The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

The Fruit of the Spirit - 3

Subject: Learning to Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
²⁴  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  

²⁶  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

--Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit – Joy.

Biblical Joy - Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful.

--Last week we looked at how we could have biblical joy from Hebrews 12:1-3:

A. Remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 

B. We have joy when we are willing to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We are free!

John 8:36 (NKJV)
³⁶  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

C. We have joy when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

D. We have joy when we endure tests and tribulation knowing there is something greater that is coming. 

3. The Fruit of the Spirit – Peace

Peace – Old Testament - Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom, meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. 

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 

--Please hear what this is saying: Peace in our spirit and our mind, peace and health in our bodies, and peace and health in our finances. Who wouldn't want that. Secular Definition:

Peace - freedom from disturbance; tranquility. A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

--The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root shalom, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." 

--The verb (peace) conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well." 

--The noun (peace) had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: 

A. Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

B.  Shalom – Peace - as right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering" 

C. Shalom – Peace - as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9 ).

D. Shalom – Peace - as victory over one's enemies or absence of war. 

--It is so amazing to me how our world and even those in the church have evolved into such a state of desperation and even depression.

--The opioid addiction has swept through our country and other countries and has become a killer, even surpassing auto-mobile accidents here in the United States.

--People are looking for relief from pain…emotional, physical, relational, and even spiritual pain. Sadly, they are looking for an easy way of escape.

--Addiction to pills or anything else that is addictive is never an escape from all that pain, it is just another form of bondage and is there to take you out. 

--God is in our lives, not to take us out but to bring us in. I love what God told the children of Israel when He was taking them out of Egypt:

Exodus 3:6-10 (NLT2)
⁶  I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
⁷  Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

--What you must understand to get to a place of peace in your life:

A. If you are in any kind of bondage, you must know that God sees. He cares!

--I do not want to over simplify finding peace but your beginning place has to be with the Lord. You must know that God cares. 

1 Peter 5:6-8 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
⁷  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

--He has seen your oppression and He has heard your cries when no one else is listening. He is touched by the feelings of your infirmities and your brokenness. 

B. Always remember God brings you out so He can take you in.

Exodus 3:8 (NLT2)
⁸  So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…

--God was not finished with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt…He wanted to take them into a place flowing with milk and honey…the Promised Land. 

--If God is going to get you to a place of peace…it has to be more than just taking you out of the world. Something has to be placed in your life to fill that void. 

--I remember a story that was told to me when I was just a young Christian and I am sure there was purpose and intention for why the person told me.

--He said there was a man who had climbed over a fence where he was not supposed to be and he kept hanging out close to the edge of this sewage pond. It was deep and filled with nasty stuff.

--Just like anyone who stays close to the edge, the man eventually fell into the pond. He was yelling and fighting for his life but he could not get out. 

--The man always thought, even if I fall in, I can get out because I am a good swimmer…I can handle this. Please don’t tell me the dangers…I know the risk and everything will be okay!

--What the man did not anticipate was that the bank of the pond was very steep and was obviously very slippery because of the mess in the pond.

--You may think you can handle just a little alcohol, using just a little drugs, or handle an inappropriate relationship. Watching things you should never see. The slope is very slipper.

--The man kept yelling and begging for someone to come and rescue him. Fortunately, there was a good Samaritan going by and heard the man’s cry for help.

--By the time the good Samaritan got over the fence and made it to the man, he was already tired and was going under for the last time. He had swallowed so much water and filth.

--A crowd had gathered outside the fence and watched as the man was rescued…they cheered and clapped. They probably should have been helping but just watched.

--The man said to the crowd very powerful words…Thank God we got him out of the sewage but now we have to get the sewage out of him. 

--When we are saved out of this world…to find true peace, we have to ask Holy Spirit to help get the nastiness of the world out of us. Again look at the list of things that can rob our peace. 

Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT2)
¹⁹  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
²¹  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

--The world is the sewage pond, Jesus is the One Who rescues us, and Holy Spirit wants to cleanse us and give us peace. 

Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV)
⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
⁹  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

3. Always remember God wants you to “Look” for others who have no peace.

Exodus 3:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.
¹⁰  Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 

Shalom – Peace - as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); 

--People finding peace means they find wholeness…Jesus wants more for people than just freedom from their infirmity or sin…He wants them whole and at peace with Him. Example man at the gate:

Acts 4:9-12 (NKJV)
⁹  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
¹⁰  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
¹¹  This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
¹²  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

--Yes he was healed but more important…He was saved and made whole…He was at peace.