THE PEACEMAKERS

First lesson: James 3:18 “And the fruits of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”. Second lesson: Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. Golden text: Romans 12: 18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. 1.1 The hallmark of God's children Beloved, very many people do not know how to identify the true children of God in this world and in the world to come. Some people claim that there is a certificate issued to the true children of God, while some profess that the true children of God have a common uniform. Some also erroneously think that the true children of God could be spotted out by the type of house they live in and the car they drive. This gospel seeks to reveal to you those who are the true children of God.You have always been admonished not to steal, tell lies, fornicate and indulge in any sinful act. The things you are advised not to practise are carnal and can only be practised by the worldly people. You have always been admonished not to steal, tell lies, fornicate and indulge in any sinful act. And so, the true children of God have nothing to do with such unwholesome acts. In fact, these are the things that debar you from being a true child of God and a major hindrance to entering this kingdom. This kingdom is peace. You are told not to resist an evil doer or indulge in other sinful acts. Therefore, once you indulge in any of these things, you lack peace and invariably are perished. Hence, you are no more God's child. If someone asks you to go a mile with him and you refuse, then, you are not worthy to be God's child. And you will not have peace any longer. Also, if someone wants to sue you to court, so as to claim your coat and you refuse to let him have it as a means of letting the case die a natural death, then you are no longer God's child. So if you refuse to let go your coat, and with the case to go on, then you will have no peace because your heart would be troubled for having done such unholy act. Also, if you give someone something and you go back for such thing after a second thought, peace departs from you automatically, because such an act will give birth to quarrel. Hence, you are no longer God's child. It is to this end that you have been enjoined in the golden text thus: "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. A spiritual song has it that: "You can take the whole world and give me Jesus, better take the world and give me Jesus.” This shows that Christ is peace. It is because He is the embodiment of peace, that informs why He overcomes the world. And for that reason too He lived peaceably at all times without being bothered of how He was reviled and falsely accused. 1.2 The kingdom of God is peace The kingdom of God is peace, for God is peace. Where there is no peace there is no God. It is worthy to note that this kingdom of God is only meant for the peacemakers - the children of God. When you hear of peace, do not think that it is a simple virtue to possess by everyone. It is only the children of God that possess peace and live in peace. Though wealthy and distinguished you are, so long as you are not God's true child, you are bound to lack peace. That is why Christ said that, unless you deny all that you have, you cannot be His disciple. If you are the kind of person who seeks for your own right, till doomsday you will not have peace. Also, if you are the type of person who hunts for wealth and other material things, till doomsday, you will not have peace. In the same way, those who think they are very knowledgeable can not dream about peace since they cannot accept peoples' ideas. Those who are liars, thieves, fornicators, idolaters, and other classes of sinners should forget about their intention to possess peace because they will not even dream of it let alone possessing it. That is the essence of our first lesson which goes thus: “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” Can you be bold enough to go and preach to a trouble monger? You would not; for he would not waste time to pick up quarrel with you. Buying or presenting a Bible to a trouble monger could be likened to casting a pearl before a swine. The Holy Bible is only meant for the children of God. That is why it is insignificant to read it to the thieves, liars and sinners. This explains why our Lord Jesus Christ usually concluded his sermons thus: "Let he who has ears hear" But who, apart from the children of God, have ears? And so, those people who do not take the Holy Bible and the word of God as anything are not God's children. No sinner ever longs for the word of God. That is why these class of people are not peaceful as God's children. Evil doers who are predestined to be in hell can never be interested in the word of God. Some may listen to it but would not practise the word. Some may, after being preached to, subject such preachers to punishment. This is a proof that the word of God is not meant for them but the true children of God. 1.3 Not all Brotherhood members are genuine It is also stated that not all the children of Israel are true Israelites. And not all the children of Abraham are his true heirs. In the same vein, not all the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star members are true Brotherhood of the Cross and Star members. For the entire world is Brotherhood, but not all are bonafide Brotherhood of the Cross and Star members. The inhabitants of the world are God's children, but not all are God's legitimate children. So beloved, have you now realised that not all were created to be hearers and doers of the word of God? Therefore, it is not expedient to be annoyed when certain people seem not to be keen for the word of God, or do you think that the word of God is meant for all? Also, peace is not meant for everyone in this kingdom. Hence it is only meant for the children of God. The children of the world should not be counted among those who are peaceful and have peace. 1.4 God abides where there is peace Right from the inception of creation, God has maintained duality in creation. That is why we have the tree of life and evil. And as the former is for the children of God, the latter Is for the worldly people. Some people do profess that those who have money, wealth, children and are distinguished in various aspects of life are those who have peace. But this is erroneous because money, wealth and other material things cannot give someone peace. And where there is no peace, certainty there is no God abiding there. And where there is no child of peace, there is no God as well. But wherever there is a child of peace, there Is peace and there is God also. It should be known that the children of God are born with peace. The true children of peace (the children of God ) do not see money and other material things as something very important, whereas the worldly people do. That is why the former set of people do not struggle for money and other material things, but the latter do. When Jacob blessed his children, he told Reuben his first son that he would never prosper, for he defiled his father's bed. Jacob also told Simeon and Levi that the instruments of cruelty would remain in their offspring's. As such, his soul should not come into their secret for in their anger they slew a man and in their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: "I would divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel". ( Genesis 49:1-7) Following the above curse which Jacob cursed Israel, there has never been peace in Israel right from that time. People always talk about the God of Israel. But where is the God of Israel? Is God a trouble monger? Satan is at peace whenever he commits one atrocity or the other. For instance, Satan would be at peace when he succeeds to dupe, deprive, kill and dominate a fellow man. Wherever the children of the world gather, if there is no violence and disorderliness, they cannot be in peace. That is the peace of the world. Whereas God's peace has no connection with evil and sins. 1.5 Peacefulness is not weakness The people of the world regard anything peaceful to connote weakness. They also term any man who is peaceful as a coward. On the other hand. the people of the world regard those who are violent to be true men. They see violence as food. This explains why you are told that the seed of righteousness is sown in peace for the peacemakers. Read the first lesson again First lesson: James 3: 18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”. The people of this world do not hear the word of God. That is why the scripture at John 8:47 says: “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God”. The people of the world often argue, wrongly though, that they are not sinners whenever they are asked to refrain from sinful acts. Some of them even get annoyed and conspire against those who preach to them to refrain from sins. So note that the word of God is meant for the children of God. Therefore, stop being upset whenever you see people scoffing at the word of God and hating those who preach to them. For instance if two people (one just and the other unjust) pay visit to someone and the person instructs them not to steal, tell lies, fornicate and commit all other vices, the former would imbibe same while the latter would harbour grudge against the person who gave the instruction. The latter person is always troubled in heart, that is why he feels embarrassed when being instructed to refrain from evil deeds, while the man of God, would not be troubled in heart, but ready to abide by all the instructions given him in order to have peace of mind. The people of the world love violence and hate defeat. That is why they seek for a way to harm you, should you preach to them not to resist the evil doer, white the man of God on the other hand would strictly adhere to the advice. Some of you do wonder why the men and servants of God are often hated by people. But I am going to give you reasons for such action in this gospel. For instance the people of the world build prayer houses, study rooms, oracle rooms, hospitals, prisons etc. to admit, deceive and dupe the ignorant people. It is through this that they earn their living. But if a child of God goes and liberates such people who were their captives with the power of the Holy Spirit, the worldly people become your arch-enemies because you have paralyzed their source of income. Have you now seen the "bad" thing you do to the worldly people? Hence, they hate you. 1.6 The seed of righteousness The people of the world do not accept the truth, but the people of God do. The people of the world are fond of suppressing others. They are those who would not allow their wives to engage in any business ventures. They want their wives to be fulltime house wives. They are also those who deprive their subordinates of their rights in offices when such make any attempt to preach equal right -and justice to them as well as freedom. They would not imbibe such teachings, rather, they would hate you for teaching them such things. But such evil conduct are not done by the children of God for they always embrace and seek for peace. This is why the seed of righteousness is said to be sown for the peacemakers. The people of God have peace, whereas the people of the world are in war perpetually. 1.7 God’s children are in peace always You should be aware of the fact that any man of God who is imprisoned is in perfect peace. Recall the case of Joseph who was imprisoned, but was later given the crown of life. A man of God is always in peace whether in lack or in affluence, even when he is healthy, ill, educated, uneducated, barren or productive. But the people of the world are not, even when they are rich, wealthy, healthy, educated or distinguished. They are always at war with life and are in hell. The children of God always have peace of mind. That is why they do not feel depressed when they find themselves in any adverse condition because they are always with God, while the people of the world always feel rejected and dejected in any adverse condition they find themselves. Christ enjoins us thus: "And into whatever city or town you shalf enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till you go thence. And when you come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy; let your peace return to you. And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of the house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Matt. 10:11-14) Our Lord Jesus Christ had come to take all those who are His and were anxiously waiting for Him. So do not be annoyed with anyone who shuns the word of God. What is needed at this end of time is righteousness and no sinful act is needed. The children of God only seek for peace. That is why they are free from problems. Whereas the people of the world do not seek for peace, hence, they are encountering series of problems. Do not be deceived that God is ever with any sinner. For such people do not have God. But those who do not commit sin are ever with God. If you cast your mind back, you would recall that Christ used only twelve disciples to convert the world to God. And as many as followed Him dwelleth with peace. The children of God do not need a great multitude of people, but righteous and worthy people. For the latter people, though few in number would sin no more. The scripture has it that, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". This is a veritable truth because anyone who is God fearing does not sin. It is this kind of person who would be in peace at all times. 1.8 Jacob and his children I am now going to narrate to you why Jacob was annoyed with two of his children as earlier talked about in this gospel. When Jacob and his children were settling in a certain city, the son of the king of that city put Jacob's daughter into a family way. When the pregnancy became noticeable, Jacob went to protest to the king about his son's action. The king then pleaded with Jacob not to worry as he would maintain and care for his daughter during and after the pregnancy. The only condition Jacob placed before the king was for all the inhabitants of his city to be circumcised and the king accepted. By the time of this agreement Levi and Simeon who were the true brothers of the impregnated woman (Jacob's daughter) were there and they did not make any statement. The very night which the king accepted Jacob's proposal, Simeon and Levi went with soldiers to destroy the city and its inhabitants. And when Jacob heard about the unwholesome action of his two children, he was annoyed. This annoyance lives on till date. This was why their father Jacob cursed the two brothers. Now the question is, if Levi and Simeon were peaceful and allowed the king to introduce circumcision into his city so that its inhabitants might become Abraham's heirs and they all became one, what evil would have been there? And what did Simeon and Levi gain for killing the King and all the inhabitants of the City? This explains why the scripture warns that: "if it be possible as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men'. This is the fullness of time for the sheep to be separated from the goats. In other words it is high time God separated the peacemakers (the just) from the violent (the unjust). And after such separation, even if it is only two righteous people that survive the separation, is alright, for the two are God's only legitimate children. Read our second lesson again. Second lesson: Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. 1.9 Peace is from God Any person who claims to be Christ or one of Christ's disciples but wallows in sinful acts should be avoided because such a person is not a truthful person. But should you come across anyone who makes such claims and does not indulge in any sinfulness, you should accept such a person because he is truthful and he is actually Christ's. You can bear witness to the fact that God is peace, Peace is not mundane thing which abounds in the world. Rather, it is God. That is why you hear people say: 'PEACE OF GOD' 'when they exchange pleasantries. This is a proof that God is the only supplier of peace. When the peace of God is infused into seomeone's life, the things which were hitherto impossible with such person would be possible, You see those who once vowed not to serve God would come to serve Him diligently after the peace of God might have been infused into them. At all times, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His peace to all the children of God. So, the preoccupation of the children of God should be to seek for peace of God at the expense of the material things of this world. Once you have peace you would not have any other cause to reject the word of God. What the children of God have in abundance which the people of the world lack greatly is peace. And a child of God is always capable of restoring peace to wherever there is war. Peace is the greatest of all things that is why you always have every good thing in abundance at any place where there is peace. Things are always well with the children of God at the expense of the people of the world. This is so because the peace which is possessed by the children of God has become the embodiment of all good things. For instance, Isaac who was a child of peace turned every place he went to into wealth. 1.10 Isaac was peaceful As wicked and ungrateful as the people of the world were, they decided to eject Isaac from the place. They did this because they were afraid of being dominated by Isaac because of the power of God in Him. Isaac was banished from the city for no just cause. Isaac had to leave the place for some other place. There and then things started going rough in his former place of abode. And when the inhabitants of the place saw all things to have fallen apart, they went back to Isaac and pleaded with him to return to his former place of abode. When Isaac received the delegation of the city, he asked them their purpose. Then they told him to come back to his former abode for he was a man of peace. Thereafter, Isaac organised and made feast for them. Such is the impact of the children of God (men of peace). Whenever the children of God are in a particular place, such an area is likely to be in affluence. But whenever they leave such a place, things automatically change for worse. That is why you witness joy, happiness and peace at its highest magnitude wherever the children of God dwell. Also, if a child of peace who is a true child of God enters your house, all differences and disorderliness which hitherto prevailed will cease instantly. So, note that this is what is used to ascertain who is a true child of God. No matter how wicked, violent, hardened and tyranical a person is, once he sees the children of God (the people of peace), he is bound to prostrate and beg for help. This is the sign that all the children of God must possess. Therefore, if you search yourself and find out that this sign is lacking, you need to put yourself into fervent prayer, for God has forsaken you because of one thing or the other. And in order to bring Him back to your life, you need to plead for forgiveness. That is why the children of God religiously look for peace, mercy, gentleness, meekness, patience, humility, unity, love among other virtues as opposed to segregation, hatred and the like. And so, any place you are where you happen to notice violence, differences, disobedience, quarrel, segregation among other negative tendencies, you need to leave such a place without delay, for God is not present there. On the contrary, any place where there is no fighting, quarreling, division, disobedience such is God's city, Hence, you need not ask any question. Anybody who is not quarrelsome, violent, or disobedient, but who is always expressing the virtues of love, mercy, patience, temperance, humility, and goodness is God and God indwells in such a person. The Apostles and Evangelists are a peaceful set of people. God is the Prince of peace. And once He injects into you such peace, you automatically become problem -free irrespective of any travailing conditions. You would then be in peace at all times and would not be bothered by any thing of this world. So, whenever you see the sinners, violent, tyrant, trouble mongers etc, who claim to have God, know that it is not correct. For God has never been found in such people. 1.11 The case of Saul and David When Saul and David waged war against each other, Saul was alerted that David was hiding in Prophet Samuel's house. On hearing his, Saul ordered soldiers to go and behead David and bring his head to him. But when the soldiers went to David, they were met with peace as such that they had to settle down to eat the food which they were served with. Thereafter, they revealed the evil intention sponsored by Saul to him. While there, the three soldiers began to praise David and said that his work had no parallel. They all had a long conversation with one another and later in the evening, the soldiers were seen off by David, And when the soldiers returned to Saul, he asked them about David's head. And the reply they gave was that they saw David but did not like to behead him. They later asked Saul what wrong David had done to him to want his death. And Saul was annoyed and decided to kill David himself. When the soldiers told Saul the reason why they did not kill David, they were not killed. This is why I always tell you that once you are a true child of God, nobody can harm you. 1.12 The prince of peace God is the prince of peace. And it is peace which he uses to rule over the whole world. When Saul got to Samuel's house, he alighted from his chariot to go and slay David. But before he could know himself, he was carried by the Holy Spirit. There he started prophesying. And at seeing David whom he intended to kill, he rather asked him in a peaceful way when he would be back. Thereafter, they ate on the same table and they had to bury their hatchet. This is a proof to you that God is peace. And wherever a child of peace is, peace, harmony and tranquility prevail. After a chat with David, Saul was seen off. When God dwells in you, you have no cause to regret. There is spirit and wherever the spirit of the Lord dwells, there is liberty. Where there is God, things are done orderly. And where there is no God, there is bound to be disorderliness. 1.13 Effect of anger You should know that Satan is not snake, fish, air, tree etc, rather. Satan constitutes anger. Because without anger, one would not segregate, curse, hate and indulge in similar manner. On the other hand, God is not tree, food, fish air. rather; God is peace. And once He injects into you the spirit of peace, you would be alright under any prevailing condition. With peace, your utterances are always blessings and not curses. Each and every virtue has its separate functions. But peace is the kingdom of God and it overrides any other virtue. Read the golden text again. Golden text: Romans 52:18: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” 1.14 Peace: The celestial attribute Peace is the only virtue which encourages peaceful co-existence in the world. Saul, before he was made king, opposed the injunction of prophet Samuel. This was when he went to war when Samuel did not commission him. Though he attributed such impatience to the fear he had for the enemies, the price he had to pay for such disobedience was the split of his kingdom, symoblised by the tearing of Samuel's priesthood garment. If Saul was not deserted by God and the peace departed from him, he would not have been impatient. So, note from this that once you are deserted by God and the peace departed from you, things are bound to be very rough with you. 1.15 David and Goliath The aftermath of the Saul's war was his flight together with other distinguished Jews. When little David who took food to his people in the war front saw and heard Goliath bragging, he was annoyed. So, he decided to challenge Goliath, though Saul and other top military officers who fled from Goliath advised him not to. As God would do His things, and because David was a true child of God, he used a stone to kill Goliath. God was with David, hence, he was victorious. It is David who was the real king chosen by God. I have every reason to enjoin you not to hate a fellow man and not to be unhappy about another person's progress. Encouraged by the victory of David, the women sang song of victory in praise of the young David thus: “Saul halth slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” ( 1st Samuel 18 : 7) God knows what you lack and the time you should be given such a thing. That is why you are often enjoined to be patient and stop presenting endless requests before God. This is what killed most of the people of Israel. God had already made it clear that there shall be a root of Jesse (Romans 15:12): “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust”. 1.16 God has already set up everything God is a perfect planner and designer. So, all the things which were to happen in the world had already been designed by God. For instance, note the reply God gave to the mother of James and John when she besought Christ to grant that her two children should sit on either side of Christ when He has set up His kingdom. “And they said unto him we can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared”. (Mark 10:39-40). You cannot instruct God on what to do for ever before the foundation of the world, God had already kept all things in their respective positions. So, you need not struggle for anything, because no amount of struggle can avail you more than what you were meant for. Did you know this fact before now? 1.17 Be patient for God’s will After the Israelites might have reached the promised land, Cannan, arrogance and pride did not allow them to leave all things to God. They bluntly forgot about the fact that it was predestined that, the king would emerge from the tribe of Jesse. Little did they believe in the efficacy of this testament. That was why they asked Samuel to appoint a king to rule over them. Samuel was annoyed to hear such plea from the people. But God told Samuel not to be annoyed for He would provide for them a king. That was why Saul who was not even predestined to be a king was made a king for them. Saul was made a king so that he might rule over the Israelites with an iron hand as a price for being impatient. This is why you are asked not to ask God to grant you everything, for at the fullness of time, your needs would be supplied by God. Some of you in this kingdom make request for material things because you are ignorant of where you are. If you were to be conscious of where you are, you would not have been begging God to grant your requests. You would only be waiting for His will to prevail. Saul was a tyrant king. The Israelites deserved this because they were impatient. 1.18 Reason Nigeria lacks peace This is exactly what happens in Nigeria. Instead of allowing God to appoint a good leader for them Nigeria prayed for military rule. And as a result of their impatience, God sent President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and others to rule them as a tyrants. David who was the true heir to the throne, because he was of offspring of Jesse, was latter made the king of Israel. Since that was God’s choice, there was no political upheaval during his tenure in Israel and David was the youngest child in the family. Since the kingship was meant for him and as impartial as God is in His dealings, He had to recognise David through Prophet Samuel irrespective of age, position and status, as the king. If it was the worldly making, partiality would have been adopted hence David would not have been favored. Note that at the time David was ordained as the king of Israel, Saul was still the king on the throne. And since it was not possible to make David to succeed Saul, all issues to that effect were abandoned at that time, giving way for God's will to prevail. But if it were you, you would have been struggling to dethrone and not to allow the will of God to manifest. That is why I continue to tell you that none of you knows this kingdom. For if you were to know you would not have been behaving the way you do. Right from the time the issues were abandoned in Israel in order to give way to God's glory to manifest, things started falling apart until David was made to succeed Saul. To know that Saul was not a true king of Israel as chosen by God, have you been hearing anything about the house of Saul? Saul and his two sons were killed one day in the battle field. And that marked the end of that family But have you not been hearing about David till date? 1.19 Do not struggle for anything It is time you know that it is wrong to struggle for anything. The only rational thing to do is to wait for God's will to come to manifestation. And do not do anything which requires you to bribe someone else in order to get it. Know that anything from God is always free of charge for He is the Prince of Peace. Peace is not a simple virtue to possess and if you can posses it and be able to live fully with one another, you would have your rewards. That is why the children of God live peacefully with everyone at all times. I am using this medium to plead with you to shun violence and embrace peace. You should leave everything to God even if you are deprived of your right, hated, conspired against, duped, cheated or suppressed. God always desires to visit man when he is in peace. That is why you are asked to live peacefully with all men at all times so that whenever God wants to visit you, He would not come to meet you in quarrel and thereby, forsake you. This is so because God only dwells in the place where peace and harmony prevail. God is here on earth. He is the Prince of peace. He is also omnipotent. Therefore, you need to bring peace to humanity by living in peace with your fellow man. The true children of God are peaceful and they are sure of salvation. Anyone who scoffs at peace here on earth is a child of perdition. Anyone who had quarreled but later repented is of God. Now ponder over this, if heaven is claimed to be God's dwelling place and there are unwholesome acts and negative tendencies as quarreling, anger, segregation, war, violence among others, would you term such a place as God's dwelling place? 1.20 Peace is heaven Heaven is merely a name attached to the place where God resides, while earth is merely a name attached to beneath. (See Genesis Chapter 1:1 and 8). The heaven you hear about is a mere name. The real name of heaven is peace. “Our Father who art in heaven” ' as we always say during the Lord's prayer, is the peace in question? And such peace is bestowed on you whenever you are righteous. But immediately you indulge in sins, the peace leaves you. That is why you are more blessed when you confess your sins before being prayed for than being prayed for with the heap of sins on you. This explains why I always ask you any moment you come to me whether you are annoyed or begrudge anybody and that you should repent. And after your response, I further ask you to confess your sins after which I would bestow peace upon you. Peace comes after confession of one's sin. And this is so because at the time you commit sins you are miles away from peace of God. 1.21 Love, mercy and peace Love constitutes oneness; that is taking everybody equally; and accepting people as yourself. Mercy is to have sympathetic mind to people at all times. And it means not imputing sins to people. Mercy does not conspire against anybody. In short, mercy is always forgiving. But peace is very different from the above virtues for it crowns it all. Those who do not possess peace are perpetually in troubles. So let us try hard to live peacefully with people at all times. For this is the task to accomplish by all the children of God. Once peace eludes you, then you are perished. God had bestowed us with peace and nothing more. And when we have peace, we will overcome the world and more so, we will not be faced with perpetual problems. It is said that a stroke of the cane is enough for a wise. Let those who have ears hear what the Holy Spirit has imparted to the whole world. May God bless his words. Amen. THANK YOU FATHER