Embracing God's Peace Amidst Life's Turmoil
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of peace as a fruit of the Spirit, delving into its biblical foundations and practical applications in our lives. We began by acknowledging that God is deeply personal and intimately knows and loves each one of us. This love is not contingent on our actions but is rooted in what Jesus has done for us. We then transitioned to discussing the fruit of the Spirit, particularly focusing on peace, as outlined in Galatians 5:16-26.
Paul's letter to the Galatians emphasizes that we are not to live by the flesh but by the Spirit. This means our actions and attitudes should be guided by the Holy Spirit, leading to a life characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We examined how peace, like other fruits of the Spirit, is deeply rooted in love. True peace is not the absence of conflict or trouble but a profound sense of well-being and completeness that comes from God.
We also discussed the paradoxical statement of Jesus in Matthew 10:34, where He says He did not come to bring peace but a sword. This highlights that while Jesus offers peace, it is not always accepted by everyone, and His message can cause division. However, for those who receive Him, He is the Prince of Peace, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6.
We shared personal testimonies and biblical stories to illustrate how peace manifests in our lives, even in the midst of turmoil. Whether facing life-threatening situations or everyday challenges, the peace of God surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This peace is not something we can manufacture on our own but is a gift from God that we receive by trusting in Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Personal Love: God knows you intimately and loves you unconditionally. This love is not based on your actions but on what Jesus has done for you. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus, and this profound truth should fill you with peace and assurance. [41:10]
2. Living by the Spirit: Walking by the Spirit means living in a way that reflects God's love and character. This involves crucifying the desires of the flesh and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your actions and attitudes. True peace comes from aligning your life with the Spirit. [47:47]
3. Peace Amidst Turmoil: True peace is not the absence of conflict but a deep sense of well-being that comes from God. Even in the most challenging situations, such as life-threatening events or personal crises, God's peace can guard your heart and mind. [51:02]
4. Peace in Relationships: Strife in relationships often stems from selfishness and pride. By focusing on Jesus and allowing Him to guide your interactions, you can experience peace in your relationships. This involves loving others selflessly and seeking to honor God in all your dealings. [16:15]
5. Trusting God in Difficult Times: When faced with insurmountable challenges, trust in God's provision and care. Surrendering your problems to Him and acknowledging your dependence on His strength can bring peace and turn situations around in ways you could never imagine. [23:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:16] - Introduction and Spontaneous Sharing
[37:13] - Encouragement and Holy Spirit's Leading
[38:21] - Preaching on Peace
[40:19] - 1 Corinthians 2:10 and Knowing God
[41:10] - God's Personal Love
[42:17] - Moving from Love to Peace
[43:03] - Galatians 5:16-26: Fruit of the Spirit
[45:33] - Living by the Spirit vs. Flesh
[47:47] - Crucifying the Flesh
[51:02] - Peace Amidst Turmoil
[56:05] - Biblical Definition of Peace
[58:14] - Jesus' Paradoxical Statement on Peace
[01:03:03] - Jesus Calms the Storm
[01:21:20] - Calling on Jesus in Crisis
[01:23:01] - Trusting God in Difficult Times
[01:25:31] - Offering and Conclusion
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:16-26
2. Matthew 10:34
3. Isaiah 9:6
### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 5:16-26, what are the contrasting behaviors between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit?
2. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus mentions He did not come to bring peace but a sword. What does this statement mean in the context of His overall message? [58:51]
3. How does Isaiah 9:6 describe Jesus, and what significance does the title "Prince of Peace" hold in this context? [01:03:03]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "crucify the desires of the flesh" as mentioned in Galatians 5:24, and how does this relate to experiencing true peace? [47:47]
2. How can Jesus' paradoxical statement in Matthew 10:34 about bringing a sword rather than peace be reconciled with His title as the "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9:6? [58:51]
3. The sermon mentioned that true peace is not the absence of conflict but a deep sense of well-being from God. How does this understanding of peace change the way we approach life's challenges? [51:02]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's peace in a difficult situation. How did this experience shape your understanding of peace? [51:02]
2. In what ways can you actively "walk by the Spirit" in your daily life to cultivate the fruit of peace? Consider specific actions or attitudes you can adopt. [47:47]
3. Jesus' message can sometimes cause division, as mentioned in Matthew 10:34. Have you experienced this in your relationships? How did you handle it, and what can you learn from that experience? [58:51]
4. Think about a current relationship where there is strife. How can focusing on Jesus and His teachings help you bring peace to that relationship? [16:15]
5. When faced with a challenging situation, what steps can you take to trust in God's provision and care, thereby experiencing His peace? [23:01]
6. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to find peace. What practical steps can you take this week to surrender that area to God and trust in His peace? [51:02]
7. How can you remind yourself of God's personal love for you daily, and how might this assurance of His love bring peace into your life? [41:10]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Unconditional Love
God knows you intimately and loves you unconditionally. This love is not based on your actions but on what Jesus has done for you. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus, and this profound truth should fill you with peace and assurance. This understanding of God's personal love can transform your life, providing a foundation of security and peace that is unshakable. It is a love that is not earned but freely given, and it is a love that can sustain you through any circumstance.
Reflecting on this truth can help you to see yourself and others through God's eyes. It can change the way you interact with the world, knowing that you are deeply loved and valued by the Creator of the universe. This love is a gift that you can receive and share with others, bringing peace and assurance to your relationships and daily life. [41:10]
1 John 4:16 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt unworthy of love. How does knowing that God's love for you is unconditional change your perspective on that experience?
Day 2: Living by the Spirit
Walking by the Spirit means living in a way that reflects God's love and character. This involves crucifying the desires of the flesh and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your actions and attitudes. True peace comes from aligning your life with the Spirit. When you live by the Spirit, you are empowered to overcome the desires of the flesh and to live a life that is pleasing to God. This alignment with the Spirit brings a sense of peace and fulfillment that cannot be found in worldly pursuits.
Living by the Spirit is a daily choice and requires intentionality. It means seeking God's guidance in every aspect of your life and being open to His leading. It also means being willing to let go of your own desires and to trust that God's ways are higher and better than your own. As you walk by the Spirit, you will experience the fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [47:47]
Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you struggle to live by the Spirit? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in that area today?
Day 3: Peace Amidst Turmoil
True peace is not the absence of conflict but a deep sense of well-being that comes from God. Even in the most challenging situations, such as life-threatening events or personal crises, God's peace can guard your heart and mind. This peace surpasses all understanding and is a gift from God that we receive by trusting in Him. It is a peace that can sustain you through any storm and provide a sense of calm and assurance even in the midst of chaos.
Experiencing God's peace requires a shift in focus from your circumstances to God's presence and promises. It means trusting that God is in control and that He is working all things for your good. It also means surrendering your worries and anxieties to Him and allowing His peace to fill your heart and mind. This peace is not something you can manufacture on your own but is a result of a deep and abiding relationship with God. [51:02]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that is causing you stress or anxiety. How can you shift your focus to God's presence and promises to experience His peace in that situation?
Day 4: Peace in Relationships
Strife in relationships often stems from selfishness and pride. By focusing on Jesus and allowing Him to guide your interactions, you can experience peace in your relationships. This involves loving others selflessly and seeking to honor God in all your dealings. When you prioritize God's love and guidance in your relationships, you create an environment where peace can flourish. This peace is not just the absence of conflict but a deep sense of harmony and unity that comes from God.
To experience peace in your relationships, you must be willing to let go of your own desires and to seek the good of others. This requires humility and a willingness to put others' needs before your own. It also means being quick to forgive and to seek reconciliation when conflicts arise. By focusing on Jesus and allowing His love to guide your interactions, you can create relationships that are characterized by peace and mutual respect. [16:15]
Romans 12:18 (ESV): "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that is currently experiencing strife. What is one specific step you can take to bring peace to that relationship today?
Day 5: Trusting God in Difficult Times
When faced with insurmountable challenges, trust in God's provision and care. Surrendering your problems to Him and acknowledging your dependence on His strength can bring peace and turn situations around in ways you could never imagine. Trusting God in difficult times requires a deep and abiding faith in His goodness and sovereignty. It means believing that God is in control and that He is working all things for your good, even when you cannot see the outcome.
Trusting God also means letting go of your own need to control the situation and to rely on His strength and wisdom. It involves daily surrender and a willingness to follow His leading, even when it doesn't make sense. As you trust in God, you will experience His peace and provision in ways that surpass your understanding. This trust is a powerful testimony to others of God's faithfulness and can inspire them to trust in Him as well. [23:01]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God? How can you take a step of faith today to surrender that area to Him and to rely on His strength and wisdom?
Quotes
1. "But I just want to read just one single verse. Verse 10 says, God has revealed to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. And we've been contemplating, we've been meditating, we've been listening to, studying, thinking about the depths of God, the deeper things of God is one thing to know God. But then, do you know you can know God? Do you know you can know God? Yeah, you can know Him. He's not a mystery. He's not way out there, out there somewhere. He is here." [40:19] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God likes you. He likes being with you. He likes spending time with you. It's just us that sometimes gets, you know, gets wrapped around the axle. And we think we've screwed up so much that, well, obviously God can't love me and He would never like me. And the exact opposite is true. The exact opposite. The exact opposite." [42:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Stop. You're not, you please God. You are. God loves you. He likes you. And you don't have to do anything. I know that's a hard concept for human beings. Because we, we normally, we usually have to do things to make people like us or, you know, put up with us or whatever. You don't have to do anything. He loves you. He likes you." [44:22] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Love. God is love. Peace is based on love. We talked about joy. Joy is based on love. You, you're, how do you get real joy that lasts? You, you do things in him. When you're in him, there will be joy. It'll happen. You don't have to work it up. And it's not based on what the world's going through. It's just based on him. It's on what, who Jesus is." [45:02] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So I don't do that anymore. The way I explain it is, someday when I stand before God, and I'm, I'm, I'm being judged. My life is being judged. He's going to open the book, and he's going to read my name, and he's going to read, wait a second, wait a second. How come, how come there's blood all over these pages? All I see is Jesus' blood. you're in." [49:29] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "He intercedes for us. How is, how is Jesus praying for us? I believe there's only one, I've heard it preached this way too. I believe there's only one thing he's praying for you. Father, he's mine. Father, he's mine. So whatever he prays, whatever I pray, Jesus goes, he's, he, I died for him. He's, he's standing in that gap for you. He's looking, he's looking at you. And so God, when he, when God looks at you, he's looking at Jesus. And Jesus is saying, they're ours." [50:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You can choose the spirit. And as I was meditating about this, I read this and I remembered this verse and I looked it up and I met it. I was thinking about it. And it sounds like it's the exact opposite. And I, you know me, I want to tell you the whole truth and I don't want to leave stuff out. I don't want, I'm not playing a word game here or a theological shell game. There's, there's, there's, there's, there's verses in the Bible that are, you look at them and you go, how does that work?" [58:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "He came to bring us peace. Isaiah nine six is where we get the respond teu unto us a child is born to us a son is given in the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be wonderful counselor mighty god everlasting father prince of peace peace is the prince of peace he is the source of peace he is the he is the the uh sorry the the word just pops into my head primogenitor and it's a huge word but what it means is it comes from him." [01:04:07] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and what does it say I'll fear no evil can evil still happen yes but I don't have to fear it this week as I was meditating on this the i i keep i kept coming to this story and i haven't told this story in a long time some of you i've never heard of some of you haven't heard it for a while but it's the very first time i was ever in europe we were we flew into into belarus and we were going to do a concert that night and uh i play i play the heart of the church and i play the heart of the church and i play the heart of the church harmonica or i actually play blues harp if you know what that means and uh but i play with a blues band and we were going to play and preach the gospel and so on and i had my my case of of harmonicas my my case of harps and and i i had brought a uh uh amplifier to run the microphone through because because the the the amplifier had tubes and it sounds really cool okay you have to take my word for it and i had this amplifier and we took it we got there we're unloading everything into the auditorium and i set my microphone or my my amp up but i had never used that amp outside of just a practice around the house and and that at the practices i didn't know everything about it i do now but i did not know everything about it it had a a switch in the back that had three settings it usually sat in the middle if it was sat in the middle the switch then you were grounded it gave you a ground in the electrical system if you were having feedback from the system you could turn it one way or the other and it would change the polarity which would sometimes take away the the feedback out of the system well i didn't know that somebody had switched it before and i didn't know it was even there and so i had no ground to the through the system still made noise still worked still turn on but i had no ground safe ground i became the ground now if you know anything about europe they have 220 volts which is a little different if you've ever been shocked by 110 you go oh i've been shocked when you get shocked by 220 it sounds like a freight train going through your head and i was holding on to my microphone and somebody asked me for another microphone i reached over and grabbed that microphone and i had 220 volts going across my chest i still have the burn marks in my in my hands where the the electricity went in and where it went out everything went white white wasn't dark it was white everything went white i couldn't all i could see was white and all i heard was like a freight train going through my ears and i couldn't let go of the microphones because my my my muscles clamped around both and all i remember is all i could think of was jesus and i yelled jesus and i fell to the floor and as i fell to the floor i'm not sure which one it was it knocked the micro one microphone out of my hand and the the conducting stopped now there's been many jokes since then they people think i should be a conductor haha but i remember laying on the ground and the first first thought i had in my head was i'm gonna die thought i was dying i knew exactly what was happening i just i'm laying there going i'm gonna die the second thought was there was no fear i mean none zero and i was that's odd remember jesus said that he'll give us the peace that passes all understanding yeah i remember laying there i'm laying on the ground people are gathering around me i'm laying there looking up i'm on the floor looking up at the ceiling and i'm thinking huh could die right now and just step over there was no fear in death none zero it was really amazing to me and then the guy that we were with tommy odell if you've ever heard that name all of a sudden i see his face come over here he goes you okay i said i don't know and he goes well you'll laugh about this one day and he went back peace that's the kind that that even in the midst of that turmoil now it's happened many other times since then when my wife had our son premature the doctor said we're going to try to save your son we're not sure it's 50 50 we're not sure we can save your wife she may she may die and i still remember standing in that that operating room in total peace i can't explain it but even in the midst of all that chaos there was a peace in here and that peace was based on god loves me god loves me god loves my wife god loves my unborn son more than i can ever imagine and there was peace in that moment it doesn't make any sense to us it doesn't it shouldn't make sense but in him being in him there is peace now there have been other times where i've been in the middle of situations it's usually not not not the death ones it's it's usually stuff where i've gotten myself into it and i'm trying to figure it out and i'm trying to solve all the problems where i'm not in peace and that's because i'm trying to do it myself i'm trying to fix it i'm trying to solve it and when you try to solve it well then you're on your own but you rely on him and there's peace completeness safety soundness in body safety soundness and body welfare health prosperity physical needs physical stuff you can be dealing with physical stuff financial stuff welfare health prosperity soundness and peace and there's peace in that moment and there's peace in that moment you you could be dealing with stuff in your body you can there things can be happening to you but you don't have to give over into the fear the intrepidation the the the physical part of it it's in that moment that's the the first thought you should have is jesus jesus help me help us i don't know i know i don't know how to get us out of this i don't know how to solve this the longer you hold on to it the less peace we're going to read the story in just a second about the the disciples in the boat all they were trying to do because they were fishermen they were boat guys they were trying to figure out how to solve it and they weren't in peace they finally they finally yelled jesus and he took care of it and it was outside of their own ability of human relationships uh peace friendship of human relationships with god especially in a covenant relationship in relationships you can in in a marriage just let's just go right for it let's go for marriage in marriage there can be strife and and and division and problems and why is that it's because you're selfish and they're selfish every argument you will ever have with anyone is because of selfishness i want i want i deserve i need and you're not doing it whatever it is well the problem with that is you're trying to solve your need your desire your want and there's no peace in that you want to have peace in your marriage jesus jesus show me how to how to walk in love and usually when you ask him to show you how to walk in love he deals with you and not them i want you to fix her he's not he's not dealing with her for me he's dealing with her for her for her and he's dealing with me for me so if you want to you want to have peace in your marriage you want to have peace between your you and your parents or you and your children jesus show me how to love this kid show me how to love my parent how to respect them and honor them you want to have peace in your marriage show me how because man it's it's selfishness comes in again selfishness and pride why why is there strife between in within your family selfishness pride just reality it just is between you and your friends why is there strife selfishness base base those relationships on jesus and let him deal with you for you and as far as you can go as far as you know as far as you can do you can live peaceful is peaceably with them as far as it is with you and i've talked about the the guy i used to work within the factory and he hated me and i hated him when i came to the lord the lord told me i he says you love him you walk in love towards him he didn't tell him to walk in love with me because he wasn't a believer he told me to walk in love with him he told me to act differently he told me to think differently he told me to respond differently and in that he actually started to put up with me and then he ended up liking me and we'd end up became friends isn't that amazing he was still a heathen peace from war and then peace as an adjective but peace from war i mean war isn't peace no but in the middle of the world there's peace but in the middle of war you can have peace he didn't come to bring peace no war no strife no problems to the earth he didn't come to do that that's what he was saying earlier he says i didn't come to bring peace that kind of peace into the world but he says i did come that whatever you face you can walk in peace you can walk in peace you can be in war i've heard the stories i've never been in war but i've but you can be in those those kinds of situations and there can be peace. I've heard Andrew Womack talk about the day that he was airdropped into a hot zone on top of a mountain. The Viet Cong were coming up all sides and he said he was standing there and he looked out and he went, huh, I could be with Jesus by supper. And he began to minister to those that were freaking out. And he said there was a supernatural peace in that moment. Supernatural. It's not something you work up, I'm brave, I'm brave, I'm brave. No, there's something that just happens to you and you all of a sudden recognize that you're in it. You can be in peace. You can ask for that peace. You can call on that peace. You don't have to wait. Notice it. You're in the middle of it and instead of you trying to figure it out, he said he was issued a sidearm. He never drew it. Because he thought there's guys here that aren't saved and he was just talking to them while they're fighting. And he's talking to them. He was a chaplain's assistant. He wasn't shirking his duty. He was a chaplain's assistant. He was doing his duty. But that's a peace that passes all understanding. And he said about towards the end of the battle, because it went on all day long, he thought to himself, I don't think it'd be cool to die today now. At the end of it, he's like, maybe I don't want to do this. And they were airlifted off the hill. But you can have peace in the middle of it. Mark 4.37, this is that story I kept alluding to all the way through here. Mark 4.37, and a great windstorm arose. And the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. It's going down. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was great calm. And he said to them, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? In the middle of your storm, you can call on him. Father, help me. Jesus, help me. Holy Spirit, help me. You don't have to do it in your own. You get the diagnosis from the doctor. You don't have to stand there and go, I'm going to be strong. No, call Jesus. Jesus, help me. And he helps. When the bills come due, we were joking. I was joking with some of the other pastors. We were having lunch this week and they were talking about, man, your church is just doing so well. There's never any problems. said, well, you haven't walked the 20 years that we've walked. 15 years ago, we used to joke about throwing all the bills up in the air and whichever one stayed up, you pay. We were, it was, we were, we were joking. We were joking. We were We had weekly discussions about closing the doors because there was no money. There was nothing. We were struggling. And there were times I would try to figure it out in my own head, and I would struggle. I struggled a lot. And then the day came when I realized there's nothing I can do about this. And I remember the day I prayed, Father, here's the deal. I can't fix this. This is your church. This is your deal. We're going to shut the doors if we can't pay the bills. I'm not going to not pay another bill. And I wasn't threatening God. This wasn't a threat. You don't threaten God. But you're being honest. I can't do this. I can't solve these problems. Lord, it's your people. It's your place. And everything turned. Everything turned. We at one point had borrowed $50,000 on a line of credit to keep the doors open, to keep the lights on. And we had come to the end. It was like we had taken our last draw of that $50,000. And we had had a conversation as a staff. And we said, we're not taking another penny. If this doesn't turn, this is it. And we'll close it down. And that's when I just came to that realization. There's nothing I can do about this. Lord, this is your place. This is your church. You called this to be here. You called us to be here. We have to trust you. This is your church. And then there was peace. When I came to the end of my life, when we came to the end of ourselves, there's peace. You can come to the end of yourself and say, don't wait that long, okay? You can be smarter than me. You can do that from moment one. And within three months, supernaturally, there was an individual here who he told me later, he said it was always his desire, his dream to give X amount into the offering in one year. And he did it in three months. And we were debt-free in three months. And I didn't even know it existed. I knew he existed, but I didn't. The first few times that amount would come in, I was like, what's the deal? Is this out of nature? And my wife, who does the books, and she doesn't tell me who it is, he told me later who it was. She told me, she goes, this is out of the ordinary. This is not normal. I'm going, glory to God. Glory to God. Because he did it. He put it on somebody's heart. I didn't put any pressure. I don't put pressure on people about money. Did you notice I just switched over to an offering sermon? Because I don't put pressure on anybody. You give what the Lord tells you to give. I believe in the supernatural anointing of God to supply all of our needs. And he does, and he is. Supernaturally, through you, men shall give unto your bosom. As you give today, there's all the ways to give. We don't pass a plate. We don't do any of that. There's a box in the back. You can send it in. You can do it online, however you want to do it. But you do it by faith and with peace. Don't do it out of compulsion. Do it with peace. Amen? Amen. the stuntwoman, please. Come on up. And if you don't know what that reference is, you'll have to ask her out in the foyer. Talitha, the stuntgirl, woman, stuntwoman. You have to turn it
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