Author: mary

Matthew five through seven contains the most famous sermon Jesus Christ gave while on earth: The Sermon on the Mount. It began on a mountainside. Jesus had gone up there to teach his disciples about how to live. As he was teaching, more and more people gathered until it was a large crowd. His message was not just for the disciples, but for all people. God had come to Earth and was instructing them how to live. He was explaining how to live a righteous and holy life.

Jesus knew that his followers would need guidance once he was gone. Imagine how the disciples felt once Jesus was really gone. I am sure that his words rang in their heads and hearts. They probably held their words with great regard. We know that many of them suffered a martyr’s death. They took his teachings, placed them deep in their hearts, and taught everyone they came in contact with. They were impacted in a way that changed them from the inside out.

The Sermon on the Mount is still relevant for us today. We can internalize the words of Jesus, live by them, and teach them to others as well.

James 3:17-18 tells us, “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” Blessed are the peacemakers as Matthew 5 says! What are peacemakers and how can we strive to be better peacemakers in all we do?

Merriam Webster defines peacemakers as, “One who makes peace especially by reconciling parties at variance.” A peacemaker is not someone who simply stays quiet when others do not, although that can be helpful as well. A peacemaker is someone who actively tries to restore and reconcile the parties. The look to see how the bridge between the two can be healed. They actively pray for restoration. They go before the throne of God on behalf of reconciliation. It is of utmost importance to them. They do not show favoritism toward one party, but are instead sincere toward both. They are full of mercy. They have the very attributes of Jesus.

Have you known a person such as this? Are you a peacemaker? Think about the attributes listed in these two passages and spend some time in prayer. Ask God to make you more like Jesus, the ultimate peacemaker.

In this life, you will see many people fall away from the faith. This does not mean they lose their faith or never had faith necessarily, for that is not for us to judge the intent of their heart. As Christians, it is our job to gently restore them. James 5:19-20 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” There is great reward in restoring those who have fallen away.

So how can restoration be done? First, you must pray for them above all else. God is the one who restores, not us. Pray for that person everyday, that God will draw them back to Himself and that they will long for change in their heart. Second, invest in that person if you have not already done that. Try to spend time with them if they will allow it. When you are with them, do not condemn them, but tell them you are praying for them and even ask them specifically what you can pray about. These two things will allow you to become a trustworthy person in their life. You will have a greater chance of helping restore the person if they consider you to be trustworthy.

Never stop hoping. God is the God of restoration. He restored many people throughout the Bible. Most of all, He restored you and me through Jesus Christ. If He can do that, He can restore anyone.

Prayer is powerful. James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” When God’s people call on Him, He will do amazing, powerful things and they will get to be a part of it.

The first step to experiencing powerful prayer is to confess your sins to each other. Corporate prayer can be especially powerful when you confess to each other and hold each accountable. When I was in college, my friend and I decided to start meeting together once a week to help hold each other accountable. We asked each other questions about our lives and prayed together. It was so powerful knowing that I was not alone in my struggles when I confessed them to her. She understood and went through struggles of her own. It was also powerful knowing that there was someone out there praying for me. The second step is to actively pray for others so you may be healed. Does this mean physical healing? Possibly, but it most definitely means spiritual healing. When you pray for others it transforms your heart and mind, the way you think and act toward others.

Prayer is the most powerful thing you can do. When you tell others you will pray for them it gives them comfort to know that you are going before the throne. Spend some time in active prayer today and feel the power of God!

“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” James describes in 5:13-15. Prayer is how we communicate with God. Prayer brings peace and comfort to the Christian. It also brings great joy during difficult times. Prayer heals and forgives.

If we will commit to praying in our churches, we will find it to be foundational. So how can we make prayer the central focus of the church? First, commit to praying individually on your own time. Wake up and spend some time with the Lord. Pray before you go to sleep. Pray for your struggles. Pray for your friends and family. Pray for others you know need help. Then, pray corporately. Find a prayer group or invite some people over to pray. God is there in the midst of you when you pray as Matthew 18:20 states, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Commit to being a prayer warrior for the community and world around you. You will see change in your life and the lives of others when you pray.