Footprints On Life's Road: Peaceful Living (Part 4B of 1 Peter: A Message Of Hope For Pilgrims)

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Title - Footprints On Life’s Road: Peaceful Living

Series - Part 4B of “1 Peter: A Message Of Hope For Pilgrims”

The Main Point

Even if we have to live with persecution and all kinds of trouble from non-believers, we can see good days and enjoy our sojourning in this world. The key is to learn how to live peaceably.

Romans 12:18 NKJV

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans

Why “peace”

Just as “insubordination” leads to “trouble” and “war”…

So “submission” leads to “peace”

when we surrendered our lives to the will of God, 2 things happened:

we had “peace with God” -

we received access to the “peace of God” -

The “peacemakers” are the “sons of God”

the peacemakers are the “sons of God”

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Why “seek” and “pursue” peace?

Peace is not easy to find in this world.

the peace that we get from this world is

mostly “isolation” - a weekend vacation; a trip to the countryside

and comes at a high price - more money means more isolation

seek the peace of that city

in its peace you will have peace

To seek is to “get or reach out for something that you desire”

you must “desire” peace

The Jews were commanded to pray for peace

of Jerusalem -

peace of the cities of their dispersion -

in its peace you will have peace

To pursue peace is to “strive for something; go after something with the intent to catch (hold, keep) it”

- peace is one of many worthy pursuits

Sermon Points

How do we seek and pursue peace?

Be “like-minded” with your fellow pilgrims

1 Peter 3:8 NKJV

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

of one mind - grk. homophron

Like-mindedness can be demonstrated in:

having compassion for one another - be sympathetic to your fellow Christians

be sympathetic to your fellow Christians

sometimes we are more friendly and kind to non-believers that to fellow believers

- do good to all, ESPECIALLY to those of the household of faith

loving one another as brothers - treat each other as brothers and sisters

being tenderhearted - compassionate

being courteous - humble-minded, meek, having modest thoughts about oneself

When Christians in the church are “like-minded”, it gives no place for “war” (strife, competition, evil thoughts, etc.), resulting in peaceful con-existence.

This peace results in edified lives.

Romans 14:19 NKJV

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Become a fountain of blessing

1 Peter 3:9 NKJV

not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Refuse to return evil with evil, by giving out blessing instead! How?

1 Peter 3:10 NKJV

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

1 Peter 3.10

Refrain - to stop; discontinue

Stop your tongue from evil

Stop your lips from speaking deceit

STOP your mouth from speaking evil and deceit, then

START pronouncing blessings to people!

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

When we start dispensing blessing, violent spirits are tamed, appeased and silenced.

When we bless people, 2 things happen:

we exercise our privilege and confess that we are called to blessing!

we tame down violent spirits around us by imparting the grace of God on them.

Turn away from evil

1 Peter 3:11 NKJV

Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:12 NKJV

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Stay away from evil things

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 NKJV

Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Forms of evil

religious form -

material form

relationship form

attitude form

amusement form

Turn away from evil ENSURES the continuous presence of God’s peace in our lives.

The only reason we can be peacemakers is because we the Christ the Prince of Peace in us!

Conclusion

Leave a lasting MARK on life’s road:

The non-believers don’t anything about God’s peace

BUT YOU HAVE GOD’S PEACE IN YOU

be a man of peace!

Psalm 37:35–37 NKJV

I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.

Psalm 37.35-3

Psalm 37:37 ESV

Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.