Sunday's Message: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - A Look at Galatians 5:22-23 (Peace)

On Friday, August 12, SPC had its annual Summer Day Camp entitled “Big Heart Farms: Where God’s Fruit Grows.” During the day, the children looked at Galatians 5:22-23 and talked about the Fruit of the Spirit. Building on this theme, during nine of our worship services, we’ll consider how we can integrate this fruit into our own lives. We’ll focus on the following qualities:

• August 14 - Love
• August 21 - Joy
• August 28 - Peace
• September 4 - Patience
• September 11 - Kindness
• September 18 - Generosity
• September 25 - Faithfulness
• October 2 - Gentleness
• October 9 - Self-control

And so, as we move into the Fall, let’s talk about how we might cultivate the most important crop of all, the Fruit of the Spirit.

In this third message, we considered peace as a spiritual fruit. The sermon text and podcast is below:

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Well, here we are, about to bring the curtain down on summer. Of course, I understand that, officially, that’s not going to happen until September 22, which also happens to be my anniversary, and unofficially, well, it won’t occur until after Labor Day, you know, the day after which you’re not supposed to wear white shoes for about seven months. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. And so, even though we have anywhere from eight to twenty-six days to go, I’ll tell you, since both school and football have started, at least for me, summer is over. And it doesn’t matter that we might be pushing 90̊ later today. 

But even though we’re looking at the end of a season that we’ve either enjoyed or endured for the last three months, this morning we’re continuing a series we started on the Sunday right after our Vacation Bible School, one that focuses on this passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. [Galatians 5:22-23, NRSVUE]

Now that’s what we’ve been doing. 

And during the last couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the first two spiritual fruits, starting with love, something we said was essential and active and Godly. And then last week, we focused on joy and talked about how it’s given and empowering and of course, contagious. Now that’s what we’ve considered during our services these last two Sundays. And remember, you can find both the sermons and the services on our Facebook page, YouTube channel and church blog; and the addresses of all three are in your bulletin. Now that’s where we’ve been.

And today, we’re going to look at Paul’s third Fruit of the Spirit, and now I’m talking about peace. And, I’ll tell you, personally I think that’s a good thing, because, from where I stand, peace sure seems to be in short supply now-a-days. For example, I see a lot of folks who seem to lack anything close to what you might call inner peace. I know, speaking for myself, there are times when I feel like my mind is kind of restless and then, when  it does settle on something, it’s often a problem that I’ve got to address or a disappointment I just can’t seem to shake. And that’s probably why I’m not very patient and I don’t sleep very well. Man, if I’m honest with myself, inner peace is something with which I struggle,  especially when I wake up at 3:30 in the morning and can’t get back to sleep. But frankly, I don’t think I’m alone. Like I said just a minute ago, I think peace is in short supply now-a-days. And since we often have a hard time finding it on the inside, it really shouldn’t come as any surprise that it’s often not seen on the outside either. I mean, I don’t think I stepping out on a limb with what I’m about to say, but I’ll tell you, I doubt that anyone would describe us as a peaceful society, not with all the violent crimes we see on the news or the juvenile name-calling we hear from our leaders or the out-and-out hostility we’re supposed to feel toward anyone who doesn’t share our beliefs and our assumptions and our opinions. As I heard a guy say on one of the sports radio shows to which I listen: like it or not, we’ve become a coarse society. And I’ll tell you, this lack of inner and of social peace, I think it also extends to how they feel when they approach God. I mean, for some people, God is more like a punitive parent than a loving Father. And even though that may be great when you believe you’re on his good side, what happens when things turn south a little bit? I mean, what happens when we find ourselves facing the same kind of stuff we assume God reserves for folks neither one of us really like? My gosh, what happens when our opinion of God is shaken like a martini in a James Bond movie? What happens then? Let’s just say, peace seems to be scarce, even for us in rural Pennsylvania.

And yet, it’s also the third spiritual fruit offered by Paul; therefore, it must be present whether we recognize it or not. And that’s what we’re going to talk about for the next ten minutes or so. You see, we’re going to consider how the kind of peace that comes from God can change us. And to do that, we’re going to look at some scripture, you know, sort of like we did last week. And hopefully, by the time we leave here this morning, we’re going to see and understand how claiming the peace that comes from God, and I’m talking about the spiritual peace about which Paul wrote, how peace can change three aspects of our lives. 

For example, when we claim this spiritual fruit, I believe we’ll experience more peace with God. Now that’s the first way our lives will change. In other words, instead of the disappointment and anxiety and doubt we might feel when we think that God has let us down and when we begin to ask ourselves why, we can actually feel comfort and serenity and confidence when his peace kicks in. 

And you know, I think this kind of peace with God is firmly established in scripture. I mean, according to the Prophet Isaiah, 

The Lord gives perfect peace

    to those whose faith is firm.

So always trust the Lord

because he is forever

    our mighty rock. [Isaiah 26:3-4, CEV]

And you know, I think the Apostle Paul said about the same thing to the Philippians when he wrote this:

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. [Philippians 4:4-7, CEV]

You see, when we decide to put aside some of our beliefs and assumptions and opinions and when we claim the joy that God offers and when we begin to see ourselves as we are seen, in other words, as imperfect people who belong to Jesus in spite of ourselves, we’re going to start feeling peace with God.

And I’ll tell you why that’s important. You see, I believe that peace enables us to trust. I mean, isn’t that what Isaiah said? You see, peace enables us to have faith that, as Paul wrote to the Romans, “Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful.” [Romans 5:6, CEV] And peace enables us to believe that, as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” [Ephesians 2:8-9, CEV] And I believe as sure as I’m standing here, that peace with God enables us to trust that, again as Paul wrote to the Romans, “Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” [Romans 8:39b, CEV] I’m telling you, this will happen, when we recognize and understand and claim peace with God. And that’s the first way we’ll see change.

And second, I believe claiming this spiritual fruit will also help us experience more peace with those around us. In other words, with the kind of peace that comes from God, we’ll be able to get beyond the violence we see and the name-calling we hear and the hostility we’re told to feel. And instead, because we understand that none of us are all that good in the sight of God, much less perfect, we can look for opportunities to make peace with others.

And you know, this desire to be peacemakers, that’s also an important theme in the Bible. I mean, just listen to what the Psalmist wrote:

Come, my children, listen

as I teach you

    to respect the Lord.

Do you want to live

    and enjoy a long life?

Then don't say cruel things

    and don't tell lies.

Do good instead of evil

    and try to live at peace. [Psalm 34:11-14, CEV]

Now that’s what peacemaking is all about. And as the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews said, “Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don’t, you will never see the Lord. Make sure no one misses out on God’s wonderful kindness. Don’t let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you.” [Hebrews 12:14-15, CEV] And finally, remember that this attitude must have been important to Jesus himself, because in his Beattitudes, he said, “God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!” [Matthew 5:9, CEV] You see, the more we claim the peace that comes from God, the more we’re going to start making peace with others.

And you know, isn’t the desire to make peace, isn’t that necessary, if we’re serious about showing love? I mean, without a knowledge of peace, how can we understand what John meant in his first letter when he wrote, “We love because God loved us first. But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see”? [1 John 4:19-20, CEV] And how can we believe that Peter was right when he wrote, “Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins”? [1 Peter 4:8, CEV] And how can we ever decide that we’re going to obey the command that Jesus gave his disciples, including us: But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. [John 13:34, CEV] You see, I think it’s only possible for us to be the kind of men and women God has called and equipped us to be, that’s only possible when we accept that, through God, we can live in peace with one another. And that’s the second way we’ll change.

And third, right along with feeling peace with God and peace with one another, when we claim this fruit of God’s spirit, I believe we’ll experience a whole lot more peace within ourselves, you know, on the inside, within our minds and hearts. In other words, it’s actually through the assurance that God loves us, warts and all, that we’ll be able to attain that state of consciousness experienced by those great, American philosophers of my generation when they wrote:

’Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin’

And I know you won’t let me down

’Cause I’m already standin’

On the ground [Peaceful Easy Feeling, Jack Tempchin]

Amen. Now, that’s inner peace. And let’s face it, that sounds better than Desperado or Witchy Woman. 

You see, it’s the same kind of peace that Jesus promised his disciples when he said, “I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn’t like the peace this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” [John 14:27, CEV] And a little bit later, he offered the reason we can feel this peace. He said, “The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won’t be alone. I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” [John 16:32-33, CEV] And you know, when you think about it, isn’t this the same gentle assurance that King David knew when he wrote,

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [Psalm 23:1-6, KJV]

You see, this is the kind of inner peace that’s possible when we claim this fruit.

And because it’s available, now we can feel hope. I mean, give me a break, I think it’s virtually impossible to have any positive feelings about the future when we’re restless and impatient and when we’re focused on problems and disappointments. But I’ll tell you, when we recognize what Jesus said and what he promised and when we understand that he was, is and will always be greater than the world and when we accept that God is our shepherd and we are his sheep, then I believe genuine hope is possible. I mean, then we can get our heads around what Paul was getting at when he wrote to the Romans, “And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.” [Romans 8:24-25, CEV] And later, when he told them, “Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.” [Romans 12:12, CEV] And finally, when he said, “I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” [Romans 15:13, CEV] You see, this is going to happen, when we claim the inner peace that God offers. And that’s the third change I think we’ll see.

Now, like I said a little while ago, we’re moving into a different time of year. I mean, regardless of what the calendar might say or that clear and unambiguous rule about white shoes after Labor Day, right now, we’re leaving summer and entering fall. But even though this represents a change, we can still feel confusion as we look within ourselves and frustration as we consider others and concern as we approach God. In fact, this is the kind of baggage we can carry around for the rest of our lives. But brothers and sisters, believe the good news, this is something we don’t have to do. Instead, we can claim this fruit of the spirit about which Paul wrote. And we can experience more peace with God which enables us to trust. And we can experience more peace with one another which enables us to love. And we can experience more peace within ourselves which enables us to hope. You see, in these ways we can change, when we decide to cultivate peace.