Know Jesus, Know Peace

Today, we’re going to study the third Fruit of Spirit 

1) Peace

It’s interesting that God put them in this order.

2) Love, Joy, Peace

Three is the number of divine Trinity.

All three of these characterize God.

They also characterize the 

habits of the Christian mind.

God is not characterized by:

-anxiety

-fear

-bitterness

-anger

As His children, 

our role is to become like Him.

If He is characterized by Love, Joy & Peace,

He wants us to be, as well.

Last week, we talked about joy,

Joy is not gauged by 

the absence of unpleasant circumstance.

In the same way, 

Peace is not gauged by a lack of violence or strife.

This is an important point.

In our country, there has been much civil unrest.

Over the last few weeks,

We’ve seen people die, 

who should not have.

We’ve seen businesses 

being looted & burned.

We’ve seen vandalism & stealing.

We’ve seen chaos & despair.

All of this on top of a global pandemic.

Today, we talk about PEACE 

as a Fruit of Spirit.

This peace has nothing to do 

with a cessation of violence.

In John 16, Jesus discusses

Coming Of Holy Spirit.

Then, he talks about hardships

3)

John 16:32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.Then he says: 4) John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The peace that:

-Jesus promises

-Holy Spirit provides

IS INTERNAL

You cannot find this peace 

without the Holy Spirit.

God uses two words for Peace

5)

1. Shalom- condition of wholeness hat includes being in a right relationship with God & your fellow man.

6) 

2. Eirene- being at peace with others & yourself.

Let’s unwrap this.

7) God’s peace is three-fold:

1. Peace Eternal (with God)

2. Peace External (with others)

3. Peace Internal (with yourself)

Each one builds upon the other.

Let’s look at these:

The greatest peace you will find is 

Peace with God

As a sinner, your bad stuff will haunt you.

Your conscience bothers you.

You know you shouldn’t have done it,

But you did.

8)

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ- Romans 5:1

Only through Jesus 

can your sins be forgiven.

The next peace that God provides is,

External peace (peace w/ others)

This is where people get it screwed-up.

They say:

“I’ll forgive them,

But they’ve got to apologize first.”

Or

“I’ll forgive them, 

but I don’t have to be nice.”

Jesus said,

9)

Mt 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

If that’s not enough…

Then he said….

10)

Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Notice this last verse:

11) 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In other words,

Stop the excuses

Quit coming up with reasons 

for not being nice.

12) As long as you’re in a feud, 

you’ll never experience God’s peace.

Everyone needs to be 

at peace with others

Sometimes, it’s hard.

That’s where we need HS

Let’s look at the 3rd (& final) peace

13) Internal Peace 

You will never have internal peace,

Until you achieve 

-Peace w/ God

-Peace w/ Others

14) 

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

Even though we live in a pandemic, 

we can have peace.

Even if there is civil unrest, 

we can have peace.

The world doesn’t have this peace, 

because it doesn’t know Jesus.

This peace transcends all understanding.

It will guard your heart 

and your mind in Christ Jesus.