ASK #012 - Blessed are the Peacemakers

written:   December 20, 2021

 

Blessed are the Peacemakers

 

 

After hearing yesterday's message from Pastor Larry at Starpoint church I was deeply touched.  His message hit home especially in this season of life I am in right now.  There are so many instances where I can be offended and hurt by others but I am refusing to allow others to have that control over my body, mind, spirit and soul.  

 

Since my divorce I have commited in my heart to not allow what others say or do to me to offend and hurt me.  The only opinion that matters is that of the opinion and the truth of our Heavenly Father.  I have learned from a course I took at Rock Solid Church in Hudson, NY called Victory over the Darkness, which is based on a book by Neil Anderson.  This course was taught by MT Clark.  In this course we were taught to renounce all the lies that the enemy has declared on us and instead replace them with the truths we know from our Heavenly Father.  

 

There are many resources that you may find useful in your walk to freedom.  You can find them on the Freedom in Christ Ministry website.  (www.ficm.org)  Below is a list of the truths that Christ declares on our lives.  This is an easy practice you could add to your daily spiritual routine.  Simply read this list of truths out loud on a daily basis for several weeks (or more).  By doing this you will be able to commit these truths to your heart and truly believe them.  Knowing these truths will begin to change how you feel about yourself and help you to not allow what others say and do to offend you.  

 

I Renounce The Lie That I Am Rejected, Unloved, Or Shameful

In Christ I Am ACCEPTED

GOD SAYS: 

• I am God’s child (see John 1:12) 

• I am Christ’s friend (see John 15:15) 

• I have been justified (see Romans 5:1) 

• I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:17) 

• I have been bought with a price: I belong to God. (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

• I am a member of Christ’s Body (see 1 Corinthians 12:27) 

• I am a saint, a holy one (see Ephesians 1:1) 

• I have been adopted as God’s child (see Ephesians 1:5) 

• I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 2:18) 

• I have been forgiven of all my sins (see Colossians 1:14) 

• I am complete in Christ (see Colossians 2:10) 

I Renounce The Lie That I Am Guilty, Unprotected, Alone, Or Abandoned 

In Christ I Am SECURE 

GOD SAYS: 

• I am free from condemnation (see Romans 8:1-2) 

• I am assured that all things work together for good (see Romans 8:28) 

• I am free from all condemning charges against me (see Romans 8:31-34) 

• I cannot be separated from the love of God (see Romans 8:35-39) 

• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) 

• I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected (see Philippians 1:6) • I am a citizen of heaven (see Philippians 3:20) 

• I am hidden with Christ in God (see Colossians 3:3) 

• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control (see 2 Timothy 1:7) 

• I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16) 

• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (see 1 John 5:18) 

I Renounce The Lie That I Am Worthless, Inadequate, Helpless, Or Hopeless 

In Christ I Am SIGNIFICANT 

GOD SAYS: 

• I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (see Matthew 5:13-14) 

• I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus, a channel of His life (see John 15:1-5) 

• I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit (see John 15:16) 

• I am a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ (see Acts 1:8) 

• I am a temple of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16) 

• I am a minister of reconciliation for God (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-21) 

• I am a fellow worker with God (see 2 Corinthians 6:1) 

• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (see Ephesians 2:6) 

• I am God’s workmanship, created for good works (see Ephesians 2:10) 

• I may approach God with freedom and confidence (see Ephesians 3:12) 

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (see Philippians 4:13)

Especially these days there are so many things that you can allow to offend you.  God wants us to be peacemakers.  But you ask how can you be a peacemaker and not be offended by what others say and do to you?

The Bible speaks on this in the book of Romans.

Romans 12:14-18 (NIV) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

If you read this verse carefully you will see that it states “Bless those who persecute you.”  It doesn’t say IF someone persecutes you but WHEN someone persecutes you.  You will be persecuted and offended by others.  When we are, what will we do and how will we respond?  It is our response to this persecution that Christ, our Heavenly Father will be watching for.  

He wants us to know and trust that Jesus is BIGGER than any of our offenders.  This statement reminds me of a very fun song from my children's childhood days.  Now the premise of this song is about a child lying in bed being scared or frightened, however, I feel this song also touches on the idea that we have fears of being offended and offending others.  We can be lying in our bed and allowing the thought of others to stir in our heads causing us fear and anxiety.  So we need to remember that God is bigger than all these fears.  He is bigger than the enemy that causes these fears and anxieties in our lives.  

God is Bigger than the Boogie Man

A Veggie Tale song 

You were lying in your bed

You were feeling kind of sleepy

You just could not close your eyes

Because the room was getting creepy

Were those eyeballs in the closet?

Was that Godzilla in the hall?

Was there something big and hairy

Casting shadows on the wall

Now your skin is getting clammy

There's a hundred tiny monsters

Jumping right inside your jammies

God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV

Oh, God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's watching, watching, watching

Watching out for you and me

So, when I'm lying in my bed

And the furniture starts creeping

I'll just laugh and say, "Hey, cut that out!"

And get back to my sleeping

'Cause I know that God's the biggest

And He's watching all the while

So, when I get scared I'll think of Him

And close my eyes and smile!

God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV

Oh, God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's watching, watching, watching

Watching out for you and me

Come on, come on, come on

In bed

I know, I know, I know

I'm not scared

Come on, come on, come on

Because

I know, I know, I know

God's there

Watching out for you and me

Now instead of getting clammy

You just trust that God is gonna

Give that Boogie Man a whammy

God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV

Oh, God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's watching, watching, watching

God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV

Oh, God is bigger, bigger than the Boogie Man

He's watching, watching, watching

Watching out for you and me

Watching, watching, watching

Watching out for you and me

We are to be reminded that in all of this we are to remember that Chirst has all power and authority over all that He has created.  He goes before us and is able to hold everything together for His glory.  This is evident in the following bible passage in Colossians.

Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The following verse in Isaiah is a beautiful example from Jesus as to how we are to respond to our oppressors and those who persecute us.  We are to be silent and not speak to the offense.  We are to live in peace with others.  We need to remember that there are people out there that are praying to be in a situation like we are.  There are always people and situations that are worse off than us.  We are to be the peace and comfort for others.  Be a resite and an oasis of peace.

Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

I want to finally close and give a set of blessings from our Lord.  He gives us these promises in the book of Matthew. 

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,  and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called children of God.