Bread From Heaven

Fruits of the Spirit - Peace

Dear God,
Thank you for the good fruit produced by your Spirit. Let these fruits be produced in me. Let your peace radiate in me. Teach us about your peace. Help us to receive it completely so that we can share it with others.
In Christ’s name,
Amen

The Fruits of the Spirit - Peace

Romans 5:1-5
1 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.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒

As I am writing this study, I am struggling with my own anxiety. We all have times that we struggle in our flesh. It my be anxiety, anger, grief, depression, frustrations, busy schedules, worries, fears, unexpected events, drama, trauma, family issues, loneliness, etc... The list goes on.

The fruits of the Spirit aren’t about having a complete absence of these things. The fruits of the Spirit is being able to cope, to possess and produce the fruit in spite of all the chaos. It is about having a secure anchor in the time of the storm.

🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒

This is a go to song for me in times of storm, literally or figuratively. https://youtu.be/CNMiScnWq5Y
Do you know the Master of the wind?

The Bible tells us a little story.

Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

True peace is calmness and tranquility, a steadfastness, in your heart no matter what is going on outside, even in chaos.

Romans 5:1 (shown at the beginning) says we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. When we have peace with God, we are anchored in his love. If you read verses 1-5 of Romans 5, doesn't that sound like an anchor ⚓?

Jesus wasn't asleep on the boat in the middle of the storm because he didn't care. He was able to rest in the middle of chaos because he was anchored in God the Father’s love. Here is a perfect example of Jesus exercising peace as a fruit of God's Spirit.

Peace as a fruit of the Spirit doesn't come as a result of not having conflict, difficulty, or stress. This kind of peace is a result of having the Holy Spirit living in us. We are able to have peace because we know our God has everything under control even though we do not. We are secure in God's love and grace.
Romans 8:35-39 ▼

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you firmly anchored in the Love of God through Christ Jesus?
Jahovahshalom means the Lord is our peace.
Judges 6:22-24 ▼

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

In fact, peace was proclaimed to men by the angels at Christ’s birth announcement!
Luke 2:13-14 ▼

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Jesus gives peace to his disciples. True peace comes by believing and trusting in the promises of God.
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.

Luke 24:36 ▼

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Jesus died so we can have peace with God. We can have true and perfect peace through him.
Ephesians 2:11-22 ▼

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

My dad used to have a bumper sticker on his truck that said, “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.” We must make peace with God through Jesus Christ before we can know true peace. We must choose to stay close to God and let his peace rule in our hearts.
Colossians 3:15-17 ▼

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I like the way the New International Version phrases this verse. A heart at peace gives life to the body. So a peaceful heart does a body good. 🙂

A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
- Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

We let the peace of God rule in our hearts by getting acquainted with God.
Job 22:21-22 ▼

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

The fruit of the Spirit also produces peace with other people. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, wants us to be at peace with our fellow man.
Romans 12:9-21 ▼

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Not only does it matter what is in your heart but what is in your thoughts too. Don’t be anxious. Cast all your cares on the Lord because he cares for you. God is a God of peace. He wants us to be at peace with him, ourselves, and with others.
Philippians 4:6-9 ▼

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

1 Peter 5:6-11 ▼

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Nehemiah 6:24-26
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

“God can not give us peace and happiness apart from himself, because it is not there.” - C.S. Lewis

Resources ▼

https://www.ospreyobserver.com/2020/06/the-fruit-of-the-holy-spirit-what-is-peac...

https://412teens.org/qna/what-is-peace-as-a-Fruit-of-the-Spirit.php

https://www.slideshare.net/DaveSinNM/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-is-peace

https://www.slideshare.net/Pacific.Church/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-peace

https://www.slideshare.net/CarlosOliveira72/23-fruit-of-the-spirit-joy-peace?qid...

https://www.slideshare.net/ljwoodman/the-fruit-of-the-spirit-3-peace?qid=1829787...

https://www.slideshare.net/Thornmd/11th-march-2016-what-is-peace-in-the-fruit-of...

https://www.slideshare.net/glenndpease/the-holy-spirit-fruit-of-peace?qid=182978...

https://slideplayer.com/slide/9703961/

https://slideplayer.com/slide/3555167/

https://slideplayer.com/slide/7432454/

https://slideplayer.com/slide/2544359/

https://candytroutman.com/2011/01/11/fruit-of-the-spirit-postcards-peace/

http://granitesprings.org/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2016/08/07-24-2016_Sam-Guti...

http://www.outofthisworldleadership.com/?attachment_id=2858

https://youtu.be/vPv4MqtpfNM

https://www.klove.com/Ministry/Faith-Blog/faith/fruit-of-the-spirit-peace-1604

Jesus is my permanent anchor!