Peace

Recap

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Joy - Found in our priorities

If God is not the priority then your “joy” will expire

Love- Is always. Love does not have conditions. Love is freely given

Love is a command. Jesus said clearly in Matthew 22 to love God and love our neighbors

Love is Fruit- Fruit is the evidence of a healthy tree. When we love God and our neighbor it produces healthy fruit for others to taste and see.

Peace

Today we continue our growth and bearing fruit with peace.

One amazing thing I have really come to understand during this study is that the fruits of the Spirit all have secular versions. However, they all have major limitations.

Joy in the world is conditional and can be taken when circumstances change.

I find joy in this person. What happens when they’re gone?

I find joy in this hobby. What happens when I can no longer do it?

Love has conditions in the world. Love is not a requirement. It is not permanent.

Peace is no different.

Here is the world’s version of peace:

Peace is defined as a state of tranquility, harmony, and freedom from conflict, violence, or mental anxiety

It is estimated that over the last 3,400 years, there have been only 268 years of peace. Meaning, for more than 92% of human history, we have been forced to endure the specter of war.

If freedom from conflict is required for peace- then 92% of time we have no peace.

25% increase reported in anxiety since covid.

43% of adults report higher anxiety from 2024 to 2025

Adolescent anxiety disorders increased by 52% between 1990 and 2021.

If the absence of mental anxiety is needed for peace, then over half the population has no peace.

Roughly 1.2 million violent crimes are reported in the US every year.

Crime rate is dropping yes, but for those 1.2 million people they unfortunately do not get to experience freedom from violence. So they can’t have peace?

True Peace

Just as we have seen with the other fruits of the spirit. When you rely on the things of this world to provide that fruit, you will always find failure.

There will ALWAYS be violence in the world.

There will generally be a war somewhere in the world every single year of our lives.

Mental illness will forever be an prevalent issue for humans with no sign of it slowing down.

So with all of these horrible things happening that intend to steal our peace and indeed do steal our peace when we define it by the worlds standards.

How then do we produce this beautiful fruit of peace as Christians.

It is simple in definition but so difficult in practice.

True peace is not the absence of war, but belief in the Prince of Peace in the midst of the battle.

True peace is not the absence of violence but the trust in our creator to protect and keep us.

True peace is not the removal of all mental attacks but the renewing of our mind through Christ Jesus.

True peace from God is not a condition based on our conditions.

True peace from God is a permanent condition regardless of our conditions.

Elisha and His Servant

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is actually quite short but oh so powerful!

We find this story in 2 Kings Six

2 Kings 6:8–17 “Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.”

The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

The servant only saw the problem.

The servant only saw the battle in front of them or rather the slaughter that would come of them if they did not comply.

I can imagine in that moment of all the words he could use to describe his current state, peace would not have been one of them.

That is the issue with looking to the world for our definition of peace.

It can be taken when circumstances change.

When you wake up and pour yourself a cup of coffee, scroll your phone a bit and then step outside to take a breath of fresh air only to see your entire world surrounded by an enemy that appears so much stronger than you. You lose your peace.

When the battlefield of your mind is permanently surrounded and attacked- there is no peace.

When the enemy hits your home, your finances, your job, your family, your everything .....… it is hard to find peace there.

Elisha’s servant walked out that morning and what he saw stripped him of his peace in an instant.

But he didn’t see the whole battlefield.........

And that is how the enemy tries to steal your peace.

Let me only see the problem. Put my focus on the problem. Keep my mind only on the problem.

Even to the point of blaming God for the problem instead of seeing Him for who He truly is.......The solution. The provider of peace!

This is the point that separates the world from Christians.

Peace in Chaos

What we see in the moments that aim to steal our peace.

Do we see the problem? Do we see the hopelessness? Do we surrender our peace?

Or do we live 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Do we stand on Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.””

Where My Peace Come From

I am going to close with this question.

From where does your peace come?

Are you waiting on circumstances to change so you can have peace?

Once this war ends I will have peace.

Once I get this raise or this new job we will have more money and I then it will all be ok and we will have peace.

Once this circumstance changes or that circumstance changes then it’ll be ok.

That is the world’s version of peace! And it is a version that never truly finds peace.

Waiting on circumstances to provide your peace? You will always be waiting.

This is why peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

Because for Christians our peace is rooted in the hope found in our Savior.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Closing

I have one simple prayer for all of us today.

Lord shift our hearts and our minds

When we wake up and walk outside to find ourselves surrounded by the enemy let us no longer stand in fear and anxiety.

Let us no longer ask God why He let this happen to us.

But let us say this one simple thing........

God show yourself. Open my eyes to not just see the enemy surrounding me but to see the God surrounding them.

Open my eyes to always see you standing with me in the storm.

Peace is not found in the removal of the storm.

Peace is found in trusting in The One who controls the storm.