Fruit Of The Spirit: Peace

INTRO: Spring time is for growing. Christians need to be intentionally growing - expected and benefit.

Fruit of the Spirit: not a pick and choose.

Characteristics/Traits that originate with God. Not natural to us.

Peace Is… (Peace with God)

TO THE WORLD peace is...

Ceasefires with peace treaties, playing nice with one another, it’s achieved through protest and legislation. But that’s not what peace from God is or how to get it.

What is your peace? What brings you peace? Careful: it’s a trick question. If you answer it by saying “this thing/place/activity”, you’ve been deceived. The right answer for what is your peace actually involves “WHO”.

Peace is the anchor that steadies us against confusion and conflict that comes from Chaos and disruption. It’s not about the absence of conflict and no problems taking place. Peace isn’t found on the beach at sunrise or in the mountains at sunset. It’s not even about terrible things not taking place and disrupting your life. Peace isn’t about what you don’t have, but it’s about WHO you’re tied to.

There’s a pretty chaotic scene in Mark 4 with Jesus and his disciples that is often used to talk about peace — and rightfully so.

(PPT) Mark 4:35-41

Why was there a storm? Why is it so hard to travel just a few miles? The windstorms Jesus and the apostles encountered on the Sea of Galilee were likely winter windstorms, which came suddenly from the east off the Golan Heights. These storms were different from rainstorms. They developed fiercely often shockingly fast (like most problems in life we face). And it’s certainly a noteworthy that these experienced fishermen were terrified as they were, it speaks to the extremeness of the storm. Its something they could handle on their own in the past by their own expertise and ability, until it became something out of their own control.

READ MARK 4:35-41

Why did they panic and go to Jesus? Maybe they thought he could help, but also we as people like others to worry with us. We want company in our misery and anxieties. We often go out of our way to make others worry along with us - “Did you see/hear about...” “Well i don’t like this decision its going to cause problems such as...”

But Jesus told them that they were more worried than you should be in this situation!

And how often do we fall into that trap - more anxious about things that have always been outside of our control, but that God says “You’re taken care of”...?

And Jesus shows us how he can bring the chaos into calm, the raging into harmony. And that's true for more than just a mere storm, but for our souls. To me the same principle is there from Matthew 9:5–6 “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” He gave them something they could see in order to understand he could do the unseen.

The same is true with the storm. They needed to see Jesus correct chaos and bring peace, and we needed to see that so that we can understand to trust in what we can’t see - that Jesus can correct and restore what was chaotic and broken into what is peaceful and whole.

Jesus performed His Powerful Rule Of Peace

Notice how he asked them about their faith, and we must evaluate ours. Because a lack of faith means a lack of God, which means a lack of peace, which also means I’m living in sin.

And sin is what caused us to be separated from God and be hostile enemies of God too!

But Peace is also about RESTORING what is broken.

Part of Jesus’ mission and the Gospel message is about Him restoring peaceful relationship between us and God!

Jesus is the prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

It originates with Him, He is the possessor and the giver of peace. It’s not something you can have or develop without Him.

The RESULTS of peace are described in what Paul says about “reconciliation”.

Romans 5:1, 9-10 — peace and reconciliation are closely tied together.

(PPT) Peace had to first be made between God and us!

So it starts with relationship being restored with God. Having and growing in peace is not about what’s gong on, the only thing that is circumstantial about it is if you’re in the right relationship with God through Jesus.

(PPT) IF you are in Jesus, you are connected to the source of Peace! It’s not about what you don’t have, its about who you’re tied to. You must be in Jesus in order to have the blessing of real peace.

How can we be people of Peace with the peace that is exclusively from God?

(PPT) Cultivate Yourself (Peace in You)

How are you cultivating yourself for peace to grow?

Illustration: a growing plant: seed, roots, bud, flower, then fruit. Theres a process!

Gal.5:1. You have been freed for freedom. In Christ you’re not attached to the former, but can live in the grace of God. Gal.5:25 keeping in step with the spirit means we will be walking further away from sin!

(PPT) The lust of the flesh (v.17-21) are Satanic and make you look more like him than God. And those things from the former life of being away from Christ can creep in and still remain if we’re not careful. Being dogmatic, legalistic, arrogant, prideful, or insensitive to others can easily carry over if we’re not pulling up those weeds to make ourselves prepared to grow something better.

Whats at your core? If we were peeled back to see what lies underneath, what would that be more like? I can’t be a bad spouse, or an unfit parent, or racking up debt with no way to pay it, or holding on to bitterness and resentment, or go on sinning in secret - I can’t do those things and have peace. You can’t live contrary to the way God directs us to live and still have peace that God gives.

There are other weeds and rocks that try to get in the way of our growth. Anxiety is one. But Paul says in Philippians 4:6–7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This is where I got stumped this week in my sermon prep. How do I help myself and others understand that which is way beyond our understanding?

Maybe I can’t quantify and explain it fully, but I can point you in the right direction of where it comes from and how to grow in it. Paul Goes on in Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things. 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.” You MUST take control of your mind and be intentional not just in word and deed, but in thought as well.

By doing what Paul says here its actually proven by psychologist to help move you out of depression and anxiety!

Trust the source who is in prison writing this with joy and peace. Paul says REMOVE THE WEEDS AND PREPARE YOURSELF TO GROW.

(PPT) Be a Peacemaker (Peace With Others)

Remember that the fruit is not just for our own benefits. It is evidence of a healthy tree growing as it should - but growing properly means I can be a benefit to others.

We are meant to be ambassadors of Christ, giving out of what we have been given.

(PPT) Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

We are meant to give peace to others as well! You’re meant to help bring peace in someones life through actions, words, and sometimes just by your presence.

You have experience, you have a story. God takes our mess and gives us a message in order to bring peace to others and help move them closer to Jesus.

Are you willing to be used?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Illustration: Harmony with one another. Like a symphony - all the instruments are playing a different note maybe a different rhythm, BUT it flows perfectly together and makes beautiful music.

Did you notice in v.20 that one of the sinful things listed is division?....Peace counters that, and dissensions, and the rest as well of course.

We as the Church each playing our part and using our gifts may at times look different, sound different, but the purpose and end result is the same.

Our roles can be different, but we work together in harmony to accomplish what the composer desires.

(PPT) Fruit is evidence of health and is of benefit to others.

SELF EVALUATION: Are you an ambassador of peace? Are you someone that brings peace to those around you or are you someone that when people see you coming they go “oh boy...what now...” If you don’t bring peace and you bring the opposite, it’s time to repent. The Spirit wants to change you and grow you. God is calling us to be far better than that.

WISDOM: Be careful of those who aren’t peacemakers, and how much time you spend with them. Don’t accept shade from a tree that isn’t growing Godly fruit.

One way to make sure you bring peace is to take a closer look at what not to do in Galatians 5:19-21. We need to actively walk away from all of them, but a few obvious ones we can point out will help us move towards peace by avoiding - selfish ambition, hatred, outburst of anger, strife, & dissensions.

Here’s some very practical ways to move away from them and be a Peacemaker:

To look out for others. To provide for others in need. “That person needs help, I will help” instead of passing off responsibility to someone else.

Be kind - 2 weeks from now we will discuss further Kindness. Its hard to have peace without being kind. You must be kind to people, the kindest people that there are! You should be the kindest people in the restaurant today and tips well. I know a lot of the behind the scenes of restaurants and stores - and everyone of them dread the Sunday crowd that comes after Church...isn’t that sad? We ought to be the kindest ones. Be kind to others ALL the time, and who cares if they are to you. God treats you kindly everyday, so you should be that way with others.

Control yourself: your temper, you other emotional outburst, control yourself - self control will be the last of the fruit of the spirit. You can’t be growing in God if you just blow your top, brush off, dismiss or close off yourself from others. You don’t inherit it from your parents, you learned it. And God says its time to unlearn it.

Forgive who has hurt you. You hurt God when you sinned first and you keep sinning. Yet God offers you forgiveness and peace. Forgive and move on. That means you don’t keep track and score and hold against someone all their wrongdoings. And YOU need to be the person that goes out of your way to resolve situations - even if you know and are convinced you did nothing wrong, you can still be the person to extend peace. You be the peacemaker, not just someone who enjoys it.

It’s so easy to return anger for anger, frustration for frustration, to be sour at someone because they’re sour at me...but to be honest, it takes too much effort to do that. It takes too much time and energy, and I don’t feel like wasting what little I have in this world on something like that. It can be hard to extend that peace, but you’ve got to empty yourself of pride, go forgive, and keep on walking. Try to do better where YOU can, but know you can’t please everyone, and the main person I’m striving to please is God.

It’s time for us to grow. To grow in in the peace God offers and to bring that peace to others as well.