THE PEACE OF THE SPIRIT!
Galatians 5:22-26; Philippians 4:6-9
INTRODUCTION: The fruit of the Spirit is not like the gifts of the Spirit. God gives different gifts to different saints and no saint has all 19 Spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 12:7-12. But the fruit of the Spirit is different. God gives all the fruit of the Spirit to all the saints. There are nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23. We also have listed the works of the flesh: Galatians 5:19-21: Our flesh turns us into a producer of problems and strife and conflicts. Today we want to look at the peace of the Spirit. Now the Bible speaks of two different kinds of peace.
I. PEACE WITH GOD!
Romans 5:1-2; let me ask “Do you have that kind of peace? You can have that kind of peace with God today: Romans 5:1. As we go through the Lord Jesus Christ by faith we enter into peace with God. The kind of faith the Bible is speaking of here is found in Romans 10:9-10, 13. Have you called on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you placed your personal faith in His shed blood to wash away your sin? If you have you now possess peace with God. But that kind of peace is not what Paul is talking about in Galatians. First comes peace with God and then you can receive the Peace Paul is talking about.
II. THE PEACE OF GOD!
The peace of God is not achieved by the external, it is produced by allowing the natural fruit of the Spirit flow through you as you abide in Jesus Christ: John 7:37-39. The stream of living water is the life of Jesus Christ flowing into you and filling you with His very life! Colossians 3:15. Is the peace of God ruling your heart today? God’s peace is still there during the storms of life, unlike our natural peace which only is our in the good times. Galatians 5:22 shows us a peace that is a facet of allowing the Holy Spirit to control our emotions. Colossians 3:15. That word “rule” means “to control…to direct. When troubles come into our lives we must learn to dwell on abiding in Jesus Christ so that His peace can once again flood our very soul: Lamentations 3:21-26; Philippians 4:6-7. The word for “anxious that Paul uses here is the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 6:25-34 as the word “worry.” Being “anxious” or “worried” means “being pulled apart at the seams.” How can we stop being anxious? Philippians 4:6-7: Stop worrying and start praying! “Prayer” takes place in worship. But “petition” is different. The word speaks of making a specific request . Philippians 4:6 tells us not only to pray but to pray with thanksgiving: Psalm 103:1-12. 1.) Don’t worry about anything. 2.) Pray and petition God for everything! 3.) Give thanks to God for all things! If you will here is what will happen: Philippians 4:7. Paul is saying that the peace of God comes to those who pray, and petition God with thanksgiving! This is the peace Jesus talked to His disciples about: John 14:27. Philippians 4:6-7 begins with being anxious but ends with prayer and petition with thanksgiving and ends with the peace of God. Now those are the steps to the peace of God but don’t forget the source of peace: John 15:4-5, 8. Bearing and abiding! By abiding you will bear much fruit! Isaiah 26:3-4. First comes peace with God and then comes the peace of God.