Matthew 5:9 Bless Are The Peacemakers

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." [Matthew 5:9 NASB]

These beatitudes all have one thing in common. They are beyond our natural abilities.

• Poor in Spirit - We only recognize the poverty of our spirit as it compares to Spirit of God.
• Those who mourn - It is only as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin that we are able to properly mourn our sinful state.
• The meek - Meekness (gentleness, humility) is a fruit of the Spirit.
• Righteousness - We are only righteous in God's eyes because He has made us righteous. 
• Merciful - We give mercy because He was first merciful to us.
• Pure in Heart - It is the fire of the Holy Spirit that purifies the heart

In the same vein, it would be a mistake to think of a peacemaker as a diplomat or negotiator. Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit. Those who walk in the Spirit enjoy the peace of God. "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace," [Romans 8:6 NASB]

But the life of a Christian isn't about sitting in a cave, separated from humanity, enjoying the peace of God within. We are in the world, and we need to be at peace in the world. Paul tells us, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." [Romans 12:18 NASB]

Being at peace with others begins with being at peace within. This peace is not the peace that the world gives. It doesn't come from transcendental meditation, or chanting mantras, or mastering yoga. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as you draw near to Him.

When a Christian sins, he feels guilt. And guilt will kill peace. If you want to be at peace you must overcome sin in your life. You have probably heard it said that this is impossible, but that is a lie the church has believed and repeated to its detriment. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome sin.

You must learn to walk in the Spirit. We are taught in Galatians, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh....Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." [Galatians 5:21-25 NASB]

What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? We are told in Romans, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace," [Romans 8:1-6 NASB]

The concept is simple: turn your mind toward Jesus, and leave it there. You will know His presence in your life if you do this. This is not a difficult task. Jesus said, "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." [Matthew 11:30 NASB]

It is the simplicity that is a stumbling block to many Christians. We have the idea that "crucifying the flesh" involves some sort of self-flagellation, or great pain, or an extreme act of will. In fact it is an act of grace from God. Jesus already paid the price for our peace. He asks that we abide in Him, and obediently follow where He leads.

Just as salvation involved a simple decision to follow Jesus, walking in the Spirit involves a simple decision to abide in Him.