A Good News Series - The Fruit of the Spirit
Peace: The Hunger of Human Hearts
The apostle Paul, locked in a depressing prison cell, wrote, "I have
learned in whatever state I am, to be content." He reminded his readers
that they also could have "God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding." You
too can have this unique contentment and peace!
by Don Hooser
Peace. Ah, the word itself stirs calming and pleasant thoughts.
Hearts yearn for peace. In fact, a common greeting in many languages is
to wish someone peace, like shalom (Hebrew) or aloha (Hawaiian).
Even Jesus Christ used it (John 20:19, 21, 26).
How about your life? Are you stressed out with life's pressures and wanting
more peace? Most people would say yes!
The Bible focuses on three areas of peace: personal peace of mind, doing
what we can to have peace in our relationships with others and eventual
peace among all nations.
True peace of mind is an inner calm, contentment and confidence no matter
what the outer circumstances. This seems impossible, but "with God all
things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
A planet without peace
We live in a frightening and frenzied world. We used to hear of someone
being a nervous wreck or suffering a nervous breakdown. Emotions
haven't changed as much as terminology. Tension, anxiety, depression and panic
attacks are the common designations today.
One result is the overuse and abuse of alcohol and legal drugs as well
as the use of illegal drugs—as people turn to temporary escapism
instead of seeking long-term solutions.
Finding peace in a contentious world can seem hopeless, but Scripture
tells us to "seek peace and pursue it" (1 Peter 3:11). Seek it by taking
time to read the Bible, by far the greatest book on peace ever written
(Colossians 3:15-16). Pursue it through prayer to the very "God of peace" (Hebrews
13:20).
Christ's followers are protected from many trials and dangers, but not
all. In fact, some trials, like persecution, happen because of trying
to "live godly in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:12).
The key is to rely on Christ, the source of sublime peace (John 14:27;
16:33) and the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He can "guide our feet into
the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).
Practical principles and spiritual dangers
To experience peace, you must take responsibility for your thoughts (Philippians
4:8). With God's help you can quit reacting with anger or self-pity.
It's not your circumstances or other people that determine your mood; it
is your attitude about them. "Whoever has no rule over his
own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls" (Proverbs 25:28,
emphasis added throughout).
Today, many good books and Web sites have practical advice on reducing
physical and mental stress. Some keys are to learn good interpersonal skills,
be positive and flexible, exercise, get good nutrition and sleep, learn
to relax, and rest one day each week.
However, don't trust everything that is written. New Age teachings, based
on pagan ideas with new scientific-sounding terminology, have mushroomed
in popularity. As people have pushed the Bible out of their lives, they
have been filling the spiritual vacuum with a dangerous counterfeit spirituality.
Learning and living by the Bible brings more mental and emotional benefits
than any New Age teaching. Furthermore, instead of being drawn into the
paganism of false gods, one is drawing close to the true Creator God who inspired the
Bible.
Fear and worry versus faith, courage and peace
For most people, the most common type of meditation—thinking intently
on a particular subject—is fear or worry!
But guess what single command in the Bible occurs more often than any
other? Fear not.
But how is that possible? We must replace fear with faith—a
childlike trust in your heavenly Father. "You will keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isaiah
26:3).
The Hebrew expression translated "perfect peace" here is literally "peace,
peace." It refers to the superior kind of peace that God makes
possible for human beings. And those who have this peace are hoping for ultimate
divine peace in the resurrection!
Trust in God to be your shelter and shade, your refuge and fortress (Psalm
61:4; 121:5; 91:2). David wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Psalm
23:4).
Worry is a type of fear, and Jesus repeatedly said, "Do not worry" (Matthew
6:25-34). Worry is a waste of time and energy. The Creator provides for all His
creatures, and "you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31).
We cannot experience true faith and peace without obedience to God. His
perfect commandments define the way of peace. God said, "Oh, that you had
heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and
your righteousness like the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:18).
The issue of fear is not primarily about emotion. "Fear not" means to
have the courage to do the right thing even when it seems frightening.
Knowing "the L ord your God is with you wherever you go" will give you
the needed "good courage" to go forward anyway (Joshua 1:9).
The greatest key to peace: God's Spirit
True peace of mind depends on attaining "peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Begin by humbly turning control over to God. Trying to manage our lives
on our own generally brings only frustration and confusion, yet "God is
not the author of confusion but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Do as Peter instructed: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
These two great gifts of God—forgiveness and the Holy Spirit—result
in "righteousness and peace and joy" (Romans 14:17). Even better, they
lead to the greatest gift of all—eternal life (Romans 6:23). The "hope
of eternal life" takes away the "fear of death" (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 2:15).
No other comfort compares!
In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul is apparently likening the Holy
Spirit to a tree of life. He said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
Consider carefully the relationship of peace to all the other virtues
that come through the Spirit. Each helps produce and maintain all the others.
Consider also the contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the "works
of the flesh"—human nature—in verses 19-21, including "hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like." God's Spirit
will replace these vices!
"Grace and peace"
Why do Paul's epistles begin with variations of the salutation, "Grace to
you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ"?
(See, for example, Galatians 1:3.)
Paul may have coined a new phrase or perhaps adopted a previously little-used
phrase. "Grace" (Greek charis) or "Grace to you" was a Greek greeting.
On the other hand, "Peace" (Hebrew shalom) was a Jewish greeting.
Paul ministered to Jewish and Greek Christians, so the greeting "Grace
to you and peace" was inclusive and unifying. "You are all one in
Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
More importantly, the New Testament adds great theological meaning to "grace" and "peace."
Grace includes God's wonderful gift of forgiveness (Ephesians
1:7). Grace heals the guilt! It is the great prerequisite to
peace. First pardon, then peace.
God's grace also makes us "sons of God" (Galatians 3:26). What peace to
know we are the beloved of our gracious Father!
Therefore the distinctly Christian greeting gave honor to the One who
gives us grace and, as a result, real peace.
Enjoy peace and be peacemakers
Peace and harmony come to those who extend it to others. Paul wrote, "If
it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans
12:18). We are called to be peacemakers, following the example of the supreme
Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9).
Pray that God will make it possible for His people to "lead a quiet and
peaceable life" (1 Timothy 2:2). Pray for peace of mind. Pray for peaceful
relationships. And pray for God's peaceful Kingdom to come soon!
Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:6-7 (Revised Standard Version) beautifully
summarizes this wonderful subject: "Have no anxiety about anything, but
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding,
will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." GN
Related Resources
Transforming
Your Life: The Process of Conversion
We will examine the Bible's teaching on conversion. Contrary to what many think,
it is not just a one-time event. Instead the Scriptures reveal that it is a
process.The process begins with God's calling, followed by the key steps of
repentance, baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit—finally climaxing
with the return of Jesus Christ, when the dead in Christ are resurrected to
immortality and given eternal life. That is the ultimate transformation, being
changed from a mortal to an immortal being!
Christ's
Command to Us: Bear Good Fruit and Much Fruit
Jesus Christ taught important spiritual lessons regarding the "fruit" of
our lives. What are those lessons, and how well are we applying them? Our
eternal life depends on this understanding!
God's
Spirit: The Power to Transform Your Life
Jesus Christ is cultivating supernatural "fruit" in the lives of His disciples.
To understand that miraculous effect, we must first understand the awesome
cause and ultimate source—the Spirit of God.
Love:
The Ground From Which Spiritual Fruit Springs
When God's Spirit is at work in a person, amazing things happen. The
person's whole life blossoms and bears beautiful fruit. And the most wonderful
fruit of all is the giving and receiving of true love.
Joy:
Foundation for a Positive Life
Jesus said to His disciples, "These things I have spoken to you, that My
joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). That
sounds almost too good to be true! How can we experience this fullness
of joy?
Peace:
The Hunger of Human Hearts
The apostle Paul, locked in a depressing prison cell, wrote, "I have learned
in whatever state I am, to be content." He reminded his readers that they
also could have "God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding." You
too can have this unique contentment and peace!
Longsuffering:
A Fusion of Patience and Power
The popular impatiens flowers are so named from seeming to be highly
impatient! When their seed pods mature, they explode when touched, sending
seeds several yards away. See how this picture illustrates the need for
longsuffering, an important fruit of God's Spirit!
Kindness:
From the Heart to the Helping Hand
God's nature is that of incredible loving-kindness toward all people.
And He will kindly help His followers cultivate the much-needed fruit of
godly kindness.
Goodness:
God's Character and Man's Potential
The spiritual fruit of goodness enables sinful human beings
to do good and to be good—good in the truest sense of the word.
Goodness, after all, is the essence of the nature of God.
Faith
and Faithfulness: Fundamental to Relationships and Responsibilities
Do you trust God completely? So much so that you live accordingly—to the
point that He is able to trust you? When Jesus Christ returns, wouldn't it be
wonderful to hear Him say approvingly, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?
Meekness
and Gentleness: Strength With a Tender Touch
The biblical qualities of meekness and gentleness are misunderstood and undervalued
in today's society of extremes—where all too often people tend to angrily
overreact or passively underreact.
Self-Control:
Governing Your Life by the Power of God
In this series of articles on the fruit of the Spirit, we have come to the last
of the nine virtues—self-control. Of all the things we have to govern
in this life, self is often our greatest challenge!
A
Crucial Factor in Producing Fruit: Eradicate the Weeds of Sin
Victory requires understanding the enemy. In our spiritual warfare, the enemy
is us! Raw human nature is like a field taken over by noxious weeds. We must
eradicate the weeds and replace them with God's Spirit so we can produce much
good fruit!
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