We are continuing our discovery of how God works through us to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s read again in Galatians 5:22-23.

Today we are going to focus on PEACE. Before we do, look at these truths that we must keep before us until they become part of our heart and thinking.

1. The fruit of the Spirit is a cluster. When you are filled with the Spirit all nine are produced through you.
2. The two crucial commands are to walk in the Spirit(Galatians 5:16) and be filled with the Spirit(Eph. 5:18).
3. These fruits are the character of Jesus. It’s His love, His joy, His peace, etc.
4. Walking in the Spirit brings glory to God.

Last week we looked at JOY. We learned that the joy of the Lordis like a fortress that protects and a weapon that defeats the three D’s: Depression, Discouragement, and Despair.

The third fruit is peace. We often think about peace as a feeling. And often it is a profound feeling of well-being. However, what happens when the feeling goes away? Why does it go away? Where does it go?

Let’s look at Jesus’ teaching in:

Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus tells us to stop worrying and gives us an illustration and some reasons why.

1. What we worry about drains us of life!
2. God takes care of us. The disciples didn’t believe it/know it. We don’t believe it either.
3. Worry can’t change our situation. It’s not profitable.
4. It is a faith issue. It’s a matter of trust that issues from really knowing and experiencing God.

Jesus tells us to seek the Kingdom first. We need to make the most important consideration our most important focus: His Kingdom! His righteousness! The rest will be taken care of.

This is a super familiar passage. We should already know this. Again in this teaching there is a key that unlocks part of the problem. The word used by Jesus to worry means to have divided thoughts. It’s the same rebuke Jesus gave to Martha when she was burdened by serving when she should have been sitting. Worry makes our minds stall out like a badly tuned engine. Our spark plugs are no good. We misfire and sputter. We lose the zest in life and become bogged down with everything else. Worry, anxiety, and other robbers steal our peace away. What is the answer?

I want us to think about the peace of God or the peace the Holy Spirit producesas something that guards your heart and mind from the peace thieves! Our problems are different, but the anxiousness that we feel is universal! Notice the answer given to us in the Book of Philippians.

Notice the two commands in this verse:

1. Don’t be anxious about anything.
2. Pray about everything.

The two commands are followed by a promise. If you do one and two the literal peace of Godwill guard your heart and mind from the thieves that are trying to break into your life! The word guardis used for a sentinel watching at his post, guarding the city gates. It’s like a garrison of troops protecting from a hostile invasion. The peace of God protects you from the onslaught of thoughts and suggestions from the world, the flesh, and the devil that seek to invade your life! It’s like an umpire calling balls and strikes. The umpire calls the game; he makes the decisions. The peace of Godcalls the thieves out and won’t let them come in!

Remember what I wrestled with last week: How can God command emotions that are usually spontaneous? Is fruit not produced naturally?

The answer is similar with PEACE. We still have to walk in the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. That is always the means of being fruitful and faithful as a Christian. The peace of God is ours as we trust Him with the things that make us worry, fret, stressed out, fear, angry, frustrated and the like! You can’t turn peace on like a light switch. You can’t just plaster a fake smile on your face and ‘be happy.’ But you can and must ask God to fill you with His Spirit! You can turn off the anxious thoughts by replacing them with God’s Word and His peace will come in!

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

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