Summary of the Sermon by Pastor Chandra Wong, Sunday, 27 October 2019

 

The Peacemaker

 

Blessed are the PEACEMAKER! For they shall be called the SONS OF GOD. (Mat 5:9)

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. (Rom 5:19)

For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Rom 8:14)

What are the things that we can do as the peacemakers? Let us look into the life of Gideon to learn about how to be a peacemaker.

“Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.

 

So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD.”

(Judges 6:1-2, 6)

 

The verse was in condition of Israelites were doing wrong in the sight of the Lord. As it’s nearer to the harvest time, the Midianites would destroy them. After God raised Gideon, then there’s peace in the land of Israel. (Judges 8:28)

 

What did Gideon do to be the peacemakers of the land of Israel?

1.       THE CALLING – MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.

There’s a calling in his life. God called him to bring peace in the land of Israel. (Judges 6:14-16)

So that if ANY ONE is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

All of us are called to serve in the ministry of reconciliation, not only between man and man but also man and God. We’re also called to bring peace whether in our family, workplace, or even to present in the conflicted area of the world as long as God asked us to go.

 “God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

 

2.       PEACE FOR THE PEACEMAKER

The peacemaker has to have peace in himself first, horizontally with men and vertically with God.

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign LORD, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” (Judges 6:22)

There’re 2 scenarios on the situation:

-          Gideon was having a troubled heart because he thought that he’s going to die because during Moses time it was mentioned that no one may see God’s face and live. (Exodus 33:20)

-          Gideon knew he’s not going to die. In Judges 6:23, “and Jehovah said to him, PEACE TO YOU. Do not fear. You shall not die.”

The only assurance to know that we have our peace is through our FAITH, we’re sure of our relationship with God as He has forgiven our sins and we’re fully redeemed. (Romans 5:1)

We need to settle and reconcile with our brothers and sisters prior to being the peacemakers.

Have we done our best to be at peace with our closest ones and to bring peace even though sometimes we think it’s impossible? We have to have that peace first before we move forward to do our calling.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Abraham showed us how to be a peacemaker by giving his nephew the opportunity to decide where to go although he has option to decide first as an elder. (Genesis 13:8-9)

3.       PEACE MAKING – GOD’S WAYS

We have to move forward to be peacemakers with and in GOD’S WAYS and not out ways.

The ultimate peace in the GARDEN of EDEN was not destroyed by MAN, but by evil. (see Ephesians 6:12)

After God called Gideon and he had peace with God, the next thing God asked Gideon was to ask him to build up the new altar for the Jehovah so instead of worshipping Baal, the Israelites can come to the true God to be worshipped (Judges 6:26)

 

It needs effort to make peace to be getting out of our comfort zones, just as Gideon did a lot of things. Though he was not comfortable with the calling, he has low self-esteem because he’s the low and the least in the family. He’s also fearful. (Judges 6:15). Gideon managed to gather people around 32,000 but God told Gideon that with 300 men He will give the victory. (Judges 7:3) Throughout the whole episode, Gideon had to depend on God as he knew with his own strength he cannot make it.

It’s not easy to bring peace but we need a lot of efforts, as we move forward we need to ensure the peacemaking is done properly, sometimes we need to swallow our pride. (Romans 14:19)

But when God called us to go as we’re, we know it’s God who fights for us. Just obey Him.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14)

 

“What then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)

 

Let us be the peacemaker wherever we are placed by God.