Peacemakers and Persecution

Today’s Focus: Peacemakers and Persecution
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Verse 9 is a very significant verse to the Kingdom of God. Look at who the peacemakers are: The Children of God. Now last time I checked, I was a child of God so I am a peacemaker. If you are someone who keeps up confusion and mischief then are you a child of God? Based off of Jesus words in verse 9 the answer is no. Now, for many years we have been told that we are the army of the Lord. I have said it once and will say it again: Citizens do not fight! How can you be a peacemaker and be a fighter. Funny, many religious Christians are both! They claim to be peacemakers and fight in the army of the Lord. That is schizophrenia. Now the church has confused Ephesians 6. We always read this set of scriptures and never read the entire text. After Paul describes the armour of God, he gives instructions on what to do next. I can promise you this, He did not say fight! He said PRAY. See we do not fight against flesh and blood. So you do not fight against your brothers and sisters, but against wicked spirits and principalities in high places. But now I am confused brother Calvin you just said we do not fight but then you just said we fight against wicked spirits. Let me explain: You can not fight a spirit as flesh. The way you defend yourself against the enemy is with truth, the gospel, the Word of God and faith. So the armour will protect you in the fight. But you have to at least have it on and the only way you can have it on is you have a relationship with the owner. The owner if you did not know is our Heavenly Father.

Persecution
There is no doubt that the righteous of God will suffer persecution. Funny when the disciples suffered persecution they rejoiced because they knew and remembered what Jesus told them would happen if they followed him. When you choose to follow Christ, people will lie on you, persecute you for mentioning the name of Jesus. But, remember you are a citizen protected by the angels. Does that mean that some will still die because of the name of Jesus? Yes. But, do not fear death because the Bible says absent from the body, is present with the Lord!

Finally, look at verse 12 and see the blessing for being persecuted. Your reward is in Heaven where no man can corrupt it or even steal it. So stay strong my brother and sister in Christ. One thing I can tell you when you start to make the change for the Kingdom, some of the first people to turn on you is your family. Do not be discouraged but stay the course and be strong in the power of His might.

Abba’s Ambassador,
Min. Calvin Calhoun, Jr.