THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 57 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3355
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 57 )
From Glory to Glory ( Study 36)
Walking By The Spirit #6
The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Peace as a Fruit of the Spirit is not just an absence of war. God's peace is more than environment. It is holistic: it restores our spirit, soul, and body.
The "Peace" mentioned in Galatians 5 is the Peace of a harmonious relationship with God.
We are born at war. At birth, our sinful nature has already declared war on God and His truth. Our sinful heart’s desire is to be separated from Him, and if we persist in this desire until death, He will give us what we want.
But out of His Agape Love, He did not start a battle with us as His enemies. Instead He sent us the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus’ goal in coming to earth was more than simply to cease hostilities; He came to bring about a full and abiding relationship of restoration and love. The cost of this peace was His life (Isaiah 53:5).
But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross did not ensure that we would accept His terms of peace. Romans 3:10b-11 explains, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God." None of us can accept Jesus’ offer of peace through our own will and power. Our natural selves do not want it. Only God can lead us to want peace with Him; the Holy Spirit leads us to want Jesus and His message. Once the Spirit draws us, we believe in Jesus, and the peace comes. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
However, the fruit of the Spirit includes a peace that goes beyond that of salvation. It is a sweet relationship. We are called to His presence (Ephesians 2:11-18) and called to be confident in that presence (Hebrews 4:16) because we are His friends (John 15:15). As Isaiah 26:3 says, "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You."
The Spirit-filled Christian has a peace that is abundant, available in every situation, and unlike anything that the world has to offer (John 14:27).
God’s peace transcends earthly matters, as Philippians 4:4-7 illustrates. Believers are to be "anxious for nothing," for God promises to "guard your hearts and minds." It is a peace “which transcends all understanding”; that is, to the worldly mind, such peace is incomprehensible. Its source is the Holy Spirit of God, whom the world neither sees nor knows (John 14:17).
Abba Father, how much better to let the Spirit have control and perform His work of growing the fruit of Peace in our lives for Your glory. Already the world is covered with dread and foreboding - as we witness the fear engendered by the dreaded virus from China that has spread to many nations. But though diseases will attack the body, our soul and spirit remain at peace because of Your precious promises to us. Dearest Father, may this Peace that passes all understanding be upon us to allay any doubt and misgiving we may have as we place our faith and trust in You for Your continual protection and healing.
