Follow Peace
Romans 14:19 — Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
2Ti 2:22 — Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Hebrews 12:14 — Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: - follow: to persue; to flee; to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.
- Is there some universal spiritual principle to Guide a world fill with war?
- Peace is the Christian way.
- Is it PEACE at any cost?
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. — G.K. Chesterton
- "No one won the last war, and no one will win the next war." — Eleanor Roosevelt
Christ's Way is Peace
Peace is Part of WHO HE IS
Isaiah 9:6 — For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 50:6 — I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Romans 5:1 — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
John 16:33 — These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The Peace Christ Brings is With God, And to be at Peace with God may mean to not be at peace with God's enemies
Matthew 10:34-38 — Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Mt 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
- (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:--one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
- Peace with What? What are we "OKAY" with ?
- Like "tolerance", the peace we work for is DEFINED.
- About kids making a mess in the house, "At least they aren't fighting with each other."
Matthew 10:13 — And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Peace is the Christian Way
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- To Followe Peace we recognize, God Blesses Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 — Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- How? A “peacemaker” is someone who reconciles people with God and with one another. We must PROMOTE HARMONY. -- do not instigate (STEPHEN)
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- The Christian is to so love good, that he JOINs IT:
Romans 12:9 — Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
from kolla ("glue"); to glue, i.e. (passively or reflexively) to stick (figuratively):--cleave, join (self), keep company.
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- The Christian should PRAY for peace:
The Old Testament prophets often see the future Kingdom of God as a kingdom of peace.
Ps 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Ps 122:6 — Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Jer 29:7 — And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
1 Th 5:23 — And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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- The Christian is to be spiritually aware enough, to know "Why are we fighting?" Are we doing God's work?
James 4:1 — From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
- Evil can prosper from in the infightings of men.
- Do not join every fight. The rule is to not just retaliate because we have been wronged. The rule for the Christ is first "turn the other cheek".
Matthew 5:39 — But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Proverbs 20:22 — Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
1 Peter 3:9 — Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
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- What is God doing? What is His will concerning us?
- PILATE: We cannot wash our hands in INNOCENSE, if we have RESISTED God.
Mt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
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- The Christian way is to defend the Innocent. Herein lies something that God HATES
- Hate Utterly, odius (Like Joseph's brothers when he told them his dream Ge 37:5)
- The Christian peace with bring us at ODDs with Evil.
Pr 6:16-19 — Pr 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Conclusion
Charles Spurgeon — I WISH THAT CHRISTIAN MEN WOULD INSIST MORE AND MORE ON THE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF WAR, BELIEVING THAT CHRISTIANITY MEANS NO SWORD, NO CANNON, NO BLOODSHED, AND THAT, IF A NATION IS DRIVEN TO FIGHT IN ITS OWN DEFENCE, CHRISTIANITY STANDS BY TO WEEP AND TO INTERVENE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND NOT TO JOIN IN THE CRUEL SHOUTS WHICH CELEBRATE AN ENEMY’S SLAUGHTER.