Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

Jeremy Bowling
02/20/22 - Sunday AM Worship

Galatians 5:16-26

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Fruit of the Spirit Series – Lesson #4: Peace

Scripture Reading

• Galatians 5:22-23 – “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”

Introduction

• This morning we continue our series… “The Fruit of the Spirit”.  In this series, we will focus on the verses that we just read in Galatians 5 and consider the characteristics described as “The Fruit of the Spirit”… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Last two lesson we spent some time talking about “Love” & then “Joy”.  Today we will look at the third characteristic of “Peace”.
• Remember, the Fruit of the Spirit…
  • Fruit is singular.  We are not talking about FRUITS, as if they were different things… we are talking about the FRUIT of the Spirit… these are 9 different qualities or flavors of the one fruit.  This means you cannot have 1 or 2 of these & be satisfied… to bear the fruit means to bear all these qualities. 
• Remember, the Fruit of the Spirit…
  • When we look at the Fruit of the Spirit we are looking at the character of God… which is perfectly embodied in the person of Jesus.  As we are transformed by His Spirit & bear this fruit… people are seeing the character of God thru us.    
    • Example: I am a child of God; I have the spirit of God in me… think of someone saying I am a child of the God of basketball; I have the God of basketball in me
      • BEARING FRUIT IS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT… if you say that you believe, you are no different than the demons… James 2:19.
  • So, this series is not just about you trying to be a better person & about your benefit or your glory.  This is about you being transformed as a child of God… you are to reflect His character & light, so that God is glorified. 
• Remember fruit is the natural outgrowth. 
  • An Illustration: Artificial Christmas Tree vs. Apple Tree
    • With the Christmas Tree you have something dead that you dress up with ornament that you put on it… but with the Apple Tree, it is alive and produces fruit that will be hanging on the branches. 
    • Likewise, we are not to just try and hang some ornaments on our dead branches… no, we are to be transformed by Jesus and allow God’s Spirit to vitalize us to produce. 
• So, the fruit of the Spirit is the natural outgrowth of walking in the Spirit… this is what walking in the Spirit producing in our lives. 

Definition of Peace

• Earthy Peace – the absence of conflict; temporary in duration; negative blessing
  • Peace between Nations – 1,000 of treaties are signed, yet they are soon broken
    • Example of Russian/Ukraine Peace Deal. 
      • Do you feel at peace with Russia?
  • Peace between families – Make it thru the holiday without a big fight
  • Peace between coworkers – you don’t have to be friends, just work together.
• Heavenly Peace – the presence of all that is necessary for the good of the recipient; completeness; soundness; “all is well”; positive blessing
  • So, true peace is not an absence of conflict… it is not protection from a storm ever coming in your life, but rather it is calm in the midst of the storm. 
  • It is tranquility of heart; calmness, contentment, order, wholeness, and an untroubled spirit.  
• Negative Definition – I think we know what it is like to have NO PEACE.
  • All we have to do is read the newspaper or turn on the TV… our world is a world without peace… people are at conflict with one another… nations are fighting against nations… there is violence and oppression… people are taking sides & are shouting at one another… there are protests and riots. 
  • This is not just a group thing… in the individual, we see symptoms of NO PEACE in things like worrying, anxiety, complaining, feeling inadequate & uncertain about life
    • Romans 7:19-24 – “O wretched man that I am!”
  • Our world has no peace AND our world desperately wants peace.  The world is always looking for peace.   Nations sign countless treaties… people sign contracts… self-helps books promoting inner peace continue to be wrote… and Miss America still wants to achieve world peace in her 1 year reign. 
  • In this pursuit of peace, we look around and see people turning to all the wrong places… they turn to “living for the weekend” to find contentment at their workplace… they turn to alcohol & drugs to drown out the conflicts in their lives… they turn to immorality and sex to find their selves.
    • Yet, all these things are inadequate... they disappoint… they do NOT bring peace…
  • So, what are we to do? 
    • Short Answer – Turn to God & live by faith in Jesus Christ
      • Romans 7:24-8:1, 6 – “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

God is the Giver of Peace

• In Creation
  • Genesis 1:1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.”
    • We read the earth was without form – a picture of a desert… to lie waste… confusion with no meaning… a worthless thing
      • It  was void – to be empty… in ruin… emptiness
      • and characterized by darkness…
    • Wow.  This is not a good picture of things.  There was no order or meaning or goodness.  Yet at the end of v2, we read “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” and in v3 “Then God said”.  In the midst of this world without form, void, and darkness, it is God that brings order & meaning & goodness to this world. 
      • Day 1 – Light & Dark are not at conflict… God divides the light from the darkness and makes Day & Night… He gives order and meaning
      • Day 2 – God divides the waters under the firmament from the waters which were above… now, we have a separation and He calls the firmament heaven… again, God giving meaning and order
      • Day 3 – The waters are divided from the land… the land is called earth and the waters seas… we have more order and God saw that it was good.
        • I Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace”
      • Fast-Forward to Day 6 – God creates man in His image and in v31 “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good”.  The earth was no longer without form and void and filled with darkness… chaos and confusion had now been given meaning and order… light was at peace with darkness (Day & Night)… earth was at peace with the skies (Land & Heaven)… land was at peace with the waters (Earth & Seas).    
      • Man is at Peace – notice that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but it is rather the presence of God’s goodness
        • Peace with God – dwelling in God’s presence in the Garden & in His presence God is providing and blessing man.
        • Peace with one another – Genesis 2:23-25 – “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”.
        • Peace with Creation – Genesis 1:27-30; 2:8-9, 15, 19
    • So what happened?

Sin Destroys Peace

• Sin Destroys Peace between Man & God
  • Adam & Eve Hiding – Genesis 3:8
• Sin Destroys Peace between God & Man
  • God Drove Out the Man – Genesis 3:24
• Sin Destroys Peace between Man & Man
  • Adam & Eve’s Blame Game – Genesis 3:12
• Sin Destroys Peace between Man & Creation
  • Cursed is the Ground – Genesis 3:17-19
• Brethren, we are living in a broken world that has been marred by sin.  When we live a life apart from God, there is no peace.  There is brokenness, distrust, strife, toil, hardship, and restlessness.  Peace is not found in self… and it is not found in this world.

A Promise of Peace

• Genesis 3:14-15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.”
• Man leaves the garden and things only get worse…
  • Cain kills his brother (Genesis 4:8)
    • The first murder in the bible, but sadly not the last. 
    • Cain is now a fugitive & a vagabond on the earth (4:12)
  • Wickedness continues to abounds in the days of Noah
    • Wickedness, evil continually (6:5)
    • Corrupt & filled with violence (6:11)
    • God sorry & grieved in His heart… “I will destroy man whom I have created” (6:7)
  • Genesis 11, Descendants of Noah are separated at Babel, languages are confused
• In Abraham, we have the Promise of Peace continued
  • Genesis 12:1-3 – “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”
• God still desires a relationship with His people & seeks to give them peace
  • Numbers 6:22-27 – “The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
• In David, we have the Promise of Peace continued
  • II Samuel 7:12-16 – “But My mercy shall not depart from him”
• Isaiah prophesied about the Prince of Peace that would come
  • Isaiah 9:6-7 – “Prince of Peace… Upon the throne of David”
  • Isaiah 11:1-10 – “There shall come forth a Rod from the Stem of Jesse”
  • Isaiah 52:4-10 – “Who proclaims peace”
  • Isaiah 52:13, 53:1-6 – “Behold, My Servant… for our peace was upon Him”

In Review

• God created the world & man in perfect harmony & peace & goodness.
  • God was at peace with man & man was at peace with God
  • Man was at peace with one another & with creation.
• The Rebellion of man & SIN destroyed peace & brought enmity.
  • ENMITY between God & man
  • Enmity between Man & God
  • Enmity between Man & Man
  • Enmity between Man & Creation
  • Enmity between Man & Himself
• Yet, God promised to restore all things & make peace possible once again
  • Seed of Woman would crush the serpent
  • Seed of Abraham would bring God’s blessings to all the nations
  • Seed of David would establish a rule of  peace & righteousness
    • Isaiah prophesied that this seed of David is God’s Servant that would come and die for His people to bring Peace.

Jesus, the Seed of Promise

• Matthew 1:1 – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ…”
  • (1) THE SON OF DAVID
  • (1) THE SON OF ABRAHAM
  • (16)THE SON OF WOMAN
• Matthew 1:21-23 – “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”
  • Immanuel… God with us (remember, PEACE is no the absence of something, it the PRESCENSE OF GOD… GOD WITH US… we are GOING BACK TO THE GARDEN
• Luke 2:8-14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
  • Angels praising God at the birth of Jesus… I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people… in the city of David.
• Luke 4:16-21 – “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”
  • Jesus is the fulfillment of the One Isaiah said would come to bring peace.

Peace with God

• Colossians 1:19-23 – “you, who once were alienated and enemies”
  • Romans 5:1, 8-10 – “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
• Ephesians 2:12-19 – “Now… fellow citizens… & members of the household of God”
  • This helps us transition to our next point.  In Jesus, we not only find forgiveness of our sins, but we become members of the household of God.

• • Remember our definitions of peace earlier.  True peace is not merely an absence of conflict… now it is true that Jesus has made our peace with God possible as He has removed the enmity of sin… but true peace is the presences of all that is good so that we can be complete and sound… it is tranquility of heart; calmness, contentment, order, wholeness, and an untroubled spirit.  

• • So, Jesus makes it possible that we may have PEACE WITH GOD… and when we have PEACE WITH GOD we are able to have & to bear the PEACE OF GOD.  I will say it again… THE PEACE OF GOD is not an absence of storms in our lives, but a calmness in the storm.  And this calmness is not because we have everything figured out and we know everything… NO, it is because we have a relationship with the ONE WHO does have it all figured out and knows everything.

Peace of God

• Matthew 6:25-33 – “For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
  • Because we have PEACE WITH GOD we ought to be different than the rest of the world.  Listen, unbelievers have a reason to worry and to be filled with anxiety… those that do NOT have a relationship with God have a reason to wring their hands, complain, and to be filled with uncertainty about the future.
  • Yet, we are to be different.  Thru Jesus, we have PEACE WITH GOD and through our relationship with OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN we can the PEACE OF GOD.  We can stay calm in the storms of life because we are connected to a loving and good God… a God that provides and takes care of His children… a God that will not forsake us… a God that is faithful and has promised to bless us. 
  • How sad it is when our unbelieving family & friend see us bearing the fruit of worry & anxiety instead of the fruit of peace & confidence.  We say that we have PEACE WITH GOD but our actions speak otherwise.  This ought not to be.
  •  Notice why in this passage.
    • Focusing on our Worries – v25, 28
      • Need to Focus on God – v26, 30
    • Little Faith – v30               or           Faith in wrong place – v25 (YOU & YOUR)
      •  Need to grow in our Faith in God – v26, 30
    • Seeking Wrong Things – v31-32
      • Need to Seek God – v33
• Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing… and the PEACE OF GOD”
  • In everything by prayer – we need to turn to God & meditate upon His character
  • With thanksgiving – remember God’s goodness in your life
  • Be made known – God desires to hear & to answer our needs (I Peter 3:12)
    • THE RESULT – “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

What does this look like?

• Turn to Psalms… look at Psalm 13. 
  • Psalm 13 – How long, O Lord? – There is no peace (v1-2)
    • V1 – O LORD (IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER)
    • V3 – O Lord my God (WITH THANKSGIVING) v5, mercy & salvation… v6 – dealt bountifully with me – remembering God’s goodness
    • V3 – Consider and hear me (BE MADE KNOWN)
      • THE RESULT: v5-6 – I have trusted, my heart shall rejoice, I will sing
        • That sounds an awful lot like… “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
• Let’s consider some of the first Christians in Acts 2
  • Acts 2:22-23… this is anything but peace… this is sin and hatred and violence and injustice… this is enmity with God and with one another… think of Genesis 3
  • Acts 2:36-37… again… no peace… they are guilty… they have rebelled against God and even killed the very Son of God… God had promised to send the Christ and they crucified Him… and they cry out “WHAT SHALL WE DO”…
  • Acts 2:38-47
    • (38) Remission of Sin – removal of that which separated us from God… a reversal of what happened in the Garden of Eden.
    • (38) Gift of the Holy Spirit – God’s presence in our lives & a relationship with Him… no more enmity… we now have peace with God.
    • (44-45) Were together… peace between man & man… believer & believer
    • (46-47) Having favor with all the people… peace between man & man… believer & unbeliever
    • (46-47) Ate their food with gladness… praising God… Now that they are in Jesus, they have PEACE WITH GOD & that has brought the PEACE OF GOD. 

Bearing the Fruit of Peace

• Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers”.  As we just studied in Romans 14:19… these are people that are pursing the things that make for peace & edification… as Paul said in Romans 12:17-18 – “Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”… these are people with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… they live by the wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  You see peacemakers do not create strive, hate, fights, division, or disputes… peacemakers do not spread malicious gossip and do not stir the pot and enjoy drama.  No, peacemakers seek to reconcile… bring people together.  AND the highest pursuit of PEACEMAKERS is to help a friend find peace with God through Jesus Christ. 
• Example in Jesus’ teachings.  First, look at Matthew 5:23-24.  If you know your brother has something against you… GO TO YOUR BROTHER… SEEK PEACE… FIRST be reconciled.  Now, look at Matthew 18:15.  If you know your brother has sinned against you… GO TO YOUR BROTHER… SEEK PEACE… SEEK RECONCILIATION.  So, you see one MAKING PEACE goes to his brother.  What if I have wronged my brother… GO TO YOUR BROTHER… what if my brother has wronged me… GO TO YOUR BROTHER.  A PEACEMAKER is not trying to win an argument, he is trying to win His brother. 
• Brethren, are you a peacemaker?  Do you bring calm to a relationship or do you constantly bring strife and drama?  As kingdom citizen… as followers of Jesus… we must be PEACEMAKERS… we must not sweep problems under the rug… we must not act as if everything is OK if it isn’t… but in all humility and gentleness, we must MAKE PEACE.  Make peace between us and God… and make peace between one another.  And the only way to do this is to point people to the PRINCE of PEACE… the Jesus Christ, the one who came to reconcile us to the Father.  And the blessings of being a PEACEMAKER is THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD. 

Conclusion

• Romans 7:24 – “O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
  • Living is this world apart from God… this is where we are… sin has separated us from God and from everything that is good.  This has brought chaos into our lives and there seems to be no end to it… things only get worse and more bent out of shape.  Our life is wretched… and the only thing we see is more suffering and death…. and we cry out…
  • WHO WILL DELIVER ME?
    • If you feel this way, there is hope… because you recognize you are messed up and that you cannot fix yourself.  God can fix the broken, but it is only when the broken see that they are broken and in their brokenness they cry out to Him for help.
  • THE ANSWER
    • Romans 7:25 – “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
      • Jesus is the Seed of woman that has crushed Satan’s head
      • Jesus is the Seed of Abraham that was promised to bring blessing and peace to all nations.
      • Jesus is the Seed of David that would come to rule to be the Prince of Peace and rule an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and goodness.
      • Jesus is the Suffering Servant Isaiah spoke about that took upon Himself the sins of His people by dying for them… so that they could be set free and have a relationship with God once again. 
    • WHO WILL DELIVER ME… JESUS, Jesus is the conquering king that has defeated Satan… has defeated Sin… and has defeated Death.
• Are you in Christ?
  • Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
    • You may be like those in Acts 2 & be saying “What shall I do”…
    • V38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
      • Will you repent… stop running from God & submit to Him?
      • Will you be baptized for the remission of sins… in Christ, we can be received back into the family of God & live with the presence of God (that is peace)
      • Whoever you are… this promise is to you… will you believe it… will you respond to it?