The Fruit of the Spirit: “Peace”

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Key truths to keep in mind as we study the Fruit of the Spirit:

1. There is only one Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “But the FRUIT…”

It is a singular in the English and the Greek. It is a singular fruit with 9 distinct aspects: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control…”

2. The Holy Spirit is the source of the Fruit of the Spirit.

(v. 22) “…the fruit OF THE SPIRIT……

John 15:5 (NASB)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

So far we have looked at love and joy. This week, the next characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit that we are examining, is… PEACE.

Philippians 4:4–13 (NASB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The world’s definition of peace:

1. freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

“I need peace and quiet”

2. a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

The peace that is an aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit is different.

John 14:27 (NASB)

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The command of peace

6 Be anxious for nothing…

Worry doesn’t prevent problems tomorrow, worry prevents peace today.

Matthew 6:25 (NASB)

25 “…do not be worried about your life…

Matthew 6:31 (NASB)

31 “Do not worry…

Matthew 6:34 (NASB)

34 “…do not worry…

Dr. Adrian Rogers once said, “Worry is an insult to God.”

Worry is an enemy of peace. You cannot have peace and worry at the same time. When we are anxious and worry, when we live in fear or doubt, we are lacking faith, lacking peace and the ultimate reason is because we don’t trust God. I know that sounds harsh, but it is 100% true. Consider these Scriptures…

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Psalm 56:11 (NASB)

11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6 (NASB)

6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

Matthew 10:19 (NASB)

19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

Mark 13:11 (NASB)

11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 6:24–25 (NASB)

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Romans 8:31–32 (NASB)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

So what does the command of peace look like?

Praise and prayer!

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Praise God and the Holy Spirit will produce the peace of God in your heart and mind.

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

Take it to God. Give it to him. He will take it and give you peace!

1 Peter 5:7 (NASB)

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 11:28 (NASB)

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Peace comes from the Holy Spirit and in order for it to be manifested in your life you have to trust the Lord with your life.

The command of peace is ultimately, about faith and trust in the Lord. When you lack peace, go to God. Seek Him in prayer. Praise Him…worship Him in spirit and truth and the Holy Spirit will give you peace.

The comfort of peace.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The peace the world seeks is comfort, free from disturbance. Put the peace of Jesus comes most clearly in the midst of disturbances.

Mark 4:36–40 (NASB)

36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

Why did Jesus have peace in the middle of the storm?

John 14:27 (NASB)

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

His mind was fixed on the truth of God. He wasn’t afraid because He knew He was in control. Jesus knew the wind and the waves obeyed Him. Jesus knew God’s plan would not fail. His mind was fixed on the truth of God.

What does the peace of God guard?

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How does that work?

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Focus your mind on the truth of God! The Holy Spirit gives us peace when we give our minds over to the truth of God.

Psalm 56:4 (NASB)

4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

Lamentations 3:21 (NASB)

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

THE COMFORT of PEACE comes we when remember the truth of God and the Holy Spirit is the one that helps us remember it.

John 14:26–27 (ESV)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Proverbs 12:25 (NASB)

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Dear Christian, if you lack peace, stop and think…what am I thinking about? (v. 8)

It is true?

Does thinking about honor God or dishonor God?

Does dwelling on this right a wrongs or does it wrong something that is right?

Are might thoughts pure and holy? Sinful thoughts erode peace!

Are my thoughts exalting a person, place or thing over God?

Does thinking about this make me trust God more or is it attacking my faith?

Does thinking about this thing make me want to praise God more or has it caused me to forget to rejoice in the Lord always?

Isaiah 26:3 (NASB)

3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

THE COMFORT of PEACE is ours through the power of the Holy Spirit when our minds are focused on the truth of God.

The contentment of peace.

11 …I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Philippians 3:8 (NASB)

8 …I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NASB)

23 … imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

11 …I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

5 …The Lord is near.

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB)

5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

John 16:33 (NASB)

33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

In closing:

Peace is the Holy Spirit produces, supernatural ability, to trust God in any and all circumstances. This peace of God guards our hearts and minds, keeping the children of God free from anxiety, worry, fear and doubt because, because we are content with Christ.

Do you have that kind of peace?

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The peace of God is produces by the Holy Spirit and it it laid hold of by the Christian when we fully trust and rely on God, knowing and believing that Jesus is enough.

Do you trust God today? Really? Fully?

Is Jesus you Lord and Savior?

Do you know what the Bible says about Jesus?

He is in control.

He is good.

He has a plan.

He is going to use whatever happens to you for you good and His glory.

He will never leave you or forsake you.

Nothing is took big for Him.

The question is, do you believe it? Do you believe the promises of God? Do you take Him at His word?

Do you understand the difference?

It is easy to have the world’s peace when nothing is threatening to disturb it.

But the peace of God has nothing that can threaten it.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray!

Memory Verse of the Week:

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.