Title: PEACE

Text: Gal 5:22-23

Date: 10-08-06.am

INTRODUCTION:

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (NAS)

The world we live in has always, at least outwardly, sought after peace, between both individuals and nations. There have been innumerable peace treaties signed, untold numbers of peace accords written and signed yet all are eventually broken by one of the parties involved and the world still does not know peace.

Of all the aspects of the fruit of the spirit, peace is the most broadly spoken of in the Bible. All but 6 of the 66 books in the Bible; all but 1 of the 27 New Testament Books, speak of peace.

The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person. It was considered God-given, obtained by following the Law <Ps. 119:165>. It sometimes had a physical meaning, suggesting security <Ps. 4:8>, contentment <Is. 26:3>, prosperity <Ps. 122:6-7> and the absence of war <1 Sam. 7:14>. The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, was a wish for peace.

In the New Testament, peace most often refers to the inner tranquility and calmness of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming MESSIAH <Is. 9:6-7>.

The peace Jesus spoke of is a combination of hope, trust, and quietness of mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God. We experience this peace in three different ways.

Three Experiences of Peace for the Believer:

1.       Peace with God - A spiritual experience.

Rom 5:1

1       Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (NAS)

Peace with God refers to the salvation experience. , “salvation,” according to Dr Charles Stanley, “refers to the freedom gained when God rescues a person from slavery to sin and makes him or her part of His family.” This deliverance is accomplished only through Jesus, who died in our place so we might be reconciled to the Father.

 (Colossians 1:22).

Peace with God is an instantaneous experience. It occurs the moment we turn in our hearts towards God. We talk about the different aspects of the salvation process (regeneration, justification, sanctification) but they are accomplished in the twinkling of an eye. At the moment we recognize our need and turn to God in faith we are immediately sealed by the Spirit of God and filled with His presence and the fruit of the Spirit implanted within us and peace with God becomes at that point a spiritual reality.

2.      Peace of God - A psychological experience.

Phil 4:6-7

6       Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7       And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NAS)

This experience of peace is a gift God has for everyone who knows him through a personal relationship. It is a psychological experience because it is more than just emotional, more than about feelings it is a peace based on mental understanding, comprehension and obedience. It is about knowing, understanding and acting on the promises of God and comes through obedience to the commands of God. While it is true we receive peace the moment we turn to God in faith, this experience requires something intentional and volitional on our part. It is a part of the growth and maturing process of the Christian life.

Isa 48:17-18

17     Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.

18     Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (NKJ)

Jesus said Jn 14:27 Let not your heart be troubled or afraid.

This aspect of peace from God is a peace that transcends all understanding because it is an experience of peace only God has the power to give, it’s a peace that the world cannot take away; it is a peace that will change your life. But we have to learn to accept it and live it and that requires effort on our part. Too often Christians fail to experience this aspect of peace. Many Christians and especially those of us who with struggle anxiety sometimes even doubt this kind of peace is possible. But we know that it is.

We know because God’s Words tells us it exists and is possible to have, we also know because we have the testimony of men who have experienced it. Paul, experienced countless trails and struggles and tribulation during his life time yet wrote that the peace of God would guard our hearts and minds. We see this in the life of the Apostle John’s and in the historical and traditional accounts of the lives of the other apostles. We also have historical accounts from church history about those Christians who experienced this kind of peace in the face of persecution and even death, and probably many of you and maybe most of you have personally known someone who has by their own example shown us the reality of this aspect of peace. So that we know it is available to us We have to accept it and learn to allow it into our lives and our minds.

3.      Peace from God - A relational experience.

Paul expresses this meaning in the greeting at the beginning of most of his letters.

Rom 1:7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called {as} saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NAS) (1 Cor, 2 Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 2 Thes, 1 & 2 Tim, Titus, Phile)

For most Christians, this may be the most difficult peace to have. It is often extremely hard to turn the other cheek and/or walk the extra mile. How do we keep a door ding from turning into a demolition derby? How do we deal with a rude customer or a rude co worker or class mate. When attacked – it is so natural to attack back. But, Jesus called His followers to be peacemakers (Matt 5:9), and Christians are commanded to live in peace. Romans 12:18 says "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." This kind of peace is relational because it is the believer living and sharing the peace from God with the world, bringing peace where it isn’t found.

That doesn’t mean we are to be door mats and allow people walk all over us and take unfair advantage of us without standing up for ourselves. You might think of this as Golden Rule peace. We are to treat others as we want to be treated. Being a peacemaker is about sharing the peace from God by dealing honestly, ethically and fairly with one another in human relationships. It is the light and peace of God being reflected through us to the world. It is the attitude of peace, rather than agitation, or consternation or anger It is the peace of God in our hearts on display in our lives as an example to a world that does not know peace.

Have you ever thought about why there are so many wars in the world? Why people can't seem to get along? It isn't just a question of poverty or social injustice or any of the other myriad of causes that are often mentioned including religious differences. Now we know that behind all the confusion, chaos and evil in the world today is the plan and program of Satan. The Book of Revelation tells us that Satan is the great deceiver, and his main business is to deceive the nations of the world, and individuals.

But there is a greater problem in the world. The Bible says the problem is the human heart. The wars in our world are but a mirror of the greed and hatred that war in the human heart. The events of the past few weeks are an example of the utter depravity of the human heart.

This is why we need Christ, this is why the world needs Christ. Only Jesus Christ can change the human heart. He is the only one who can place love for our fellow man within our hearts. He is the only one who can bring joy from our sorrow and suffering and He alone provides peace in our hearts in the presence of conflict and enables us to live in peace and become peacemakers.

The greatest and ultimate realization of God’s peace will be the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom at the consummation of time when Christ returns. But, even in a world of turmoil and conflict, we can have peace in our hearts and our lives through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, confident that no matter what comes our way, no matter what trials or difficulties we might face we can endure because He is in control and we have peace through Him.