Blessed Are Peacemakers_ Beatitudes (7)
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August 25, 2019 |
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 Senior Pastor Rev. Jaerock Lee
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."Matt. 5:9
Generally, being quiet, calm, and having a lack of hostility is considered peace. However, peace in God's sight is to seek the good of everyone, to consider others first, and to be okay with either side within the truth, being unbiased. It needs self-sacrifice, and thus, the spiritual meaning of peace is to sacrifice oneself even to the point of giving his life.
1. Peacemakers
Once we believe in God and learn the truth, normally we'd not break peace intentionally. However, as long as we have self-righteousness in us, we are apt to break peace unknowingly. We can easily see this if we check whether or not we are trying to appease others or they try to appease us. We can see very often peace being broken over small matters due to self-righteousness.
Therefore, we have to check as to whether or not we serve other's interest first; and whether or not we insist on our opinion until it is accepted, knowing others are having a hard time because of you. We should also check if we're thinking that others should accept our opinion because we're seniors in age or rank. Then, we can check if we're peacemakers or not.
Generally, it is easy for us to be at peace with those who are nice to us. However, God says we have to pursue holiness and have peace with everyone (Heb. 12:14). Even though we are absolutely right, if our righteousness makes others feel difficulty, we should realize that it is not right in the sight of God.
2. To Have Peace with Everyone
Above all, we must have peace with God first.
To have peace with God means there is no wall of sin between God and us (Isa. 59:1-2). If we accept Jesus Christ, all our sins are forgiven thanks to His precious blood (Eph. 1:7). Here, the wall of sin between God and us is demolished and we are reconciled to God.
However, if we keep on sinning after this event, it means we're creating walls of sin again. We can learn from the Bible that all life problems are caused by sin. When Jesus healed the paralytic, He gave forgiveness of sins first. After He healed the man who had been sick for 38 years, He said in John 5:14, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."
Therefore, we can have peace with God and receive His blessings when we turn from sins and live by the word of God. In so doing we can also receive God's healing and become healthy; we can receive financial blessings as well as other heart's desires.
Next, we have to have peace with ourselves.
As long as we have evil such as hatred, envy, jealousy, and so on, that evil nature can be agitated depending on the situation. Thus, we can't be at peace. A Korean saying goes, "A cousin buys land, and my stomach aches." It tells us we suffer due to jealousy. Also, the Holy Spirit will groan and we will feel afflicted in heart.
As we accept Jesus Christ, receive forgiveness of sins, and are reconciled to God, God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit into our heart (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit lets us call God our Father and teaches us about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
As we live by the word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will have peace in mind because the Holy Spirit rejoices in us. Then, we can have peace with ourselves. Furthermore, if we cast away all evil from our heart, we can also have perfect peace with ourselves. We can have peace with other people only after we have peace within ourselves.
Lastly, we have to have peace with everyone, in the truth.
Rather than accomplishing great things for God's kingdom, He first wants us to know and take after His heart. Unless it is of the untruth, we should have peace with everyone, sometimes considering other's weak faith. We can have peace with everyone when we have the spiritual goodness with which we don't break a bruised reed or put out a smoldering wick.
Also, we can have peace and harvest abundant fruits when we sacrifice ourselves completely in all respects (John 12:24). Everyone has their opinions and preferences, so if everyone insists on their opinions, peace can never be established.
Those who seek the benefit of others in all things do not seek what they like but they go along with what others want (Gen. 13). When others strike their cheek, they turn to them the other also. When others take their tunic, they give them their cloak as well. If others force them to go a mile with them, they go with them two (Matt. 5:39-41). They love their enemies and pray for those who are persecuting them.
What we have to be careful about is that we have to pursue peace within the truth while trying to have peace with everyone.
3. Blessing for Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Here, 'sons' refers to all God's true children who are acknowledged by Him.
Those who accept Jesus Christ and possess faith are all God's children (John 1:12), but some of them obey the Word while others don't. The true children of God should take after the image of the Lord (Romans 8:29). One can be called a true son of God when he sacrifices himself and pursues peace in all things. Such a man can enjoy spiritual power and authority that Jesus had (Matt. 10:1).
Jesus healed various sicknesses, drove out demons and revived the dead. Likewise, incurable diseases such as cancers, AIDS, leukemia can be cured. The lame, blind, dead, and mute come to be whole again. Paralysis is loosened and the dead come back to life. The devil, our adversary, trembles with fear, and those who were seized by evil spirits are set free (Mark 16:17-18). Divine healings take place transcending time and space; other extraordinary works take place through handkerchiefs or aprons (Acts 19:11-12).
Just as Jesus calmed the winds and the sea, the weather conditions can be controlled (Matt. 8:26-27). Rains can be stopped, hurricanes can change their courses or die out. Rainbows appear on a clear day. Such peacemakers will enjoy glory and honor as God's true sons in New Jerusalem where God's throne is located.
Dear brothers and sisters, may you sacrifice yourself to become peacemakers with the heart of the Lord who gave His life on the cross, so that you could receive great love and blessings, I pray this in the name of the Lord.
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