Our Bible study this evening, we'll look at several passages of scripture, but the title of the message will come from Romans 14, verse 19. Paul gives this instruction again in Romans chapter 14, verse 19. He says, let us, God's people, God's elect. Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Follow after the things which make for peace. To emphasize and and dwell on these things, these things that bring us together in fellowship. And to avoid those things which divide, that we might be one, one in Christ. We read in scriptures to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace.

There are those who bring discord and conflict to practically every situation. I've worked with, I've been that person. I've worked around people and been around people over the years that can take just about any situation and get people wound up, and get people angry. But listen, that ought not be the way of the believer.

Our Lord spoke these words in Matthew 5, 9. Just listen to these words. He said, Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Follow after the things which make for peace. Just a few points this evening. The first is this. Follow after that which makes for peace in the heart. Peace with God.

In Romans 5.1 we read, therefore being justified by faith, We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Being justified, being justified by Christ, we have peace with God. Isn't that an amazing thought that we might have peace with God, that He might be at peace with us? Listen, in Christ, in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer, is righteous. I hope we don't take this for granted. I wish we could just enter into it, just get a glimpse of it. Not only are we righteous, we're made the very righteousness of God. Our sins, forgiven. The believer is holy, unblameable, unreprovable in his sight.

Outside of Christ, we're enemies. Outside of Christ, we're at war with God and He's at war with us. Scripture says, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. But the wrath, the wrath of God abideth on him. The carnal mind, what do we know of it? It's enmity. Enmity with God. It's hatred. But for God's people, for those who are in Christ, we've been reconciled. We have peace.

Isaiah, the prophet, wrote this. He said, the work of righteousness shall be peace. And the effect of that righteousness is, listen, it's quietness and assurance, not just for a little while. Prophet Isaiah said forever. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done. Let's be clear about that.

But he refers there to the work. of righteousness. There is but one work of righteousness, and it's His work. It's the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, a work given Him by God the Father, a work that He undertook, a work that He took upon Himself. He said this, nevertheless, Father, not my will, but Thy will be done. the work which he wrought. And this is what is said of that work. This is what he said of that work. He said to the father, I have finished the work that you gave me to do. What's the result of that work?

It's peace. It's peace in the heart, it's peace with God. Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can't hardly enter into that, can we? It's described in scripture as a peace that passeth all understanding. Peace, righteousness, assurance. Forever eternal in Christ. Follow after the things which make for peace. Peace in the heart, peace with God, peace to those who follow after Christ.

Turn with me to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians 3. Look with me beginning in verse 12. Colossians 3, verse 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, vows of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, So also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Look at verse 15.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you're called in one body. Thankful. Let the peace of God rule in your heart, submitting ourselves to the government of peace. His peace, the peace of God. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. A peaceable spirit that keeps peace, that makes peace. It's the peace of God. The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and to the Father by Him." We preach the gospel. What's it called? It's called the gospel of peace. It's the word of God. It's the word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. We read this, that he made peace, how? Through the blood of his cross. By him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him, I say whether they be things in heaven or things in earth.

And listen, we worship, we worship the God of peace. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Prince of Peace. Follow after the things which make for peace. Follow after the Lord Jesus Christ who is our peace. Well, second, follow after the things which make for peace in the home. You know, if Christ dwells in us and He dwells in our family members, in your spouse, in your children, there should be peace in that home. Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and what? Peace. Peace and joy. in the Holy Ghost. Where the Spirit of God dwells, there is peace. Grace in the heart produces peace.

Turn with me to Galatians 5. Galatians 5, beginning with verse 22. Galatians 5, verse 22. Here we read, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, it's joy, it's peace, it's longsuffering. gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.

God's Word tells us that there is a due order in the home. It's one where the husband is the head of the home. It's where the husband loves their wives, listens to this command, as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. It's a place where wives obey their husbands in the Lord. Homes where children obey their parents in the Lord. Where children honor their mother and their father. And as parents, we're told to not provoke our children to wrath. But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What's the result of that? Peace. Peace. Third, follow after the things which make for peace in this world.

Romans 12, 17. Turn there with me. Romans, let's turn there together. Romans chapter 12. Romans 12, verse 17. Recompense to no man, evil for evil. Provide those things, honest in the sight of all men, and if it be possible, if it be possible, as much as life in you, live peaceably with those that you like and get along with, Now what it says is, live peaceably with all men.

Now, revenge, that's very natural. That comes very natural to us, doesn't it? But it's contrary to the gospel. It's contrary to the gospel of peace. It comes very natural to us to try to repay evil words with evil words. You said that to me, I got something for you, right? To return evil deeds for evil deeds.

In James chapter 1, 19, James said this, he said, wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. We don't persuade men to faith and righteousness in Christ with an angry spirit. We don't promote the glory of God with an angry spirit.

Sometimes we get angry or troubled with those who don't see the truth. Would you be angry at a blind man because he was blind? Has the Lord given you eyes to see? Who opened them? Again, our anger, indignation, our desire to get even does not and will not work the righteousness of God.

A meek and a quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God. We read there, provide all things honest in the sight of all men. in business, in conversation, in conduct, and if possible, as much as it depends on you, live at peace with all men. Follow after. Follow after that which makes for peace. Peace in the heart, peace with God, peace in the home, peace in this world. and fourth. Follow after that, which makes for peace in the church. Let's read a passage of scripture together concerning this. Turn to Psalm 133.

Psalm 133, David here under the inspiration of God, he writes, behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren. How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It's like precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments, even as the dew of Hermon, as the dew upon the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.

As we gather together in prayer, we pray with one heart. As we gather together in praise, we sing together with one voice. As we gather together to hear the preaching of his word. dwell together in unity. To dwell together in the house of God, listen, His saints, we share the same name, don't we? The same father.

We go up to the house of God together to serve the Lord with one consent, with one mind, with one mouth. To be of one accord. the same love, serving each other in love, bearing one another's burdens, sympathizing with each other in all circumstances, forgiving one another, provoking one another. And we're pretty good at provoking, but he says, provoke one another to love, to love and to good works. And he says this, it's both good and it's pleasant.

Paul, in closing his second letter to the Corinthians, he said, finally, brethren. Who's he talking to there? He's talking to the brethren, isn't he? Brethren, he says, farewell. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, Live in peace. Live in peace. And the God of love and peace shall be with you. And this exhortation for peace, it's found throughout the scriptures. You start there in the epistles, but start in Romans. Romans 1-7. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints, grace to you. and peace. Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Corinthians 1.3, grace be unto you and peace. Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Second Corinthians 1.2, grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1.3, grace be to you and peace. from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be reminded, don't we? Grace and peace. Ephesians, grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. All the way through to the book of Philemon. Over and over again, that exhortation of grace and peace. Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, quickly in closing, let me just share with you a few things from God's word that follow after, that promote peace. Here's the first one. To love one another. Love one another. Charity. covers a multitude of sin.

Was that more evident anywhere than it was at the cross? Second, beware of the spirit of debate. The need to get in the last word. Paul said this to Timothy, he said, foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they gender, not peace, but strife. Third, avoid jealousy. Solomon, in his wisdom, he said this. He said, set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy heart. Love is as strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as the grave. The coals thereof are coals of fire which have the most vehement flame.

Fourth, avoid envy. What a person has that maybe we don't have? The spirit of envy. You know when we do that, when we do that, we're questioning. We're questioning God's providence. All that we have is the gift of His hand. Fifth, meddling in the affairs of others. We always have some advice to give, don't we?

We always have, well, Solomon again in Proverbs 26, 17, he said, he that passeth by and meddleth with strife, belonging not to him." We've got enough of our own problems, don't we? He that meddleth with strife, belonging not to him. I think what he's saying here is when we decide to stick our nose into something that doesn't concern us, Solomon said this.

He said, it's like one that taketh a dog by the ears. That's a pretty dangerous maneuver, isn't it? Somebody's going to get bit, right? Well, six, guard against a temper. Scripture says this, love isn't easily provoked. Seven, be a peacemaker. You ever get angry at somebody and your goal is just to kind of get everybody angry along with you?

Follow after that which makes for peace. Eighth, be forgiving. Be forgiving. Scripture says this, be ye kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God, for Christ's sake, have forgiven you. To genuinely forgive. I hope to figure that out someday, but to genuinely forgive, to truly forgive. Maybe you say this, well, you know what? They haven't given me a reason to forgive. Let's be careful. Do you need forgiveness? If that's the case, then we ought to be forgiving. Let me read this to you again.

Be ye kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. If you need a reason to forgive somebody, just keep this in mind. Forgiving one another as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." Our Lord, when He taught His disciples to pray, He said this, He said, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that have trespassed against us.

Let me read a passage of Scripture to you. In closing, Philippians 4. Philippians chapter 4. Let me just read this to you, okay? Rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God." What? The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. It's all in Him. of him, all that the Lord would cause us to follow after those things which make for peace.

And then he said this, here in this passage, wherewith one may edify another. Now, I won't go into this too far, but listen, this thing of edifying one another, it's that which builds up. It's that which promotes growth, to grow in wisdom and humility and happiness and holiness. Follow after that which promotes peace. and edifies one another. All right. Pray the Lord bless His word.