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Title: Cultivating the Spirit's Fruit – Peace (FS-4)

Purpose: To instruct God's people how to cultivate the Spirit's fruit of peace, and to motivate them to do
it.
Text: Galatians 5:22-23

Introduction (Read Text. Pray.)

1. In our studies of the fruit of the Spirit, we have already considered the rich spiritual implications of
that carefully chosen phrase. Also we have considered the cultivation of two of the Spirit's fruit -
love and joy.
2. Today we move to consider the cultivation of the next fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Gal 5:22-23:
“the fruit of the Spirit is...peace.”
3. As we consider the cultivation of this fruit of the Spirit, we shall do so under two headings: 1) The
Identity of the Spirit’s fruit of peace, which you are to cultivate, 2) How you are to cultivate the
Spirit’s fruit of peace.

Trans: So first, let us consider….

I. THE IDENTITY OF THE SPIRIT’S FRUIT OF PEACE, WHICH YOU ARE TO CULTIVATE
Preface: But what is this peace, which is the fruit of the Spirit?
A. Well, peace here refers to the absence of sinful anxiety and worry.
1. And how do we know that? Because although the word can mean the absence of war and
dissension on the outside, yet since love and joy are personal traits, then peace must also be
same.
2. Therefore, this peace does not refer to external harmony, but peace within, the absence of
sinful anxiety or worry. Louw-Nida Lex: “a state of freedom from anxiety and inner turmoil.”
3. A good example of how that word is used in that way is Ps 4:8 (READ) – “In peace [same
Greek word in the LXX] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to
dwell in safety.” Although David was being pursued by his enemies, yet, he still could lie down
in his bed in peace, that is, without sinful anxiety.
B. Moreover, this peace, which is the absence of sinful anxiety or worry, does not mean the absence
of concern.
1. There is a proper place for concern, even great concern. For example: 2 Cor 11:28 (READ) –
“Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the
churches.” Paul did not have a stoical and fatalistic indifference towards the problems and
dangers that the churches of Christ were facing. They were matters of great concern to him.
In facing the many problems and dangers the churches were facing, Paul did not sing Doris
Day’s familiar song: "Que Sera, Sera. What will be, will be". He felt the daily pressure of
concern for all the churches and did what he could legitimately do to deal with those problems
and dangers.
2. So when does proper concern become sinful anxiety?
a. When such a concern starts to tear you apart that you cannot focus on anything anymore
and you become virtually useless, then that has become a sinful anxiety. You spend the
whole time reasoning, arguing, considering almost endless possibilities that you cannot do
anything anymore and you become virtually useless. You lie in bed but cannot sleep. You
do not want to speak to anyone. And when someone talks to you, you cannot really listen
because your mind keeps turning and churning. Now that clearly is sinful anxiety.
b. Moreover, when your concern leads to a fretful dissatisfaction of the biblical means
God has made available to you, then that has become a sinful anxiety. For example, if you
cannot afford health insurance because your monthly income is just not enough, and you
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become very dissatisfied about your predicament and fretful about it, then that is sinful
anxiety.
c. In addition, when your concern leads you to use unbiblical and sinful means to achieve a
desired end, then that is clearly sinful anxiety. If you lie, fight, steal, or break any
command or directive in Scriptures because you do not want what you fear to happen,
then that is sinful anxiety.
3. This fruit of the Spirit, peace, is not the absence of concern, even great concern. But this
concern is not a sinful and in ordinate concern. And even when there is great concern there is
still quietness and rest within. There is still peace of soul.

Trans: But having considered the identity of peace, as a fruit of the Spirit, consider with me secondly…
to…
II. HOW YOU ARE TO CULTIVATE THE SPIRIT’S FRUIT OF PEACE
Preface: How are you to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit?
1. If you do not belong to Christ, then you will never have this kind of peace. And whatever
peace you know will only be delusive and short-lived.
a. To have the peace of God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, you got to have first peace with
God.
b. And how you have peace with God? You will have it only by being reconciled to God
through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Rom 5:1 (READ) - "Therefore having been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". How do we
have peace with God? Only through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is when we trust in Christ
alone for salvation that we are justified by faith, and therefore, have peace with God.
c. Then when we have peace with God, then we have the peace of God, which is the fruit of
the Spirit.
d. So let first things be first. Come to Christ in repentance and faith.
2. But what about those who do belong to Christ? What must you do in order to cultivate this
peace which is the fruit of the Spirit?
a. There is one passage of Scriptures that puts it all together for us. And that passage is
Phil. 4:6-9 (READ).
b. The Greek word translated “finally” loipo,n in v 8 has quiet a variety of meanings in
Scriptures. It can mean “finally”, but that is not its only meaning. The same word is
translated elsewhere as “moreover”, “in addition”, “furthermore”, “the rest”, “the
remaining”. And since the subject of peace runs from vv 6-9, then it is best to translate the
word not as “finally” but as “moreover”, or “furthermore”, or “in addition”.
c. Now, in this passage, there are two sets of instructions in the cultivation of peace as a fruit
of the Spirit. The first set are very specific instructions, and we find that in vv 6-7, and the
second set are general instructions, and we find that in vv 8-9. So let us consider both
one at a time.

A. The Specific Instructions – Phi 4:6-7 (READ)

1. I call these instructions specific instructions because they deal with what you must do when
you are actually experiencing or are being tempted to become sinfully anxious.
2. Note that the command here is comprehensive. “Be anxious for nothing” (v 6).
a. Now, that is quite comprehensive. Nothing should ever make you sinfully anxious.
Worrying about something, whatever that might be, is wrong, it is sin, and it should never
be justified or excused. Never.
b. This includes worrying about losing your job, paying the bills, making both ends meet,
health problems, not passing an exam, not getting married or staying married, missing a
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boat or a plane, losing your luggage, the well-fare of your family, the well-fare of your love
ones, etc. The Scripture says, “Be anxious for nothing.”
c. Now, as we have seen, this does not mean that you are not to have any concern about
these matters. This does not mean that you are to have a stoical and fatalistic indifference
about them. No. You must be concern about them. But your concern about these things
should not lead to sinful anxiety. Even when the concern is great, there must still be rest
and quietness within.
3. But how can you avoid being sinfully anxious? Paul, under the infallible guidance of the Holy
Spirit, gives us specific instructions – Note v 6 (READ) – “but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”
a. Note that Paul DOES NOT JUST say, “let your request be made known to God”, as if that
is the only thing you must do. You have to let your request be made to known to God but
that is not all that you must do. Paul specifies, “but in everything by pray and supplication
and with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.
b. And that is vital. If you just rush into the presence of God, let your request be made known
to Him and then rush back out, you will never really enjoy the peace that comes from God.
There are others things that you must do.
c. Now, what are some of those other things that you must do? First, Paul says, “but in
everything by prayer...”
 And the Greek word here for “prayer” proseuch/| is the most general word for prayer.
But since it is distinguished from other elements of prayer like “supplication” and
“thanksgiving”, then it must have reference to the idea of adoration.
 Now, this is a vital element of prayer. You must not just rush into the presence of God,
make your request known, and then that is it. No. In prayer, you must realize who you
are coming to and into whose presence you are entering. You are coming into the very
presence of God, Creator of heaven and earth, Sustainer and Giver of everything,
Ruler and Controller of everything that comes to pass. Now, that realization is vital. It
will set everything into perspective. You will begin to see that your problem is not as
big as it appears. And you are to adore God for who He is. You have come into the
presence of the Great, Awesome, and All-glorious God.
d. In addition to prayer, Paul adds, “supplication”.
 And what is “supplication”? The word is synonymous with “petition” or “entreaty” or
“making a request”. However, this still must not refer to making a direct request about
what you are anxious about because Paul will say that in just a moment, “let your
request be made known to God.” But aside from making a direct request to God about
the things you are anxious about, there are other things you should ask God for in
prayer. What other things? A right attitude towards God. Forgiveness if there has been
any hard thoughts against God. Forgiveness for any lack of faith in God and in the
promises of God. Strength of faith to believe in the goodness, wisdom, and power of
God.
 And this is vital. Prayer is not like entering a grocery store in order to buy whatever
you want to buy and without really the need of relating to the one selling. In prayer,
you are dealing with a Person; you are dealing with the true and living God. Therefore,
your relationship with Him is vital. Your attitude and behavior towards Him is crucial.
How you relate with Him is essential. If your attitude and behavior towards God is not
right, you need to ask for forgiveness. If you have entertained hard thoughts of God,
then you need to acknowledge it and seek His pardon. If you are struggling to believe
in the goodness, wisdom, and faithfulness of God, then you have to admit it and seek
His forgiveness.
e. In addition to prayer and supplication, Paul adds, “with thanksgiving”.
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 Now, this is something that you must add and should never forget. If you simply count
the blessings you continue to receive from God, they are innumerable. No matter how
difficult and trying your situation might be, there are so many things you can thank the
Lord for.
 In fact, you should even thank the Lord for the difficult situation you find yourself in
because God send us trials for our sanctification and growth. Circumstances do not
make us what we are; they only reveal what we are. God puts us in situations that
would unveil what we do not even know about ourselves so that we might call upon
Him to forgive and change us. God is far more interested in our holiness than in our
immediate and temporal happiness. He knows that unless we are holy, we will never
be truly happy. Thus, even James say, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing.” (Jam 1:2-4)
f. Now, after mentioning all those, Paul adds, “let your request be made known to God.”
 And this is vital. If you are concern about the fact that your child might die because of
dengue fever, then ask God to heal your child. If your wife is on a boat on a stormy
night, then ask God to keep her safe and bring her safely home.
 And I emphasized this because some people approach prayer almost fatalistically.
And the reasoning goes like this: since God has already ordained everything that will
come to past, then what is the need to earnestly petition God to do certain things?
Therefore, for them, earnestly praying that God would grant their petition is really a
futile exercise. But that is not Christian.
 The Bible teaches that in terms of God’s involvement in time and providence, our
prayers are the God ordained means to move Him to action. Therefore, our prayers
can and do effectively change the direction or course of things. For when you petition
God, you approach Him on the plane of His involvement in providence, and you seek
to change the situation by calling upon the One who actively orders the world day by
day.
 Jam 5:16 (READ) - "The effective prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much".
Jam 4:2 (READ) - "You do not have because you do not ask". Remember Moses
prayer to God not to destroy the nation of Israel: Exo 32:14 (READ) – “So the LORD
changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.” This
does not mean that God changed His eternal decrees; that can never happen! But in
terms of God’s involvement in time and providence, the prayer of Moses did change
God’s mind. And that prayer of Moses was the means God used in order to fulfill His
eternal decrees.
 Therefore, let your request be made known to God. Humbly and earnestly let God
know what you want Him to do. If your child is sick and could die, ask God to heal him.
If your wife is on a boat on a stormy night, ask God to bring her safely home.
4. And if you do all these, notice what will happen? V 7 (READ) - “And the peace of God which
passes all understanding will guard your mind and heart in Christ Jesus".
a. And to me, this is truly amazing. Paul does not say anything about whether God will grant
your request or not, that is up to God to determine.
 What we think might be good for us, might not really be the case. Remember Paul’s
‘thorn in the flesh’. He asked the Lord three times to remove it but the Lord refused
because that problem is a necessary means to keep Paul humble (2Cor 12:7ff). If the
Lord were to remove it, then Paul will exalt himself in pride because of the surpassing
greatness of revelations he has received from God.
 Moreover, we are often very shortsighted that we can only anticipate the immediate
effect or outcome, not the long range and far removed outcome. When Joseph was
sold as a slave to Egypt, he could not have anticipated the good that would be the
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outcome of it many years later. Rom 8:28 (READ) – “And we know that God causes
all things [not just the good things but even the bad things] to work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
b. But if you do what Paul says you will do, then what will be the outcome? V 7 (READ).
 Now, this is what God guarantees will happen. You will experience this peace of God
which passes all understanding - guarding your mind and heart in Christ Jesus.
 And note that this peace of God, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is incomprehensible in
nature. It is beyond comprehension. You cannot really fully understand it. You will only
know it when you experience it, and after you experience it, it is difficult for you to
describe it - because it is incomprehensible. While there might still be great concern,
and the situation has still not change, yet, there is also rest and quietness within.
 And this peace of God is what will guard your mind and heart in Christ Jesus. It is
what will keep you from being beset by anxious and troubling thoughts. Kennedy:
“The peace of God is the garrison of the soul in all the experiences of its life,
defending it from the external assaults of temptations or anxiety, and disciplining all
lawless desires and imaginations within...”
B. The General Instructions- Phil 4:8-9 (READ) –“Finally” or “In addition”
1. And I call these general instructions because they deal with what you must do even when you
are not beset or troubled with sinful anxiety, but as general course of action.
2. Now these general instructions are vital.
a. Some people do what Paul said earlier about what they should do when they are beset
with sinful anxiety but they do not experience the promised outcome. And others, who
experience the promised outcome, do not continue to enjoy what they have enjoyed.
b. Why? Unless you are seeking to implement the general instructions in Phil 4, you will not
enjoy or cannot continue to enjoy the promised outcome of the specific instructions. In
order to enjoy and continue to enjoy the promised outcome of the specific instructions,
you must also keep the general instructions.
3. And what are the general instructions? The first has to do with your thinking – V 8 (READ).
a. If you fill your mind with lies and anything that is garbage, you cannot expect to enjoy the
peace of God or expect to continue to have it. Therefore, you must let your mind dwell
upon proper and productive thoughts, thoughts that are well-pleasing God, thoughts that
are after God’s thoughts.
b. And what sort of thoughts are they?
 “Whatever thing is true” – as oppose to lies or falsehood that ultimately come from the
devil
 “whatever thing is honorable” – as oppose to anything that is frivolous or anything not
worth to be taken serious
 “whatever thing is right [or just]” – as oppose to what is wrong and what is unjust
 “whatever thing is pure” – as oppose to anything morally impure
 “whatever thing is lovely” – as oppose to anything disagreeable or repugnant
 “whatever thing is of good repute” – as oppose to anything that is not well spoken off
particularly by God’s people
 “if there is any excellence (moral excellence) and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on
these things” – these are the things you must fill your mind with.
c. Unless you fill your mind with these thoughts, and not with the world’s lies and garbage,
you cannot expect to enjoy the peace of God or expect to continue to enjoy it. To
experience and continue to experience the peace of God, you must let your mind dwell
upon proper and productive thoughts.
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4. But there is a second general instruction that Paul adds, which has to do with your walk – V 9
(READ).
a. Paul here presents his teaching and example as a pattern for the Philippians to follow. For
the apostles of Jesus were not only commanded by God to teach the truths of God’s word
verbally but also visually. Therefore, to live according to apostolic teaching and example is
to live according to the word of God.
b. And if you live that way, then what? Paul writes, “then the God of peace will be with you.”
The God who gives peace, will be with them.
c. Therefore, unless you are living according to the word of God, not perfectly but sincerely
and evangelically, then you cannot expect that you will enjoy the peace of God, or that
whatever peace of God you enjoy will continue with you.

Conclusion
1. This peace which is the fruit of the Spirit is not produced magically or mystically. To have this
peace then you must do what God says you must do in order to have it.
a. And remember what great a lost it is if you do not have it. You will be miserable when troubles
come - and never forget that they will come. And without it, you will never be a good witness
for Christ, for you will act like a practical atheist.
b. So to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit. Do what God says you must do in order to have it.
2. But if you are a stranger of the Lord Jesus, you will never be able to have this peace, unless you
come to Christ in repentance and faith. Unless you a reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus
Christ.
a. Isa. 57:20-21: " But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters
toss up refuse and mud. `There is no peace, ' says my God, ` for the wicked'.
b. So I urge you to come to the Lord Jesus. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon
Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,
and let him return to the Lord, for He will abundantly pardon.