I Will Be Peaceful Series

"Relaunch 2015"

pt. 3 - I Will Be Peaceful

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Introduction: I want to welcome you this morning to part 3 of a new sermon series based on the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. This series is all about life change and what God wants to do in our lives if we will let Him. Make no mistake my friends; the goal of God in salvation is Christlikeness. God wants to change us into the image (icon -- exact replica) of His Son in character, conduct and personality. Just by way of review let's look at a definitive statement found in:

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are (being) changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Let me also remind you that we can translate the first few words of verse 22, "The fruit of the Spirit..." to read "...the fruit that the Spirit produces..."

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I hate everything, I hate everybody. I hate the whole world."

Charlie Brown says, "But I thought you had inner peace."

Lucy's reply is a classic, "I do have inner peace, but I have outer obnoxiousness!"

There are millions of people in and out of the church who are just like Lucy. I want to present three points for your consideration this morning concerning peace and how it can change your life.

First let's consider:

I. The Fountainhead of a Peaceful Life

Jesus is our example of a peaceful life. He had:

a. Calm in the storm

Mar 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."

36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ESV

b. Composure under stress

Read John 18:1-14 and you will see that Jesus had peace when He was under stress and intense pressure.

c. Compliance to the Sovereign's will

Luke 22:39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,

42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." ESV

d. Compassion for sinners

Let's go right back to Jesus arrest in the Garden and read what He says that indicates His compassion...

John 18:8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."

Second consider:

II. The Foundation of a Peaceful Life

There is one fundamental, foundational truth about peace. Peace begins and ends with God! We cannot know peace apart from knowing God and we cannot know God without a remedy for our sin.

Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

a. Peace comes when we are reconciled to the Father

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

b. Peace comes when we receive Jesus by faith

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

c. Peace comes when our lives are regulated by the Spirit

Third:

III. The Formation of a Peaceful Life

We know that there is no peace for a wicked life but there is also no peace for a wayward life. If you are a Christian and out of the will of God, you will not have peace.