April 10, 2008

  • THE FRUITFUL LIFE [#4]

    PEACE
    [Fruit of the Spirit Series #4]
    Gal 5:22-25;  Phil 4:4-9

    INTRO
    •  READ Phil 4:4-9
    •  Joy & Peace are closely related (so review last weeks notes!)...
    •  Peace depends to a great deal on our EXPECTATIONS
    •  Your enemies cannot destroy your salvation or pull you out of the Fathers Hand (Jn 10:29)... BUT they can make you ineffective and miserable and take away your peace and joy!

    1. WHAT IS THE FRUIT?...  PEACE
        •  "Peace" = is confidence and trust in Gods wise control of your life.
        •  Where does peace come from? (prayer w/ thanksgiving)... how can we give thanks while we are still making our requests?... (b/c we trust God!)

    2. THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE (the weed)... ANXIETY
        •  Phil 4:6

    3. THE COUNTERFEIT OF PEACE... APATHY

    4. CULTIVATING PEACE
        •  Phil 4:8-9
        •  Peace comes from knowing and trusting in the truth of the Gospel, from intimacy with God and an assurance of your salvation
        •  FOCUS your heart on who you are in Christ (Psa 42)
        •  DO what you know from Gods Word.
        •  Fighting the WORLD, the FLESH, and the DEVIL
        •  The enemy robs your joy and peace by robbing you of the assurance of your salvation... by getting you to look more at your SINS than your SAVIOR.

    CONCLUSION
        •  I am accepted by God not because of me but because of the love and work of Jesus Christ.  I'm not good enough to be saved... it is only by the mercy of Jesus!  When we REALLY TRUST that, then we have peace.