Peace

The verse above is proof the fruit of the Spirit depends on our relationship to God and not on outward circumstances.

Peace includes the absence of dread, fear, pain, pressure, frustration. All of these were pressing on the Lord Jesus as He spoke of His peace.

We need to think much about this. The world is in tumult today. The tumult is likely to increase. Added to this is the invasion of demon spirits and the lowering of walls against them so the behavior of people is increasingly depraved. The exhibitions of lust and perversion on the part of so many American people is troubling to Christians, even though the Christians themselves are not serving Jesus as they know they should.

As the moral behavior of notable people is uncovered there is a cry for forgiveness, especially from some outstanding Christian pulpits. Such proponents of forgiveness are missing the point. The need is not for either accusation or forgiveness. The need is for a change in the moral climate of America. Such change will be accomplished only as the preachers keep announcing what the New Testament says about sin.

We of America must repent. This does not mean primarily that we express sorrow for our sins or the need for forgiveness. It means we turn from our wicked ways. And the preachers must lead the parade.

As we said, Christian people, even the lukewarm, are troubled by the moral antics of our society. Dedicated believers find themselves thinking constantly about the evil and expressing indignation. This is exactly what Satan desires. He wants our minds cast down from the heavenlies and filled with his desires in the earth. He wants to destroy our peace!

Survival in the future will depend in part on our learning to live above the actions of society.

We absolutely must give attention to praying in the Spirit, thinking in the Spirit, speaking in the Spirit, acting in the Spirit; for peace is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace, . . . . (Galatians 5:22—NIV)

As we seek to behave in the Spirit of God, to live in accordance with the Spirit, having our minds set on what the Spirit desires, keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, having our attention resolutely fixed on the Lord Jesus at all times, we find the following admonition of the Apostle Paul to be helpful:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8—NIV)

We are to think about whatever is true. Most of what is presented in the American media is a lie; not a lie about what things look like, what they weigh, what color they are, when and where an event took place. The lie concerns the meaning and value of relationships, things, and circumstances.

To be continued.