which really seeks after the preeminence rather
than being blessed with that humble spirit and willing to
be a peacemaker. And quite clearly that means
what it says, to make peace, not make trouble. It doesn't
say blessed are the troublemakers. It says blessed are the peacemakers. So it's good for us to have such
examples in the Word of God to instruct us in these right and
gracious ways and there are many many examples of peace in the
Word of God but just this evening touching on one or two and in
the 34th psalm that's a well-known psalm and in that psalm we read
in the 14th verse these words depart from evil which we would
acknowledge is necessary and do good, which I'm sure we would
also desire to be amongst, and seek peace and pursue it. So we are to seek out peace,
remember, blessed are the peacemakers, that we are to seek peace and
to pursue it. That means to desire it might
indeed come about, not to just be mere lip service. but indeed
may it come from our heart. And so may we recognise the great
truth of the words spoken here by David. David realised the
need of it, he realised it in his own life and he realised
what a blessing it was to be granted that ability to seek
peace and then to pursue it. Well, blessed are the pure in
heart, As we read last week, surely this runs in the same
line as this, because it's the desire to do that which is God
honouring, which does bring honour and glory to God to be a peacemaker. And we read in the Epistle of
Paul to the Romans, again words of gracious instruction. And in the twelfth chapter, we
read in the 18th verse, something to encourage us, where it says,
if it be possible, as much as life in you, live peaceably with
all men. And that's a very strong statement,
isn't it, when you think of it. If it be possible. Well, if we
analyse things carefully, we will find that many things are
not possible. But here is something which is
possible, and if it is possible, as much as life in you, live
peaceably with all men." And that of course is comprehensive,
when it says all men, it speaks of course of those who are believers,
those who are children of God, but also those that we mix with
in our daily work or school, We should be concerned to be
found here living peaceably with them and not causing problems. It's very easy, isn't it, to
cause problems. But what a blessing it is to
have here what we must illustrate as a Christ-like spirit, blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children
of God." So to remember then, this word that the Apostle tells
us here, that we may be truly numbered amongst those, that
if it's possible, as much as life in you, live peaceably with
all men. And then we read together the
14th chapter to the Romans and again, The Apostle Paul speaks
here of the blessing and favour of really being a peacemaker
and he tells us in the 19th verse of the 14th chapter, let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith
one may edify one another. You see how those two situations
are joined together, peace and edification, and I'm sure our
concern should be that we do desire to edify one another,
to encourage one another in the things of God, and so here we
have this great statement, which make for peace. That's what we
are to follow after. Lord Jesus gives us so many examples,
doesn't it? How many times in his life he
could have followed the opposite way. But here we have his words,
blessed are the peacemakers. And so the Apostle really takes
up these words when he speaks to us in this way and tells us,
let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace. And Previously, in this chapter,
the Apostle has said, for the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. See, that's the wonderful evidence
of God's work. His righteousness, His peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth
Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. And then he comes, let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace. Well, it's a
good thing then if we desire to be peacemakers. Those who
desire to make peace. It's very pleasant, isn't it?
To walk together in peace, in love, and union, how clearly
and positively love is joined to peace. Blessed are then the
peacemakers. And when Paul wrote to the Galatians,
he again goes through a list of blessings and he tells us,
as we know, the works of the flesh And then he also tells
us the fruit of the Spirit. And how good it is, and I'm sure
we desire to have those evidences of the fruit of the Spirit. And he tells us here, what is
it? He says, love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith. And so he goes on. But it's important
that we recognise Blessed are the peacemakers. And so the Apostle
tells us the fruit of the Spirit, the blessed evidence of God's
work in our soul, is to be a peacemaker. It is, of course, to be amongst
those who show love and joy and peace. peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness and faith. Well and again the Apostle carries
on when he speaks to the Ephesians. You remember we read last week
the fourth chapter to the Ephesians where there is very much a gracious
instruction in these things and he tells us in this fourth chapter
and the beginning he says I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
with all lowliness and meekness and long-suffering, forbearing
one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace." We can see from this that it may not
always be easy. and there is therefore a need
to endeavour, endeavouring, to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. Well, these are the gracious
words of the Apostle as he addresses the churches and then also as
he speaks to his son Timothy. There's much instruction when
the apostle writes to his son Timothy and in the second epistle
and the second chapter and the 22nd verse we read, flee also
youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. with them that call on the Lord
out of a pure heart. about the pureness of the heart
and here we have this linked really with peace when the Apostle
speaks and tells us here that there should be this desire to
walk with faith, charity and peace with them that call on
the Lord out of a pure heart. So surely this would be one of
those things which joins the Church of God together, peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children
of God and what I'm sure we all desire to be amongst those who
are indeed the children of God well we have these many examples
in the word of God to encourage us and to instruct us in these
things and we come to the epistle of James and James has much to
say much to instruct the people of God in and so he tells us
in the third chapter we read these verses but the wisdom that
is from above see that's not our natural wisdom that's the
wisdom that God gives to us but the wisdom that is from above
is first pure then peaceable gentle and easy to be entreated
full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without
hypocrisy. And James in his little epistle
can be very pithy, but here we have these words spoken in a
very gracious manner that you and I might take heed of as good
servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering that the wisdom from
God is pure and then peaceable. Well, what a blessing it is if
the Lord grants us this peace, because the following verse tells
us, and the fruit of righteousness, and the evidence of it, is sown
in peace of them that make peace. So how much glory there is as
we look at the word of God to encourage us in these great and
wonderful truths that speak to our hearts and then just finally
this evening in the epistle of Peter and Peter tells us in the
third chapter and the eleventh verse we read this let him well
let's read the previous verse for he that will love life and
see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his
lips that they speak no guile, let him eschew evil and do good,
let him seek peace and ensue it." You may say, what does ensue
mean? Well it means to cause something
to come into being. So surely here is a very clear
desire that this peace might come into being. let him eschew
evil and do good, and let him seek peace and eschew it, that
it might come, this peace, into being." Well, just a few remarks
then on this this evening. What a mercy it would be if we
have then the desire to truly be a peacemaker. Because if we
are, then we are classified as blessed. Blessed are the peacemakers
and The good statement is, for they shall be called the children
of God. Oh, what a mercy tonight, if
we're all found to be those who are peacemakers, who will be
enumerated as blessed, and will all be called the children of
God. Amen.