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Welcome to week eight of my series on The Beatitudes.

The Sermon on the Mount teachings are a demonstration of what we should be living as Christ followers.   Jesus set the tone early on in His ministry regarding what He was about and what it meant to be His disciple and have a Kingdom mindset. These teachings are the foundation for what Jesus modeled and would be doing for the next three years of His earthly ministry, and what He longs for us His followers to do as well.

The Beatitudes are the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached for the here and now and also for the Kingdom to come.   I look forward to diving in deeper to each one of the 8 Beatitudes in the weeks to come.

 


 

 

Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 NIV)

 

This verse reminds me of a line from the movie Miss Congeniality when Sandra Bullock’s character has to answer a question for the panel.  The question all the contestants had to answer was “What is the one most important thing our society needs?”  All the other contestants said “World Peace,” but not Sandra’s character, she speaks the plain and simple truth as she sees it. However, once realizes that she is not winning any points with the judges, or the audience, and in fact has kind of put them off, she adds … “And World Peace!”  Hahaha

Peace according to the Kingdom of God and peace according to our worldly standards are two very different things.  In the natural, we think peace means the absence of conflict. However, it is much more than that.

Maybe you’ve seen the bumper sticker or heard the phrase:

 

No Jesus – No Peace … Know Jesus – Know Peace!

 

Peace according to the Kingdom, and the peace Jesus was talking about here has more to do with each persons over all well-being and state of mind.

The biblical concept of peace is larger than just a passive picture of the absence of fighting, wars, or even internal or external strife.  It rests heavily on the Hebrew root salom, which means “to be complete” or “to be sound.” The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning “to be complete or whole” or “to live well. The noun had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories:

  • As wholeness of life or body (i.e., health);

  • As right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant

  • As prosperity, success, or fulfillment

  • As victory over one’s enemies or absence of war. “[1]

 

In both the Old Testament and New Testament, we read about conflict, fighting, wars, and persecution.  If peace meant the absence of conflict, then how do we reconcile all we read in the Bible?  I’ve heard it said that peace is not the absence of conflict, but it is the presence of justice.  Scripture is clear, justice is not ours, it is God’s, (Ecc. 3:13; Heb. 10:30) but we do live in a fallen world.

 

Pastor John Oscar says it this way:

Peace is not the refusal to fight or to resist evil or oppression when necessary. Because we live in a fallen world sometimes peace can only happen as a result of a conflict first.[2]

God sent Jesus His only begotten son to earth to not only give us life, (John 3:16) and but life abundantly, (John 10:10) and to bring us peace (john 14:27).

 

Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ (Ephesians 2:14 The Passion Translation).

 

Jesus loved the Father and was sent to do His work here on earth.  He came to set us free and show God’s great love for us.

Pastor Greg Johnson puts it this way:

 

Jesus loved the Father and loved others as Himself. Jesus ministered to the people at their point of need. Christ followers live in peace in the midst of a world of conflict. Christ followers love God and others. Christ followers minister to people at their point of need. Christ followers continue the ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. They are blessed. They are the children of God.[3]

 

In the Old Testament, we can read the promise of who Jesus is for the world.  He is even called the Prince of Peace.

 

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7a NIV)

In this beatitude, Jesus is telling us, that as God’s children, peace is to be a part of our DNA.  It is the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding.  It is the peace we have when we rest in the confidence assurance that God has got us, even in the midst of life’s storms.

 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7  ESV)

 

 

God’s promise to us, is that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide us, lead us into all truth (John 16:13) and to comfort us (Acts 9:31; 2 Cor 1:4). Let’s look at John 14:27 in a few different Bible translations:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27 NIV).

I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught (John 14:27 The Message).

 

 “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous…” (John 14:27 The Passion Translation).

I love looking at the same verse in different translation because it brings a fulness to the Scripture.  When we are told that Jesus is the Prince of Peace in Isaiah, and then here in John, He is giving us His Peace!  His peace will make us whole, changed, and different.  His peace is perfect.  His peace is a gift to us and is not like the world’s peace. Don’t allow life’s circumstances or the chaos in the world to cause you fear, discouragement, or abandoned. Apart from Jesus there is no peace. Instead know Jesus and you will Know His Peace!

 

Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful (Colossians 3:15 The Voice).

Or as the Passion Translation puts it:  Let your heart be always guided by His peace!

 

 

[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/peace.html

[2] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/peacemaker-john-oscar-sermon-on-jesus-226449?page=2

[3] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-peacemakers-greg-johnson-sermon-on-sermon-on-the-mount-116849?page=2

Welcome to the:  I’ve been Featured portion of #TuneInThursday

Please make sure to visit the post before yours and share some comment love as well as one other post of your choice. In Order to be featured you must follow rule #2 below.  

Here are the posts that caught my eye this week:

Top Clicked Post: 

My Identity is “Not Out to Pasture” by Sue Donaldson was the most clicked post from last week. 

 

 

 

There was a 4-way tie for the 2nd most viewed post(s) from last week, in order of when they linked up:  

 

When You’re Struggling with Your Season By Stacey Pardoe

When Did I Become … A Prayer for Your Life Purpose  By Esther Dorotik

 

How to Get Unbent After Getting Bent Out of Shape By Marva

The Best Kept Secret in the Old Testament By Susan Shipe

 

Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!

I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs.  I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way.  Thank you!

 

Tune In Thursday

 

Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:

 


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Do you wonder if God still speaks today?  Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally?  Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?

Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to  move you forward  hearing from God?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need.  I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others.  He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you.  The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice. 

God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?

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Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:

Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be

Who we Are and Whose We Are

Trusting God When it Seems Illogical

Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)

My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party

My Posts: “Will You Sit with Me?”  & New Mercies Everyday & Wait for it were featured here:

My Posts:  The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We!  & Know Your Why were featured here:

 

Overwhelmed to Fulfilled

My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:

My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:

The Luke 2:52 Project

 

My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:

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Again,  I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:

 

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