Peace, Fruit of the Holy Spirit # 3

Fruit of the Holy Spirit # 3; Peace

Galatians 5:16-26

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4295 The Tranquil Bed

The Tranquil Bed

Augustus the Emperor heard that a gentleman of Rome, despite a great burden of debt, slept quietly and took his ease. So he desired to buy the bed that he lodged on. Needless to say, it was a useless purchase for the great emperor.

Peace denotes the wholeness, soundness, and well-being that characterizes God and that God created in the world. As peace was broken due to human sin, such well-being constitutes the hope for ultimate restoration by God. New Testament authors rely heavily on the noun εἰρήνη (eirēnē, “peace”) but do so with various nuances (that is variations). Peace occurs not only in interpersonal relationships, but also in ethnic and political relationships. Peace also carries a cosmic connotation, in which all aspects of creation, both human and non-human, should exist in harmony with each other. Peace is thus the ideal of creation that God’s redemptive activity seeks to restore. (Lexham Theological Workbook)

God gives peace to all His children, and we should carry this peace into the world.

1. What if peace had an expiration date?

What if that expiration date was next year?

You may ask, what would be any different? A lot would change.

First, we would not have peace with God.

Jesus is our peace, Romans 5:1. There would be no grace, no mercy, and no love.

There would be no peace among countries.

If people had no peace with God and no peace with themselves, they would possibly hate themselves as much as they hated others. There would be constant wars and fighting.

There would be no peace between Jews and Gentiles.

We would be enemies of one another.

There would be no peace among the citizens of a country.

If all peace ended, there would be chaos in the streets.

There would be no peace in our homes.

The husband would be against the wife, and the wife would be against the children. It would be a hostile world full of hostile homes.

And no one would get good sleep.

If all peace ended, then we would all have turmoil in our hearts and in our minds.

You may be tempted to say that the world is already in this place.

That is not true. There are lots of people who do not experience God’s peace. It is the reason we see so much wickedness in our world, but just imagine if the whole world acted like Washington D.C. That place is a good example of what the world would look like without peace.

God’s peace is available to all.

This world can be a hostile and ugly place. But praise God, His peace is available to all. And praise God, it is eternal.

2. Our peace has been purchased by Jesus.

a. Without Jesus we could not have peace with God.

Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Romans 5:1 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Colossians 1:20 NKJV

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

3. God’s peace is not like the world’s peace.

a. The peace that God gives is not what the world offers.

But what is the difference? The world promises to bring an end to war. They promise to make everyone equal. However, these are the people who are causing chaos in our world, in our streets, and in our homes. Do not believe them. Which President has ever brought world peace? Which political party has every united this country? That is right, none of them. The world’s peace is usually accomplished by the sword or gun pointed at someone else.

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

b. God’s peace goes beyond our understanding.

The phrase, which passes all understanding, is usually taken as indicating the utter inability of man’s mind to fathom God’s peace. More probably it means that God’s peace far surpasses all our careful planning and clever ideas as to how we can resolve our own anxieties. (Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

c. God’s peace does not mean the absence of problems.

It may cause problems. But problems can not steal our peace.

Matthew 10:34 NKJV

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

d. God’s peace for us cannot be stolen.

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. God’s peace makes a big difference in my life.

a. God has brought us all into the same family of God.

Jews and Gentiles are in the same family of believers through faith in Jesus. This is a major change that we see from the OT Jew to the early Christians.

Ephesians 2:14 NKJV

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

b. I do not have to worry about things.

I can take my frustrations to God. God will take care of us. I do not have to stay up all night worrying about things.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 127:2 NKJV

It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

5. I will live in God’s peace and take it to the world.

a. I will seek peace with those who are against me.

Romans 12:18 NKJV

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

Romans 14:19 NKJV

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

b. I will live in peace with others and give evidence of my faith.

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

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

Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Conclusion

A. Peace is a gift from God.

B. Rest in God’s peace.

C. Share God’s peace with this world.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2004 God Never Forgets Promises

God Never Forgets Promises

An elderly Christian was in much distress as he lay dying. “Oh, Pastor,” he said, “for years I have relied upon the promises of God, but now in the hour of death I can’t remember a single one to comfort me.” Knowing that Satan was disturbing him, the preacher said, “My brother, do you think that GOD will forget any of His promises?” A smile came over the face of the dying believer as he exclaimed joyfully. “No, no! He won’t! Praise the Lord, now I can fall asleep in Jesus and trust Him to remember them all and bring me safely to Heaven.” Peace flooded his soul, and a short time later he was ushered by the angels into the light of God’s eternal day.

—Our Daily Bread