June 2, 2002

Service Theme – "Our God is Peace"

Matthew 5:9

Peace – You’ve got to be Kidding!

1. Introduction

1. Illustration – From Sermoncentral.com - In the mid-17th century, Oliver Cromwell sent his secretary to the continent on some important, state business. One night during his travels he found he was unable to sleep. According to an old custom a servant slept in his room and that evening the servant was sleeping soundly. In the middle of the night the secretary woke the man up to tell the servant that he could not rest because "I am so afraid something will go wrong with the diplomatic mission," "Master," said the valet, "may I ask a question or two?" "Of course." "Did God rule the world before we were born?" "Most assuredly He did." "And will He rule it after we are dead?" "Certainly He will." "Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?" The servant’s reply stirred the secretary’s faith he found a deep sense of peace, and in a few minutes both he and the servant were sound asleep.
2. Context – We are often like Cromwell’s secretary. We are in the middle of situations that have the potential of blowing up in our faces. We don’t want to face the possibility of letting those we care about down. But we forget something very important, just like the secretary did. We need someone, like the servant, to remind us of one critical truth – peace of heart is a choice. That’s the point Jesus is making in Matthew 5:9 when He says,

1. Scripture Passage

1. Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

1. Imposing Peace on Your Heart

1. There’s an interesting meaning in the word translated "peacemakers" in our passage. This word was used to describe kings who established peace. Now most kings during Bible times didn’t negotiate peace, they imposed it. They fought until they conquered and then imposed peace. So it would appear that Jesus is saying, "Blessed are those who impose peace on others." But given all that the Bible teaches, that doesn’t make sense. You can’t impose peace on someone else. Anyone with kids knows that! Outwardly they may go along with what you say, but inwardly the exact opposite of peace is brewing! The Bible does teach us to live in peace with others, but how does that fit with the words that are used here? What do we do with this verse?
2. Theologian Frederick Buechner helps us out a little bit here. In his book Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, [1973] 1993, 83), he wrote, Peace has come to mean the time when there aren't any wars or even when there aren't any major wars. Beggars can't be choosers; we'd most of us settle for that. But in Hebrew peace, shalom, means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself. One of the titles by which Jesus is known is Prince of Peace, and he used the word himself in what seem at first glance to be two radically contradictory utterances. On one occasion he said to the disciples, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). And later on, the last time they ate together, he said to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27). The contradiction is resolved when you realize that for Jesus peace seems to have meant not the absence of struggle, but the presence of love. Now maybe we’re getting somewhere.
3. You see, we have such a hard time allowing our hearts and minds to settle down enough to experience the fullness of Christ in our lives. Peace is elusive because we make it elusive. So how do we find peace? Jeremiah 29:11 is one of those verses many of us have heard over and over again. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That message can give us a certain measure of peace. But we forget to read on to verse thirteen to see out how we’re supposed to find the future God has for us. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When we seek God with our whole hearts, then we will find Him. When we find God, then we can experience peace. You understand what I’m saying? Peace in the world may not be an option, but peace in our hearts certainly is.
4. Illustration - From Sermoncentral.com - Some missionary Bible translators were working very hard to find a word for peace in a primitive tribal language. At last, a native who was working with them found a combination of words that had the concept—"a heart that sits down." So they translated John 14:27 as having Jesus say, "I will make your heart sit down." God is asking us to allow Him to make our hearts sit down and rest in Him. When our hearts are at rest in Him because we love Him and trust Him, then the peace inside literally glows out of us. People can see it in our eyes, our expressions, our mannerisms, and our words when we have peace in our hearts.
5. You see, the Jews would have understood the reference to "sons of God" as the character of the Father being reflected in His children. That’s how they often used the term "son." When our hearts are at rest and they are filled with the love of God, then we can be at peace and make peace. Have you ever noticed the calming effect a peaceful person has on those around him? Struggle and strife may be going on all around him, but that person filled with peace will draw people like a magnet. Some will choose to reject them and leave. Others will choose to draw strength from that person. Proverbs 16:7 says, When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. It’s hard to fight with someone who won’t fight. It’s hard to have conflict with someone who won’t have conflict. And the only way we can overcome our tendencies to worry and fight and stress is to allow our own hearts to be at peace with God. To lie down with Him. To experience the fullness of His love within our hearts.
6. Peace can and will overcome our worry. Peace can and will overcome our tendency to fight. Peace can and will overcome our stress. Peace is a choice. It’s not our troubles that cause us to worry, it’s how we choose to deal with them. It’s not our anger that causes us to fight, it’s how we choose to deal with it. It’s not our stress that causes us to go on overload; it’s how we choose to deal with it. I’m speaking from a position of great weakness here. Sometimes I do very well dealing with worry and anger and stress. Often I do very poorly in dealing with them. But I know enough from those times I actually get it right that God’s peace does work! When I allow God to make my heart lie down with Him, when I allow His love to fill my heart, when I allow Him to lift the burden of stress from my heart and mind, then I know peace. At those times I truly know the Prince of Peace, who came not to bring peace to the world, but to bring unworldly peace to my heart. I’m looking forward to the day when I get it right more often than not. But because I’m not there yet, I’m asking forgiveness from all of you for the times I have allowed anger or worry or stress to hurt you, to keep me from ministering the peace of God to you. I’m trying to learn, just like you are, to choose the peace of God instead of giving in to my own desires. God will be faithful if we allow Him to be. The peace of God does indeed pass all understanding!
7. Illustration – The fall of 1998 was really a tough time for our family. We had just sold our house (if you could call it that) and moved into a rental. I was in my first semester of going to seminary full time, and overwhelmed with trying to play catch-up because I got so far behind during our move. I was not experiencing the peace of God. Kim started having problems with her eyes. In November, she finally went to the ophthalmologist, who that very minute sent her to a specialist in Portland. A couple of hours later, she was having emergency surgery for a detached retina in her left eye in order to save her vision. Ten days later, she had surgery on the other eye for the same thing. Me, I would have been sweating bullets over the possible loss of my vision – I mean, how can you be a pastor when you’re blind?! Kim told me that she felt more at peace during that time than almost any other time in her life. Why? Because she figured out that since she couldn’t do anything about it, her future was in God’s hands. Kim allowed God to make her heart lie down. Kim allowed God to fill her with His love and peace. We all need God’s peace in our hearts. What choice will we make?

1. Communion

1. This morning as we prepare to celebrate communion, we have an opportunity to choose to be at peace with God. To allow Him to fill our hearts with His love and peace. To allow ourselves to experience His shalom, His fullness.
2. Let’s spend some time right now praying and asking God to show us anything in our hearts and lives that is keeping us from experiencing His peace. Then let’s ask Him to forgive us and to fill us with His peace. You can pray either in your seat or at the altars, and after a while we’ll celebrate communion together. Let’s make communion a true celebration this morning by receiving His peace. Let’s spend some time in prayer.