The Ocean’s Depth: Finding True Peace in a Chaotic World

• The Beatitudes [00:47:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor systematically unpacks the Beatitudes from Matthew 5, focusing on poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking.
• Divine Peace vs. Worldly Chaos [00:53:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the chaos of the modern world (news, earthquakes, wars) with the internal peace provided by God, using the analogy of the calm ocean depths.
• The Role of the Peacemaker [00:56:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines peacemakers as those who follow Jesus' example of reconciliation, addressing root causes of conflict rather than avoiding them, driven by the peace they have received.
• The Nature of Christian Peace [00:59:29 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines peace as a presence found in God and Jesus Christ, which compels believers to desire peace for others rather than chaos.
• Loving and Blessing Enemies [01:02:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > Based on Luke 6, the pastor argues that Christians must love, do good to, and bless those who hate them, shifting focus from their own pain to the enemy's need for peace.
• Conflict De-escalation and Tone [01:08:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Proverbs 15:1, the pastor explains that soft answers turn away wrath, contrasting this with the escalation caused by loud, grievous words.
• Refusing Vengeance [01:11:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > Citing Romans 12, the pastor instructs believers not to repay evil for evil or avenge themselves, but to leave vengeance to God and live peaceably as much as it depends on them.
• Peacemaking and Restraint [01:14:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that peacemaking involves keeping quiet, praying, and stepping back rather than revealing one's story or seeking confrontation.
• Divine Vengeance vs. Human Action [01:15:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that vengeance belongs to God, and humans should not seek revenge but allow God to fight for them.
• Meeting Enemies' Needs [01:17:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites Paul's instruction to feed and water hungry/thirsty enemies as a powerful tool to disarm anger and promote peace.
• Overcoming Evil with Good [01:17:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor warns against using evil methods (like gossip) to achieve godly ends, stating that human wrath does not produce God's righteousness.
• Blessing and God's Favor [01:19:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor connects being a peacemaker to receiving the 'favor of God' (blessing), contrasting it with the turmoil of unresolved conflict.

• Sermon Illustration [00:54:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of the ocean to describe Christian peace: just as the bottom of the ocean remains calm and at ease regardless of the storms on the surface, Christians can remain serene amidst life's chaos through Jesus.
• Sermon Illustration [00:55:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a popular saying/t-shirt slogan: 'No God, no peace; Know God, know peace,' using it to emphasize that knowing Jesus is the prerequisite for true peace.
• Sermon Illustration [00:58:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites historical research stating that in the last 4,000 years, there has been less than 300 years of world peace, highlighting the 3,700 years of war to illustrate the world's inability to achieve peace without God.
• Sermon Illustration [01:08:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal confession about having a loud temper and a 'built-in microphone' that makes his tone loud when excited or upset, admitting it is a weakness he is working on.
• Sermon Illustration [01:09:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references Clint Eastwood's tough-guy persona ('go ahead and make my day') to illustrate that raising one's voice escalates conflict, whereas true strength lies in speaking softly.
• Sermon Illustration [01:15:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor tells a childhood anecdote about telling his mother the truth versus lying to cover up trouble, noting that honesty resulted in less severe punishment, illustrating the principle of not covering up evil with more evil.
• Sermon Illustration [01:15:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal childhood anecdote about how telling the truth to his mother resulted in a lighter punishment, whereas lying resulted in a harder punishment, illustrating that stepping back and letting God handle justice is the right path.

• Pastoral Charge [00:47:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > Read the Beatitudes and reflect on them throughout the week.
• Pastoral Charge [00:47:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > Read the scripture aloud with the pastor.
• Pastoral Charge [00:52:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > Read the scripture aloud with the pastor.
• Pastoral Charge [00:55:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Recite the mnemonic phrase 'Know God means no peace. Know God, you'll know peace.'
• Pastoral Charge [01:01:29 ▶️ 📄]
  > Search hearts and evaluate personal peace and sharing of peace.
• Pastoral Charge [01:03:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Consciously choose to love and act as a peacemaker.
• Pastoral Charge [01:07:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stop engaging in conflict and leave judgment to God.
• Pastoral Charge [01:11:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > Work on personal faults and character.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > Keep mouth shut and pray for enemies.
• Pastoral Charge [01:11:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > Work on personal issues to fulfill the calling of peacemaker.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > Pray for others instead of speaking against them.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > Step back from conflict and trust God to reveal the truth.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > Consistently choose to do good.
• Pastoral Charge [01:15:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > Walk away from situations where peace cannot be maintained.
• Pastoral Charge [01:15:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > Refrain from seeking vengeance.
• Pastoral Charge [01:15:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > Disengage from arguments and allow others to go their own way.
• Pastoral Charge [01:16:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > Avoid taking matters into own hands to allow God to intervene.
• Pastoral Charge [01:17:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > Meet the physical needs of enemies.
• Pastoral Charge [01:18:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Mend or improve broken relationships.
• Pastoral Charge [01:18:29 ▶️ 📄]
  > Depend on God and release anger and grudges.
• Pastoral Charge [01:18:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Cultivate a primary desire to make peace.

[00:22:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:22:28] Let's just go ahead and stand up and let's go to the Lord in prayer this morning. We are so thankful that you are here.
[00:22:35] We are thankful for those who join us by Facebook live here in Statesville and then also Whammy Radio Station 92.9.
[00:22:43] We also we welcome you to come and join us in the building at 135 Village Point Drive here in Statesville.
[00:22:49] But thank you for tuning in and thank you to you guys who are here this morning. All right, let's pray. Heavenly Father we thank you for this day. Lord, we thank you for your grace and your mercy, Lord, that you gave us
[00:22:59] this morning. Lord, that we were able to wake up and to come into the house of God this morning.

[00:23:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:23:05] Lord, we thank you, God, Lord, that through your salvation and through your work on Calvary, God, that we have freedom. Lord, as we are entering into this time of our country, celebrating the freedom of our country, Lord, we ask, Lord, that you would go, Lord, and touch our leaders
[00:23:20] in Washington, God. Lord, we ask, God, that you would give grace to our nation, Lord, and let us turn back to you, for you are our only hope for America, God. Lord, and you are our only hope for
[00:23:31] salvation. And Lord, we just thank you, God. Lord, I pray for all those, Lord, that are out this morning, God, with sickness or whatever has held them up today, God. Lord, we thank you, Lord, that
[00:23:42] you are still the provider, Lord, and the healer. Lord, you're the promise keeper and the way maker, Lord and we thank you Lord for your touch in this place Lord God we ask Lord those that are close
[00:23:53] to eternity today God Lord that they'd have a chance to make it right Lord and those that are ready to meet you Lord we ask Lord that you would give grace and peace and comfort to the families
[00:24:03] Lord God and we magnify you but most of all Lord I thank you that you are my king Lord and you are my Lord of Lords and I thank you and praise you in this house this morning and we magnify your name
[00:24:15] And, Lord, let the church say amen.
[00:24:19] Hallelujah.
[00:24:19] We'll take up the tithes and offerings and let's worship God this morning.
[00:24:24] Thank you, Jesus.
[00:24:26] Hallelujah.

[00:24:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:24:35] Is a few I complain, for I'm sheltered.
[00:25:03] Have a dream of peace that I'm patient.
[00:28:28] One more time, I just feel we need to sing that, reaching our hands to the Lord and telling Him.
[00:28:54] and I. Yes, Lord.
[00:29:08] Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.
[00:29:57] We bless you, Lord.
[00:29:59] Hallelujah.
[00:30:01] We bless you, Lord.
[00:30:15] Look for strength in the Lord. One more time.
[00:33:30] Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord.

[00:36:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:36:38] Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah.
[00:36:41] We love you, Lord.
[00:36:42] We bless you, Lord.

[00:36:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:36:51] I worship you.
[00:37:12] You are my I worship you, I worship you, you are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God, that is who you are.
[00:38:05] Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God, that is who you are.
[00:38:23] Touch me, oh, I worship you, I worship you, I worship you, you are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper light in the darkness my god that is who you are oh yes you are lord you are the
[00:39:02] way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my god that is who you are Turn and worship you, I worship you, you are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God, that is who you are.
[00:39:54] You are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God.
[00:40:05] That is who you are, that is who you are, that is who you are, that is who you are, that is who you are, that is who you are, that is who you are.
[00:40:27] Yes, Lord, that is who you are, that is who you are.
[00:40:35] You are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God, that is who you are.
[00:40:47] You are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness, my God, that is who you are even when i don't see that you're working even when i don't feel that you're working
[00:41:10] you never stop you never stop working you never stop you never stop working even when i don't see that you're working even when i don't feel that you're working you never stop you never

[00:41:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:41:26] stop working. You never stop. You never stop working. God, Lord, we speak right now. Lord, I speak over the airways. God, Lord, there's people that's told me they've just gave up because what's the reason? But God, you are the reason. And Lord, I speak healing into those
[00:42:11] airways today, God. Lord, that you can go and you can break the chains, God. Lord, you can set people free, God. Lord, you can break the addictions. Lord, you can stop the anxiety, Lord. God, you
[00:42:24] can stop the fear and the disappointment, God. Lord, and we speak Jesus, Lord, over states. Well, God, Lord, I speak Jesus over the way of God. Lord, we have loved ones that we're praying for.
[00:42:36] God, and we're seeking God for them, Lord. And we know, Lord, that you are the miracle worker.
[00:42:41] And God, some of the times it looks impossible, but Lord, your word tells us that there is nothing impossible with our God. And Lord, we speak that right now. Lord, you said in your word to call
[00:42:52] things that are not as though they were and God we speak healing God we call forth healing deliverance God Lord we call for them to be set free God and to be into your love and God into
[00:43:04] your salvation and your grace Lord God I speak hope into them God restore their hope in the generation today God Lord these young people that say there is no hope God you are our hope
[00:43:19] Yes, you are, Lord.
[00:43:20] And we speak that, Lord, let us be a light that this is a place of healing for them to come, God.
[00:43:26] Lord, not because of us, but because of your presence and, Lord, who you are, who we worship and we magnify in this place, God.
[00:43:34] Because you are it, God.
[00:43:36] Lord, you are the only hope for America in this hour, God.
[00:43:41] And, Lord, we are speaking that that hope be awakened.
[00:43:45] Awaken that hope within us, God.
[00:43:47] Lord, that we can just walk by people And they feel that there's something different And they have to know what it is And what that is, is Jesus Christ Living on the inside of us
[00:43:57] And that we are walking it out Lord, I speak your healing Healing and hope is what I hear And that's what I'm speaking over Over the airways Over this place, Lord Over our lives, God
[00:44:16] That we may walk it out And they can find hope in this hour even when we don't see it lord you're still working that is who you are because that's who you are

[00:44:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:44:29] that is who you are that is that is who you that is who you are oh come on let's just praise him declare, that is who you are that is who you are that is who you are

[00:45:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:45:12] That is who you are. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are.
[00:45:33] You are the way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness.

[00:45:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:45:44] My God, that is who you are.

[00:45:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:45:51] Hallelujah.
[00:45:51] Aren't you glad he is the way maker, the miracle worker?
[00:45:55] Oh, thank you, Lord.
[00:45:57] You are the light in the darkness.
[00:45:59] Wow.
[00:46:00] God is so good to us and his people.
[00:46:03] Hallelujah.
[00:46:04] We bless the name of the Lord.
[00:46:05] Well, I'm glad to see you back this morning in the house of the Lord.
[00:46:09] And for those that's on vacation, let's pray for them for safe travels and on the way back.
[00:46:14] And those that are at a celebration of another source, let's pray for them that they would have a good time of fellowship as well.
[00:46:24] And we are glad you are here in the house of the Lord.
[00:46:27] Amen.
[00:46:28] God has been good to us this week, hasn't he?
[00:46:30] He's took care of us and met our needs.
[00:46:32] And, you know, where would we be if it had not been for the Lord on our side?
[00:46:38] And so we are just excited about what God is doing.
[00:46:42] We're working on a fundraiser coming up in July for something for our kids at the school.
[00:46:49] And we'll talk more about that here in the next few weeks.
[00:46:53] And then we've got some other activities planned.
[00:46:55] I want you to be part of them.
[00:46:57] Make sure you put July 19th on your calendar.
[00:47:00] Don't forget that as well, okay?
[00:47:02] Well, let's just go into the Word of God this morning.
[00:47:06] And we've been studying the Beatitudes.
[00:47:08] And as I've said every week, I hope that you're reading these and going back through the week and you're going back over them and just letting this Word get in your spirit because Jesus is trying to teach us something.
[00:47:20] He's trying to show the people and show us a part of the Christian walk and how we need to live our daily lives.
[00:47:29] And, you know, it starts out in Matthew, and he says, and he opened his mouth, and he taught them, saying, Jesus is teaching now.
[00:47:38] Y'all read it with me.
[00:47:39] Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[00:47:45] Those that are favored of God are those who realize that they're bankrupt without God in their life.
[00:47:52] I need the Lord in my life.
[00:47:55] Everybody needs the Lord in their life.
[00:47:58] But without Him, I have nothing.
[00:48:00] I don't have a life.
[00:48:02] And those that are poor in spirit realize that they need Jesus in their lives and believe that He truly is the payment of their sin.
[00:48:13] Verse 4 says, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
[00:48:20] Those that are so sorrowful for their sins and their failed choices that was against God's plan, that their repentance is deep and life-changing.
[00:48:33] This person that is mournful is more than, I'm sorry.
[00:48:39] It is a deep-felt conviction that I need to get things right with God.
[00:48:46] In this day in which we're living, we can see that time is fastly approaching.
[00:48:51] Whether we're going to go through the grave or whether we're going to go through the air, Time is fastly approaching and we need to make sure that we are sorry for our sins and that we are depending on Jesus to help us.
[00:49:06] Then we go into the next one, verse 5.
[00:49:09] Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
[00:49:14] The meek here in this scripture is those that have control over their emotions and self-will and that they can make right choices based on what God wants rather than what self wants.
[00:49:28] The meek are those who allow the Holy Ghost to work in their lives and make a choice based on God's Word and follow Him and not their fleshly desires.
[00:49:40] Verse 6 says, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
[00:49:48] these are those that are so hungry and thirsty after the spiritual things the things that are of god they are so hungry after god and what god is in their life and what they want to know more
[00:50:05] about him they want they desire to do his will that the physical things are no longer important all they want is the lord verse 7 goes blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy
[00:50:22] being merciful is not only having compassion for someone in need is putting that compassion into action doing something about it it means to be able to forgive others because you know what forgiveness is now that's hard sometimes but we have to stop and think blessed are the merciful
[00:50:45] for they shall obtain mercy if i'm willing to put my mercy into action if i'm willing to give it then i should be able to forgive and to help others that need help but you know what not
[00:51:00] because of me but because of what Jesus has done for me amen now in verse 8 it says blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God the scripture is telling us that for us we need to do an
[00:51:21] internal cleansing of our lives we need to look through our lives and say what is not pleasing to you God I want to have a pure heart I don't want anything that's going to hinder my relationship
[00:51:35] with you Lord and we have to have a heart after him instead of after the world this clearly tells us that if we have a pure heart we're not going to be straddling the fence as I believe I said
[00:51:49] in that sermon we can't be for the Lord today and for the world tomorrow we have to have a pure heart and if we have a pure heart what is our reward for they shall see god today we continue
[00:52:07] on with the beatitudes and let's look at matthew 5 and 9 read it with me blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of god one more time blessed are the peacemakers for they
[00:52:34] shall be called the children of god only a person that is bankrupt in spirit broken with grief over their sin submissive to god's leading living a life of being hungry and thirsty after purity and filled with mercy and committed to purity can only know the peace a peace that comes from god
[00:53:07] The only real peace that I have, dear Lord, is in you.
[00:53:15] We cannot have peace in this world.
[00:53:17] This world is crazy right now.
[00:53:19] There's a lot of things that's going on.
[00:53:22] It just blows me away.
[00:53:23] You look at the news and we sit back in awe because of all the things that's going on.
[00:53:31] And, you know, in less than a 24-hour period, I believe there was five different earthquakes in four different countries.
[00:53:39] That is remarkable.
[00:53:41] And I know every year we have strong fires in the Midwest, but on the news this morning they said the records are climbing every day.
[00:53:52] And it's amazing that things are happening the way they are.
[00:53:55] And if we looked at the world, if we stopped to look at everything that's going on, our peace could quickly be gone.
[00:54:04] There is only a peace that comes from God that we can really know what true peace is.
[00:54:11] And that comes from having our faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ.
[00:54:16] This peace has been compared to the deepest part of the ocean.
[00:54:21] That regardless of what's going on on the surface, the bottom of the ocean remains calm and at ease.
[00:54:30] That's the way we are as Christians, the ones that know Jesus Christ.
[00:54:35] We can have this peace that only Jesus can give.
[00:54:39] We can have peace and be calm and serene and everything around us be going in chaos.
[00:54:48] Christians know a peace that the world cannot take away.
[00:54:51] amen christians know a peace that regardless on the circumstances around them that god is in control there used to be a saving a saying that you would see you would see it on t-shirts and
[00:55:11] you'd see it on signs and it was uh uh there and a lot of people wore it around saying no no God, N-O, no God, then there's no peace, N-O, no peace. But if you know God, N-O-W, K-N-O-W,
[00:55:36] God, you K-N-O, peace. Let's say that with me. Know God means no peace. Know God, you'll know peace so we're in a world that is not peaceful we're in a world that is chaos and you know
[00:55:59] sometimes we have chaos in our own lives and sometimes it's chaos in our family and it's chaos on our workplace and it's chaos and just in the world in general in our community but when you
[00:56:13] know jesus christ you can know that you can have peace and knowing him is going to make you want to be a peacemaker peacemakers are people who follow the example of jesus who establishes a
[00:56:28] path of reconciliation for others the one that shows true peace involves addressing the root cause of conflicts rather than maintaining quietly and avoiding it there's always a root there's always a root problem when no peace is found i'd say that most people don't know what
[00:56:52] true peace is even as believers in jesus christ there are times that our personal lives are so filled with chaos we don't have peace and there's sometimes during this time we take our eyes off of
[00:57:07] jesus because we don't we want to fix it ourselves but listen to me this morning let me tell you it is then we have to remember the peacemaker and it is then that we need to stop and following his
[00:57:20] footprints once again n o god n o peace but k n o w god equals k n o w peace there's a difference peace within yourself is essential we must have peace in our mind we must have peace in our
[00:57:44] bodies we must have peace in the spirit and in the world in which we live but there will never be peace in us until we find the true peace. Listen church, how can I say that we live in a
[00:58:00] world of chaos and we live in problems and the world doesn't know peace and here you are telling me I can have peace. If you know Jesus Christ, if you are doing your best to live for him,
[00:58:13] if you've made a confession of faith and you're trusting in him, you can know the peace that he can give you. It is only then we will know what true peace is. I find this interesting in my
[00:58:26] research. It said in the last 4,000 years, there has been less than 300 years of world peace.
[00:58:39] Wow, that's a lot. 3,700 years of wars. And they said, oh, World War II, that's the biggest war there ever will be and this is the last of it and there'll be no more but it didn't end the wars did
[00:58:56] it came korea and vietnam and iraq and iran it seems like the world wants peace but they don't know how to get peace the world cries for peace but they don't know how to get it let me tell you
[00:59:12] jesus christ is the only answer to our peace and when we know true peace then we become peacemakers peacemakers have peace in their lives and what they see is their neighbors in chaos their family
[00:59:29] in chaos and they'll say let me tell you i found peace let me tell you how to find peace for those who have peace in your life and you're actively committed to jesus christ then you have
[00:59:43] a a feeling a desire that you don't want other people to be in chaos you don't want their lives to be you want them to have the peace that you have christians know that peace is in the presence
[00:59:57] of god peace comes from being in the middle of him you know this righteousness that can only be experience through a relationship with Jesus Christ I'm not going to say that we don't worry or we don't think or we don't have moments where we question the things that's going on around us
[01:00:21] but I'm saying when we question it we can tell you wait a minute shape myself I know that I know the peacemaker the way maker the miracle worker I don't have to live in this time
[01:00:35] of trouble it is in jesus christ there is a peace that passes all understanding there is a peace that comes in the middle of a storm of life and when we stand in that peace then we want to share
[01:00:49] it with others we want to be the peacemakers that matthew 5 is talking about now i have a confession to make this morning so y'all listen good this is the hardest beatitude for me i'm telling you
[01:01:05] It's really hit me hard and it's hit me home.
[01:01:08] But I'm glad that the Lord is forgiven and His mercy is renewed every day.
[01:01:13] I need to add that forgiving someone while may be hard to do and it may have to be done daily, it can be done in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ will bring you the peace you need.
[01:01:29] I pray that all of us can learn and search our hearts this morning and realize, do we truly have peace in our life?
[01:01:37] Do we know what the peace comes from?
[01:01:41] Do we know who brings it to us?
[01:01:43] And if we can say we do, are we sharing peace with other people?
[01:01:49] In Luke 6, 27 and 28, Luke 6, 27 and 28, Oh, but I say unto you which hear, that means what?
[01:02:03] Those that are listening.
[01:02:05] love your enemies do good to them which hate you 28 bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you i want you to notice something in verse 27 the very first thing
[01:02:29] that he says to do is what here and then he says what love love will cover a multitude of sin God calls us to love our enemies not just forgive them for what they've done to you
[01:02:49] but to love them now this doesn't mean that that love will be returned or that forgiveness will be given but God loves the lost world think about it like that God loves the lost world and yet you
[01:03:03] and I meet people every day that hate and despise God and do not even believe he exists they know of a God but they don't know the God that we know they don't know what it's like to be saved from
[01:03:19] your sins knowing that Jesus Christ paid that debt that we can have a relationship with the true and living God. To those who are unlovable, it's our responsibility to act like God. It is our
[01:03:36] responsibility to say, I'm choosing the character of God and I choose to love. I choose to be a peacemaker. Even though they don't love you in return, even though they don't like you, even they do all manner of evil against you you'll never turn an enemy into a friend without love
[01:04:00] love and forgiveness works hand in hand love will bring peace in oh god in oh peace but if you know k-n-o-w god you will k-n-o-w peace to love someone means you have a change of heart towards them. You will be concerned with their life and where their hearts is
[01:04:28] at. The folk shifts from my hurt and my pain to their actions and their needs. I believe this is the way we began to love our enemies. When you can say, bless my enemies because
[01:04:43] they need peace. You are on your way to being a peacemaker. Then it says, good deeds show peace how can people continue to hate those who are doing good for them right it's easy to do good
[01:05:01] things for people that love you and appreciate you but on the other hand it's hard to do good to people that have tried to destroy you or hurt you or lie about you but we have to find ways to
[01:05:15] be a peacemaker why because we know the peacemaker the opposite of doing good is doing bad And do we act badly towards people?
[01:05:26] Well, we'll look more on what Paul says in just a few minutes.
[01:05:30] But the next thing it tells us to do is we're to bless those who hurt us.
[01:05:34] And one of the hardest things for anybody to do is speak words of blessings to those who are speaking hurt to us.
[01:05:43] The hardest thing to do is say, I love you, when they say, I hate you.
[01:05:47] The hardest thing to do is say, I forgive you, when they've not even asked.
[01:05:53] The things we say to others are supposed to build them up, not tear them down.
[01:05:58] If we respond with nastiness with nastiness, then guess what?
[01:06:03] We're not being peacemakers.
[01:06:05] We're failing God.
[01:06:09] Then Jesus tells us that we need to pray for them.
[01:06:14] Pray for them.
[01:06:15] We're supposed to love them.
[01:06:17] And then we're to pray for them.
[01:06:19] Jesus commands us to pray for those who are abusive and have used hatefulness towards us.
[01:06:26] Now, I don't know about you, but that's something hard to do.
[01:06:31] That's hard when you want to do that.
[01:06:33] And you're sitting there and you're taking it.
[01:06:35] Now, God's not telling you you should be letting people beat up on you.
[01:06:38] No, I do not believe this.
[01:06:40] But I do believe that there are times when we have to take a stand and pray for the people that is being mean and ugly to us.
[01:06:51] There's times we need to say, you can stop now because I'm going to go pray for you.
[01:06:56] Amen?
[01:06:58] You can stop because I'm not going to go any farther with you because you know what?
[01:07:03] God's going to take care of you.
[01:07:04] Praying for those who are hurting us will prepare us to be peacemakers.
[01:07:10] We have to change what we want.
[01:07:12] The problem is flesh wants you, the person that's hurting you, to hurt like they've hurt you.
[01:07:19] That's what flesh wants.
[01:07:22] Flesh wants that person that's saying mean and ugly things to you to hurt the way they're saying things that's hurting you.
[01:07:29] But when you are a peacemaker, you can say, I'm not going to allow that.
[01:07:37] I'm going to pray for you, and you can stop.
[01:07:40] It is how we prepare our hearts to involve ourselves in doing good to people that need peace.
[01:07:48] Do you know people that's being ugly to you and doing all manner of evil against you, saying lies and falsely accusing you?
[01:07:55] There's a problem with them.
[01:07:57] Do you realize that?
[01:07:59] That's a problem with them.
[01:08:01] When they attack you, they've got a problem.
[01:08:05] But here's what the Scripture says in Proverbs 15 and 1.
[01:08:08] 15 and 1.
[01:08:09] Proverbs 15 and 1.
[01:08:16] 15 and 1.
[01:08:22] A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words want.
[01:08:32] Now, I don't know if there's anybody in here that's been here, but this is my confession day.
[01:08:36] So, I've had a temper in the past.
[01:08:40] And I can tell you that there has been times I could shout as loud as the other.
[01:08:45] but do you know what happens when that you do that it makes it worse they get louder then you got to get louder then they get louder and you get louder next thing you know what's happened
[01:08:59] that huh there's a screaming match going on the scripture is telling us that if you want to calm down anger if you want to calm down the situation if you want to be a peacemaker what do you need
[01:09:14] to do you need to learn to speak softly grievous words continue to escalate a conflict to a worse conflict we are called to be peacemakers we are called to do what's right before lord speaking
[01:09:34] softly doesn't mean speaking like a sissy because one of the toughest guys in hollywood for some of You will not remember him, but his name is Clint Eastwood.
[01:09:45] And he would say things like, go ahead and make my day.
[01:09:51] Or a man's got to know his limitations.
[01:09:56] See, raising your voice is almost a guarantee to escalate a conflict.
[01:10:02] You cannot be a peacemaker whenever you're getting louder and louder and angrier and angrier.
[01:10:09] so it also says cutting mean things will bring pain so when you start letting mean things come out of your mouth it's going to cause some pain peacemakers need to learn to moderate their words
[01:10:25] their tone the volume in order to dis uh discolate it a conflict and one of the weaknesses that i have since we're on confession is when i'm excited when i get upset when i get mad my tone is loud
[01:10:44] so sometimes when my tone is loud it's not that i'm mad it's that i'm excited but i have a built-in microphone and it's a weakness that i have to work on i'm telling you i have to work on that
[01:11:00] Because sometimes even in the middle of me working on my faults, it rises up.
[01:11:07] So when you know you have a problem, then recognize it and work on it.
[01:11:11] If you want to be a peacemaker, then you work on yourself.
[01:11:18] So when the problem arises, when the enemy comes against you, you have a better chance of standing for what God has called you to do is be a peacemaker.
[01:11:29] God's calling us, his children, to make a difference in this world.
[01:11:34] We are to work on ourselves and our own issues because God has called us to be a peacemaker.
[01:11:41] Romans 12, starting with the 17th, says, take a deep breath on this one.
[01:11:49] Romans 12, 17.
[01:11:53] Recompense, what does that mean?
[01:11:56] Pay back to no man evil for evil.
[01:11:59] provide things honest in the sight of all men if it be possible now make a middle note on that if it be possible as much as lies within you live peaceably with all men dearly beloved avenge not
[01:12:25] yourselves oh my goodness see that's what's happened in the middle of a conflict a minimum a problem remember i said that we want to fight back we want that other person to hurt like we're
[01:12:36] they're hurting us but the scripture says avenge not yourself but rather give place into wrath for it is written what vengeance is mine i will repay saith the lord so therefore if thy enemy hunger
[01:12:54] feed him if he thirsts give him a drink for in so they shall reap heap coals of fire on his head listen we got to refuse to return evil for evil if we're peacekeepers peacemakers it is a choice
[01:13:13] not to repay evil for evil it is a choice that the believer makes not to respond evil with evil you've got to get it in your mind you've got to change our mindset we are being saved
[01:13:27] we are being sanctified and God is calling us to let him take care of our problems but in the meantime we've got to keep our mouths and we've got to be the peacemakers payback is not yours
[01:13:42] the Bible says that God repays it's not hard not to tell your side of the story Let's talk that back.
[01:13:50] It is hard not to tell your side of the story.
[01:13:54] It is hard not to go out and tell what the other person has done for you.
[01:13:59] It is hard not to defend the lies that's been told about you.
[01:14:03] But you know what?
[01:14:04] When you can keep your mouth shut and pray for them, what are you doing?
[01:14:10] You're on your way to being a peacemaker.
[01:14:13] When you don't go out and try to tell your story because you think it's going to hurt that person, When you step back and say, God, when you reveal, you'll take care of it all.
[01:14:24] But when you want to be a peacemaker, you won't reveal when you can.
[01:14:31] Also, we got to do which is good.
[01:14:33] Paul doesn't write that we should usually choose what is good.
[01:14:36] He doesn't write that we should sometimes choose good.
[01:14:40] He says, always do good.
[01:14:43] You will never have to apologize for doing what's right.
[01:14:46] Amen.
[01:14:47] you will never have to second guess your actions in worry if you sin if you choose to do right and then we need to live at peace with those who allow you to do so paul made sure that he said
[01:15:01] if you can if this allowed live peacefully sometimes you just got to walk away sometimes you say i can't do this so instead of me getting myself in trouble what i'm going to do is be a
[01:15:16] A peacemaker by walking away.
[01:15:19] See, our responsibility lies with doing what God has called us to do.
[01:15:27] Don't seek revenge.
[01:15:28] God has declared that we are not to seek vengeance because vengeance belongs to Him.
[01:15:33] So if we do our part, God's going to fight for us.
[01:15:37] Sort of like this.
[01:15:39] If I would get in trouble when I was growing up and I'd tell Mama the truth, the punishment wasn't as hard.
[01:15:47] But if I told her a lie to cover up what I had done, what happened?
[01:15:52] The punishment was harder.
[01:15:54] That is what happens here.
[01:15:56] If we step back and say, listen, I can't be part of this.
[01:16:00] I don't want to take any.
[01:16:02] I'm just, listen, you go your way.
[01:16:04] I'll go my way.
[01:16:05] We will live peacefully.
[01:16:07] But I'm not going to argue with you.
[01:16:08] I'm not going to fuss and fight with you.
[01:16:10] You go your way.
[01:16:11] I'm going to go mine.
[01:16:12] And if they're in the wrong, God's going to take care of it.
[01:16:15] If I'm in the wrong, God's going to take care of it.
[01:16:18] If we look at revenge as God's personal property, then we'll be smart enough to avoid it by taking it into our own hands.
[01:16:27] Leave God room to work.
[01:16:31] If we don't have it, if He don't have to deal with us, because how many knows He's going to deal with His own first?
[01:16:36] If we've not given Him a reason to work on us about it, then it gives Him room to go and take care of the problem.
[01:16:43] Sometimes we think we need to fix the problem.
[01:16:47] Sometimes we think that we need to do the correction.
[01:16:50] But God says, no, I want you to be the peacemaker.
[01:16:55] I want you to have peace.
[01:16:57] And how do you have peace?
[01:16:58] By knowing me.
[01:17:00] And let me take care of yourself.
[01:17:02] Let me take care of you while you make choices to follow me.
[01:17:09] You know, we've got to meet our enemy's needs.
[01:17:12] We've already been told we've got to pray for them.
[01:17:14] but he also says to meet their needs.
[01:17:17] This is really tough, but Paul writes to feed your hungry enemy, to provide them water for a thirsty.
[01:17:24] But meeting the needs of an enemy is a powerful tool in the peacemaker's box.
[01:17:30] It's hard for somebody to be angry if someone's always blessing them and helping them.
[01:17:35] And then we need to overcome good with evil.
[01:17:39] Have you read that the wrath of man doesn't work the righteousness of God?
[01:17:44] You cannot use evil to accomplish what God is doing.
[01:17:48] A campaign of gossip to remove a sinful pastor from a pulpit is not God's plan.
[01:17:54] We cannot use the devil's method to bring about the will of God.
[01:18:00] That's what we've got to understand.
[01:18:02] We can't take things into our own hands, can we?
[01:18:06] But if you're a person who's been left with a chain of broken relationships behind because of anger and bitterness, then you've not been a peacemaker.
[01:18:18] But Jesus is calling us to be peacemakers.
[01:18:22] If there's relationships, if there's friendships, if there's family, then we need to mend or make better.
[01:18:29] We need to depend on God.
[01:18:30] And don't hold grudges.
[01:18:32] Don't be angry.
[01:18:33] Don't be mad.
[01:18:35] If you aren't a peacemaker, then you're not going to be blessed.
[01:18:39] You're going to be constantly in the midst of turmoil and unsolved conflicts.
[01:18:45] How can you be happy?
[01:18:47] Let God take care of it and you be the peacemaker.
[01:18:52] We must have a desire above all to make peace.
[01:18:57] I didn't say that you had to be bosom buddies.
[01:18:59] I didn't say that you had to take them back in your circle.
[01:19:03] I'm saying you've got to be peaceful with people.
[01:19:07] The Beatitude is telling us, blessed.
[01:19:11] What is we said all this series?
[01:19:13] Blessed is to have the favor of God on our lives.
[01:19:19] So if you want the favor of God on your life, what do we need?
[01:19:23] To be peacemakers because we know who the peacemaker is.
[01:19:28] Amen.
[01:19:29] I think Jesus is preparing us for the next three scriptures that's ahead.
[01:19:34] He's trying to give us a jump on thinking about what he's saying.
[01:19:39] But God has a plan for us.
[01:19:42] and let's not hinder God's plan by not keeping peace.
[01:19:47] Let's stand to our feet.
[01:19:52] Heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be in your house today.
[01:19:56] I thank you for the ones that's here and has been so faithful.
[01:20:00] And Lord, I just ask that you help those that's trying.

[01:20:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:20:06] No matter who you are, how good you are, or how bad you think you are, the God of the universe wants to be known by you.
[01:20:19] And he stands at the door and knocks.
[01:20:24] This is our God.
[01:20:28] Think about this.
[01:20:29] God knew you before he formed you in your mother's womb, before you were even flesh.
[01:20:34] He knew everything about you before you breathed your first breath.
[01:20:38] And now, now that you're here living and breathing, the God of the universe desires so deeply to be close with you.
[01:20:48] This