Fruit of the Spirit-Peace
Intro
We are studying the fruits of the Spirit. Paul lays it out in Galatians:
• Galatians 5:21-23New International Version (NIV)
• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We covered Love and Joy in the last session and now we are on to Peace. As we mentioned before, the fruits must come in order. Love is first and foremost. Joy follows cheerfully. Peace is also close at hand.

Peace is something given through Christ and the Holy Spirit. God is Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah prophesies about Jesus in:
• Isaiah 9:6
• For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Love in God produces joy and perfect peace. We may not see peace as the world sees it, because ours is in our hearts and spirits. Even though the Bible tells us to live in peace with everyone,

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

that does not mean that we sit by smiling and saying “we need peace because we need to appease everyone.” By doing that we let the world take us over by our indifference. We need to stand up and speak peace, in a way that shows the world we are not going to sit passably by and let them take over because we are trying to live in “peace” by making everyone else happy. The Bible does not say to try to please everyone. There is no way everyone can be happy, because we are in a war with this world. We are in a Spiritual war with God’s enemy; satan. There are no two ways about it. It’s either peace in God, or peace in the world. The people of the world are trying to calm everyone down and regulate peace. But they are in a war with themselves, just as much as everyone else. We are all made in God’s image,
Genesis 5:1
…When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.

People of this world are at war in themselves. They instinctively know God loves them, and longs to give them peace, but satan is there tempting them so they live in anything but peace. The battle is heating up, and we Christians who know peace through God need to show it to others. We are in a battle, and indeed a war is coming; Spiritually and physically. We need to prepare ourselves Spiritually, so we will be ready physically. How can we help our neighbors (unbelievers) when they see us panicking as much as they are. We Christians need to show the peace of God in our everyday life, because we know how this is going to end. We know Jesus is coming back, and we know the believers will be with Him. But do we show that peace to our neighbors? Do they see us running around just as frightened as them, when we are holding the answers to their dilemmas. We can help the people of this world by showing them love and peace. Don’t be afraid of physical wars. Christians don’t need to fear dying, but we need to fear standing in front of God on Judgment Day and trying to answer the question, “Why do these people not know about Me?”

Peace is from God. Indeed, God is peace. But we as Christians need to step back from the worries of this world and remember who we are in Him. He is in us, and He is the Prince of Peace. Jesus said these words to His disciples:
• 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.
Jesus came to show us the way to live in peace, and then sent the Holy Spirit as a way of walking out that peace in our lives. We are to be united in peace.
• 2 Corinthians 13:11
• Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

We, as a Christian body, need to stand up and promote peace, not as the world does, but as God does. God says to me, “Let me take on this fight. You just rest and relax in Me. I will fight your battles. You walk in the peace I have given you.”

Just like love and joy, peace is a way of being. The world around us is chaos, but peace is life in Christ. So, the next time someone in the world says, “We just need peace,” or spreads their concern over terrorist attacks, invite them into a world of complete trust, knowing that a war is coming, but we who are in Christ will win that battle.
We will leave you with an exhortation from Paul in Romans.
• Romans 15:13
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be blessed this holiday season, and rest in God’s peace. We love you!

Invitation for salvation.