INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Have you ever come home after a hectic day looking forward to some peace and quiet?
• As you pull into the driveway you are anticipating a nice quiet evening at home with the family!
• You get out of the car and walk in the door and the dream is shattered. The kids are screaming at each other, the telephone is ringing off the hook with telemarketers wanting to sell you stuff and to top it off, the television is not working right.
• Are you in a spot in your life where you would love to see everything slow down for a while?
• Are you tired of the constant struggle of life, the constant turmoil that goes on around us every day?
• I remember during a very busy time in our lives our anniversary was coming up, so I surprised Robyn with a night at Garth Mansion in Hannibal. It is a beautiful Bed and Breakfast where Mark Twain used to stay when it was owned by the Garth family.
• The home has a large porch that has some rocking chairs. It was so nice to just sit there next to Robyn and rock; it was so peaceful and quiet.
• How would you like to be able to enjoy calm during the storms of life?
• God has something special for you, He wants you to enjoy life and He wants you to have the special gift of peace growing in your life.
• As we have been looking at the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, we have looked at the fruits of love and joy.
• Love seems to be the basis for a lot of great things that happen in our lives, and a life without joy would be a sad life indeed.
• Today we are going to examine the fruit of peace.
• SLIDE #2
SERMON
I. THE PICTURE OF PEACE.
Peace defined.
• When you think if peace, what picture comes to your mind?
• SLIDE #3
• Do you think of the, a calm stream, a beautiful mountain range? A hammock in the back yard?
• Let us look at a couple of pictures that the word peace paints for us.
• In part, the word “peace” means the opposite of war and disorder.
• Let us define peace.
• SLIDE #4
• In part the word peace denotes the opposite of war and disorder.
• Where there is war and disorder, it is hard to experience peace.
• SLIDE #5
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 ( ESV ) 33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…
• Have you ever been in a situation where organization was poor? Was it a pleasant experience? Did you feel calm and peaceful inside?
• A church that is in chaos is a church where people will have a very hard time finding peace.
• The issue of harmony is a part of peace.
• When we are at war with people, we cannot experience peace with one another.
• In ancient usage the word “peace” was used of the serenity which a county enjoyed under the just and benevolent government of a good emperor; and it was used of the good order of a town or village. Villages had an official who was called the superintendent of the village’s peace, the keeper of the public peace.
• SLIDE #6
• New Testament peace means not just freedom from trouble but everything that makes for a man’s highest good. It means that tranquility of heart which comes from the awareness that our times are in the hands of God.
• The second part of the peace deals with knowing God is in control. You will see this theme laced throughout the fruit of the Spirit.
• If joy speaks of the exhilaration of heart that comes from being right with God, then peace refers to the tranquility of mind that comes from that saving relationship.
• When you have the fruit of peace growing inside of you, then you will have a sense tranquility about you even when things get chaotic around you.
• You know that God is in control and with you!
• The Life Application Bible tells us the following:
• Peace—An inner quietness and trust in God’s sovereignty and justice, even in the face of adverse circumstances. This is a profound agreement with the truth that God, not we, remains in charge of the universe. (Life App Bible)
• Would you like to experience that in your life? Aren’t you tired of having that knot in your stomach every time something comes up?
• When you allow the Spirit to work in you, the fruit of peace will reign in your heart.
• SLIDE #7
II. THE PAINTER OF PEACE.
Where peace comes from
• Every beautiful picture has a painter who laid the brush to the canvas.
• Who and where do we go to in order to enjoy real peace?
• One of the mistakes people make concerning seeking the fruit of peace as with the other fruits of the spirit is that we do not know where to go to get it.
• Peace is not something we can manufacture on our own. We can have a semblance of peace with other people, but true peace starts and ends with God.
• God is the author of peace and in order for us to be able to experience true peace; we must first be at peace with God.
• In Ephesians 2:14-18 Paul is speaking of how Jews and Gentiles can be one in Christ and how all of us can have a relationship with God.
• When we commit our first sin, we then are separated from God, we are at war with God, and we are not at peace with God.
• SLIDE #8
• The way we can be at peace with God is through Jesus.
• Ephesians 2:14-18 ( ESV ) 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
• Jesus is the only way we can have and make peace with God.
• Peace is a gift of from God. The peace we have with God came as a result of Jesus dying on the cross for us. We are at war with God as long as we are not covered by the blood of Jesus.
• The picture of peace was painted by God with the blood of Jesus used as the paint.
• SLIDE #9
• Romans 5:1 ( ESV ) 1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• We cannot experience peace with God outside of Jesus.
• SLIDE #10
• Colossians 1:20 ( ESV ) 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
• Peace is obtained and maintained through communion or being one with Christ.
• As we are in Christ, we enjoy peace. If we are at peace with God, then we can truly experience peace and we can have real peace with others.
• SLIDE #11
• John 14:27 ( ESV ) 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
• Peace hinges on our relationship with Jesus.
• Peace is grounded in God’s work, it is a sign of the new life we have in Him and it will be fully realized when Jesus returns!
• Any picture of peace painted by anyone but God is a fake!
• SLIDE #12
III. THE BEAUTY OF PEACE.
The purpose of peace
• When you look at a painting, what makes it beautiful?
• When you look at peace, what makes it so beautiful?
• The beauty of peace is found in its purpose.
• SLIDE #13
• The ability to have a right relationship with God.
• As I said before when we commit our first sin, we are at war with God, and then it goes downhill from there.
• SLIDE #14
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 ( ESV ) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
• Our relationship with God is restored with God through Jesus so we can be at peace with God.
• SLIDE #15
• WE can enjoy tranquility because we know God is in control!
• When you know God is your God, you can KNOW that He will take care of things. You can KNOW He has not left you or forsaken you. You can KNOW He will not let His children fail!
• You have a serenity of heart that comes because you know you have been declared innocent (or justified) by God. This should cause us to yearn to be used by Him, to be instruments of His hands.
• SLIDE #16
• God’s peace will guard our hearts.
• God’s peace will guard our hearts from the troubles of life. God’s peace will assure us that He is with is and that He loves us!
• SLIDE #17
• Philippians 4:7 ( ESV ) 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• SLIDE #18
• We are to spread peace to those who do not have it.
• One of the purposes of us possessing peace is for us to share it with others.
• We are to try to help people be at peace with God and as a result they will experience the same peace we enjoy!
• SLIDE #19
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 ( ESV ) 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
• If you have not had the experience of leading someone to Christ, you are missing out on something special. It is a special thing to be a part of one coming to Jesus.
• You are not called to do it alone, we can all work together to make that happen.
• I am going to ask each one of us to do something. Invest yourself in someone. Spend time with them, be their friend, love and care for them. Then, invite them. Just invite them to come to church, invite them to be a part of something we do here, and then let the church help you win them to Christ!
• SLIDE #20
VI. THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE.
How to keep peace.
• If you have been to any art museum, you will see a lot of priceless works of art that are mostly very old.
• These old valuable paintings need to be treated in a special way in order to preserve them for the generations to come.
• God has given us the beautiful painting of peace; we have a part in maintaining it.
• Peace, like a fine automobile requires work on our part.
• SLIDE # 21
• We are called to pursue peace. That is a continual action for us.
• SLIDE #22
• 2 Timothy 2:22 ( ESV ) 22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• We are to pursue peace together. Pursuing peace means that we will continually focus on the things God wants us to focus on so we can keep on the right path.
• SLIDE #23
• We have to allow peace to rule our hearts. This implies a choice on our part. We can chose to let the peace of Christ rule us or we can let the world and worry rule.
• SLIDE #24
• Colossians 3:15 ( ESV ) 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
• SLIDE #25
• We are called to work at being at peace with others.
• Maintaining peace with others is something we must continually do.
• SLIDE #26
• Romans 12:18 ( ESV ) 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
CONCLUSION
• Peace is a wonderful fruit that we all want to possess. Peace is a gift that you receive from God; it is a gift that the Holy Spirit grows in us as we allow Him to rule our lives.
• If you find your stomach in knots over everything, if you are fearful of the future?
• Are you in a saving relationship with Jesus? Are you at peace with Him?
• What is your picture of peace?
• Is your picture the true picture?
• Come to Jesus and experience the peace of Christ, a peace that is beyond comprehension!
