The Fruit of the Spirit - Part 7: The Last Peace

REVIEW
So, we are coming close to concluding our study of the Fruit of the Spirit—which we have seen are the Lord’s divine characteristics and attributes that the Holy Spirit helps produce in our lives. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is God’s character being produced in us, to where we exhibit His character.
 
Again, we have learned that these are the fruit of a spiritually alive and Spirit-empowered life. Not only that, but they are also the evidence that one is truly spiritual. Therefore, if we desire to be spiritually mature, then these nine virtues will be a part of our lives.  
 
Of course, these nine fruit of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as “… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”  (Galatians 5:22-23).
 
Thus far, we have covered eight of these nine fruit, and we have studied some awesome things. So, if you have missed any of these, please either get a hold of the prior notes or go to our website and listen to the one’s you’ve missed.
 
But let me say that the last two fruit we have covered are the first two in Paul’s list—the fruit of love and the fruit of joy. And we learned last time that like Jesus said concerning the great commandment, the second is like the first. Likewise, the second fruit (joy) is like the first (love).
 
You see, like God is at the top of the food chain, love is certainly at the top of the fruit chain. And love is a choice and an action, not necessarily a feeling or an emotion. We saw that since it is a commandment, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to feel like doing it to obey.
 
Well, we learned last time that joy is no different. You see, if love is a choice and not an emotion, then why would joy be any different? I made the point last time that the vast majority of Christians believe that while love might be an act of obedience, joy is just going to happen automatically in our life. I believe, like love, goodness, kindness, etc., the fruits of joy and peace are a choice, not just fruit that fall on us.
 
A good example of this that we will look at again in a moment is in Philippians 4:4 where the apostle Paul tells this church to “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, Rejoice.” Why would the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul tell us to always rejoice if joy was just automatic? I mean, if joy was just something that is manifested in and through us irrespective of our own conscious and deliberate decision, then why would we have to be told to exhibit it?  
 
No, I think it is clear that, like love, joy is not an emotion or a feeling; joy is also a spiritual fruit that is meant to be produced in the natural. That means that I don’t have to feel happy or to necessarily have joyful emotions to produce this fruit. All I have to do is decide whether I am going to let my feelings dictate what is true or if I am going to purpose to let my spiritual nature walk in the truth.
 
Now last time, after we described both what and who joy is, we looked at how we can see the fruit of it in our lives. And I said that one thing that is clear to me about joy is that it is predominantly a product of one’s perspective: I used the example of how we can line up two people—one who is an elderly millionaire and the other a 12-year-old kid who doesn’t have two pennies to rub together—and then give both of them $100. Guess what is going to happen? The millionaire might show some gratitude but he certainly would not be bubbling over with joy, right? On the other hand, the kid would probably be ecstatic, filled with joy. Why? The $100 is worth the same, isn’t it? The difference is that it is worth less to the millionaire than it is to the child. In other words, it is how they view the money and the value system that creates the joy, not the money itself.
 
Likewise, you and I can be filthy, stinking rich in the spirit, having the same spiritual blessings as all the other born-again Christians out there, but if one of us doesn’t either recognize, focus on or esteem those spiritual blessings, then we won’t have joy produced in our hearts like another Christian who does. Therefore, we can accurately say that joy is the fruit of focus.   
 
So, I gave an example of what possessing joy is like: It would be like someone coming up to you, and promising to give you a million dollars. In fact, they say that the money is yours. It’s as good as done. And they’ll mail you a check by the end of the week. Well, depending on who it is that promised you this, you will have varying feelings. For example, if it is someone who has a reputation of being a prankster, they don’t have any indications from their life that they have that kind of money, or you simply just don’t know this person that well, you might not have any joy at that moment because your confidence in that promise would understandably be weak. But what would happen if you went to mail box one day that week and there was an envelope in the mail from this person, and in it was a check for one million dollars. Well, you probably still will not let yourself get too ecstatic because the check might not be good, right? But then you decide to take it to the bank it’s drawn on and ask them to give you a certified check for it, and you see them get up and go make that check for you. What do you think you are going to be feeling on the inside right then? Even before the check hits your hand, and you know it’s as good as gold, your heart rate will be sky high at that moment! So, this is what joy feels like: It is like when you don’t have that million dollars in your hand, but you feel like you do. Glory!      
 
THE PATH TO PEACE
 
Now before we move on to the final piece of fruit that we have left to cover, let me make one important point:
 
I personally believe there is a reason Paul put the fruit of the Spirit in the order that he did in Galatians 5:22-23. Why? Because these are the appropriate order in how to start seeing these fruit in our lives. Let me explain:
 
You see, everything starts with love. Love is the foundation of “quality Christianity.” So, check your love walk—because I can guarantee you that if you are not walking in love with people (being generous, benevolent, considering others more than you do yourselves) then you won’t be walking in joy, nor will you have peace.  
 
For example, if we are going to experience fullness of joy, we must learn to become givers—to give of our time, our service, and yes, of our resources too. Sure, it is important that we cooperate with these other spiritual laws of God’s kingdom in order to experience joy, but being a giver is what I consider to be the most important key to joy that we have.
 
I remember early in my Christian walk being dissatisfied with the level of joy I was walking in. I was growing by leaps and bounds and learning more and more about the Lord, but I witnessed in others a joy that I did not see in my own life. This prompted me to ask the Lord, “Lord, why do these other individuals seem to have more joy than I do?” To which the Lord responded, “It is because you count your life dear to yourself.” Then He took me over to this passage of Scripture in the book of Acts where the Apostle Paul made a powerful and most revealing statement.
 
In Acts chapter 20 Paul was summarizing his message to a group of pastors saying that he was aware of the chains and tribulations that awaited him in Jerusalem. Then he said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy…” (Acts 20:24) Through this simple, yet profound statement we see a major key to the joy that is our inheritance in Christ. 
 
The way the Lord unlocked this verse to me was that the reason Paul was able to finish his race with joy was because, number one, he did not let anything move him and, number two, because he did not count his life dear to himself. But He also showed me something more specific: Number one, I saw that because Paul did not let things move him, he was enabled to finish his race. In other words, simply persevering to the end and not quitting is based on our faith to not let circumstances and situations move us. And the same is true for all of us. If we do not let these things move us, we too will finish our race. It is only in allowing ourselves to be swayed by the tribulations of life that we will be hindered from finishing our race and completing our course. But the second truth we see in this verse is that finishing our race with joy is directly tied to not counting our own lives as dear to ourselves. You see, just because we are strong in faith does not mean that we will enjoy the journey to the degree that we can. Yes, it is only when we learn to not count our life dear to ourselves that we will finish our race with joy. In other words, while letting nothing move us through trusting and believing in God will enable us to finish our race; coming to the place where we become selfless and focused more on the needs of others is when we will possess joy in the midst of that race. Amen!
 
We actually see this in the sequence of Philippians 4:2-7 when Paul begins to make an appeal to a couple of women in the church to walk in unity with one another and not to be contentious (see verses 2-3). Then, in verse 4, he exhorts them to rejoice in the Lord always. So, yes, love always precedes joy. But did you know that joy precedes peace too? Yes, after he talks to them about rejoicing, he gets into the things that govern the peace of God.  So, there is evidently a way of peace in our lives, and along that way is love & joy.
 
THE FRUIT OF PEACE
 
So, now we come to the final fruit of the Spirit that we have left to cover—the fruit of peace. Let’s begin by defining it:
 
This word for “peace” comes from the Greek word eirene which describes a state of rest, quietness and calmness. (On a side note, this is where some women have gotten their name “Irene” from)
 
Now this peace that Paul speaks of here is like a two-sided coin. Of course, there is the side of peace that describes the tranquility, quietness, and rest in the soul. But there is also the side of peace that describes peace between two individuals. In fact, in the Blue Letter Bible application, peace is defined as that tranquil and blessed state of the soul, which is what we commonly think of when we refer to peace. But it also defines it as peace between individuals (i.e. harmony & concord), which is that peace that we speak of when we refer to the absence of wars and conflicts. So, we could say, there is a peace to be had on the inside—that is, peace within man—and a peace we can walk in on the outside—that is, peace towards men. So, I that to say that peace has different meaning depending on the context it is used in.
 
Now let’s quickly look at that fruit of peace that we can possess on the inside of us:
 
I would describe this peace as that same peace that enabled Daniel to get a good night’s rest in the den of lions. It is that peace that the Prince of Peace Himself walked in that enabled Him to lie down and rest peacefully on the boat when the storm was raging around Him. It is that supernatural peace that causes the winds and waves of life to not disturb us or cause us to change our course. This is the Lord’s peace, the peace that He left with us (see John 14:27)—the peace that surpasses all understanding that guards both our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:7). 
 
Now as we have brought up repeatedly throughout this series, just because we have these fruit of the Spirit dwelling within us as born-again, Spirit-filled Christians, does not mean that we will just automatically walk in them. There is a cooperation with these virtues that enables us to bear this fruit consistently in our lives. 
 
For example, like we talked about with the fruit of joy already, peace is also a fruit of our focus. In other words, it is walked in when we choose the proper perspective—for the Lord told us that He will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). This is also what is implied in Philippians chapter 4 when Paul teaches us that the way to having the peace guard our hearts & minds is by us rejoicing, being thankful, turning to the Lord with the things which concern us, etc. (see Philippians 4:4-7). So, what we are beholding is again imperative to maintaining our peace.  
 
However, peace is also obtained by the presence of the God of peace in our lives (see Philippians 4:9). You see, this is the manifest presence of God in our lives—peace. Where there is true peace, there is God. Where there is confusion, turmoil, strife, division, etc., God is not manifest there. So, I say that to say that if we want peace manifest in our life, then we need God’s manifest presence surrounding us to keep us in that bubble of peace.  
 
Now this peace of the soul that surpasses all understanding is not what I feel led for us to emphasize this week. Mainly because I will be teaching much more thoroughly on that side of peace at the beginning of 2020 as we will be talking about stress and how to both deal with it and keep it out of our life. Stay tuned for that.
 
What I want us to spend more time talking about this week is that part of peace among the body of Christ that is less emphasized. However, even though we like to hear more about possessing peace within ourselves, this peace towards one another is something extremely critical that the body of Christ needs to be established in. In fact, in my studies, I have found that most of the times when the term “peace” is used in the New Testament, it is referring to peace between individuals. So, let’s look at some of these verses that “stress” the importance of peace in the Body of Christ:     
 
 
PEACE TOWARDS MEN
 
A good first example of this is how, around this time of year, we hear repeated what the angels declared to the shepherds on Christmas Eve— “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14).
 
Now it is obvious that with the coming of Christ, that did not secure peace on the earth among  men—for we have seen war after war over the past 2,000 years since His birth. In fact, Jesus even said in Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” So no, the peace that the angels broadcasted was not going to be peace among men; the peace that He was ushering in would be made towards men by God. In other words, Jesus was the peace offering made by God to bring conditions of peace between Him and His creation. Therefore, as the apostle Paul said regarding Jesus in Ephesians 2:14, “He Himself is our peace…”  
 
Therefore, the primary form of peace that Jesus came to provide for us is the peace between us and God. In other words, He came to take the sin of the world in His body so that we do not have to be separated from Him anymore. You could say that God in Christ was the ultimate peacemaker. And because He brought us peace with Himself, now we are called to be peacemakers ourselves.
 
Of course, that is referring to ushering others into the same salvation that we have received, but it is also referring to us giving people the same state of “right-standing” with us. In other words, we seek peace with others like Christ sought with us. It is only fitting that we as His children imitate our Heavenly Father—for we are His ministers of reconciliation (Compare w/ Second Corinthians 5:18-21).
 
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
 
We see this in the Beatitudes when Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
 
Why will the peacemakers be the ones called sons of God? It is because their Father is the original & ultimate peacemaker, so they are just following in His footsteps. Amen.
 
And again, this way of the peacemaker is a fruit of true spirituality. It is not natural, but is what a truly spiritual person does. We see this in James 3:13-18 when Pastor James began correcting this church in what a truly “wise person” does. He says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” What this is essentially saying is that true spiritual wisdom is not found in our theology, but in our behavior—for if there are envies, jealousies, strife, self-seeking, etc. in our midst, then there is no peace. And if there is not the fruit of peace, then it is earthly, carnal, and demonic. I have heard it said and agree wholeheartedly: strife is the manifest presence of the devil and peace is the manifest presence of God. Where there is peace, there is the God of peace.
 
You see, have you ever noticed how “natural” it is for us to be contentious, to slander others and to become disjoined? The reason it is so natural is because it is carnal. You see, any old sinner can get mad, find fault, and run from reconciliation. But it takes someone who intentionally decides to walk spiritually to be a peacemaker. Why? Because people don’t like us much when we don’t feed into their slander and gossiping about the person they are offended with. It is going against the stream.
 
Let me give you an example: when someone offends us or does something that it hurtful, our natural response is not to go to that person and tell them how what they did made us feel and to seek reconciliation. No, the general response is to not go to that person but to go to others and tell them the hurtful thing that this person did to us. Why? Because when the flesh gets involved it wants to do what is easy, and that is not to confront; it is to vent to others.  
 
But what if we all did what Jesus taught us in Matthew chapter 18 when He taught us how to deal with a brother or sister who sins against us. What if we always—without any reservation—either dealt with it in our heart or went directly to the person ourselves and dealt with the situation one on one. 
 
But this is what the Lord expects from all of us, His children—to be His peacemakers.
 
PURSUING PEACE
 
And make no mistake about it, this fruit of peace is not going to just automatically appear on your branches. It is going to have to be pursued—because we live in this natural, carnal world, and everything in it (including our flesh) will just naturally go the opposite of the way of peace.
 
So, let me give you several Scriptures that will establish this point that peace must be pursued:

1. Second Timothy 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
   • Notice that those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart are said to pursue these virtues like righteousness, faith, love, and peace. It is somewhat comical to me to hear people describe someone who lied, stole, cheated, etc. as having a good heart. No, if someone has a pure heart, they are at least in pursuit of these good, godly virtues. But my point is that, like righteousness, faith, and love, peace is to be pursued by those who call on the Lord. 
2. Hebrews 12:14 – “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”
   • So, here we see the premium put on pursuing peace with all people, not just believers. And notice that there is a very sobering warning attached to this exhortation in this verse. So, whatever way one chooses to interpret these verses, we can see that pursuing peace with all people in our lives is critical to us seeing the Lord. 
3. Romans 14:19 – “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
   • In the midst of Paul teaching this church about considering one another’s consciences when it comes to walking in our Christian liberty, he says this. His point was that even above pursuing what the Lord has done for us and walking in the freedoms we know are ours, our pursuit needs to be for the things that bring peace in the Body. Along these lines, Paul taught in Romans 12:18— “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” This means that our goal should always be to pursue peace with everyone. Now sometimes it is not possible, and why? Because of the other person not being willing to reconcile. But as Paul says, “as much as depends on us,” we need to do what we can to live peaceably with everyone.   
4. First Peter 3:8-12 – Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For ‘He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
   • In these verses, the apostle Peter is quoting from the 34th Psalm—describing how “seeking peace and pursuing it” is part of experiencing a good quality of life here on the earth.

 
CONCLUSION
 
So, I hope you can see just how much of a premium the Lord obviously puts on pursuing peace with one another and with all people. It is a big part of Christianity in His eyes, and should be in ours as well.
 
But one thing that needs to be said about being peacemakers is that it all begins on the inside. In other words, as we are certainly called to be a people who are “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (see Ephesians 4:3), this first takes place in our hearts. This is why the apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
 
You see, while most people use this verse to describe how peace is to be our guide when making bigger decisions (and I certainly agree with that principle), what Paul was actually saying here is that we are to let that peace that we are to have with one another to call the shots in our hearts. In other words, we are not to allow our hearts to get filled with offenses, strife, conflicts, etc. since we are called in one body.
 
We can see that the way of peace is found by letting that peace rule in our hearts first. So, as the apostle Paul said in Second Thessalonians 3:16, I say to you today: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.