Got Peace?

Galatians 5:22-23


On the basis of the computations in the Moscow Gazette, Gustave Valbert in his day could report that “From the year 1496 B.C. to A.D. 1861, in 3358 years there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war, or 13 years of war to every year of peace. Within the last three centuries, there have been 286 wars in Europe. He added that from the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years.”


 

Jeremiah told us about those in his day who cried “‘Peace, peace,’ ...when there is no peace” (6:14), and we find it is no different today, nor will it ever be.


           If we believe that peace is the absence of war then we will never experience peace.


           If we believe, as the ancient Greek philosophers did,

                      that peace is the removal of pain,

                                 the elimination of desire,

                                            and the killing of emotion, then we will never know peace.

 

           

So if peace is not the absence of war, or the removal of pain, or a warm feeling that we get inside, then what is it?


           When Paul tells the Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is peace, what is he talking about?

                      Let’s take some time to answer that question today.


 

First, if we are to know true peace, then we must know the God of Peace!

 

I.     THE GOD OF PEACE


(Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”


(Philippians 4:9) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”


           We have here two descriptive phrases that should be of great interest to us:

                      “the peace of God” and “the God of peace”.


 

Let’s look first at “The God of peace.”

           This description occurs 7 times in the New Testament,

                      and appears to be Paul’s favorite title for God — “the God of peace”.



1. This description of God leads us to Him as the source of our peace.

            If He is the “God of peace” then I must come to Him, if I am to acquire peace in my own life.


                      In Job 22:21, Eliphaz said, “Submit to God and be at peace with him.”


                      In Ephesians (2:14) Paul said of Jesus, “For he himself is our peace.”


           God is the source of our peace,

                      and if we want to have peace in our lives we can get it from no one except Him.


           

2. The phrase “God of peace” also tells us that God Himself is at peace.


           But what about this other phrase, “the peace of God”?


                      This is telling us that God wants to share His peace with us.

                                 God wants to give us the gift of peace.


 

II.    THE GIFT OF PEACE!


As Jesus met with His disciples in John 14,

           He was teaching them about the Holy Spirit.


           And while Jesus was speaking, He gave this promise found in verse 27a,

                      “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”


           

We need to understand that the peace of God is a gift.

           It is not something we earn, it is something that God has chosen to give to us.


                      We are not worthy of it, we simply receive it gratefully from God’s loving hand.


           Jesus told His disciples He was leaving the earth, but His peace would remain.

                      In other words, although Jesus would no longer be physically present,

                                 His peace would always be available.


 

But how does Jesus give us His peace?

           He gives it to us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

Romans. 5:1 tells us, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


           When we come to Jesus in faith,

                      He not only saves us from our sins, and promises us eternal life,

                                 He also gives us His peace.


           

Jesus not only wants us to be in a relationship with Him, He wants us to have what He has.

           He wants us to experience the peace that He Himself enjoys.


           And that leads us to our 3rd area of understanding:

                      What is it like to have the fruit of the Spirit that is peace?


 

III.  THE PRESENCE OF PEACE!


In the 2nd half of the verse we just read in John 14,

           Jesus tells us what its like to have His peace in our lives:

John 14:27b “I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”


           

Several years ago a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours.

            When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked,

                      “How did the terrible storm last night affect you?”


           The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed,

                      “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!”


           The sub had been so far beneath the surface,

                      that it had reached the area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.”


                      Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds,

                                 the waters below are never stirred.



This world give us trouble and fear.

           People are troubled and afraid right now about their financial situation.

                      Many are troubled and afraid of what will happen in Iraq and the Middle East.

                                 Many are troubled and afraid of what will happen in the next election.


           But Jesus gives us PEACE!

 


As Christian’s, our mind will be protected against the distracting waves of worry, and trouble, and fear.

You see, this goes right along with what we read a few moments ago in (Philippians 4:7), “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”


           By the grace of God, and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit,

                      the believer can find perfect tranquility.


           If we have the presence of Christ’s peace in our life,

                      then the troubles and fears the world sends our way,

                                 will not distract us, from the contentment we have in Christ.


           As the Philippians passage teaches us, God will guard our hearts and our minds.


           

How will He do this?

           By filling us with His peace as we come to know His Son as Lord and Savior.

                      A peace that tells us, that no matter what is going on in the world, or in our lives,

                                 we are still content, in knowing that we have salvation in Jesus Christ.


           

The presence of peace does not mean the absence of all problems.

           You remember the chorus of angels at Jesus’ birth of “Peace on earth”?


           Were they claiming there would never be any more sickness, dying, or pain?

                      No! They were praising God, for the fact that with the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ,

                                 there would be inner peace for all who come to Him in faith.


           

And God promises us in Philippians 4:7, that His job is to guard our hearts, and our minds, with His peace.

           I hope that is as reassuring to you as it is to me.


           The last area we will consider is the toughest one:


 

IV.   THE PRACTICE OF PEACE!


It’s one thing to experience the presence of peace,

           knowing that God is in control, and that we have salvation in Jesus.


           It is quite another to practice peace with those around us.


 

Paul writes to the Colossian church, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

           Not only are we to experience this peace individually,

                      but Paul says we are to experience it as a church.



Once, a young girl was working so diligently at her homework, that her father became curious and asked her what she was doing.

           “I’m writing a report on the condition of the world and how to bring peace,” she replied.


           “Isn’t that a pretty big order for a young girl?” her father asked.


           “Oh, no,” she answered, “and don’t worry. There are three of us in the class working on it!”


           She was a bit of an idealist, but perhaps she is setting a good example for the church.


           

You see, we can have peace if we work at it.

           If each of us as Christians, ask God to help us to more fully experience His peace

                      in our lives each day, and to be at peace with one another.


           Which of course means, that we also ask God to help us to more fully demonstrate

                      the other fruits of the Spirit in our life.


           If you find yourself content in Christ,

                      and I find myself content in Christ,

                                 and we allow that contentment to spread,

                                             

                      there will be no room for bickering, or inner turmoil,

                                 for we will all be focused on the person of Christ

                                            and what He has done and is doing through us.


           

And as we practice the presence of Peace in the Church, then the Church will become more attractive to the world.


           People want to live in peace,

                      they want to experience inner peace in their lives.

 

                      And they will flock to the church, that is demonstrating the peace of God!


 

God is calling out of this world a people for His name,

           who will dwell with Him throughout eternity.


           And they are the people who practice the presence of Christ’s peace in their lives.



Conclusion:


Many of you will remember that during the hippie movement, that the “peace sign” became very popular.

            It was on T-shirts and jewelry, and people were making the peace sign with their hand.


                        That fad has come back in the last couple of years.

                                    Once again we are seeing the peace signs and the proclamations of “peace”.


            

And although we hear the words and see the signs, we do not see any real peace.

            You see, PEACE is something that the world can not offer.


            But Jesus Christ does!

                        In Jesus Christ find PEACE.


            The peace of knowing, that no matter what is going on in the world,

                        we still have Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him.


                        We still have His Salvation,

                                    and a glorious future to look forward to in Heaven one day.


            In Jesus Christ we have real Peace!