Things Which Make for Peace 

Romans 14:19 

 Intro: The world has found that peace is very elusive; every time a nation thinks they have secured peace, war breaks out; every time a family thinks they have found peace, friction occurs; even individuals who thought they had finally found peace find that turmoil and trouble arise all over again. The world does not have the solution to war; to strife; to unrest; to anxiety and worry; to friction, irritation, and hatred; BUT the Bible Does! There are things that make for Peace and we are to Follow after those things; to pursue them; to catch hold of them and make them ours.
I. Salvation Makes for Peace 
     Ever since Eve allowed Satan to trick her into taking the forbidden fruit, man has been separated from God by sin.
      Before: they communed with God in the cool of the day. After: they hid themselves
      Before: they had a relationship of love and trust After: they were separated by guilt and shame.
      Before: man’s nature was innocent; After: man’s nature was sinful
      Before: Eden was their perfect home After: they were cast out and kept out
                                                                  SEPARATION! 
     Man was separated from God; man was an enemy of God; man was at odds with God; God provided sacrifices that would cover man’s sin and provide a Temporary Peace Treaty so to speak between man and God. Paul wrote in Gal. 4 that in the fulness of time, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the Adoption of sons. In Eph 2 we read that Through Jesus Christ, God:
      - abolished the enmity between God and man
      - reconciled man to God
      - preached peace to us
      - made us fellow citizens of the household of God.
      And in Romans 5:1 we read that “Being justified by Faith, we therefore have PEACE WITH GOD thru our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation Makes for Peace! Peace WITH God & the Peace OF God. Peace of Mind is possible; peace of soul is possible; peace in your emotions and feelings is possible; peace with others is possible; Salvation makes for Peace.

II. The Spirit of God Makes for Peace 
      Gal. 5:22 says that the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, PEACE! The Spirit of God works in your life to bring you God’s Peace. I mentioned earlier that we have the Peace of God; the Spirit of God works that Peace OF God into our heart; into our soul; into our mind; into our life.
      Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

III. A Spiritual Mind Makes for Peace
      Rom. 8:6 says that to be carnally minded (to have a mind that is controlled by the flesh and obsessed with fleshly, sinful things) is Death; BUT to be Spiritually minded is Life and PEACE.
      Is. 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in Perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on thee; (whose mind Rests on thee; Trusts in thee; remains focused on thee)
      In Phil 4:8 Paul gave a checklist for the Spiritual Mind: True- Honest- Just (righteous) Pure (morally pure; undefiled) Lovely (pleasing, acceptable) of Good Report (worthy of respect; noble, reverent, inspiring) if there be any Virtue (moral excellence); if there be any Praise (any thing worthy to give God praise for) THINK on THESE things. (Consider these things; use your mental capacity on these things; dwell on these things; speaks of a continual & habitual action)

IV. Supplication and Prayer Make for Peace 
      Phil 4:6,7 Be Careful (anxious, worried, fretful) for Nothing; but in Every Thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the Peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
      Don’t Worry about it; PRAY about it. Don’t Fret about it; Thank God in the midst of it

V. Studying God’s Word Makes for Peace 
      Ps. 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law.
      Pro 3:1,2 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
      Is. 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. [Albert Barnes- The Hebrew is, "shall not make haste," as it is in our English version. This is the literal meaning of the Hebrew word; but it means also to be afraid, as one who makes haste often is; to be agitated with fear or fright. The meaning here is, that the man who believes the Word shall not be agitated, or thrown into commotion by fear while those who do not believe the Word, will be agitated, fearful and will fall, into eternal shame and contempt.]

VI. Sympathy for Others Makes for Peace
      One of the greatest lessons we all need to learn is this: we are not here just to Care About Ourselves! Life is NOT Just about US; We as children of God are to have Sympathy for others; Concern and Compassion for Others. Having Sympathy for Others Makes for Peace in your own life.
      We are told in Heb. 12:14 to Follow Peace with All men...
      Paul wrote in Eph 4:1-3, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
      Being Self Centered will make for Strife; being Selfish will make for friction; being concerned only with your own well being will make for frustration; Forgiving Others will Make for Peace; Being Patient with Others will make for Peace; Being KIND To others will make for peace; Assisting others will make for Peace; Helping others bear their burdens will make for Peace.
     Need Peace in your Life? Follow those things which make for Peace: Salvation; Spirit of God; a Spiritual Mind; Supplication in Prayer; Study of Word; Sympathy for Others.