|
||||||
| Sermon #44 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God, MAT 5:9. In Volume I of this series, we dwelt on the first two points: purity comes before peace and the character of a peacemaker. Now we will look at points three and four. FOR OUR THIRD POINT , let's consider Christ as the true Peacemaker.FOR OUR FOURTH POINT , we'll look at the experience of a true peacemaker.ZEC 13:1 says, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." This verse is speaking of Christ being the true Peacemaker. What did Christ do? He opened a fountain for the cleansing of sin and uncleanness. The Lord opened a fountain whereby this purity could again be established and maintained for sinners. This was the fountain of His blood. Through the blood of His cross, Jesus became the Peacemaker between God and the sinner. COL 1:20 says, "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." By the blood of His cross, Jesus opened the fountain to remove sin and uncleanness. It is important we understand what is said of Jesus in PHI 2:6-8, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Through this obedience, Christ gave His blood to open the fountain for the cleansing of all sin and uncleanness. Through the blood of His cross, He is the Peacemaker. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Lord Jesus Christ is the object of our faith, and He is the only Peacemaker to whom we can look for salvation. Take notice that the Lord Jesus has accomplished many things through His blood. EPH 2:14 says, "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." In Christ the middle wall of partition was taken away. The middle wall of partition pertains to both the partition between the Jews and the Gentiles and to the partition between a holy God and sinners. Jesus took away this wall. EPH 2:13 says, "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." A wall of fire lay between a holy God and us. This wall was the Justice of God which stood between God and sinners. The blood of Christ removed this wall. By the fountain that was opened for cleansing away all sin and uncleanness, Christ made peace. He "...hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." The Lord Jesus saw the wall of separation that stood between God and sinners. By the blood of His cross, He removed it. Christ brought us again into the oneness and fellowship with the Father. Christ opened the way whereby guilty sinners could be restored into true peace with God. He was the blessed Peacemaker. In GAL 3:28 we read of Christ's finished work. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." We are all one in Christ Jesus. The salvation is open for every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. This salvation is not open only for the descendants of Abraham; otherwise, the Gentiles wouldn't have had salvation. The Lord Jesus made peace by the blood of His cross; the way was made open whereby the chiefest of sinners can again be reconciled unto God. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Through the blood of the cross and the blessed sacrifice, peace was again restored for anyone who repents and believes. Righteousness and peace were brought into unity in Christ. The wall of the fire of God's wrath stood between God and the guilty sinner, and that left absolutely no way for the sinner to reach God. Righteousness demanded the death of the sinner. PSA 85:10 says, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." How was this possible? This happened when the blood of Christ removed the fury and wrath of God. All the appeasing was done in Christ's blood. He paid the penalty so perfectly. All the righteousness of God has been met. Mercy and truth met together. Mercy! Mercy! What is mercy? Mercy is undeserved favor! Mercy is one-sided love. We have forfeited everything through sin. We have neither right nor title to God's favor. We have no right to lay any claim upon God. We must have mercy, yet truth can be maintained. There is no mercy in Mount Sinai; not one sin can go unpunished. When our debt was paid in Christ, mercy was born. A righteous God can now show mercy to an unworthy sinner in the blood and righteousness of Christ that is imparted to us. His righteousness satisfied the penalty; it was in the way of obedience that Jesus stepped into the wrath of the Father to appease His wrath against our sins. The just demands of righteousness--and peace--have kissed each other. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other," PSA 85:10. Now there is peace. It is so precious when we can see how the Lord Jesus Christ made this peace. He is the heavenly Peacemaker. He engraved our names upon the palms of His hands. In ISA 49:16 we read, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands...." We will never be forsaken. The Lord says that a woman may forsake her suckling child. Oh beloved, this may sound so impossible, but it may happen. ISA 49:15 says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Yet, the Lord will never forsake us. This is absolute because He has engraven our names upon the palms of His hands. "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands..." Sometimes people tie a string around their finger to remember something. Every time the person sees the string, he remembers. Our names are engraved in the palms of Jesus' hands. The Lord cannot and will never forget. He is the blessed Peacemaker who has engraven our names in the palms of His hands. Our Saviour pleads for peace. The Lord intercedes as our Mediator. He goes to the Father seeking conditions of peace. The Lord Jesus paid the price and the penalty for the sinner. He furnishes perfect obedience on behalf of His church before the Father. The Father is now reconciled to the world through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus also comes to us now as the Mediator and pleads with us poor sinners. God says in ISA 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isn't the condescension of the God of heaven amazing? He comes down so low. The Lord condescends to one who has no place for Him in the heart. He comes to a rebel, an enemy by nature. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." This is blessed. The precious blood of Christ will wash away all sin. The very next verse starts out with if "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." The Lord wants our hearts to become reconciled to Him. He wants the rebellion broken. He is pleading with rebellious sinners for peace. The King of Heaven comes down so low. This mediation is also done through Christ's ambassadors! 2CO 5:20 says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." As our mediator, Christ also bows before the Father to plead the case of His people. Christ is our mediator. As mediator, He beseeches us through His ambassadors to be reconciled with God. Can you picture that this mediator comes so low to plead with rebellious sinners who are yet at enmity with Him saying, "...we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God"? What will the Day of Judgment be like for those who have rejected this Peacemaker? He will come before the Father to testify how He has come unto them saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" MAT 23:37. Think of what this will mean in the Day of Judgment for those who have rejected the Lord. The Lord says, "Come now, and let us reason together...." He is such a blessed Peacemaker. The Lord Jesus stands saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...and ye would not!" For man to claim to be as God was attempting to rob God of His throne, but Jesus was equal with God, and He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. He stooped so low from such glory to submit Himself unto death, "even the death of the cross," PHI 2:8. How can a rebellious sinner continue on in sin? "...The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance," ROM 2:4b. Think about what a Peacemaker Christ is. We are admonished to walk in the steps of our Saviour, e.g., to be merciful, to be forgiving, and to be a peacemaker; that is walking in the steps of our Saviour. Jesus Christ is our only hope for peace. LUK 2:14 says, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Peace was pronounced from heaven at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of Heaven had a good will toward men, looking toward the peace that was to be purchased in the fountain of His Son's blood. That fountain was opened for the cleansing of all sin and uncleanness. Jesus is our example of peacemaking. We must understand this. When we want to say, "Blessed are the peacemakers," we must look unto Jesus. We must look unto the tremendous example that was set. We must look unto the Author and Finisher of our faith. 1PE 2:21-25 says, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [Oh beloved, that's not just my opinion, that's the Word of God! We must follow His example. We must follow His steps.] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; [We must take no vengeance, we must never entertain a thought of vengeance in our heart.] when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: [This means that we don't live any longer in sin.] by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." If a person has ever seen a faith's-view, or a glimpse of the fountain of blood, if we have seen a glimpse of our names engraved in the palms of His hands, we will then understand how that verse teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is a blessed example of a Peacemaker. There is a blessed rest obtained by walking in Christ's example while in the midst of this world of unrest, turmoil, and strivings. We can enter into this blessed rest if we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, fixing our eyes by faith upon the blessed Redeemer and the fountain of His blood which purchased our peace. The holy Peacemaker condescends so low. If our eyes are truly fixed upon Him, we will have such a blessed security for our souls. ISA 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." We must understand what it means to have perfect peace. Our eyes must be fixed upon that perfect example; our mind must be on Him. This is the only place we will find peace. A peacemaker is not just a peaceful, easygoing character. Some people have a very easygoing disposition by nature. That does not make them a peacemaker. The scriptural meaning of a peacemaker is much deeper. The peacemaker has experienced something of peacemaking between God and his soul through Christ. A true peacemaker understands peace with God. The Lord Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross. We must understand that Spirit of Christ in order to understand true peacemaking. We cannot obtain true peacemaking by nature. The peacemaker's eyes are fixed upon Jesus Christ and what He has done. We can only be peacemakers when our eyes are fixed by faith upon the Lord Jesus Christ. HEB 12:2-3 says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." A true peacemaker will fix his eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, this perfect sacrifice, and this perfect obedience. Outside of Christ, there will never be any foundation for peace with God. After seeing into the corruption of his own heart, the true peacemaker desires to see his fellow man find peace with God. When the Holy Spirit has opened our eyes, and the light has shown in our heart to reveal who we are, then we see that we are filled with pride and have the seeds of corruption. Once we learn to see into our own heart, we realize we don't have one stone left to throw at another man. Paul says in GAL 6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." When we see someone who has been taken in a fault, our first reaction should be that our heart goes out to him. We should witness to him about the Lord Jesus Christ. We should pray for that man. We don't have a stone to throw because it is only by the grace of God if we differ. If we have been spared from that sin, if we have been preserved, or if we have been restored, it was only by the grace of God that we differ. First, our hearts go out to our fellow man. Peacemaking is with God. Then it becomes urgent to us to see our fellow man brought into peace with God. The Lord sends His ambassadors of peace and says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God," 2CO 5:20. JOH 4:28-29 says, "The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" She confessed her sins to the men of the city. The woman pointed to how the light of the countenance of Christ shining into her heart revealed the corruption within. She went to tell the men what Christ showed her of her own heart as evidence that this was the Christ. She went there to tell them that this was the Christ. It is so blessed if we see the light of the countenance of Christ shining in our heart. The first thing we see is all the black that lies within. After we have come to peace with God, the desire of our heart is to bring our fellow man into peace with God. The heart of the true peacemaker flows with living waters. In JOH 7:38 we read, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." What do we see? Out of his belly, out of his heart, he flows with living water. He is pointing the way to Christ. He is showing his fellow man the place of peace. The true Peacemaker is showing the fountain that is open for our cleansing from all sin and uncleanness. He is attempting to attract his fellow man to that fountain which he has found for the cleansing of his own soul. What a cleansing! What a cleansing! This man cannot hold his peace because this is a fountain of living waters. He goes forth to bring the message to his fellow man. LUK 16:27-31 is very striking. According to this parable, the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking about a man who was in hell. His heart reaches out to his fellow man. "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." His eyes were opened to see that without conversion from their sins, his brothers would fall into the hands of the living God unprepared. After we have found peace with God, our first reaction will be to have our hearts flowing with living waters toward our fellow man. We want them to see the sinfulness of sin. We want them to come to peace with God. Oh, beloved, our Saviour reveals the urgency in the heart of this man in hell. But what did the man receive for an answer? "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets [i.e. the law and the gospel]; let them hear them. And he said Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Abraham said that they had the law and the gospel. They have the messengers and ambassadors of Christ sent to them to beseech them to be reconciled with God, "...let them hear them." This is the God-ordained way. The Lord Jesus Christ has His ambassadors who are ordained of the Lord. He will not raise one from the dead upon the bidding of one who has wasted and squandered his time in this life. The Lord is no longer going to hear the prayer of that man. The Lord did not grant that prayer. He said to him that his brethren already have the law and the gospel. The peacemaker is one who knows himself. He understands that others suffer from that same proud, self-centered character. To learn to know yourself, you must understand what took place in paradise where proud rebellion against God was born. When you learn to see that you are proud and self-centered in character, that the Lord has delivered you from the power of such sin, then you will strive against such pride. You will become a peacemaker. You will understand that this character is the result of the fall. We have so much of this fallen nature in ourselves that we must struggle against it daily. The Spirit of Christ produces a peace-loving, tender feeling toward our fellow man. We become more forgiving. JOH 8:7 says, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." What happened? A little self-knowledge takes away a condemning spirit. JOH 8:9 continues, "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." When the Lord turned on a little light in their hearts, the condemning spirit left. To be a peacemaker, we must first understand our own heart. Then we must try to bring our fellow men to understand their heart. We must try to make people understand the wretchedness of the fall and what it has brought. In an earlier message we learned from JAM 3:5-6, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." A peacemaker is swift to hear and slow to speak. In JAM 1:19-20 we read, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." This is a peacemaker. Strife is very destructive. We must avoid it. We must be gentle and loving even though other people revile against us bitterly. 2TI 2:24-25 says, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." We must not strive against those people who oppose themselves. They are working out their own destruction. We must remain gentle, patient, tender, and loving. We must not strive against them. A peacemaker will pray for those who strive or contend with him. EXO 15:23-24 says, "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?" How did Moses react? Being a servant of the Lord, he "must not strive." He must instruct in meekness those who opposed themselves, i.e., those who bring wrath upon themselves through unbelief. Verse 25 says, "And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them." Moses did not strive against them. Even though the people murmured against him, Moses was a peacemaker. He cried unto the Lord for water to drink. Moses did not ask the Lord to consume them for their murmuring. Moses came as a peacemaker. The peacemaker places himself in the background. He puts his brethren in the foreground. EXO 32:31-32 says, "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [Moses confessed the sins of the people.] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Moses asked the Lord to put their sin on his own shoulders if it could not be forgiven. Do you see how Moses was one of the Old Testament types and foreshadows the Mediator to come? Moses wanted their sin to be charged on his account. Moses said, "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Moses pleaded for the forgiveness of that congregation. The Lord had said, "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation," EXO 32:10. Moses, however, did not put himself in the foreground. He was a peacemaker. This peacemaker was asking the Lord to blot him out of the book. He gave such prayers for the peace of the people over whom the Lord placed him. The Lord had placed him as the leader of that people. Look at the self-sacrifice in Moses' prayer! Such peacemakers are strugglers at the throne of Grace. They are actively praying for the peace of Jerusalem. They struggle in prayer as a woman in travail. They pray and beg for the peace of their fellow man. MAT 6:10 says, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." May God lay the reality of this prayer heavily upon our hearts. When we pray for the kingdom to come, we are asking for the kingdom of Christ to be set up in our own hearts and the hearts of His people. We are asking that the kingdom of Christ will rule in the hearts of the children of men and that the will of God might be done on earth as it is in heaven. Moses understood the law of love. What was the law of love? The first four commandments are the law of love concerning loving God above all. The last six are the law of love concerning loving our neighbour as ourselves. Moses understood this. When Moses prayed for his congregation, he understood what it meant to love his neighbour as himself. MAT 22:37-40 says, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Such peacemakers practice the principle Jesus taught in LUK 6:31, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." We are not to do unto others as they do unto us: we must do unto others, as we would want them to do unto us. We must do unto others as we would that Christ would do unto us. Our heart's desire must be for their welfare. Jesus went on to say in V:32-33,"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same." What gratitude are we showing for what Christ has done for us if all we do is what other sinners do? The Scriptures say that we must do unto others as we would that they do unto us. In V:34-35 Jesus said, "And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." The Lord is a merciful God. If we are to be peacemakers, we must be merciful. The church of Christ is one body with one head. Each member of the body cannot have a separate head. The Lord Jesus Christ is the head. Every member of the body cannot have its own head because strife, confusion, and contradiction would rule. There must be only one head. This shows the authority of the Word of God. If we are going to be peacemakers, we must be constantly encouraging people to walk under the headship of Christ. We must direct every soul to walk under the authority of the Word of God. The Word of God is the headship of Christ. If every member of Christ's body, which is the church, could be considered as an authority, see how it would undermine the authority of Christ and His Word; there would be such confusion. How can the body of Christ have more than one head? The head is Christ. This shows us the authority of the Word. 1CO 11:3 says, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
FOR OUR FOURTH POINT , let's look at the experience of a true peacemaker.By nature our hearts can be so restless. They can be as a tumultuous sea. Our hearts ebb and flow. Sometimes it seems as if we are in perfect harmony with the will of God. At other times we feel like the Lord has withdrawn, and we are out at sea in the dark of the night. We are all by ourselves, and we don't know where He is. There is so much of this sailing on troubled waters. ISA 57:20 speaks of the unrest of the wicked. EPH 2:3 tells us that "by nature [we are all] children of wrath, even as others." Those seeds of wickedness, the seeds of corruption, are still in our hearts. Even though the Lord may have worked regeneration in our heart, and we have received a new heart though the work of grace is in our souls, the seeds of corruption and the old man of sin cause a continuous spiritual warfare. When we look at the works of the wicked, we must also see the old man of sin that still dwells within our own hearts. He is always striving against the Spirit. ISA 57:20 says, "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." We experience spiritual warfare if we are true peacemakers. Within our own heart, those waters keep casting up the mire and the dirt. Those acts of Satan, which are reflected by the old man of sin, must be taken away. All the work of Satan and the power of sin must be broken. This is a continual war. We will find that those cockatrice eggs, i.e., those seeds of corruption, will want to hatch within our old nature. We find that we cannot strive in our own strength because the mire and dirt keep working up. The ocean can appear calm at times, but how quickly that wind begins to blow and the waves mount up. Then those billows roar and break against the shore. It seems as if we have no might against this great enemy; then the true Peacemaker often needs to be awakened. How often it seems as if Jesus is asleep. It seems that we must wake Him as we read in MAR 4:38-39. "And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." This is the continual battle of a living soul. We can always see the mire and dirt. It seems that the ship will fill up and sink, and we must awaken our Master. When we are out on those tumultuous seas, we cannot come to shore in our own strength. MAR 6:48-51 says, "And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them." Jesus' disciples worked hard to keep on course in the boisterous sea. It was just before the break of day, which is the darkest time of night. It was dark within their soul. They were toiling and rowing within their own strength, and He saw them. The Lord Jesus was looking on from the mountains where He was praying for them. They did not see Him. The Lord came walking upon this boisterous sea. Their eyes of faith were lifted to see that it was the Lord Jesus Christ that had brought the boisterous sea. Now they saw that He was walking upon those waves. They saw that the hand of the Lord brought all of their trials. "But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." When you experience this you know what it is to have a Bethel! Scripture says in GEN 28:11-12 that when Jacob was fleeing from his brother, "And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Jacob said, "...this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven," GEN 28:17b. Jacob named this place Bethel. When the Lord Jesus came on board and said, "Peace, be still", these disciples experienced a Bethel, i.e., coming into the presence of God. The life of God's dear children is likened unto that boisterous sea. There is that ebbing and flowing. There are times when it can be so dark, and there are times when Jesus comes on board and says, "Peace, be still." The warfare is continual throughout our entire life. When left to ourselves, how quickly that storm arises. Sometimes it seems we have the blessed nearness of Christ, and He has brought peace into our soul. That storm will arise, however, so quickly over and over. Again we need peace for our soul. Those storms cause a life and death struggle in the heart between the free reign of pride, and the crucifying of that ugly monster, self. That old monster, pride, keeps raising its ugly head. Then we have to crucify self. This is sometimes so hard, but the true Peacemaker is elevated before our eyes by faith. Then it becomes easy to admit that we have sinned. It is easy to take second place and be a peacemaker. Sometimes the water fills our ship, and we think we will sink. The waters are so boisterous and filled with mire and dirt. We think the corruption of our heart will sink us in the end. It seems that we must cry unto a sleeping Saviour. It seems that He is asleep and is not answering our prayers because we have fallen into a backsliding condition. We have not been a peacemaker, and we have caused our own problems. We must cry unto the Lord even while it seems as though our ship is sinking. MAR 4:37 says, "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." Then they cried unto the Him in their trouble. "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm," MAR 4:39. The times when the Lord rebukes the winds in our heart are so blessed. When the Lord rebukes the raging sea, there is a calm; there is peace. With the peace of the Lord, we can continue through those problems and arrive at that shore in such a great calm. Our hearts can be at peace. ISA 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." We are at peace because our eyes are again fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The true peacemaker realizes his great need for the Great Peacemaker to constantly calm those storms of the uprising of pride, self, and that old nature within him. This will be necessary all the days of our lives here on earth. Now I want to point out what a blessed future there is for the peacemaker. Our text says, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God," MAT 5:9. The children of God have a blessed future awaiting them. In REV 7:17 we read, "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." All sorrow will be forever over. All tears will be wiped away from their eyes. We read of this blessedness awaiting the peacemakers in REV 21:1. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Ponder this. The boisterous sea is forever removed and put behind the peacemaker. The boisterous sea will never again arise. "...and there was no more sea." The mire and dirt are once and forever gone. The peacemaker will no longer strive against sin, the powers of Satan, or the powers of hell. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." In that New Jerusalem there shall be no more restless, stormy, tempestuous, unruly sea of our own nature. Our unruly nature will be forever tamed. It will be formed into the perfect image of Christ. For then that sea will be a sea of glass, like unto crystal. Using the saying "It won't quite be a sea of glass," is a slur against the Word of God. This sea of glass is spoken of in REV 4:6. "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal." There will never be a ripple on this sea of glass. There will be no more foaming mire and dirt for all eternity sailing on this sea of glass. The peacemakers shall be firm and secure in the Lord. DEU 33:27 says, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." This is a blessed security. Every enemy of our soul will be thrust out forever. Satan and all his armies will be barred forever, and we will be on a sea of glass. This sea of crystal has no ripple, wave, or storm. The harassing of sin will be put behind us. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." That sea of glass shall be mingled with fire. It shall glow with the presence of God. God Himself will be the temple. "...for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof," REV 21:23. This will be such a heavenly, glorious place. REV 15:2 says, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." Isn't that blessed? The glory of God is reflected in the sea of glass. The glory of God is the righteousness of Christ. The Father was glorified in the perfect finished work of Christ! The peacemakers shall no more sink while they walk on those waves as Peter did. They shall stand secure with all the redeemed on a sea of glass which is mingled with the fire of God's glory. There they shall eternally sing the song of victory. REV 15:3-4 says, "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." That is the eternal lot of the peacemaker. They shall be called the children of God. This is the lot of their inheritance: all of their boisterous sea shall become a sea of glass; it will never ripple, wave, or storm again. The song of Moses shall ring through the heavens for eternity. EXO 15:1 says, "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." That was a song of victory. The Lord had triumphed over the Egyptians who were pursuing the Israelites to bring them into bondage. The Lord triumphed gloriously. This will be the tremendous song after they are on the sea of glass which is a victory over sin, Satan, hell, and the grave. This will be the triumphant song for the victory. Verse 2 says, "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." Think of the song of the Lamb, the Redeemer. The peacemakers shall sing the song of Moses. Let's take one more look at the peacemakers. The blessedness of peace is found in PSA 133:1-3, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Dwelling together in unity is a foretaste of heaven. When the Lord gives His people to live in the Spirit of Christ, i.e., that blessed spirit of unity with the brethren of the Lord, this is blessed. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments," V:2. Unity is like the precious ointment. This is a foretaste of the communion of the saints and the eternal fellowship in heaven. Verse 3 continues, "As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." We have that blessed harmony with the brethren if we are in our right place before the Lord. This blessed harmony is as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. What dew are we talking about? This is the dew of the Spirit. The refreshing Spirit of Christ comes in the soul. When there is harmony, love, unity, and peacemaking among brethren, this is the most blessed thing upon the face of the earth. This is "As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." Amen. |
|