Beatitudes: An Instrument of Thy Peace

The Beatitudes: An Instrument of Thy Peace
The Gospel of Matthew 5.9

A. THE GOD OF PEACE

1.  Peace within God Himself

2.  Peace expressed in the act of creation

3.  Peace poured out on His children

B. WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT PEACE

1.  Jesus does NOT pronounce blessed…

    a.   The one who loves peace

    b.  The one who responds in peace

    c.  The one who tries to keep peace

    d.  The one who seeks peace at any cost

2.  Jesus pronounces a blessing on the peaceMAKER

C. THE CHARACTER OF THE PEACEMAKER

1.  Poor in Spirit

2.  Mourns over sin

3.  Meek and gentle

4.  Hungering and thirsting for what is right

5.  Pure in heart

D. THE WORK OF MAKING PEACE

1.  One warning:  Its going to hurt

2.  Two prerequisites

    a.  Peace with God
    b.  Peace with ourselves

3.  Three practical words of advice

    a.  Talk less
    b.  See things from God’s perspective
    c.  Begin with your own personal space

John Olson