Matthew 5:9–12
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Focused Thinking:
What does “peacemakers” mean?
“Peacemakers” speaks to those who share the gospel of peace, thus bringing peace between people and God and between those who are at odds with each other.
- They should bring peace wherever they go (Eph 6:15).
- They don’t bring peace through compromise; they bring peace through Christ.
What do the “peacemakers” receive?
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Personal Application:
Where do I possess these qualities?
I build invest and invite relationships for the purpose of bringing peace.
My friendship with Byron is an example of bringing peace.
I have other friendships for the purpose of peace right now.
Where do I need to develop these qualities?
I need to be sensitive to additional opportunities.
I need to be sensitive to new invest and invite friendships.
How do I develop the “peacemakers” qualities?
The more I pray the more sensitive I am to opportunities and friendships.
I need multiply my heart and abilities for others to be peacemakers.
10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Focused Thinking:
What does “persecuted for the sake of righteousness” mean?
“Persecuted for the sake of righteousness” speaks to those who suffer.
- Sometimes they are falsely accused.
- If we live godly lives, suffering will come.
What do the “persecuted for the sake of righteousness” receive?
10“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Personal Application:
Where/how am I persecuted?
I believe I’m constantly under spiritual attack.
- I believe the enemy is always trying to distract me and discourage me. If he can destroy me in my character or as the leader of my home, then he can attack the work of God in and through our church.
I believe Satan attacks me by attacking my family, especially my son.
- When Mark struggles, all of us struggle. I believe God wants to use Mark’s tongue for good, but I believe Satan attacks him in this area and tries to use it for bad.
I believe Satan attacks me through busyness, because busyness is the enemy of intimacy.
- If he can get me worried and stressed then I work too hard and too long, and I devote myself to prayer and the ministry of the Word less.
I believe Satan attacks me by attacking the staff.
- If staff morale isn’t good, then I feel their feelings and worry about them. If staff unity isn’t good, I really feel it and worry.
I’ve been insulted much through the years.
I’ve been falsely accused much through the years.
- My greatest hurts in life have come from these insults and accusations.
- It is so difficult to rejoice in the moment. It is still difficult today, but it is definitely true that we couldn’t be the church we are apart from those hurts.
- I can look back on specifics now and see reason to rejoice in many of those relationships.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, help me to be a peacemaker and to build a church of peacemakers. Help me to win my friends to Christ. Help me to win my family to Christ. I pray for Mark and Annika to be peacemakers. I pray that we create of movement of peacemakers through Highpoint Church.
Father, I don’t want to be persecuted, but I pray that I will be obedient enough to be persecuted. Of course, my definition of persecution isn’t too difficult. I want to create enough offense and movement that the enemy would want to attack me, but I want to be able to resist His attack and stand firm in the Lord. Father, I don’t want to be insulted, but I do want to respond well to insults. Father, give me ability to sense persecution and know how to react to it in the moment. Show me how to look beyond the persecution and truly see you in and through the persecution.
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