Peace
This doesn’t need to be confession time, but I can imagine that you’ve seen someone drunk before right? It’s pretty embarrassing isn’t it? A drunk person doesn’t act like themselves. They are overly emotional. They say crazy and hurtful things. They behave recklessly, which can become a serious threat to themselves and others. Most people that struggle with alcohol don’t wake up from a heavy night of drinking and think, “wow, I’m glad I did that last night!”, because there is an inherit shame when people lose control of themselves. Getting drunk is such a great picture of what happens to someone when they consuming too much of the wrong things. The Apostle Paul used this exact metaphor in Ephesians 5:18 where he says,
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
The behavior of drunk people that I listed off is exactly what is produced when we consume and live in the flesh rather than the Spirit. The reality is, we are either consuming the world, or we are consuming God - and whatever we choose to consume affects our behavior. So if we interpret that text from Paul well, he’s not only discouraging us from getting drunk on wine, he’s encouraging us to get ‘drunk’ on the Spirit! So we’ve already discussed what an actual drunk person looks like, but now take a moment to truly think of how a person who is drunk in the Lord would act.
What would your life look like if you were filled with the Holy Spirit and these fruits flowed out of you?
What specifically would change in your home? At your work? In your behavior?
As followers of Jesus, we will see the fruit of God produced in our lives when we are obedient to the Spirit, that is, when we are consuming the things of God. Of course, God can snap His fingers, work miracles, and produce the fruits of the Spirit within you without your involvement. But here’s the thing - He desires and requires our participation.
-John 15 says that God is the gardener that prunes off the branches, but then right after, Jesus commands us to actively “remain” in Him to produce more fruit. This is a two-way street!
-God will do the work within us, we just have to “let” him. (as we’ll see in Colossians 3:15)
-Let’s all participate in God’s will for our lives. Let’s actively remain in Him and be filled up, so that we can produce the fruits that God desires and requires.
Fruit #3 - Peace
Peace - what is it?
Original Languages
Hebrew word for peace - Shalom. Theologian and Sociologist Jack Balswick says, “In Hebrew culture shalom is not just about the mere absence of conflict; it is about human welfare in material and spiritual matters.”(1)
The Greek word that Paul uses in Galatians 5:22, is eirene. Eirene and its various forms are used often in the NT, where it is usually translated as the English word peace. Synonyms are tranquility, harmony, security, safety.
Biblical Definition
There are implicit understanding of peace based on the ways that the term is used in Scripture. Counselor and minister Ken Sande defines peace as the “Unity of Spirit and purpose”, and I think that is spot on. There is real peace in a household, institution, or nation when they are united and heading in the same direction.
Peace isn’t just freedom from war, chaos, stress - it is freedom from the burden of them.
“No God, no peace. Know God, Know peace”
We live in a world that needs real, genuine peace. Unfortunately, this world as a whole (fallen systems, institutions, and people) will never find peace because there are too many self-interests. The world is opposed to Jesus, and we are opposed to the world. (John 15:9) Peace can’t exist in the world as we know it. I know that’s kind of a bummer, but it’s true. The peace that Jesus came to bring was a totally different type than most people expected at the time. In fact, Jesus clarified that their expected version of peace (freedom from Roman oppression), was not why He came, but to save sinners (John 3:17). In another place, he gives blunt words on what following him is actually like, saying “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) Following the truth of Christ brings us into a spiritual war with the world, but it gives us real peace with God and ourselves.
Different types of peace
False peace - A lot of false prophets in the OT promised peace, when none was actually coming. We can easily get duped by similar false promisers of peace.
Inner peace - This is peace we desire to have within our souls. There is a spiritual battle for our inner peace that the Enemy wages daily. We can achieve peace by fighting with God’s mighty weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4)
Peace with God - Apart from believing in Christ’s work on the cross, we are at war with God. Faith in Christ brings peace not just within us, but brings reconciliation and peace between us and God. (Romans 5:10)
Peace with men - We are called to strive for peace with “everyone” (Hebrews 12:14), and this includes relationships with people in our households, our workplace, our community, our Church, and our nation.
Again, as we’ve said throughout this series. God embodies each fruit of the Spirit. The definition of each fruit is dependent on Him. True love, joy, peace, etc is only known and lived through God himself.
Jesus = Peace
-Jesus the “Lord of peace himself” in 2 Thessalonians 3:16
-Jesus is the Prince of Peace mentioned in Isaiah 9:6
How do we produce more peace produced in our lives?
Like all the fruits, peace is a choice. We need to let God bring peace in these areas of our lives.
Honestly ask yourself this question: Who is on the throne of your life?
Leadership is difficult. If you are on the throne, there is going to be more anxiety, you’re going to have to make those impossible decisions where all sides will be disappointed, you’ll take the brunt of the warfare and power struggles, and you’ll likely drive yourself crazy like Nebuchadnezzar did. Are you sure you want to rule your life?
-There is royalty that is more qualified to your place as the ruler of your life. He is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The book of Colossians is all about the supremacy of Christ. Paul urges the Church to set their hearts and minds on things above, and to take off their old self and put on Christ with forgiveness, love, and unity. Then he says,
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15
“Let” the Peace of Christ run the show.
You want to have peace in your life, you’ve got to “let” Jesus “rule” your “hearts”.
-If you have excessive stress, chaos, and limited peace. There might be a throne struggle.
-If you are trying to govern your life, you will not have peace.
-When you come to this realization that Jesus is good and sovereign, you’ll have peace that isn’t rational because it's so good! (Phil 4:7)
What are areas of your life that you need to really “let” Christ rule?
We’re in this together, and Jesus operates His Body.
-We all have a unique part in performing God’s work in the world, but we have to do it with one another. Much of the stress and anxiety that we feel is because we are not connected with the Body of Christ. Imagine for a second, that you’re the ear of the Body of Christ, yet you’re stuck in a loop trying to see everything around you.. Of course you’re going to be stressed out, you’re an ear!
-Peace comes when we unite together, that’s the peace we were ‘called to’.
How do we keep peace with other Christians even when they’re really frustrating?
Be thankful.
-Be thankful for you God has created you to be and for your role in His Body, then you’ll have peace.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 and sisters, 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. - Philippians 4:6-7
-St. Ignatius said ingratitude was “the cause, beginning, and origin of all evils and sins.” Gratitude is a catalyst for knowing real peace and walking in God’s purposes for our lives.
In Conclusion:
God desires and requires His people to live in peace. We can produce this Holy Spirit fruit when we are consuming ourselves with God, and remaining satisfied in Him. Let’s learn together how we can get ‘drunk’ on the Lord so that his supernatural peace can rule our lives.
