THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS PART FIVE

Matt 5:9

Something I find interesting about the Beatitudes is that with every characteristic, it’s always followed with a promise.

The poor in Spirit inherits residence in Heaven

The one who mourns over their sin finds comfort and rest in a holy God.

The meek and humble will have an inheritance given to them by the Father, Himself.

Those who hunger and thirst for holiness are full/complete in Christ.

Those who display mercy, never forget the mercy that was given to them.

Those who have a pure heart are promised that they will see God.

“Blessed/approved are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called “sons” (which refers to both sons and daughters) of God.” (v9)

What does it mean to be a “peacemaker”?

First let me say what it is not! It’s not passive or easy-going; meaning a person who does not care what anyone else does, as long as it does not directly affect them. It’s also not someone who is tolerant, “You do your thing and I will do mine”. No. It’s also not someone who is an “appeaser”, this is someone who wants “peace at any cost” the only thing this does is that it puts off the conflict for another day. It’s not about turning a blind eye away from truth for the sake of peace. We can mistake thinking peace is more important than truth and righteousness.

Jeremiah 6:14 it says “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.”

As it pertains to this passage they promising them all prosperity, plenty of good things, and a continuance in their own land.

But in reality in a short time there would be none of these things, but sudden destruction would come upon them. We are not to forsake or compromise for the sake of the flesh. It’s that understanding and phrase, that is taken out of its true meaning “All we need is love.” But unfortunately! In order for that to happen we need to recognize where love comes from, or better yet! Who emulates the attribute of love?

God, Himself, because is love.

John penned these words, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:7-16

And to deny God, His rightful attribute that He possesses, is to go against God, which makes you an enemy of God. See! The way the world seeks to be peacekeepers to cover it up with window dressing, with the expectation that it will all go away. Take for instance the Beatles song “All We Need Is Love”

Have you read the lyrics? 

“All you need is love.

All you need is love.

All you need is love, love.

Love is all you need.”

Say that to… the Nation of Israel today, as Palestine would love to kill every single one of them, if they had the clear opportunity.

Say that to… the saints, who were persecuted, tortured and died horrible deaths for the sake of the gospel.

Say that to… the Hero’s families, of those who died in World War One and Two and every other war throughout history.

Say that to… the preacher, who stands in front Abortion Clinics, pleading with women not to kill their babies, as their being assaulted.

Say that to… the families who have lost loved ones, because of an individual who straps a bomb to their person, or someone who comes in with a gun to kill those who are listening about the one who is Love.

  

The only way we will ever display the love, the Beatles sung about; is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So what is Jesus saying here? 

What is a peacemaker?

It Divine in nature; and is attached to the new nature of the child of God through the Gospel. This source and character comes from no other; than God, Himself. It’s something that stems from the new birth that is rooted in Christ and His holy character.

“This is a peaceable person, for a quarrelsome

person cannot be peaceable.”

It’s a desire for resolve and peace; they don’t go out making, or looking for trouble, but seeks ways to produce peace.

“It’s a willingness to risk pain for

the outcome of peace.”

Why are peacemakers blessed?

They are blessed because they are so absolutely unlike everybody else. They are people who stand out as being different from the rest of the world. They are different because they are called “sons of God”, which I will get to later.

Why are there so many wars and talks of wars?

Why are there so much turmoil and unrest amoung people?

In that they are ready to explode on one another.

There is only one answer the Beatitudes points to; and that is, “Sin”. What is wrong in this world? Answer! Us, you and me…….it’s not political, social, economics. The answer to this question is a theological and doctrinal one. It’s a sin issue and God issue. I came across an article that I summarizes what I’m trying to say here. “If it feels like our world is full of conflict, instability, and war, you’re correct. In fact, of 163 countries in the world surveyed by the Institute for Economics and Peace, only 11 are not currently engaged in conflict. We live in a world that is basically defined by conflict and violence. But world conflict doesn’t start with someone waking up one day and choosing to head to war. Before there are bombs, there are bullets, and before there are bullets, there are knives. Before there are knives, there are fists, and before there are fists, there are words. Before there are words, there is the condition of our heart. Violence has a flow to it that keeps getting bigger and bigger, and it all starts in our hearts.”

Until the heart of man is changed and transformed by the gospel, the world will continue to keep spinning in the direction of war. Throughout human history peace does not characterize man’s earthly existence. We know that’s true with the opposition of Satan and the disobedience of man.

“Mankind is without peace

because they are without God.”

This is why the gospel separates us, and makes us stand out differently, than the rest of the world. Paul wrote “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Cor 5:18. Which is the Gospel of peace, the word we proclaim, declares, peace made by the blood of Christ. This is what separates us for a ministry that proclaims the grace of God to sinners. Martin Lloyd Jones wrote, “The great need of the world today is for a number of peacemakers. If only we were all peacemakers

there would be no problems, there would be no trouble.”

A great example of this is the situation between David and Nabal, found in 1 Samuel 25:1-38 (TURN THERE THIS MORNING)

  

The writer gives us some detail about these two, “And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.” 1 Sam 25:2-3

So right out of the gate we have a mental picture of this married couple. Nabal is wealthy and successful, but sounds like a real winner (sarcasm added) and Abigail is beautiful and wise. Life was normal for these two until David came on the scene; not to bring trouble, but protection and peace. (v7-v8;  V15-v17) So, word got out to David, that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So David sent some men (ten to be exact) with a message of peace and a request for some food, since they did not harm any of his servants or his livestock.

We read “David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. And thus you shall greet him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'" 1 Sam 25:4-8

But things go south pretty fast as Nabal responds with arrogance stating “Who is David?” though everyone knew who David was. “And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.” 1 Sam 25:10-12

So what does David do when the men

come back empty handed?

We read, “And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.” 1 Sam 25:13. So as David marches forward to kill Nabal, and everyone, that is connected to him. But there is a servant of Nabal’s, who speaks to his wife, Abigail. 

Here comes the peacemaker a person seeking 

to resolve the issue, not make things worse or turning a blind eye to the situation. Because to turn a blind eye is to ignore the bloodshed that will come to those you love.

So what does Abigail do?

“Then Abigail made haste (swiftly) and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.” 1 Sam 25:18-1

Why didn’t she say something to her husband? Because he was a stubborn man who would not listen to reason, because he was a fool and wicked/worthless in heart. (v17) But ultimately she recognized that David was the Lord’s chosen and the consequences of Nabal’s actions would be great before a holy God. So when she reached David….. This is where the peacemaker came in to resolve this feud. We read, “When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.” 1 Sam 25:23-28

How did David respond, considering he was so angry

he was at the point killing everyone connected to Nabal?

He responds correctly for the first time since this incident began. “And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male. Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition." 1 Sam 25:32-35

Maybe he remembered his peacemaking conversation he had with Saul. Back in chapter 24. The peacemaker comes to resolve not destroy. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prov 15:1. Solomon the son of David wrote, “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.” Prov 25:15. So Abigail returns home with peace, knowing that her husband and his servants will live to see another day. But her husband is found feasting and drinking; so she waits until morning to tell him what she had done to preserve and bring peace between him and David.

And here is the genuine heart of someone who is not a peacemaker. “In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.” 1 Sam 25:37-38. Nabal, became as cold as a stone, and remained as senseless, spoke not a word, but laid in apathy. Matthew Poole wrote, “He was oppressed with grief, and fainted away through the fear and horror of so great a mischief, though it was past. As one who, having in the night galloped over a narrow plank, laid upon a broken bridge, over a deep river, when in the morning he came to review it, was struck dead with. the horror of the danger he was in.

What made Abigail such

a great peacemaker?

Abigail demonstrated a willingness to risk life for the sake of peace.  Abigail demonstrated and approached this situation with gentleness and honesty. Abigail demonstrated something that is very favorable to what Jesus taught his disciples. Jesus said "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:43-45

  

The Christian life should be modeled after the Lord Jesus Christ in the new birth through the gospel!

Why? Jesus is the prime example of a peacemaker and model for every one of us. In John 14:27 we read “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you….” Jesus became our peace by sacrificing His life to the Father on our behalf. So that we can rest in God’s provision and peace that cannot be bought my man. It’s a peace that required something we couldn’t afford or give.  This is a perfect life, because that is what required.

This is what makes it a blessing! It’s through His peace that He took our sin upon His sinless self, to appease the Father’s wrath, by becoming our peace and reconciliation. Our lives should be to defuse a problem and to bring peace to the chaos, not start more chaos or start fights. The Christian uses all their influence to promote peace and charity on the earth, in private, and in public. Because a life is at stake; in retrospect to the Gospel and their eternal soul. As the Hebrew writer wrote “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Heb 12:14. We strive to make all men love one another through the proclamation of the gospel. "Love is the fulfilling of the law” Rom 13:10. As God’s sons and daughters we are promised the glorious blessing of eternal sonship in His eternal Kingdom.

See peacemaking is a hallmark of God’s children.

The opposite of this is a person who not a Christian or is a disobedient Christian at best…..

Spreading lies and rumors.

Gossips about anyone and everyone.

Increasing discontent about everything.

Find joy when you hear reports of trouble or scandal.

Always fault-finding

Unwilling to work towards peace because you would rather fight.

If this is you and I’m not saying or accusing anyone. But, if this is your daily and natural disposition of life; there is a good indication that you need to do self-examination to whether you are called a “son of God”. See to be called “a son of God” is an amazing statement that melts the heart of the forgiven sinner.

I say that because! “Who does the calling?”

Is it you, who placed yourself in the kingdom?

Is it you, who hung on the tree for your sins?

Is it you, who took your heart of stone and placed a heart of flesh?

Is it you, who came to Christ on your own without any help or direction by a holy God?

Is it you, who can waltz up to Heaven’s gates and say “Let me in”?

No! Before Christ came…. you were dead, lost, and facing eternal damnation for your “Cosmic treason”. But God, who is what? Rich and full of mercy came down and saved you from death and destruction. Paul said, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. It’s through the gospel we are called sons and daughters, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17. God in His rich grace adopts the reconciled sinner into his family, and freely grants the inheritance to us. Nothing can compare to being a son or daughter of God, not even suffering.

A peacemaker is only called through the gospel of His grace and He is the one who calls you to Himself.

This is a blessed person, because its taking something lost and making them found.

It’s taking something that once was a rebel and makes you a priest in His courts. It’s taking a sinner who declared war from their heart to a passion and soft spot for lost sinners to rest in His grace through the gospel.

This is what a peacemaker is and does.

It flows from a heart that has been transformed and made new for Him. The language of peace used by Jesus in His sermon is to describe the gospel of reconciliation. It’s about God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness in justifying unjust people through the work of Christ.

If this is hard for you Christian? Yes, at times. But we need to remember what Jesus did for you to have His peace, and to be called sons of God.

“He took it from both sides.

He did it in order to effect our peace.”

As Paul said “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:20.  What that means very simply is use your body in ways that will show that God is more satisfying, more precious, more to be desired, more glorious than anything the body craves. R C Sproul said, “Our task is to be agents of reconciliation and bring peace to bear as representatives of the Prince of Peace, even though doing so can be complicated and difficult.” May we be known as merciful people that seek to bring peace from a pure heart that hungers for God? Because we know what it cost us for our reconciliation; and we are now called, 

“Sons and daughters” of the King.

That’s what makes us 

              blessed/approved peacemakers