Sermon Tone Analysis

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(NKJV) — 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

Against such there is no law.

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Today we continue in the fruit of the Spirit.

So far we have looked at love and joy and now we go onto peace.

Today we continue in the fruit of the Spirit.

So far we have looked at love and joy and today, we are looking at peace.

It is the fruit of the Spirit to have peace.

Each part of the fruit is interconnected with the rest.

This is why it is not called the fruits but the fruit (singular) of the Spirit.

Ειρηνη (Eirene) is the Greek word for peace where we get the names Irene and Irena.

Biblical peace covers the whole realm of the subject of peace which are:

1. Relationships that are free from disputes.

Peace is the opposite of war and conflict though slightly more than that: it is rest on all sides.

It is order and harmony and concord.

It is being reconciled with God and with others.

2. A peaceful state is a blessing and favour from God that comes from Him alone.

3. Peace is the absence of mental stress or anxiety which only comes when we understand salvation.

It is serenity and calm within oneself.

Not a small subject, then, is peace.

For us the most important of these is reconciliation with God which makes us at peace with Him and He with us.

We find this in

We are reconciled with God and therefore we are at peace with Him and He with us.

The bible says in:

It is this peace that makes all other peace possible.

(NKJV) — 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

(NKJV) — 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

We read from that says God is our peace and because of it we have access to God - and this can only be through the blood of Jesus.

(NKJV) — 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Here it is talking about the differences between Jews and Gentiles.

It was surprising to the Jews that other people could also know God but this was only achievable at the cross.

Now both Jews and Gentiles can come directly to God into the Holy of Holies by the blood of the lamb.

True peace is not found in any other nor can we receive it from another.

God is the author of peace.

It follows that since we have a God who is peace we also should be those who are peaceful.

(NKJV) — 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Of course, this is talking about order in the Church, which is a form of peace, but it is clear that God is peace.

God is love.

And God is also peace.

Jesus said:

It, therefore means that we should also be those of peace.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:

(NKJV) — 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Or said another way; since we are sons of God we are also peacemakers.

If we are not a person of peace with others it maybe it is because we are not at peace with God.

There are things that can get in the way of having peace with God especially if we are out of fellowship with Him.

Confess your sins to Him and you will gain peace.

Leave the old life behind.

We heard this morning that the new and old do not mix.

This is true of having peace with God - it is not possible if we are living lives disobeying Him.

It should be that we are always at peace with God and that we should reflect His nature in us.

We should be filled continually by His Spirit, in developing our relationship with God building upon the fact we have peace with God because we are reconciled to Him.

This He did by sending Jesus to shed His blood.

This blood has paid the penalty for our sin.

This should then work out in our lives.

What we believe should have a practical outworking but it requires us to work:

(NKJV) — 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(NKJV) — 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Having peace with God is the first step to having peace with others and keeping that peace requires a bit of work on our part: We are to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace () and...

(NKJV) — 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

(NKJV) — 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(NKJV) — 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(NKJV) — 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(NKJV) — 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(NKJV) — 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

(NKJV) — 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Peace reaps peace.

All the verses I have just read and others beside have active words associated with them: Depart from evil, do good, seek peace, pursue peace, flee lust, call on the Lord, sow peace, and live in peace.

Being peaceful builds our relationship with God and with each other.

Peace with others depends very much upon the peace we keep with God.

If our relationship with God suffers our relationships with others suffer too.

If we are offended or if we give offence we are to go and sort it out with the person concerned.

Peace is important.

Peace reaps peace.

All the verses I have just read have active words associated with them: Depart from evil, do good, seek peace, pursue peace, flee lust, call on the Lord, sow peace, and in another verse it says ‘live in peace’.

Peace with others depends very much upon the peace we keep with God.

If our relationship with God suffers our relationships with others suffer too.

If we are offended or if we give offense we are to sort it out with the person concerned.

The onus is upon us to go sort it out with our brother or sister.

If we pursue lust then we are sowing corruption and division instead of peace.

Instead we are told to flee lust.

Our best example in Scripture about fleeing this kind of temptation is Joseph who literally ran out of the house.

Lust are idols that replace God and put something in His place.

All these contribute to a lack of peace within us, between God and us and between others and us.

God wants us to have peace:

However, for those who are not God’s sons:

, (NKJV) — 17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea… 22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”