Sermon

Increasing the Possibility of Peace

Michael Beck

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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19)

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. (Proverbs 17:14)

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:21)

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. (Proverbs 30:32,33)

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. (Proverbs 20:3)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. (Proverbs 25:8)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Eccl. 5:1,7)

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Exodus 14:14)

Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. (1 Samuel 25:17)

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. (Proverbs 23:9)

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. (Proverbs 9:7,8)

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. (Proverbs 13:1)

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. (1 Samuel 3:15-18)

Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Proverbs 27:5)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:6)

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head… (Psalm 141:3,5)

He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. (Proverbs 28:23)

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Proverbs 25:12)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:1)

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart … (Psalm 10:17)

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:19,20)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. (Proverbs 10:32)

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. (Proverbs 15:28)

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:22-26)

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? (Job 31:13-15)

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1 Peter 2:17)

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. (Proverbs 27:23)

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (Luke 10:40)

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I … O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. (Psalm 61:2,7)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings (Philippians 2:12-14)

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalm 120:6,7)

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (Proverbs 21:1,2)


Michael Beck is a pastor in the Dallas, TX area and the main author on Signpost. Receive a daily devotional he publishes every morning via email.