Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
June 19, 2005 - W0525

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known … the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will … close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you … because you did not know the time of your visitation’”. (Luke 19:41-44)

Jesus was saddened and wept over Jerusalem for the glimpse He had of their future. If they had only seen the things that made for peace, thousands of lives would not have perished. Ironically, Jerusalem means city of peace. Yet for centuries they have been plagued with wars and crippled with strife even until today. And these were a people who knew God.

How did they miss it and what lesson can we learn from them? How can we become peacemakers in our homes, offices, relationships, and churches? Well this Father’s Day I want to especially speak to the fathers who are the primary peacemakers as we learn…

THE THREE ROLES OF A PEACEMAKER

1. LOOK FOR THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).

In other words, we never look more like our Father when we are about making peace. When things are right the result is peace. So how do we get that rightness? The Bible says: “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”. (Jas. 3:18) In essence, if we are peacemakers sowing seeds of righteousness, there will be an atmosphere of rightness. And who will plant those seeds? It will be the peacemakers.

 “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another”. (Rom. 14:19) How do we begin to do that?

I recently wrote in my journal ways in which I can be a peacemaker:
• Give people the assurance that they stand well with me.
• Encourage people genuinely, consistently, and specifically.
• Don’t be so exacting. Let some loose ends go.
• Look at the overall picture instead of one subjective thing.
• No gossiping or slandering.
• Don’t try to outsmart people.
• Don’t expect anything from others that I am unwilling to do myself.
• Believe the best in people. Speak well of people even when they are not around me.
• Remove all hurry from my life because it will make me make mistakes.
• “Teach me these things that make for peace.”

God is calling all of us to be peacemakers by first looking for things that make for peace. The second point we must learn is to…

2. USE YOUR AUTHORITY TO INITIATE PEACE.

Authority has been given to every one of us. Dads, we have been given the assignment of being the head of your home. Our children look to us as role models and examples of how to live right. Men, it is a God-given spiritual authority. That’s why when we initiate peace in our home, even the demons cannot rebel against it because we’ve been given authority to proclaim that. On the other hand, if we withhold our authority and remain neutral the devil will take that as an open invitation to ransack our home.

So husbands make sure to use your authority to bring peace and righteousness in your home. And wives submit in agreement when they do because it’s spiritually correct.  And when you initiate peace with God-given authority, heaven will stand behind that.

“But if her husband indeed annuls them on the day he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the obligation of herself, shall not stand; her husband has annulled them, and the Lord will forgive her”. (Num. 30:12)

What does that mean? It’s talking about rash vows. That is when we say something in the heat of the moment without really thinking it through. For example, if a mom says in anger or frustration that she’s leaving because she’s had enough, she’s tired, and at the end of her rope. Husbands must step in right then and initiate peace. It is a wonderful gift to be able to say, “Honey, I know you are upset right now and didn’t mean that. Kids, let’s get together here and help mom out.” 

Yet if nothing is said, the lasting effects on your household will be damaging. So the Bible is saying husbands have a major responsibility to step in and annul something said in anger or exasperation because the Lord will void those words spoken rashly and not allow it to take root in your home.

We begin to look more and more like our Father when we look for things that make for peace and use our authority to initiate peace. The third role we must learn as a peacemaker is to…

3. LOOK FOR EVIDENCES OF HIS PRESENCE RATHER THAN HIS ABSENCE.

He also loved cursing, so it came to him, and he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him” (Ps. 109:17).

“If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” (Prov.11:27 NLT). We see what we’re looking for. If we look for God everywhere, we’ll see Him everywhere even through difficult situations. If we are looking for what is wrong in our family, and are unwilling to initiate peace, or use authority to make peace we leave ourselves open for the devil to come in and overrun us.

That is why we emphasize doing daily devotions. If we know God’s Word, we won’t fight about who is right, we’ll be doing what is right. And the one who initiates peace will say let’s do what is right and according to scripture. Men: it begins with us. On this Father’s Day, remember that God has given us a great gift of authority. Steward it well to make peace because…

• ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSINGS HAS BEEN PROMISED THROUGH PEACEMAKERS.

The very last verse of the Old Testament is very interesting. It talks about peacemakers, about fathers and introduces the New Testament where Jesus the Messiah came as the Prince of Peace.

“He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse”. (Mal. 4:6)

If fathers don’t become peacemakers, our land will live under a curse with hurting relationships, broken families, dysfunctional children, and perhaps a whole generation lost. But one of the representations of the Lord or object lessons of God’s work in the world will be seen among the fathers. So dads, learn to be peacemakers. Use your authority to use words that heal, to bring people together, and take a positive stance. And as a peacemaker, you become the source of one of the lands greatest blessings.

Of course being a peacemaker will require us to discipline our children because the Bible says: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will remove it far from it”. (Prov. 22: 15) Part of getting young people to be at peace is to discipline. This means to stand against what is wrong and to get them toward what is right in a righteous way according to their temperament. Sometimes it may just mean a talking to or a scolding. Other times, it may require a rod of discipline, but do it out of love. “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and he scourges every son whom He receives”. (Heb. 12:6) Remember that discipline is motivated out of love and focuses on future character. Punishment is motivated out of anger and focuses on a past misdeed.

We, as God’s people, need to for the things that are good and build on that. Use your authority to initiate peace and look for evidences of His presence everywhere.

In closing, I’d like my wife Anna, to pray for the sisters and I’ll pray for the brothers. “Lord, we love you so much today. We thank you. And Father I pray for every woman here that You would instill in us that heart to be a peacemaker. Lord, may we be the one to build a bridge between our families. More than that helps us to be a bridge that would bring others to you. Cause peace to reign in our hearts and in our homes.”
 
“Lord I pray for the men of our congregation, to whom You have given great authority. I pray that we will steward that well, and use it, not question it or let it go. May we use it to initiate peace. You are looking for peacemakers, Lord. May you find plenty of Your recruits, right here, in our midst. Help us, Lord, even though we might see things in our homes that aren’t right, to also see the things which make for peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Is there someone in your life that needs encouragement? What could you say in an encouraging, genuine, and specific way?

2. Do you have a difficult co-worker, or family member? Try listing five positive things about this person. Which character quality would you be willing to build on and praise?

3. Pastor Wayne mentioned that it’s good to not be so exacting, and let some loose ends go. Is there a “loose end” that you can let go of? If so, what would that be?

4. Have you seen a peacemaker in action? What happened? How were they able to diffuse the situation? Do you recall anything of what was said?

5. Looking for the good is not always easy; but with prayer and daily devotions, it gets much easier. Is there a situation where you witnessed God’s presence in action and how did you respond because of your walk with the Lord? Were others able to benefit? Is so, how?

Thank you once again to Robin Hart II for her dedication and devotion to serving God with all her heart.  Mahalo!