BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Another study in the Beatitudes

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

We are continuing the series on the PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM. We are trying to “get a handle” on the ATTRIBUTES WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR LIVES in order to qualify for KINGDOM STATUS. We use that term, for lack of a better one that will fit the situation. For, you see, there are no “admission tickets” as such. There are no “rites of passage” no “passwords” and no “entrance fees” But that is not to say that there are no “requirements” for a place in the KINGDOM OF God on Earth. There are, and they are listed at the very front of the Sermon on the Mount.

It can not be said too often that Salvation is the first requisite to being in the Kingdom, but the two are different. Salvation is free to humans, having been paid for in full by Jesus at Calvary, but it only gives us the PRIVILEGE or CONSENT to become the SONS OF GOD and achieve (yes, I wrote “Achieve”) Kingdom Status.

KINGDOM STATUS consists of having incorporated certain attributes, such as the ones listed by Jesus in the Sermon, into our own lives by seeking God for the Refinement of Character that He desires to see in our lives. We probably will never attain to Perfection, but we can make enough progress to satisfy our God, who knows our individual capabilities and incapabilities.

Today we are focusing on the attribute that is called “Peacemakers” in the KJV. It is translated thus in Mat 5:9. It is also used once, in Rom 12:18 “peaceably”. Three times it is used to denote “peace” . In Mar_9:50 it means “to have peace”. In 2Co_13:11 it means to “live in peace”, and in 1Th_5:13 it means to “be at peace”. Those “uses” of the original word would tend to “flavor” its meaning toward a condition of our OWN character, rather than being a go-between in a dispute of some kind. I believe that to be closer to the proper understanding of what Jesus is recorded as having said.

Most of us would look at ourselves as being a “person of peace”, but it is NOT a natural human trait. We only have it when things are “going our way” Neither is it a result of training or discipline. It is something that must be acquired from the Spirit of God. It is a FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. The Spirit produces it, or we don’t have it. Yet, the real PEACE OF GOD will be necessary for us to enter into KINGDOM STATUS. Perhaps we could use another term that might be more easily understood, How about ROYALTY STATUS? Actually, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance uses the term “Royalty”.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (quietness rest), longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1Th 4:11 And that ye study (labor) to be quiet (at peace), and to do your own business,----

What is the recipe for obtaining the trait of “peace—rest” in our lives? Since we can not achieve it from our own efforts, we must seek it from its source—the Spirit of God. We must ask God to give it to us. In our asking, we must maintain a willingness to be obedient to the Spirit as He begins to produce the desired qualities in our lives. For me, it has sometimes been a “wild ride”, because peacefulness (peacemaking) has not been a natural forte. I dare not consider the “ride” over with yet. But, the Spirit has made a lot of progress (with my consent and co-operation) since we embarked on the project many years ago. Simply put, “I can not do it by myself, but the Spirit will not do it without my consent and co-operation.” It MUST be a joint operation.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE (Holy Ghost), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off---
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall NEVER FALL:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting (eternal) kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Look at Isaiah 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests [and] for Levites, saith the LORD.

Isaiah was speaking of a group of people, who "tremble at My Word" (vs 2), and were not mentioned as being of the tribe of Levi.

What does it mean to tremble at the Word of the Lord?
Whatever it means, there will be a people who qualify for the category.

It is doubtful if their qualifications are based as much on the sovereignty of God as on their response to the Word of God. Our response is very crucial.

I wonder sometimes, if we should not be more diligent in seeking the face of God for an inward purification, rather than going after material prosperity. One endures-- the other will perish.

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

What does it mean to "offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness?" In my book, it means that we will always be able to do the RIGHT thing in any given circumstance. That quality is absolutely foreign to the human being. It is an ability that can be acquired from God alone. It is a product of our obedience to, and reliance on, the Spirit that “worketh in us”.