7.28.24 Sermon @ Tulip CC - Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

(Galatians 5:22-23)  (Skipped Joy, Anthony will cover later)

Sermon Outline

Intro/Review:

Galatians 5:22–25 (NIV)

Transition to Message:

Story of our fruit trees & God will and is completing His work in us

Philippians 1:3–6 (NIV)

Fallen Condition Focus (FCF):  Our lack of contentment in all situations and our failure to be intentional to grow and mature hinders us from the Fruit of Peace in our lives.  

Dominant Thought (DT):  Though the peace that comes from living by the Spirit is not something we can understand, His peace is something we can experience.

Passage Focus & Teaching:

Honest questions & answers

Definition of Peace

The first thing we must realize is this…The Peace of God is Beyond our Understanding.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

To experience Peace…we need to accept that we can’t understand it.

Second, to Experience Peace…We must allow Christ to rule our hearts and let His message dwell among us.

Colossians 3:15–17 (NIV)

Finally…To know Peace is to learn to be Content.

Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV)

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NIV)

Close:

The Good News for you and for me is this…the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is both available and attainable for everyone of us…Amen?

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

Sermon Planning & Notes

Intro/Review:

Good to be back, mountains are great but hot showers and flushing toilets are the comforts that bring us home

Working through the Fruit of the Spirit…covered Love, Anthony will come back to Joy, today we are focused on Peace.

Read together Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–25 (NIV)

22 …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Transition to Message:

Story of our fruit trees…planted years ago, some lost…soil type, location, staking, cover, bugs, time…no blooms, flowers without fruit, tiny fruit, finally fruit we can enjoy…maturity takes time, effort and God’s hand

As we look at the Fruit of Peace today, let us be encouraged to know God will and is completing His work in us…it takes time, our active participation and the power and presence of God.

Philippians 1:3–6 (NIV)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Fallen Condition Focus (FCF):  Our lack of contentment in all situations and our failure to be intentional to grow and mature hinders us from the Fruit of Peace in our lives.  Dominant Thought (DT):  Though the peace that comes from living by the Spirit is not something we can understand, His peace is something we can experience.

Passage Focus & Teaching:

Honest answer…how many of you would define your daily lives as peaceful?  Who among you is totally at peace?

Anyone stressed out?  Anyone anxious?  Anyone overwhelmed and feel like there is a storm surrounding you?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little peace?

Mountain Thunderstorm story

What is Peace?  What does it mean to have peace?

Definitions

Freedom from disturbance, a state or period without war

A stress-free state of security and calmness that comes when there is no fighting or ward

Everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom

If only it were as easy to live at peace…with ourselves, with others, in this world of chaos…as it is to define.

This is the tension…we want to know and understand…but God wants us to trust and obey.

The first thing we must realize is this…The Peace of God is Beyond our Understanding.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How do you handle the inability to understand?  Do you like it?  Can I offer you this comfort, you’re not alone.  Since the beginning of time, back in the garden with Adam & Eve, the desire to understand and know has created challenges for us.

To experience Peace…we need to accept that we can’t understand it.

So, if God’s Peace is beyond our ability to understand, how are we supposed to live it out?  How can we learn and experience something that we can’t understand?

Second, to Experience Peace…We must allow Christ to rule our hearts and let His message dwell among us.

Colossians 3:15–17 (NIV)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to PEACE. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How does Christ rule our hearts?

We have to accept Him as master and Lord over every aspect of what we do, what we think and what we say.  This can’t be a half hearted approach or a once a week practice.  He deserves and is asking for our attention and gratitude in all we do and all we experience.

You may be thinking, “this all sounds good, but you still haven’t told us how”.  I hear you, I know you want to understand.  Here’s a little glimpse from Paul that I believe contains the secret.

Finally…To know Peace is to learn to be Content.

Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV)

11…I have learned to be CONTENT whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

You think the weight and trials of your world make it impossible to learn this secret of being Content?  Do you feel helpless?  Let us look at what Paul had experienced?

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NIV)

23 …I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Close:

As we close today, can I share some Gospel with you?  There is Good News, and we need to be reminded of it often.

The Good News for you and for me is this…the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is both available and attainable for everyone of us…Amen?

Do you hear what I’m saying, we can have Peace in our lives…at home, at work, at school, on the ball field, in the gym, when times are tough and when times are great…during a 20 hour car ride with kids in the back seat…The Peace of God has been made available and attainable through the process of planting the Spirit in our hearts, in cultivating the soils of our lives for growth and maturing, and by walking step in step with The One who can calm the storms of life.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Complements:

Illustrations:

5-6 years ago I planted some apple trees and pear trees in our yard, each year they grow taller, for several years they have flowered in the spring, and last year they even put on some tiny little fruit for the first time…but no fruit made it to maturity.  I could have cared for them better…soil, location, staking, spraying, covering, etc…this year, for the first time we have apples and pears that we are looking forward to eating.  To bare fruit a tree must be healthy and growing, and it takes time, energy and the hand of God.

20 hours in the car with Lydia & the kids, 12 hours in the car with six young people ranging from 5-17, one week in the mountains with 2000 people…some peace, mostly chaos and storms

Mountain thunderstorms…sunny and beautiful one moment…lighting, thunder, wind, rain and hale the next…from peace to panic…noticed how those who were focused on each other endured the storm versus those who were alone or focused on the elements

Scriptures:

Galatians 5:22–25 (NIV)

22 …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Philippians 1:3–6 (NIV)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Colossians 3:15–17 (NIV)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to PEACE. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV)

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be CONTENT whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NIV)

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Matthew 8:23–26 (NIV)

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.