FRUIT THAT IS NEVER OUT OF SEASON
PEACE
Galatians 5:22,23
John Maxwell
INTRODUCTION:
Today I want to continue my series on Fruit That is Never Out of Season. Let’s look at what Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22,23 about the fruit of the spirit. Let’s begin there.
Paul teaches us that, "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace," and that’s what we’re going to highlight today, the peace, "patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Let’s talk about peace.
I pulled out an old story that perhaps you’ve heard. Back when Jack Kennedy was President and Nikita Khrushchev was over in the Soviet Union and Golda Meir was Prime Minister of Israel, the three of them got together and decided to pray about the greatest concerns on their hearts. And Nikita Khrushchev asked God if there would ever be peace between Russia and the United States, and God looked at Nikita Khrushchev and said, "Not in your lifetime." Jack Kennedy said, "Well, God, will there be peace in America between the blacks and the whites?" And God, again, said, "Well, not in your lifetime." And finally, Golda Meir asked God, she said, "Well, will there be peace between the Arabs and the Jews?" And God said, "Not in my lifetime."
Let’s talk about peace. Peace on the inside. Peace in relationships. Peace with one another. There are two misconceptions that I want to talk about first before we look at the biblical peace that Paul is talking about.
Misconceptions about peacemaking:
1. It is not avoiding a problem.
Just because you or I have failed to discuss a problem, doesn’t mean that we have peace. Unresolved conflict many times is the very root of marriages disintegrating. And so, just because you and I failed to discuss the issue, doesn’t necessarily mean that we truly have peace.
2. It is not appeasing another person.
It’s not an appeasement. It’s not me just trying to make you feel good or get along with you. It’s not where one person wins and the other person loses, where one person constantly appeases the other, by trying to do anything possible to make some kind of a false peace within the family structure or within a working relationship.
Shalom means order and well-being.
Many times when we think of peace, we think of the word that the Jewish people use: "Shalom," which we think means peace. But what it really means is "order and well-being." So when they say Shalom, what they’re really saying is in your life may you have order and well-being. May you have a sense of security. May you have a sense of a foundation underneath your feet.
Peace is a result of obedience to God and assurance that he is in control.
And both of those ingredients must be there for us to have a sense of peace. One of my favorite passages of Scripture -- and we’re going to look at, literally, dozens this morning -- one of my favorite passages of Scripture about peace is the one in Isaiah 48. Notice these incredible words.
"I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way that you should go." Notice this statement: "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
Now, just take a moment with me as I read the verse one more time, but I want you to underline a couple phrases. He said, "I’m the Lord your God." Underline the phrase "who teaches you." The Lord our God teaches us what is best for us. And then, "who directs you." Underline that phrase. He teaches us, he directs us in the way that we should go. If we follow his teaching and we obey his direction, then he says we’ll have, "peace" that will be "like a river." I’m sure that’s where the song comes from: "I have peace like a river." "We’ll have peace like a river and our righteousness will be like the waves of the sea."
In this passage of Scripture if you’ll go on down about three or four verses down to verse 22, 23, he talks about the fact that there is no peace for the wicked. So the peace that we want to talk about today, the peace that Paul talks about, which is part of the fruit of the spirit in our life, is a direct result of obeying God and giving him control of our life. It gives us a sense of well-being. Let me illustrate.
In the Old Testament is the story of Gideon. We pick up the story where Gideon is in the winepress, threshing wheat. He’s in hiding because the enemy, the Philistines, have constantly, for several years now during the harvest season, come in and plundered the land of Israel. So here’s Gideon. He’s hoping to get enough wheat together for some flour for bread for his family without the Philistines coming and taking it away from him. And all of a sudden, intersecting this story, comes God. He finds Gideon in this hidden place and says to him, "Oh, Gideon, man of valor." It’s kind of amusing. God looks at Gideon and calls him a man of valor, of courage, and here he is hiding.
God looks at Gideon and says, "I would like you to be the leader of the children of Israel." And he shares with him that he wants him to do battle. Now, what’s interesting is that at the end of this conversation with God, Gideon builds an altar to Jehovah Shalom. In other words, he built an altar to the God of peace. Now, isn’t this interesting? Here Gideon, in fear because of a larger oppressive enemy, is about to go and do battle against that enemy, and he makes a sacrifice to the God of peace.
How can Gideon make a sacrifice to the God of peace when there’s all kind of tension around him? When he is facing a very dark period in his life, where he’s going to go into battle, where there’s going to be all kind of hostility, how can Gideon make an altar to the God of peace in that situation? Very simple. You see, Gideon understood Jehovah Shalom. He understood peace. What it means is that you have a sense of security, a sense of direction, a sense of the presence of God in the midst of tension, turmoil, hostility, and battle. The peace that God promises you and me is not a peace absent of trouble. What he promises is, to find us in the midst of our trouble, our difficulty, our dark days, and walk into our life and speak peace to our spirit. Even while everything around us is unraveling and coming undone. That’s the peace that God promises.
Now, if you look in God’s word, there are three experiences of peace for the believer. I’ll kind of preview all three of them and then I’m going to talk about one this morning.
Three experiences of peace for the believer:
1. Peace with God -- a spiritual experience.
Jesus said, "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It is not like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid."
When we talk about having peace with God what we’re really saying is that God, through his son Jesus Christ on a cross, has forgiven us of our sins and our heart no longer condemns us. John said, "If our heart condemns us not, then we have confidence toward God." A peace that comes in knowing that our sins are forgiven and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. A peace that comes from knowing that our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The peace that comes from knowing that our God will never, never, as the Hebrew writer said, "forsake us or leave us." It’s what John Wesley, that great churchman and Christian leader in the 1700s, was describing when he said about the people he led: "My people die well." What did he mean? That when they come to the time of death, they have a peace that only God can give.."
It’s the peace that helps us understand that God is in control, that this life is not all there is, that our sins are forgiven, that life continues on and there is an eternal life for the believer that comes only through Jesus Christ. It’s that kind of peace that we’re talking about. It was the peace that I had as a 17-year-old kid, reading that passage, "If the heart condemns us not." It’s that peace that came when the Spirit of God bore witness with my spirit that I was a child of God.
2. Peace of God -- an emotional experience.
If we find no peace within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
"We know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans." Romans 8:28
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
It’s the peace of God which comes to our life as God’s children, especially during dark times. We feel it. It holds us steady when there is a tendency within us to not be steady. And look at Romans 8:28. "We know that all that happens to us is working for our good." Would you underline the word "good," please? Paul tells us that if we love God and are walking obediently in his plans, then everything that happens to us is for our good. Somewhere in your notes, after underlining good, draw a little line to it and put out to the side the word "ultimately good." That’s the key. When Paul says that we know all things work together for good, he’s saying we know all things work for the ultimate good.
There are some things that you and I will never understand as long as we live here on earth. Paul says we look through a glass darkly; in other words, our vision is not clear. In this earthly life with earthly situations around us, there are things that are going to happen to us where we’ll say, "It’s not for my good. I don’t like it. I don’t understand it. It brings pain to me. It brings grief to me. It brings sorrow to me."
But knowing that God is sovereign and in control, Paul said, "All things work together for good, for the ultimate good." In other words, we will not understand them all here on this side of the earth. But in God’s great plan, not only for us, but for all his people, ultimately, way beyond what our eyesight can see, what our faith can even sometimes grasp, this good is something that in God’s sovereignty he has planned for us and it will ultimately be for our benefit.
Look at Philippians 4:7. This describes it better than I could ever describe it. "And the peace of God," notice this, "which transcends all understanding." You and I can’t even understand the peace of God; in other words, we can feel the peace of God without understanding it. It’s great.
Do you ever think of peace as a guard? There peace is at the very heart of our spirit, at the very window of our soul, at the very doorway of our inner workings, standing guard, guarding us and allowing us to have peace in midst of trials. You say, "John, does that mean that I can have peace in my life that when I’m going through a dark time, regardless of my inward human sorrow?" I’m saying that’s exactly the peace that we’re talking about biblically this morning.
After the first service this morning, I had a lady come up to me and share with me that her father had passed away. Big ’ol tears coming down her cheeks as she looked me in the eyes and said, "But, pastor, when you talked about peace this morning, I realized that I feel and know that peace down inside." I had a man come to me and shake my hand and say, "John, I’m going into the hospital this week for major open heart surgery. Almost all of my arteries are blocked" He said, "I sat and I listened to you this morning, knowing what’s about to happen in about two days in my life." And he said, "Pastor, although I know I’m facing this, I know what you’re talking about when you talk about the peace of God."
This morning in this service I can see a precious young couple. They’re very precious to me, just started attending Skyline and in just the last few weeks have found Jesus as their personal Savior. Just started going to a Sunday school class, just getting locked in.
I was in Kansas City and Dallas this week, and when I got back late on Thursday night, one of my communication items was that Becky, the wife in this couple, had lost her baby this week. A few moments ago, we were singing and worshiping. Many times I look out and watch you during the service, and what I’m really doing is just praying over you. I pray over sections. As I looked down and I saw this precious couple this morning, just brand new in their faith, and we were singing about peace, I looked at Becky with tears just streaming down her face. So during fellowship time I went over and just had a couple minutes to pray with them and minister to them, put my arm around them and kiss them and tell them how much I love them.
And I thought to myself, here is a young couple, just a few weeks in the Lord, just new in their faith, who just had a very difficult week, the most difficult week of their life and here in worship this morning, we’re talking about the peace of God which passes all understanding.
Listen to me this morning, my brothers and my sisters. I’m talking to you about something that transcends the human mind. I’m talking about something that is beyond the touch and the reach of humanity. I’m talking about a peace that God gives that the world cannot take away or rob and steal. I’m talking, this morning, about a peace that only God can give you. That will change your life.
"It is Well With My Soul" is one of my 5 favorite hymns. I don’t know if you know the story behind it, but the man who wrote it lost his whole family at sea. Successful businessman had sent his family ahead to Europe. The ship went down. And when he received the cable of the loss of his family, he went across the sea himself and had the captain of the ship show him just about the place where his family went down to a watery grave. And as he was standing over the burial site of those that he loved the most in life, he got out his pen and his legal pad, and he wrote those words, "It is well, it is well with my soul." Peace with God that comes through Jesus Christ. Peace of God which is the gift for every believer that knows him.
3. Peace on earth -- a relational experience.
If you’ll allow me, I want to talk about that kind of peace because here’s what I believe: for the Christian, this is the toughest kind of peace. It’s hard for us to turn the other cheek, to walk the second mile. And yet I’m also convinced that if we possessed this kind of peace and exhibited it into culture and society, this would bring thousands of people to the kingdom of God, because the world doesn’t understand anything of this peace that gives instead of takes.
How to be a Peacemaker (P.E.A.C.E.)
So let me take the word peace and do an acrostic. You know I’ve never done an acrostic before. It’s something brand new that I just thought I would do for once.
P Plan a peace conference.
"If ... you remember that your brother has something against you ... go at once to make peace..."
Matthew 5:23,24 (GN)
"Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it." Psalm 34:14 (LB)
If you want to have a good relationship with people, plan a peace conference. Think of the person that you have a problem with and sit down. We know about nations having peace conferences, I want you to plan a peace conference. Look what it says in Matthew, Chapter 5, "If you remember that your brother has something against you, go at once," underline that phrase, "go at once to make peace."
How to plan a peace conference:
The psalmist said, "Live to try to live in peace with everyone. Work hard at it."
1. Take initiative.
God’s word says, "Go at once." You see, whether we are the offended or the offender, as believers when we know there’s an offense, we should initiate peace regardless of who started it or whose fault it is.
2. Work hard at peacemaking.
The psalmist was so realistic, wasn’t he, when he said, "Try to live in peace with everyone. Work hard at it." Let me ask you a question. Try to live in peace. How many of you know one person it’s hard to have peace with?
Heard a cute story the other day about an Englishman who was on a train, seated between two ladies who were not at peace. They were arguing over the window. One lady said, "Put the window up or I’m going to get pneumonia." The other one said, "Put the window down, or I’m going to die of heatstroke." And this poor Englishman, he’s in the middle of this, listening to them go back and forth, and he’s not having any peace on this trip. They can’t get it settled and the window keeps going up and down. And so they call the conductor and bring him into it, and the conductor doesn’t know how to solve the problem and kind of shrugs his shoulders. And the Englishman says, "I’ve got an idea. Let’s put the window up and kill one, put the window down and kill the other, and then we’ll both have peace."
E Empathize with their feelings.
"...be full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."
I Peter 3:8 (LB)
"...you husbands should try to understand your wives..." I Peter 3:7 (Ph)
"We must bear the ’burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others..." Romans 15:2 (LB)
"None of you should think only of his own affairs, but consider other people’s interests also."
Philippians 2:4 (Ph)
Look at Romans 15, "We must bear the burden of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others." Circle the word "doubts." Circle the word "fears." And Paul told the Philippian church, "None of you should think only of his own affairs but consider other people’s interests..." Circle the word "interests" also.
How to empathize:
1. Listen without lecturing.
If you care, you’ll be aware.
And I tell you in all truth that there are times when my own messages hurt. The problem with preaching is I have to preach to myself first. I’ve already asked God to forgive me and gone to the altar, and I’ll give you a turn in a moment.
2. Make an effort to understand.
The Scriptures teach us that peacemaking takes a great deal of effort. Again, you remember the verse, "Try to understand your wives." This is probably when I need to have one of the wives come up and preach the message. Some of you look eager. Moving on. I would let you, but time won’t allow that today.
3. Focus on the needs of others.
If someone is hurting you, it’s because they are hurting.
You empathize by focusing on the needs of others. And that’s why I had you circle the three words. Doubts, fears, and interest. I promise you when you begin to take the doubts, the fears, and the interests of others and make them your primary concern, you’ll begin to empathize with them.
A Attack the problem, not the person.
"Bold reproof leads to peace." Proverbs 10:10 (LB)
"When we lie to each other, we are hurting ourselves."
Ephesians 4:25 (LB)
"By speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we grow up in every way to Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (GN)
"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed."
Ephesians 4:29 (GN)
Whenever you’re going to sit down and work out conflict, deal with the problem not with the person. Boy, that’s hard sometimes, isn’t it? Look what Paul said to us in Ephesians, "When we lie to each other, we are hurting ourselves." In other words, when we don’t discuss the real issues.
I want to make a statement that you’ve probably never heard before in the area of peace and conflict, but I think it’s a very true statement. I believe conflict is the door to intimacy. You say, "Wait a minute, that seems to be the wrong door." What I mean is, I believe that when we have conflict, and we approach it correctly, that we begin to dig and settle issues. And the more we dig, the more potential we have for intimacy in our life.
I’m saying that peace is not an absence of conflict or of two people having an opinion. It’s not that we don’t ever sit down and have a heart-to-heart discussion with our mate; in fact, the right kind of peace is going to always have that. You show me any relationship that’s intimate and I’ll show you times of conflict. It’s not possible to be with somebody for a long time without having some conflict in some issues. Once in a while a husband and wife come tell me they never argue. Shoot, you never tell the truth. The only couple I know that have never argued is Margaret and me. So what I did is, since my messages are always practical, I decided to give you some ground rules for fighting fair.
Ground rules for fighting fair:
1. Never compare.
Don’t look at your wife this afternoon when you have a conflict and say, "Why can’t you be like Joe’s wife?" Bad. Or you that are in your second marriage, "Why can’t you be like my first wife?" Very bad. You’re not only divorced, you’re stupid. I’m going to teach you how to fight fair.
2. Never condemn.
Words like "you should," "you must," "you want," "it’s all your fault." You know, usually in an argument or any kind of conflict whenever you start with the word "you," it’s bad. Get off of the "you" and go to your perspective. First of all say, "It seems to me like." Some of you will listen to me. You’ll have some real good fights.
3. Never command.
In other words, never, in an argument, tell somebody by force you demand them to do something. Treat them like an adult.
4. Never challenge.
When I say this, I mean don’t threaten if it doesn’t work. You know what the three most common ways we threaten in a marriage? Either by money: "I’m either going to spend it all, or I’m not going to give you any." Or by sex. I don’t need to explain that one to you. Or divorce: "Well, if you don’t do this I’m going to leave." Don’t do that. It’s not a good way to argue and to fight.
5. Never condescend.
In other words, don’t belittle, ridicule, play psychologist. Don’t try to tell them you know what their problem is.
6. Never contradict.
In other words, don’t interrupt. Wait your turn.
7. Never confuse.
Don’t bring in an unrelated subject or an issue. You know when we confuse, don’t you? We bring an unrelated subject when we’re losing. We see we’re losing and we say, "Oh, let me pull some things back out here." It’s like the guy who went to the marriage counselor with his wife and said, "Every time my wife and I argue she becomes historical." The psychologist said, "I think you mean hysterical." "No," he said, "I mean historical. When we argue she tells me everything I’ve ever done wrong."
C Cooperate as much as possible.
"Do everything possible, on your part, to live at peace with all men."
Romans 12:18 (GN)
"...Wisdom...is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere." James 3:17 (LB)
"The man of peace has a wonderful future ahead of him...a happy ending." Psalm 37:37 (LB)
If you’re wise, you’ll compromise.
All great relationships are built on compromise. You see, the number one problem of marriages in the country, the reason that marriages end up in divorce, is not adultery, it’s not abuse, it’s not alcohol, it’s none of that stuff. The number one reason that marriages dissolve is what you call inflexibility. The unwillingness of two people to be flexible in a relationship. One becomes unbending. One begins to say, "No more. I’m not moving any more in your direction."
Now, it’s called incompatibility. In the court system it’s, "I’m just not incompatible with her." It’s really inflexibility. Paul Tourneay, a very respected psychiatrist, his book To Understand Each Other’s Rights, says, "So-called incompatibility is a myth invented by jurists in order to plead for divorce. It is, likewise, just a common excuse for people to use to hide their own failings. Misunderstandings and mistakes can be corrected where there is a willingness to. So the problem is a lack of complete frankness and flexibility." I believe that. Whenever your marriage is in trouble, whenever your relationship is in trouble, I can promise you it will be over one of five things. It will be either over money, sex, kids, in-laws, or schedules. One of those five things.
E Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.
Reconciliation: To re-establish the relationship.
Resolution: To resolve every issue.
"God has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
II Corinthians 5:18
"Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ always be present in your hearts." Colossians 3:15 (LB)
"Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better."
II Peter 1:2 (LB)
There’s a difference between the two. Don’t try to resolve every issue. You know, we’re different. We’re individuals. I can promise you, not every issue is going to be resolved. No matter how much I may work at it or want it, the issue is not going to be resolved. But we can always work towards reconciliation. We can always work towards loving one another.
