Let Peace and Harmony Prevail

1
Let Peace and Harmony Prevail

• 2nd Cor. 1311
• Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind,
  live in peace and the God of love and peace
  shall be with you.

2
Great Value in Peace Harmony

• With God, Phil. 46-7, Be careful 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 passeth all
  understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
  through Christ Jesus.
• With others, Rom 1218, If it be possible, as
  much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
  men.
• Within self, 1 John 321, Beloved, if our heart
  condemn us not, then have we confidence toward
  God.

3
Bible, A Book About Peace

• Isa. 21-4, The Lords kingdom called a kingdom
  of peace
• 1st Tim. 22, We are to pray for, quiet and
  peaceable lives
• Rom. 1419, We are to follow after the things
  which make for peace.
• Isa. 96, Follow the Prince of Peace
• 2nd Thes. 315, Worship the God of peace

4
Bible, A Book About Peace, cont.

• 1st Pet. 311 Psalm 3414 We are to seek peace
  and ensue it.
• Mark 950, We are to have peace with one
  another.
• Matt. 59, As peacemakers ye shall be
  called the children of God.
• Gal. 522-23, Paul said, the fruit of the Spirit
  is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
  goodness, faith, meekness, temperance

5
All Responsible for Peace

• Eph. 43, Commanded to endeavor to keep the
  unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
• 1st Thes. 513, Commanded to be at peace among
  yourselves.
• Endeavor with speed, great effort, prompt,
  earnest, give diligence
• Aesop Fable of Two Mountain Goats
• However, Gods truth not to be walked over
• Truth must never be sacrificed for anything

6
Some Division Leads to Scriptural Unity

• Division maybe required
• Matt. 1034-38, Love Him above all others
• Matt. 1246-50, Family of God, real family
• John records prophecy of Jesus words
• John 712, there was much murmuring among the
  peoplesome said, He is a good man others said,
  Nay he deceiveth the people.
• John 743, there was a division among the
  people because of him.

7
Some Division Leads to Scriptural Unity,
cont.

• John 916, Some Pharisees said, This man is not
  of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.
  Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do
  such miracles? there was a division among them.
• John 1019-21, There was a division among the
  Jews many of them said, He hath a devil, and is
  mad why hear ye him? Others said, These are not
  the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil
  open the eyes of the blind?

8
Division in Early Church

• Acts 144, Luke writes, the multitude of the
  city was divided part held with the Jews, and
  part with the apostles.
• Acts 231-11, Paul stood strong for the Lord in
  the midst of division and strife
• Matt. 1032, Jesus said, Whosoever therefore
  shall confess me before men, him will I confess
  also before my Father which is in heaven.

9
Come Out

• James 44, James said, know ye not that the
  friendship of the world is enmity with God?
  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
  is the enemy of God.
• 2nd Cor. 617, Paul writes, Wherefore come out
  from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
  Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will
  receive you
• Pro. 96, Solomon said, Forsake the foolish and
  live go in the way of understanding

10
Come Out, cont.

• Acts 240, Peter said, Save yourselves from this
  untoward generation.
• 2nd Cor. 71, Paul said, dearly beloved, let us
  cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
  flesh spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
  of God.
• Revelation 184, John writes, I heard another
  voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my
  people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and
  that ye receive not of her plagues

11
More Than Just Separated

• 2nd Thes. 36, Now we command you, brethren, in
  the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
  withdraw yourselves from every brother that
  walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition
  which he received of us.
• 1st Cor. 511, I have written unto you not to
  keep company, if any man that is called a brother
  be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or
  a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner with
  such an one no not to eat.
• 1st Tim. 64-5, Paul describes the type of person
  from whom we must withdraw ourselves

12
Benefits of Peace and Harmony

• Harmony helps the church grow
• John 1335, By this shall all men know that ye
  are my disciples, if ye have love one to
  another.
• Aesop said, United we stand, divided we fall
• Mark 325, Jesus said, a house is divided
  against itself, that house cannot stand.
• We are to be Fishers of Men,
• Not keepers of a shrinking aquarium
• Matt. 2819-20, Go ye into all the world

13
Benefits of Peace and Harmony

• Harmony makes the church stronger
• Eccl. 49-12, Two are better than one because
  they have a good reward for their labour. For if
  they fall, the one will lift up his fellow but
  woe to him that is alone when he falleth for he
  hath not another to help him up. Again, if two
  lie together, then they have heat but how can
  one be warm alone? if one prevail against him,
  two shall withstand him and a threefold cord is
  not quickly broken.
• Teamwork divides effort multiplies effect
• Synergy Whole stronger than the parts
• Two Horses pulling together
• Geese flying V formation

14
Benefits of Peace and Harmony

• Harmony helps the church to avoid cliques and
  hurt feelings
• 1st Cor. 110-13, Now I beseech you, brethren,
  by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
  speak the same thing, and that there be no
  divisions among you but that ye be perfectly
  joined together in the same mind and in the same
  judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of
  you, my brethren, by them which are of the house
  of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
  . Is Christ divided?
• Remember the Maine

15
Benefits of Peace and Harmony

• Harmony brings the church great Joy
• Psalm1331, Behold how good and how pleasant it
  is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Heb. 1214-15, Follow peace with all men, and
  holiness, without which no man shall see the
  Lord Looking diligently lest any man fail of the
  grace of God lest any root of bitterness
  springing up trouble you, and thereby many be
  defiled

16
Benefits of Peace and Harmony

• Harmony Keeps Us in Fellowship with the God of
  Peace
• Benjamin Franklin said, We must all hang
  together or we will shall hang separately.
• 2nd Cor. 1311, Be perfect, be of good comfort,
  be of one mind, live in peace and the God of
  love and peace shall be with you.
• Lets work together this coming year and
• Pray for Peace with God.
• Pray for Peace with each other.
• Pray for Peace within our self.