Two Pictures
Two painters each painted a picture to
illustrate his concept of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone
lake among far-off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering
waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a
branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest. The
first was only Stagnation; the last was Rest. For in rest there are two
elements—tranquillity and energy; silence and turbulence; creation and
destruction; fearfulness and fearlessness. —Drummond[1]
Scripture
Text:
Gal. 5:16 So I say,
live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the
sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that
you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of
rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us
not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
What
is Peace? From
the American Heritage Dictionary.
peace (pës) —n.
1. The absence of war or other hostilities.
2. An agreement or treaty to end hostilities.
3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: They
made peace with each other. 4.
Public security and order: disturbing the peace.
5. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.
From the Lectionary: Eirene
{i-ray'-nay} Peace
AV - peace 89, one 1, rest 1, quietness 1;
92
1) a state of national tranquility 1a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war
2) peace between individuals, i.e.
harmony, concord 3) security,
safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things
safe and prosperous)
4) of the Messiah's peace
4a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)
5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of
a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from
God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
6) the blessed state of devout and upright
men after death
Peace is not the absence of trouble, but
the presence of God. J.
Oswald Sanders Peace is that
quiet assurance that everything is going be all right.
By me.
I remember hearing of a young man who went to a minister
of Christ in great distress about his spiritual state. He said to the
minister, "Sir, can you tell me what I must do to find peace?" The
minister replied, "Young man, you are too late." "Oh!"
said the young man, "you don't mean to say I am too late to be
saved?" "Oh, no," was the reply, "but you are too late to
do anything. Jesus did every thing that needed to be done twenty centuries
ago." --The Wonderful Word
1.
Peace is a gift from God. This is
a gift from God, which indicates a soul that has been surrendered to Him.
Peace indicates a presence from above.
Peace shows that the Prince of Peace has come.
This is a fruit that comes from Christ who makes peace between us and
God.
Luke 2:13
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace to men on whom his favor rests."
2.
Peace is a result of salvation.
Salvation
is bringing together of God and human kind.
Christ brings us together with God.
Rom.5:1 Therefore being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
3.
Peace indicates the presence of the Prince.
Peace is a gift from God to
those who have trusted Him. Peace
is a gift from God to those who have heard His call and go as He has
commanded.
Phil.
4:7 The peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
4.
What does the absence of Peace show or indicate?
- It
shows that one does not know the Lord in his or her life.
It shows that the Prince of Peace is not
present.
Isaiah 48:22
"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."
- It
could also show that there is a spiritual battle taking place.
Jesus experienced this battle when He went to
the cross.
Luke
12:49 "I have come to bring
fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a
baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51 Do you
think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From
now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three
against two and two against three.
5.
To Continue in Peace as a Christian keep your mind on Christ.
Isaiah
26:3 You will keep in perfect
peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. 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.
6.
To Enjoy His Peace Go with Him as He has sent you.
Make
peace by giving the Son who is the Prince of Peace. Peace comes from Him. Give
Him and give peace.
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace
be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with
that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Peace is a product of His presence in your life.
Are you at Peace? Trust in Him today!
[1]Tan,
P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of
Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and
Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.