Peace
We are examining the Fruit of the Spirit and
discovering characteristics of a life changed by Christ.
Here’s what we know about fruit, fruit is never grown
overnight, it must be cultivated.
Picture your life like a piece of fruit. When you are peeled
is the fruit sweet or sour?
We are peeling back the layers of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Many say “fruits,” however there are not 9 “fruits” of the
Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit has 9 characteristics, 9 layers if you will.
One Fruit with 9 attributes.
These Fruit taken together make up the character of Christ.
Some people try to pick and choose their way through the
Fruit of the Spirit. Many pray and ask God to “give” them the fruit of the
Spirit. Gifts are given. Fruit is
cultivated.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against
these things!
The Fruit of the Spirit is a description of the character
qualities found in Christ.
So far we have examined
Love and Joy.
It has been said that love is not simply the first Fruit of
the Spirit, instead love is the Fruit of the Spirit. Each element in Paul’s list is founded in love.
This week let’s
examine Peace.
When Love and Joy are evident in our lives, they produce
peace.
The Joy of the Lord enables us to experience Peace with God
and the Peace of God.
1. Peace With God.
Romans 5:1-2 NLT Therefore,
since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord
has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us
into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently
and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we are at peace
with God.
Peace with God is only possible because of what Jesus Christ
did on the cross.
Without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we make ourselves an
enemy of God. It’s our choice!
James 4:4 You
adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred
toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of
God.
Romans 5:6-11 NLT
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for
us sinners. 7 Now, most
people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might
perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great
love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been
made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us
from God’s condemnation. 10
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we
were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
11 So now we can rejoice
in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has
made us friends of God.
Peace with God identifies that we are no longer enemies of
God. But we now live under His favor.
Romans 5:1-2 NLT Therefore,
since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord
has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us
into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently
and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
Peace with God is not a feeling. It is a fact.
Ephesians 2:13-14 NIV
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by
the blood of Christ. 14
For he himself is our peace…
We have Peace With God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 NLT Therefore,
since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God
because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Isaiah 53:5 NIV But
he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Matthew 5:9 NIV “Blessed
are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.”
The peace that Jesus spoke about is a mixture of hope,
trust, and quietness in our mind and soul, all of which are brought about by
being made right with God. Salvation Peace!
Peace [GREEK] 1515 eirene
i-ray’-nay = binding together
what has been separated. Eirene literally pictures the joining together of
things that have been broken, making them whole again.
Eirene can also convey the sense of inner rest, well-being
and harmony. The ultimate peace is being reconciled with God. Having peace with
God. That’s Salvation Peace.
Colossians 1:19-20 NCV
God was pleased for all of himself to live in Christ. 20 And through Christ, God has brought all things back
to himself again—things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace through
the blood of Christ’s death on the cross.
1 Thessalonians
5:23-24 NIV May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and
through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
2. Peace of God.
The Peace of God is experienced by believer’s who have put
their trust and hope in God.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we
know that they help us develop endurance. 4
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our
confident hope of salvation. 5
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves
us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Matthew 5:9 NIV “Blessed
are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.”
“Peacemaking” is bringing the peace of God that we have
experienced into the lives of people we meet.
What is the Peace of God?
Unlike Peace with God, which is constant and solely based on
our relationship with Christ, the Peace of God ebbs and flows in our lives.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what
you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will
experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We are commanded not to worry instead we are to pray.
We are not to pray “worry” prayers. We are to pray, telling
God what we need and thanking Him for all He has done.
When we focus our prayers of being thankful, we are reminded
of all God has done in the past.
Notice we entered this season of prayer with worry, but we
come out with peace!
When we are reminded of what He has done, faith and hope are
birthed, as we trust Him to meet the needs we now have.
When we are able to trust God completely, we are able to
experience God’s peace.
Philippians 4:7 NLT Then
you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His
peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Without faith in Christ, it is impossible to experience the
peace of God.
The peace of God is directly linked to our rejoicing in God.
Philippians 4:4-8 NLT
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let
everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is
coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead,
pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has
done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds
anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you
live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one
final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and
pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise.
The more we rejoice, pray, trust, give thanks the more we
experience the peace of God.
When we worry and fret, get stressed or become ungrateful,
we experience less of the peace of God. Not because He has removed his peace,
but simply because we changed our focus!
We worry and stress over many things, and yet time and time
again throughout Scripture we see God promising His peace.
We have peace with God, which is secure through Christ
Jesus, and since we have peace with God we are able to enjoy the peace of God.
Having the peace of God doesn’t mean we never have any
difficulties, the peace of God reveals that you live in the presence of God and
fully understand His ability to meet all your needs.
The Peace of God is clinging to God’s provisions that are
more than enough. His provisions are made available to us when we surrender our
hearts and mind to Him.
The Peace of God is living without worry concerning our
physical needs. The Peace of God comes into our lives when we go to Him and
confidently commit all we have into His faithful hands.
3. The Promise of
Peace.
At Christmas we all love to hear the angelic message of
peace on earth: Luke 2:13-14 NIV Suddenly
a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
But the message of peace on earth is a message that needs to
be proclaimed year round.
Daily we hear reports of tragedies in our world. We face
personal problems and trials and we long for peace on earth.
Isaiah 9:6 NIV For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace.
Just knowing the Christ is the Prince of Peace does not
guarantee that peace will become a part of our lives. We must be connected to Him.
We must have peace with God to live in the peace of God.
Believe in Jesus as Lord, walk in faith and obedience to His
Word, let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
Colossians 3:15 NIV Let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were
called to peace. And be thankful.
The peace of God is to act with decisive force in the
conflict of impulses or feelings that arise in our lives.
Philippians 4:7 NLT Then
you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His
peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
The promise is that we will experience God’s peace.
It’s His peace, not our peace!
John 14:27 NIV Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
He promises to keep us in His peace.
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they
trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the
Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Notice there are two conditions to remaining in God’s
perfect peace:
1. Keep your mind steadfast. This means fixing our
thoughts on God.
Have you ever realized the power of your thoughts?
Many are stressed out simply because they have been
allowing their minds to focus on the wrong things.
Wrong thinking leads to wrong feelings, which leads
to wrong living.
Philippians 4:8 NLT And
now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is
true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think
about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
2. Trust in God.
When we trust in God, we experience His peace.
His peace will protect us, will be with us, and will
keep us.
Philippians 4:7 NLT Then
you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.
“will guard” – comes from the Greek word meaning to be a
watcher in advance, to post a guard – it is a military term meaning to protect
a camp or a castle.
As we trust in God, His peace surrounds us like a fortress.
We live in His presence and walk surrounded by His peace.
Psalm 29:11 NIV The
Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in
every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Paul’s challenge for us to is always be full of Joy in the
Lord.
The Joy of the Lord enables us to experience the Peace of
God which exceeds anything we can understand.
Romans 15:13 NIV May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today may you be filled with joy and peace as you experience
the Joy of the Lord.
Are you looking for Peace?
You will never find Peace on your own.
Peace only comes through the blood Jesus shed on the cross.
Peace will only be found in the Prince of Peace, our soon
coming King, Jesus Christ.
How can we have such peace?
When our hope is in Jesus, He brings peace to our lives.
Hope is giving God glory because of His promise in
spite of my current circumstances.
Hope is having confidence that God is in control of
everything in my life and God is in control of everything that happens to me.
When God is in control, I am able to live surround by His
peace.
Closing: It Is Well
With My Soul
In 1871, Horatio Spafford lived in the Lakeview suburb of
Chicago with his wife and 4 daughters.
He was a prominent lawyer, a wealthy businessman, a devout
Christian and a loving family man.
Horatio Spafford had invested heavily in the real estate
market.
October 8, 1871 he lost everything in the Great Chicago
fire.
After the fire people were wandering around the city
homeless and hungry.
Horatio and Anna Spafford began doing all they could to
minister to the needs of the people of their city, sacrificially helping the
families in distress.
This endeavor was no short-term ministry, after 2-years the
Spafford family was totally exhausted from their work, so they planned to go to
Europe for a vacation and rest.
At the last minute, business kept Horatio in town, but he
took his wife Anna and their 4 girls to the ship, S.S. Villa du Havre. They
boarded and left harbor. Horatio expected to follow his family in a few days.
Late one night during the voyage, another ship rammed into
their ship and their ship sank in 12 minutes.
Only 47 people were rescued. 226 lost their lives.
Anna was pulled from the water unconscious. She had been
found floating on a piece of debris, but the 4 Spafford girls all perished in
the shipwreck.
Anna sent a telegram to Horatio. Here is the telegram:
“Saved Alone.”
Anna had remarked to another passenger that God had given
her 4 daughters and He had taken them away and that perhaps some day she would
understand why.
Horatio boarded the next ship for Europe, he was on his way
to being his wife home.
The ships path on which he was traveling crossed the very
point where his daughters had been lost.
The captain called Horatio to his cabin and informed him of
their location.
Horatio, deeply moved, found a piece of paper from the hotel
in which he stayed before the voyage and he jotted down the words to one of the
most famous hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
It Is Well with My Soul
by Horatio Spafford
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought:
My sin not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so,” it is well with my soul.
