Peeled - Week 3

Introduction

Review: If you’ve been with us the past few weeks, you remember we’re in a series called “Peeled.” We’re talking about the fruit of the Spirit. The first week we laid a foundation and said this -

That this is fruit that God wants to plant in your life.

It’s a work of the Holy Spirit.

Just like a farmer doesn’t actually make the plant grow, he just creates the right environment, So we create the right environment in our lives and God produces the fruit.

We said a few weeks ago that we need to Peel Back Selfishness and let Love Grow.

Last week, Pastor Dakota shared with us that we need to Peel back sadness and replace it with Joy.

Opening Story/Illustration: Tonight we want to talk about Peace.

Opening Question: Take a moment and describe peace to those around. What is it? What does it look like? What does it feel like?

Opening Video: Bible project video on peace

Transition to the Biblical Text: Let’s check out what Paul says in Galatians again.

Biblical Text:

Galatians 5:16–26 NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:22–26 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Text Observations: Notice again how Paul contrasts living by the “flesh” and living by the “spirit.”

If we live by the flesh we get:

Hostility - This is basically hatred towards others.

quarreling - This is fighting or arguing.

dissension - The word here literally means “a standing apart.” Like there was some sort of rift or fight and two people now stand apart.

In Contrast, if we follow the Holy Spirit we get PEACE!

Transition to Points: Tonight I just want to point a few observations involving peace.

Points

Peace isn’t simply the absence of conflict

You can have peace inside when things around you are chaotic.

You can have peace even in the midst of problems and trouble.

We often think if we could just get everyone to agree with us and quit fighting with us we could have peace.

The problem with this is - The problem is me!

My lack of peace isn’t about what’s going on outside of me, it’s what’s going on in me.

Illustration:

Peace is when all the pieces inside of us are in the right places

Peace is when all the pieces are in the right places

Peace starts on the inside

Another way to describe peace: Inner wholeness or completeness

It’s not when everything around us is in the right place - It’s when what’s going on inside of us is right.

Peace starts with knowing God is in control of all of the pieces.

Peace betwen you and God

Jesus has already made peace between you and God

You need to accept that - God is not mad at you.

Romans 5:1 NLT

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Peace with yourself

Sometimes it’s so hard to forgive yourself!

Jesus has already forgiven you!

Peace between you and others

Once peace has been found inside between you and God and with yourself, it moves on towards others.

Chaos on the inside=chaos in on the outside.

Peace on the inside=peace on the outside

Those who have peace, bring peace.

Anxiety and worry come because the pieces aren’t right - and we think we have to fix them.

Peel back anxiety and worry and replace it with God’s peace!

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, wants to put your pieces back together and give you peace.

Peace starts with knowing God is in control of all of the pieces.

Illustration: Humpty Dumpty

No one could put his pieces back together again!

Only Jesus can put your pieces back together again!

Philippians 4:6–9 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Conclusion

Restate the Main Idea: Peel back anxiety and worry. Let God fix the pieces and give you peace.

So What? This week, what are you worried about? Where is there a piece missing? Where is there a piece out of place? Take some time and I want you to write out where you’re missing that piece - and I want you to give it to God!

Now What?

Prayer: