Let me remind you that there's
nothing in the scripture more clear as to what a believer is
than the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes tell us what a
believer is. And in verse nine, we read, blessed,
highly favored, having the favor of God, the God of glory, blessed
are the peacemakers. For theirs, no, I mean for they
shall be called the children of God. What could be a greater blessing
than to be called the children of God? God's my father if I'm
a child of God. The omnipotent, holy, sovereign
God of the Bible is my father. He loves me if I'm his child. Blessed are the peacemakers for
they shall be called the children of God, the sons of God. Behold
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we
should be called the sons of God. Now in each of these Beatitudes,
the Lord gives the blessing of being blessed. Those who are blessed to be poor
in spirit, here's their blessing. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn,
mourn over their sin. They only have the comforts of
the gospel of Jesus Christ. They only shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek and only
the meek. They shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. What is
the blessing that they have? They shall be filled, filled
by God. Blessed are the merciful. You
see, it's only the merciful that obtain mercy. If I'm not merciful,
I've never experienced the mercy of God. Blessed are the pure. In heart,
they and they only shall see God. They'll see him as he is
in his word, in the person of his son. What greater, think
of the blessings that are involved in these beatitudes. Seeing God. Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they, they only, shall be called the children of God. Who are the children of God?
the peacemakers, none but them. Am I a peacemaker? Do I know
what it is to be a peacemaker? These who are actively involved,
they're proactive in this thing of peacemaking. Would that describe me? That's
what I'm asking myself. Would that describe you? Peacemakers. Now God is called
the God of peace. What a peaceful word. The peace
of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds
through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is called
the Prince of Peace. God the Holy Spirit, when He
used a physical emblem to let us know about who He is, when
He came down upon the Lord Jesus Christ, He came down in a dove,
the symbol of peace. Gospel preaching is summarized
by Peter with this simple statement. They came preaching peace, By
Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all. Now that summarizes all gospel
preaching. He's the author of peace. He
accomplished peace. He made peace with God by His
precious blood. And what peace it gives us to
know He's Lord of all. He's Lord of everybody, whether
they know it or not. He's in absolute control of everybody
and everything. That's the sovereign of the universe.
What peace there is in that. There's nothing random. There's
no maverick molecule anywhere. He is in absolute sovereign control
as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And there isn't anything
that happens that he was not the first cause behind it. Peace. I love when the Lord closed that last 24 hours with his disciples. In that last sermon that you
can read about in John chapter 16, or John chapter 13 through
16. In John chapter 16, when he closed
it, he says, these things have I spoken unto you, that in me
you might have peace. In the world, you'll have tribulation. Write it down. But be of good
cheer. I have overcome the world. The only thing that gives a believer
peace is being in the Lord Jesus Christ. So that all God sees
when he sees me is he sees Jesus Christ. Me united to him. Christ is the true peacemaker. And we know that the Beatitudes
are most truly embodied by him and he's the true peacemaker.
Would you turn with me for a moment to Colossians chapter one? Verse 20. And having made peace, Colossians
1.20. And having made peace through
the blood of His cross, that violent death, the bloody cross,
He made peace. By Him, to reconcile all things
unto Himself. By Him, I say, I love the way
He repeats Himself there, don't you? By Him, I say. I wanna make
sure you're hearing, it's by Him. It's not by me, it's not
by you, it's by Him. By Him, I say, whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven, and you that were sometimes
or before times alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death. You know, when the Lord died,
God was completely reconciled to everybody He died for. No
reason for anger, completely reconciled in the body of his
flesh through death to present you. Holy. And this is what the blood of
his cross did. This is what his entire work
while for the 33 years he walked on this earth accomplished in
the body of his flesh through death to present you. Holy. and unblameable and unreprovable
in His sight. Now that's what you are right
now because of the blood of the cross. That's what I am right
now because of the blood of the cross. This is in His sight. And He's the only one who sees
right, isn't He? Me and you don't see right. Never
do. He always does. And in his sight,
every believer is holy, unblameable. There's absolutely nothing to
blame you for. But what about the things I've
done? They're gone. Unreprovable in
the very sight of God. Full reconciliation. Listen to
this scripture. I love this. Ephesians chapter
two, verse 14 says, he is our peace. I wish I could speak on
that the way I ought to. He is our peace. Romans chapter 4 verses 25 and
5, 1 says, he was delivered for our offenses, raised again for
our justification. Therefore, being justified. Don't miss this, don't look at
this as, I already know what this means, be amazed by this.
If you're justified, that means you stand before God as having
never sinned and done nothing but that which is pleasing to
Him. And that's what the gospel does. Therefore, being justified
by faith, we have peace with God. through our Lord Jesus Christ. God's at peace with me, he's
not mad at me. He's at peace, there's nothing
more to be angry with. The Lord said, my peace give
I unto you. I love to think of the peace
of Christ, don't you? Never worries, in absolute control of everything.
Oh, what peace he has. He says, my peace I give. unto you." The peace of justification. Because of the peace Christ made,
God's at peace with me. Seeing His peace with me, I have
peace. That's the only thing that gives
me peace is knowing that He's at complete peace with me. Seeing
that, I have peace. Now, peace means a harmonious
relationship. No discord, no quarreling. Peace
between God and man. And isn't it a blessing when
there's peace between men and men? Peace between nations. What a
blessing that is. Peace in the home. What a blessing. Friendliness. Freedom from molestation. Order in the state. Peace and
order in the church. The subjective feeling of peace. Oh, it's a great feeling. I wish
I could bottle it. I don't always feel it, but I
always have it. Peace. The peace that comes from being
content. You're not looking for anything
else. You're not reaching for anything else. You're satisfied.
The peace of contentment. Listen to this scripture. Romans
chapter eight, verse six says, to be carnally minded is death. but to be spiritually minded.
That's the mind given in the new birth. To be spiritually
minded is life and peace. The Lord said to his disciples,
have salt among yourselves and have peace with God. Now, what
did he mean, have salt among yourselves? Well, what did he
say right after he gave the Beatitudes? You who are poor, you who mourn,
you who are meek, you who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
you who are merciful, you who are pure in heart, you who are
peacemakers, you who are persecuted for righteousness sake, you are
the salt of the earth. That's the salt, the salt of
the Beatitudes. Isn't it wonderful to be a friend
with somebody who embodies the Beatitudes. Every believer does.
What a blessing. Have salt among yourselves and
have peace with one another. 2 Corinthians 13, 11 says, be
of one mind, live in peace, and the God of peace shall be with
you. 1 Thessalonians 5, 13, be at
peace among yourselves. First Corinthians 7.15, God has
called us unto peace. Colossians 3.15, let the peace
of God rule in your heart. What's that mean? Let it be the
empire. Let it be the arbitrator. Let
it be the decision maker. Now, the peace that is being
spoken of here is not the peace of compromise in order to avoid
conflict. That's not peace. You know, there
can be great conflict where there is peace. Remember how the Lord
said, think not that I've come to send peace on the earth. I
came not to send peace, but a sword. I've come to set a man at division.
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law, and a man's foes should be they of
his own house." Don't think that this is the piece of just trying
to sweep everything under the rug and get rid of all the conflict.
That's not talking about that at all. Paul said in Romans 12, if it
be possible, if it be possible, as much as in you is, live peaceably
with all men. Sometimes it's not possible.
The wisdom that's from above is first pure, then peaceable. If it's not first pure, it's
a phony peace. First pure, then peaceable, gentle,
easy to be entreated. The writer of the Hebrews said,
follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man
shall see the Lord. Now because of the peace of Christ
in my heart, peace in my home, Peace with my neighbors. You see, I don't want what they
have. What causes war? People want
what they have. I don't want what they have. I want them to
have what I have, though. I want them to know the Lord. Peace
with your neighbors based on the contentment you have in Christ.
Peaceful citizens. Peace with the people I work
with. Most especially, peace in the
church. Endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond
of peace. Blessed are the peacemakers.
There's something they're doing. There's activity involved in
being a peacemaker. Literally, blessed are the peace
doers. They are the children of God. Now turn with me for a moment
to Romans chapter 14. Romans chapter 14, verse 19. And remember this verse of scripture
is just as inspired as Genesis 1, 1. It's just as inspired as
Romans chapter 8. Look what Paul says in Romans
chapter 14, verse 19. Let us therefore follow, pursue
after the things which make for peace. And the things wherewith
one may edify another. Now, the first thing to pursue
for peace is to believe the gospel. What peace there is in believing.
As a matter of fact, Romans chapter 15 verse 13 speaks of the joy
and the peace of believing. Now believing that Jesus Christ
is all in my salvation, all God requires, he's not looking for
anything else out of me, that makes me happy. Joy. And that gives me peace. As a matter of fact, that scripture
says the God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing. So the first thing that makes
peace is believing the gospel, believing that passage of scripture
I just read in Colossians 1 20, that He made peace through the
blood of His cross, that violent death that He endured, suffering
the wrath of God because of my sin, Him taking it to Himself. And oh, how bad my sin must be
because of what Christ had to pay for it. That's the only way
I can understand it. Not by me looking within my own
heart, seeing how bad it is. I can't see it. What Christ had
to pay for. Having made peace through the
blood of His cross. This great reconciling work.
Here's what He did. He made me holy, unblameable,
and unreprovable in His sight." You believe that, you'll have
peace. Pursue the things that make for
peace. And we're peacemakers only by
preaching the gospel and standing for the gospel of peace. No one
will ever have peace with God if they don't hear and believe
the gospel of peace. the peace that Christ accomplished,
the peace expressed in Colossians chapter 1 verses 20 through 22. It's actually the peace of justification. I stand before God Right now,
not in a pretend way, but in a real way, I stand before God
as one who never has sinned and has always done that which is
right. That is what Christ accomplished
on Calvary's tree. I've never sinned. I've never
had a bad motive. I've never had a bad thought.
All I have done is keep God's law perfectly. There is therefore
now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. That's the place of peace in
Christ Jesus. And no one will ever have peace
with God who does not hear and believe the gospel of peace stated
so clearly by the great truth in the scripture of how God can
be just and justify the ungodly. I hope we're always astounded
and amazed by that. And don't think, well, I've got
that down pat. No, that's amazing. That's astounding. Well, let's look at Romans chapter
14, verse 19 again. Let us therefore follow after
the things which make for peace, and things where with one may
edify another. Now, this is talking about being
a peacemaker. We're peacemakers first by preaching,
by believing the gospel. We're peacemakers by preaching
the gospel and standing for the gospel. But turn over and run
back to Romans chapter 12. This is when Paul begins this
speech. He says in verse one, I beseech
you therefore brethren by the mercies of God. that you present your bodies,
that's everything you are, a living sacrifice. Holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service. Anything else is unreasonable.
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say through
the grace given unto me, here's the first thing he says when
he talks about proving that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God. Listen up. I say to the grace given unto
me, to every man that's among you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly. according
as God had dealt to every man the measure of faith. You see,
if I think of myself more highly than I ought to think, you're
all not thinking high enough of me. That's my attitude. You're not appreciating me. You're
not seeing me for, you're offending me. You're not seeing me high
enough. If I'm thinking too high of myself,
I'm thinking you're not thinking right. You ought to be thinking
high of me too. And if I'm thinking high of myself, I'm going to
be thinking lowly of you. I always will. If I'm thinking
of myself too highly, I'm gonna see you too lowly. Now, what's
that going to create? It's certainly not the things
that make the peace, is it? So the first thing he says in this
thing of making peace, and pursuing peace is not to think of yourself
more highly than you ought to think. Look in chapter 13, verse
one. Let every soul be subject unto
the higher powers. For there's no power but of God.
The powers that be are ordained of God. If I believe that, it's
going to be a peaceful environment, isn't it? If I submit to the
powers that be, God put him there. Now look in chapter 14. Him that's weak in the faith. What? Receive ye. but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may
eat all things, another who's weak eats herbs. Let not him
that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him which
eateth not judge him that eateth. For God hath received him. Do
you know what creates more strife than anything else? A judgmental
attitude. Just write it down. That's what
Paul's talking about. Verse four, who are you that
judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth
or falleth, yea, he shall be hold up, for God's able to make
him stand. One man esteemeth one day above
another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth
it unto the Lord, and he that regardeth not the day, to the
Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth the Lord,
for he giveth God thanks. He that eateth not to the Lord,
he eateth not, and he giveth God thanks. For none of us live
to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live,
we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord.
Whether we live, therefore, or die, we're the Lord's. For to
this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might
be Lord both of the dead and the living. I love that verse
of scripture. Somebody dead in sins, he's their Lord. Somebody
that lives to him, he's their Lord too. You see, he's the Lord
of the dead and the living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? And here's what you do when you
judge your brother. Why dost thou set it not, thy brother,
make him to be beneath you? For we shall all stand before
the judgment seat of Christ. And that's not saying we're gonna
stand to be judged, means we're gonna stand accepted. That brother
you're judging, Lord doesn't judge him, he's accepted. You are too. Verse 11, for as
it's written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow
to me and every tongue shall confess to God So then every
one of us should give an account of himself to God. Let us not
therefore judge one another anymore. Wouldn't this place be a place
of absolute peace if there wasn't any judging going on at all? I'm so ashamed that I'm so quick
to judge. Oh, I'm so quick to judge. I'm
a judgmental person. and it's a sin every time I do
it. Sin against God, I have no business doing it. Let us therefore
not judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no
man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's
way. Now I know in him persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there's
nothing unclean of itself, but to him that esteemeth anything
to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved
with thy meat, Now walkest thou not charitably? Destroy not him
with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good
be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost. For he that in these things serveth
Christ is acceptable to God. and approved of men, let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace, and the things
wherewith we may edify one another." And perhaps the single biggest
enemy to peace is being a judge and a critic. So certainly a way of being a
peacemaker is not being a judge and a critic. Now I want to give
you 10 reasons not to judge. And I can, when I'm giving these things,
I'm almost embarrassed because I know I've failed so terribly
at them. But here's the first reason,
the Lord said not to judge. Judge not, it's a command. You
judge me, you're committing a sin. I judge you, I'm committing a
sin. Judge not. Judge not. Number two, anytime I judge,
I am being a hypocrite. Paul put it this way in Romans
chapter two, verse one. Therefore thou art inexcusable,
O man, whosoever thou art that judgest, for thou that judgest
doest the same thing. Somebody says, I'm not doing
those things. God says you are. If you're not doing them outwardly,
you're doing them inwardly. And it's just as bad on his side. Whatever you're judging somebody
for, you're guilty of committing the same things that you're judging
them for. That's what the Bible says. And
I'm so confident that what God says is right. Anytime I judge
somebody, all I'm doing is exposing myself as a hypocrite because
I'm doing the same thing. That's what God says. Third reason, when we judge someone,
our brother, now you know this doesn't mean we don't have an
opinion as to what the word of God says about something, of
course we do. Of course we do, but this thing of judging, when
we judge someone, we assume a position that only belongs to God. James said, when we judge our
brother, we're not a doer of the law, but a judge. And then
he says, you, who are you to judge somebody else? Only God is judge. You and I have no right to assume
the position that belongs only to Him. The fifth reason is, Or the fourth
reason is we never have enough information to make an accurate
judgment anyway. You just don't know what somebody's
going through. You don't know what's bringing it up. You and
I are incapable of making an accurate judgment because we
don't have all the facts. We don't. alleged. We just don't really
have the facts and so we are wrong in making these judgments. Five, the person I'm judging
doesn't answer to me. I already read that where Paul
said, who are you to judge another manservant? The person I'm judging just doesn't
answer to me. The answer is to the Lord. Here's a powerful thought. Sinners
drew near to the Lord Jesus Christ. They didn't feel judged. They
didn't feel threatened. They didn't feel condemned. Now,
he had a life that was utterly holy, perfect, harmless, undefiled,
yet sinners drew near for to hear him. They didn't feel like
they were under his microscope. What character? Judging is contrary
to love. Love covers a transgression. It's contrary to the law of Christ.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual,
restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself,
lest you also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ. Here's the ninth reason, if we
judge, we'll be judged. Judge not that you be not judged. Now, that doesn't mean if I judge
somebody, on judgment day, I'm gonna be judged by God and sent
to hell. It doesn't mean that. Well, I'm thankful, aren't you?
I'd be in trouble if that's what it did mean. What does it mean? When you judge me, I see every
fault you have, every flaw, every inconsistency, plenty of it. But if you just accept me, receive
me, then you're a great person. I like you. I don't see your
flaws. That's what the Lord means when
he says, judge not that you be not judged. If I judge you, if
you feel like I'm being judgmental toward you and looking you over
all the time, you're going to see every contradiction in me
so clearly. You're even going to be looking
for it. You can see it well enough, but you'll be looking for it
if that's the case. Judge not that you be not judged. And we, in judging, are practicing
the religion of the Pharisee. He spake a parable to certain
which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised
others. Now here is the problem with
us judging. Now I wish the next time I'm
offended by someone, I'll just overlook it. Just overlook it. Remembering, as James said, in
many things, we offend all. Somebody offends you, well, you've
offended plenty of other people, even worse than that. So just
overlook it and keep from looking harshly and judging that person
who's offended you and laying awake at night and fantasizing
how you'd like to tell them off. See, I know this because I'm
exposing myself. Overlook it. First Thessalonians 4, 11 says,
study to be quiet and do your own business. Now, you know what
that means? Give every effort to keep your mouth shut and mind
your own business. Good advice, isn't it? Give every
effort. I like what Jack Shank said,
never miss an opportunity to shut up. Study to be quiet and
to mind your own business. That's scripture. Turn with me to Luke 14. That's
being a peacemaker, isn't it? Luke 14. And he put forth, verse 7, a
parable to those which were bidden when he marked how they chose
out the chief rooms. Now, picture this in your mind.
These people are wanting to sit in the places that are most recognized.
I'm somebody. Look where I'm at. I'm somebody.
I've got this position. I'm somebody. I'm trying to get
the chief room. Would thou bidden of any man
to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more
honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade thee
and him come and say to thee, give this man place, and thou
begin'st with shame to take the lowest room. Can you imagine
how embarrassing that'd be? You don't belong here, go down.
That'd be so embarrassing, that'd be so humiliating. But when thou
art bidden, Go and sit down in the lowest room, and believe
that's where you belong. And when he that bade thee cometh,
he may say unto thee, friend, go up higher, and then shalt
thou have worship in the presence of them that said of me with
thee. For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased. He that humbleth
himself shall be exalted. Now how do you be a peacemaker? Humbling yourself. not seeking
the highest place. Look at Matthew chapter five.
This is in the Sermon on the Mount. Verse 23. Therefore, if thou bring thy
gift to the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath
ought against thee, Leave your gift before the altar and go
thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come
and offer thy gift. Be quick to apologize. With no expectation from your
apology. It's your duty to forgive me.
No, that's not the way to do it. Being a peacemaker, be quick
to apologize. Leave your gift at the altar.
Get that straightened out. I'm sorry for doing that. I was
wrong. Luke 17, I'd like you to read
this with me. Verse three, take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespass against
you, you know, that's when you're in trouble. When he trespasses
against you, you get all these attitudes and thoughts, and you're
offended, and you're, well, they did me wrong. How could they
do that? How could they treat me like that? We're the one in
danger when we're sinned against, when we're trespassed. We're
the ones that are going to end up having the worst attitude.
I've seen that in myself so many times. And so he's, I love the
way he says this, take heed to yourselves if thy brother trespass
against thee. Rebuke him. And if he repent,
forgive him. And if he trespass against thee
seven times in a day, and seven times a day again to say, I repent,
thou shalt forgive him. Be quick to forgive, remembering
if you refuse to forgive, you yourself will not be forgiven.
What's a peacemaker? Somebody who forgives. He apologizes,
he forgives. And when there's a volatile situation,
be a peacemaker. Don't be fanning the flames.
Be a peacemaker. I love the scripture in Proverbs
15, 1, a soft answer turneth away wrath. That's a peacemaker,
isn't it? Proverbs 10, 12 says, hatred
stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins. There's a great way to be a peacemaker. Cover, not expose, cover. How many sins? All sins. A wrathful man stirreth up strife,
he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Proverbs 15, 28. Proverbs 28, 25, he that is of
a proud heart stirreth up strife. By pride only cometh contention. Oh, I wanna be a peacemaker,
don't you? I want to believe the gospel
of peace. I want to preach the gospel of
peace. And I want to be a peacemaker. May the Lord enable us all to
truly be peacemakers. Blessed, highly favored of God
are the peacemakers. for they shall be called the
children of God. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the
peace your son has made for us. How we thank you for the gift
of Believing, the joy and peace of believing, we know it's your
gift. How we thank you for the power of His blood that makes
us holy and unblameable and unreprovable in your sight. And Lord, we're
by nature proud, selfish, have way too high an opinion of ourselves.
Lord, forgive us for that. Cause us to be those that take
the lowest seat in the house. Teach us to study, to be quiet,
and to mind our own business. Teach us to be truly peacemakers
according to your will. Bless this message for Christ's
sake. In his name we pray, amen.