June 20, 2010

Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Galatians: A Grace-full Life

A basket of fruit: Peace,  a gift of the Spirit (Part 4)

Sermon Series: Galatians: A Grace-full Life

Title: : A basket of fruit: Peace, a gift of the Spirit (Part 4)  Text: Galatians 5:22-24

Introduction: Ever come home after a hectic day at work, looking forward to an evening of peace and quiet? But, you get out of the car and walk through the door the dream is shattered!

·         The kids are screaming at each other.

·         The phone is ringing of the hook with telemarketers wanting to sell you something or bill collectors wanting payment for stuff you already bought.

·         The dog is tearing up today’s newspaper.

·         And the cable is out.

Are you in a place in your life where you would like things to slow down...just a bit?

How do you handle it? Anxiety? Stress? Worry? Freaking out? Withdrawing? Or with a calmness knowing it will pass?

Well, God wants you to experience one of His greatest gifts...peace. Throughout Scripture, God promises His people peace for all eternity. And the good news is we can have that peace today too.

Transition: Open your Bibles to Galatians 5:22 (Pg. 889 in the Bibles under the chair in front of you.) For it’s there we’ll find Peace: the 3^rd fruit the Holy Spirit places in our spiritual baskets.

Galatians 5:22-24                   Peace

Read: Galatians 5:22-24

A. Understanding the fruit

Question: What comes to mind when I say the word ‘peace?’

Some have defined peace as:

• Peace is ‘That brief and glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading’ (Denn Guptill)
• Peace is the absence of conflict.
• ‘Peace is knowing that we may get to the point where we can do nothing else, but our all powerful God has not such limits.’ (John Mac Arthur)
• Peace is a state of security and order within.
• Peace is freedom from disquieting thoughts or emotions.
• Peace is harmony in personal relationships.

OT Hebrew = Shalom (wholeness, completeness, harmony of life)

NT Greek = Eirene (harmonious relationships between people, and between God and people.

Putting that all together, I believe peace is a confidant assurance that God is in control of my every circumstance and relationship.

Scripture speaks of 3 kinds of peace.

1. Peace with God.

It’s no secret that we have alienated ourselves from God.

Read: Colossian 1:21 ‘Once you were alienated from God and

                         were enemies in your minds because of

                         your evil behavior.’

We need to come to grips with this truth....no matter

• what we do,
• who we know,
• what we have,
• or where we go,

we can do nothing to make our relationship with God right. We will always be His enemy and lack true peace in our lives.

So, am I saying that peace with God is impossible? No. What’s impossible for us, is possible with God.

Read: Colossians 1:19-20 ‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.’

True, lasting peace is only found when we have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. We have that peace because Jesus’ death on the cross paid the payment for our sin debt to God....In other words, faith in Jesus brings reconciliation with God through the forgiveness for our sin, our disobedience and rebellion against God.

2. Peace with others.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:13b ‘...Live in peace with each other.’

You probably already know that you can’t make everyone happy. Because of that, you will always strive to be at peace with someone. Don’t be discouraged if there is someone you just can’t make peace with.

Read: Romans 12:18 ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’

Do everything you can to make peace with others. You are only responsible before God for what you do. If peace alludes your relationship, and you have done everything you can to make peace, you have honored God.

 

3. Peace of God

Read: Philippians 4:7 ‘And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

ILL: Helen Keller once said ‘I don’t want the peace that passes understanding. I want the understanding which brings peace.’ (Denn Guptill)

Isn’t that what we really want? We want to understand the ‘why’ of hard times, difficult circumstances. But God says trust me even when I don’t give you the answers. I have things under control.

Truth is, even if we do understand, we still will be incabable of experiencing peace, because it’s not in our make up, it’s not in our DNA. Peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and is given to us by God. 

Read: John 14:27a ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you...’

Peace is given to us by God and one of the purposes of peace is to guard us from anxiety, worry, frustration and confusion. How do I know?

Read: Philippians 4:7 ‘And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

‘and the peace of God....will guard your hearts and minds...’ God is actively involved, daily, in assuring your peace in peace stealing circumstances. How great is that? So it’s vital that we stay in contact with Jesus...remember to cling to Him...to abide in Him, to let Jesus take up residence in all of your life. And He will sustain provide and sustain peace in your life.

Transition: Peace with God, Peace with others and the Peace of God. OK, how do we grow/cultivate this peace in our lives?

B. Growing the fruit

The prophet Isaiah had much to say about peace.

Read: Isaiah 48:22 ‘There is no peace, says the Lord, for the

wicked.’

Simple enough...don’t be wicked...don’t willfull sin, don’t disobey God’s Word, or will. What I am saying is stop choosing to sin. You know what I’m talking about. In the words of  Nancy Reagan ‘Just say no!’ Truth is in many cases, this is easier than we think.

Peace is found in the life of the Christian who obeys God and trusts in God’s ability to rule...in the world and in their life. Turn with me to:

Read: Isaiah 48:17-18a

Underline these phrases....

·         I am the Lord, you God.

·         Who teaches you

·         What is best for you

·         Who directs you

God teaches us, directs us in the way we should go and it’s always the best way for us. When we are obedient to Him, peace will flow like a river in our lives. I bet that’s where the song ‘I’ve God Peace Like a River’ comes from.

Isaiah also said this in:

Read: Isaiah 26:3 ‘You (God) will keep in perfect peace him (you and me) whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.’

This tells me:

1. To trust God: No matter what the circumstance, trust God,

    believe that He is in control.

2. To be steadfast: In other words ‘fix your mind’ Once you choose to trust God, don’t waver, accept His plan and ways.

3. And receive His peace: Peace will be yours when you trust God and follow His leading.

OK...now for the hard stuff. Perhaps the greatest struggle for peace we have is with one another. I’m sure you can think of at least one person you are currently at odds with...no peace.

Let me give you a few pointers to consider, as you obey God’s Word in Romans 12:18 to do all you can do to be at peace with each other.

1. Pray for that person everyday. Talk to God about the situation and pray for God to open the door between you and the other person for peace.

2. Pray for yourself everyday. Talk to God about what in your life may be perpetuating the strife in the broken relationship. Pray for a loving attitude toward the other person.

3. Plan a time to talke. Ask that other person to schedule a time to sit down and talk...without the kids or other distractions.

4. Empathize with their feelings. Try to see things from their perspective...feel what they feel.

5. Listen without lecturing. Hear what the other person is saying before you speak.

6. A list of nevers: Never compare, never condemn, never make ultimatums,  never condescend, never interrupt, never confuse.

7. Be willing to compromise. Don’t compromise God’s Word, but do make compromises on your wants, wishes, likes, dislikes, preferences and opinions.

8. Seek reconciliation not resolution. There are some things you will never see eye to eye on with some people. Don’t try to resolve every issue. Instead work to reconcile your relationship, even though you still might disagree.

Conclusion

ILL: Pamela Curry shared this story in Today’s Christian Woman. ‘Every night my 6-year-old, Julie, and I thank God for one thing about the day. One evening Julie was breaking out in chicken pox, I had the flu, and my husband was out of town. As I tucked Julie into bed, she said, ‘Mommy, I can’t think of anything to thank God for today. It was a horrible day.’ We thought for a while more and she finally said, ‘I know. We can thank him that the day is over.’  So we did. ‘Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. No matter how difficult it is, we take comfort knowing you are there to help us make it through horrible days.’

That’s cultivating peace in our lives. It may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

The Christian faces hard and trying times and relationships just like anyone else. But, praise the Lord, right in the midst of all that trouble, of life crashing down loudly all around us, we can live in perfect peace. Because the Holy Spirit has come into our lives and planted a tree... and the fruit of that tree is...PEACE.