Fruitful
Living
Peace
Session
3
Introduction
In the Old Testament, peace = shalom - more than an absence of strife, discomfort or unrest:
–
a positive state of “completeness”, “soundness” or “well-being”
(eg Ex
–
to be in harmony with someone (eg Jos
–
to seek the good of a city or country (eg Ps 122:6 “Pray for the peace of
– material prosperity, physical safety (Ps 73:3; Ps 4:8 “I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”)
– spiritual well-being: Is 57:19b-21 “Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord, “And I will heal them.” But there wicked are like the tossing sea which cannot rest…..” “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”)
In the New Testament the Greek eirene carries the same meaning as shalom and nearly always has a spiritual dimension.
The fulfilment of the messianic hope as an age of peace – at the beginning and the end of the earthly life of Jesus: Luke 2: 14, 29 and John 14:27
Gifts of the Spirit are given as an act of grace by God to further his Kingdom.
Fruit
of the Spirit grows out of our relationship with the Spirit: Gal
Growing the fruit: Heb 12: 1-24
1 Live under the New Covenant (v 24)
Peace with God is essential and can only be achieved through Jesus.
In “mediating” the New Covenant, Jesus fully understood God’s case against man under the Old Covenant, and man’s inability to comply with it.
Jesus’s pain on the cross was not merely physical.
2 Live in peace with your neighbours (v 14)
Peace requires action, not acquiescence. To achieve it requires:
- effort
- confrontation
- resolution
3 Live a disciplined life (v 11)
Cultivate peaceful habits – however costly.
Phil 4:4-9
- pray (v 6)
- be thankful (v 6)
- think about the good (v 8)
- do it! ( v9)
Action points
What steps do I need to take:
- to make sure I am at peace with God?
- to make sure I am at peace with my neighbours – especially within PBC?
- to grow the fruit of peace?
- to share the fruit of God’s peace? – Eph 6:15
JKG 11.5.06