Blessed are the Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9)

One of the vital factors in maturity is the realization of the need for peace. It is important both to arrive to “peace” (Sabbath rest) by intent and then maintain that peace (as Sabbath keepers).
We can see from the above scripture that being a “peacemaker” is something that is done intentionally. Let’s say it this way: to be “righteous” and remain in peace (i.e. bearing the peaceable fruit of righteousness), we’re going to have to do it on purpose and then maintain vigilance against anything that would try to remove (or “tempt”) us from that rest.

There are reasons for this dynamic of being active and putting pressure against any lack of peace. Not the least of these is the fact there is no passivity in the Kingdom of God.[1] This is because “light” is always active. The moment you relieve the “pressure” of light, “darkness” immediately takes its place as the default reciprocal.[2] You immediately “lose your peace” if the “pressure” (temptation) isn’t resisted. Even the very act of being in Sabbath rest in Christ Jesus is contingent upon active faith. The moment there is no activity/light (positive pressure) enforced against darkness/un-peace/the flesh/sin, these things will, by default, take over and rule our lives. It is not unlike being in a boat and having to battle the current while moving upstream. If we “relax”, then we will submit to them and they become our “masters”(as we float downstream without resisting the current):

Ø “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

That’s why we see so many examples of “action” in the Bible. For instance we see “put on”, “put off”, “pray”, “cease not”, “ask”, “seek”, “knock”, “let”, “love”, “resist”, “flee”, “fight”, “labor”, “lay apart”, “separate”, et. al.. This is why the Bible tells us to be “doers” of the word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves[3] and why we must have a corresponding action to our faith or it is dead.[4]

We see Jesus making this exact teaching here:

Ø Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14)

When we examine this scripture, we find that the word “narrow” is the Greek word “thlibo” (Strongs #2346). It means:

Ø AV - trouble 4, afflict 3, narrow 1, throng 1, suffer tribulation 1; 10
1) to press (as grapes), press hard upon
2) a compressed way
2a) narrow straitened, contracted
3) metaph. to trouble, afflict, distress

It is telling us that the “way” is “pressured”. There is resistance from “tribulation”, from “sin” (that so easily besets), from “temptation”, and certainly from our own “flesh” (which wars against our soul). If that pressure is not resisted, then darkness prevails. That is exactly why the Bible says this:

Ø “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)

If we do not resist and counter evil/darkness/the flesh/the Devil, we will be overcome rather than be overcomers. Darkness will prevail. This darkness is called “death” when it triumphs over the “children of light” (the believers).

The seriousness of this matter is emphasized here:

Ø “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19)

The meaning is clear; this is spiritual law and a lack of knowledge of such things can bring bondage. In this case the bondage can bring death (if a person is overcome by darkness/erroneous teaching/ignorance/sin et. al.). This exact dynamic is addressed more than once in both the "Old Testament" and the “New Testament” and needs to be believed lest we are overcome by the default of inactivity and ignorance. The cost of ignorance is grim:

Ø “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge……” (Isaiah 5:13)

and

Ø “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge……….” (Hosea 4:6)



Peace and Righteousness

Now we need to make a direct connection between “peace” and “righteousness”:

Ø “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:17-18)

Here we see that, if there is going to be wisdom and righteousness, there must be peace. We can say it this way: since Christ is all wisdom and righteous, and since He is the “Prince of Peace”, wisdom, peace and righteousness are inseparable:

Ø “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Let’s continue with this thinking:

Ø “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:11)

Here we can see that the Lord is attempting to resolve His children to the “peaceable fruit of righteousness”. We simply cannot and must not try to separate “peace” and “righteousness”.

We are to even “follow peace”:

Ø “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Ø “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19)

As we bear the “peaceable fruit of righteousness”, we sow that peace in other’s lives as they partake of our fruit. Everything we do is to be in the name of Jesus so we plant/sow peace in His name. We are to be “peace makers”:

Ø “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:18)


Making Peace is a Ministry

Let’s make this statement: we are all “ministers of reconciliation”.[5] That means that we reconcile others to the peace which is in Christ. However, it’s hardly possible to resolve others to peace if we are not at peace ourselves. Not being in peace means we’re not abiding in Christ (the “Prince of Peace), wisdom (which is first peaceable), or righteousness (which is always peaceful). If we are not abiding in Christ, we have no power by which we may deliver others. It also means that there will be no way that we can mature into “Christians” (i.e. righteousness and “Christ-like”) because we are not “abiding in the vine”.

We should, by now, understand that “ministry” is simply the direct result of our fruition. I’m not necessarily including those who have a “special calling” or “anointing” (though they do have the same responsibility to bear fruit). They will be used of the Lord to fulfill His will in a different way. This is speaking to the body of Christ in general. Said a different way; having a “special anointing” to do the work of the Lord is not God’s best. Having the Lord abiding in His temple and performing His will as He did in Christ is His best. It is His desire that we all come to this place and be “peacemakers” just as He was a “peacemaker”. However, believers don’t start “mature” so the Lord gave “gifts unto men” until we could arrive to maturity:

Ø “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:7-16)

You may be able to catch what is happening here. One thing is that the “ministry gifts” are not necessarily complete in themselves. This is largely because they must abide by the same scriptural requirements for all. In other words, there is no “short cut” to maturity and fruition (though some would think that their “anointing” qualifies them for such a short cut). However, these (above) ministries are well-trained prior to being released into full-time ministry.[6]

Secondly is that it is glaringly obvious that the Lord wants His children to stop being “babies” and become (fully) like Christ walking in love with one with another. This is expressly the “job” of the “ministry”.[7] It is to perfect the saints to be a dwelling place (temple) for the Holy Spirit and to prepare them to be a bride for Christ.[8] Likewise, they are to teach the body how to be “ministers of reconciliation” (i.e. “peacemakers”).

It needs to be briefly noted again that not all will receive such preparation since their doctrines do not allow for it. They do not believe in the maturity of the saints or their empowerment to become mature. They leave the matter strictly in the hands of the Lord. This is contrary to sound doctrine and all scripture if for no other reason than they have never seen the Lord perform any such “maturation” of His children (in hundreds of years of their preaching). Unfortunately, such doctrines will lead to many of the Lord’s people being cheated out of the fullness of the will of the Lord. And, regrettably, many will be excluded from being part of the bride[9] and cannot be “blessed” as “peacemakers” as seen in Matthew 5:9. .

To be like Christ is to abide in peace since He is the “Prince of Peace”. That means that the Lord’s will is to reside in that peaceful temple in all of His glory.[10] That being the case, we can also see that there must be a restoration of the ministry gifts that the Lord has placed in the body. There can be no maturing of the body outside of this dynamic (regardless of the nay saying of “mainstream religion”). The body must be resolved to peace to be able to be fully blessed and empowered to fulfill the will of the Lord (particularly in the “end times”) and to be a (manifestly holy) temple in which the Spirit may abide.

As the believer strives to “enter into the rest” of God (i.e. the Sabbath rest of God in Christ), they will find that they will be “witnesses” of the resurrection power of God. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover to peace. People will be healed and set free as blind eyes and deaf ears are opened as they are resolved to the peace of God in Christ. Demons will be cast out and we will see many (believers and un-believers) witness the mercy and grace of God as He manifests His glory through His (willing, obedient, and peaceful) people. That is being a true “witness”,[11] a true “ministry”, and is being a “peacemaker” in accordance to scripture. If you are like Christ, then you are a witness to His resurrection. You are a “peacemaker”. If you are not “Christ-like” (i.e. “peace-like”) then there is no witness of His resurrection power in your life because Christ is not (manifestly) there.


A Peaceful Conclusion

It is difficult to not continue to emphasize the fact that, where peace is, God is and where peace is not, God is not. If God is present, then his reconciliation is present; for He said, “I will draw all men unto me”. Likewise where God is not, peace is not. This is the reason why we must give all diligence to being “peacemakers” by resolving the entirety of our being (spirit, soul, and body) to peace in Christ Jesus, the “Prince of Peace”. We must have the Lord active (abiding) in our lives for when He is, all things will be resolved to His Sabbath rest in Christ. We will be “peacemakers” through the resurrection power of Christ. We will be “blessed”.

Also, it is only when we are abiding in peace that we will (manifestly) abide in Christ. Only then will we be able to bear and maintain the peaceable fruit of righteousness. We have the word of God (the “seed”) and plenty of “water” (the Holy Spirit) so all we need to do is to provide the “arable soil” of our hearts. We must remove the “stones”, “weeds”, and all hardness and maintain an attitude of repentance[12] so that we may bear our fruit in due season. We must disallow the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.[13] For then shall we shine as lights to those who live in darkness and will be “peacemakers” in a very un-peaceful world:

Ø “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15)

Ø “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:18-19)

[1] The Kingdom of God is also the Kingdom of Light since God is light
[2] This is, in fact, an example of the “Law of Reciprocals” (or “Law of Mutually Interchangeability”). Included in this law is the matter of the “pressure of darkness”
[3] James 1:21-22
[4] James 2:20 and 2:26
[5] 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
[6] Though there are many examples of those who were not prepared
[7] Specifically the “five-fold” ministry
[8] It is the “job” of the ministry to prepare the saints. The Father will select a bride
[9] Anyone thinking that Christ is choosing for Himself an immature carnally-minded bride that has not kept herself unspotted from the world needs to re-read the Bible. He will have a manifestly holy bride
[10] Romans 8:30
[11] At no time does the Bible tell the believer to “go witnessing”. It says that there are those who are a witness. One is working “for God” and “un-peaceful” while the other is working “with God” in peace and in His will.
[12] 2 Peter 3:9
[13] 1 John 2:16

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