Sunday, 1/22/12 11am–Complete Peace

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SERIES: STOP DOING AND START GROWING

TITLE: COMPLETE PEACE

TEXT: GALATIANS 5:22

INTRO:

· Fruit/Grace of the Spirit – love…joy…PEACE

o Love and joy come together in the believer’s life, and this produces peace.

o This first trio of spiritual fruit reflects the “heavenward” aspect of our Christian life.

· What is peace? The world seeks it, but really does not know what true peace is?

o At a NOVEMBER 1999 ceremony in Oslo, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and United States president Bill Clinton vowed to finish the job of making Middle East peace begun by slain Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin. Barak and Arafat hope to make progress on a timetable for reaching a final peace settlement within the next 10 months. [1]

o Peace is a constant struggle, and cannot be attained by the means implored by the world.

· Bible peace is the freedom from worry.

o People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them.  ~George Bernard Shaw, "Family Affection," Parents and Children, 1914

o For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe.  ~Author Unknown[2]

· The Bible has a lot to say about peace.

o OT word – shalom

o Interestingly, it is used most in Leviticus and Isaiah.

· Peace, in the Bible, comes from the verb form that denotes binding together and is reflected in the expression “having it all together.”

· So, true peace is something that only comes from God, and is a complete peace. We see that in the three aspects of peace:

I. INNER PEACE – Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

a. It is an inner repose (relaxation) and quietness, even in the face of adverse circumstances; it defies human understanding.^[3]

b. This peace must come from God, because He is the only source.

c. “Freedom happens when the affirmation you look for from others is replaced by the affirmation you already possess in Christ.” [4]

d. God gives us a sense of well being because of our relationship in Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for us – past/present/future tense.

e. There is a God-sized hole in each of us, and when we try to fill that with anything other than God – we will never be a peace with ourselves, others, or in this world.

f. God is concerned with our hearts (desire) and mind (thoughts). He wants our desires and thoughts to be at peace – and they only can through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

g. That’s an inner piece that is indescribable.

II. OUTER PEACE – John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

a. True peace from God is not only an inner work, but it will be evident on the “outside.”

b. It will be seen in our behavior towards others.

c. While the world will constantly scratch, claw, and fight for every last inch, and every last penny, the Christian who exhibits peace will not be caught up in this unfulfilling whirlwind of sin and destruction.

d. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

e. If you can’t be at peace with others around you, then there is no way that God’s peace is in you.

f. This outer piece will also been seen in our reaction to the circumstances that surround us.

g. We have a new world view, based on verses like Romans 8:28.

h. Our new worldview is based on the revelation of God that does not depend on our circumstances because God is the ultimate authority of this world.

i. I have peace knowing that no matter what goes on, God is in control and working all situations for His good pleasure and my eternal good.

III. ETERNAL PEACE – Romans 5:1–2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

a. True peace comes from knowing that through faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified with God.

b. ‘Justify’ (Heb. ṣāḏaq; Gk. [lxx and nt], dikaioō) is a forensic term meaning ‘acquit’, ‘declare righteous’, the opposite of ‘condemn’ (cf. Dt. 25:1; Pr. 17:15; Rom. 8:33). Justifying is the judge’s act^[5]

c. ILL: “One of the snores that is among the loudest evidences that we are asleep to the realities of death and eternity is the casual use of the phrase “R.I.P.” We say, “Rest in peace,” to wish a departed soul on its way to … where? For whom is death restful? Have we even considered the implications of this phrase?

i. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28; emphasis mine). He also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; emphasis mine). And once again, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27; emphasis mine). Jesus is the way to rest, life, and peace. There is no “R.I.P.” without “R” or “P,” and Jesus is the only way to both.”[6]

d. In the judgment to come, those who have repented of their sins, believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior have already had their verdict of “not guilty” given – and there is nothing that can be done to overturn it!

e. No matter what happens on this side of eternity, we have a heavenly Father waiting for us in our eternal, heavenly home.

CLOSE:

· The world has a warped and faulty view of true peace:

o Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. --Ralph Waldo Emerson[7]

· There is no peace within yourself. The Bible tells us that before we come to faith in Jesus, we are God’s enemy (Rom. 5:10).

· Maybe the peace you seek eludes you because you have never been justified in the presence of God.

· You can today by turning to the only true source of eternal peace – Jesus Christ.

· CHRISTIAN – God’s peace is much more than just an eternal peace – it is an everyday peace within you, and towards others.

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[1] http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/struggle_for_peace/

[2] http://www.quotegarden.com/worry.html

^[3] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983- ). The Bible knowledge commentary: An exposition of the scriptures (Ga 5:22–23). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[4] Twitter @PastorTullian

^[5] Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (636). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

[6] http://www.ligonier.org/blog/rest-peace/

[7] http://www.bibleinsong.com/Promises/Temporal_blessings/Peace/Peace.htm