Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is ... peace ..."

The Saviour's peace, the divine peace is in contrast with any other kind of peace - the peace that the world gives is under constant threat and is inevitably lost. Adam's fall produced the restlessness. The greatest loss of Eden's garden was peace. Rebellion in the hearts of Adam and Eve brought unrest. Peace lost, brought realisation of its value. The author of unrest is the prince of unrest, the prince of darkness, the destroyer of harmony. Jesus the Prince of peace restores peace. The coming of the Prince of peace was foretold in:-

Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

The Prince of peace was to procure and minister peace for men.

Isaiah 53:5 "... the chastisement of our peace was upon him ..."

Through the chastisement that fell upon Him, the Prince of peace, we have "peace with God" (Romans 5:1 KJV), and more, even the "peace of God" (Philippians 4:7 KJV). The fruit of the Spirit begins with Christ as peace, peace through the blood of the cross then "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14 KJV). A personal, divine ministry within insures peace - who can be restless when He says "PEACE"? Ask the demonic, ask the angry waves of the deep (Mark 4:39 ), ask the passionate Magdalene, ask the Hymn writer:

"Oh, the peace my Saviour gives,
Peace I never knew before,
For my way has brighter grown
Since I learned to trust Him more."

Concerning the fruit of peace, notice:-

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace ..."

This wonderful promise given in one of the darkest periods of Israel's history, describes the peace He gives, as "perfect peace." Christ's peace is perfect harmony reigning within. The original word has in it the idea of soundness - "completeness" of health. To be filled with His peace is to be spiritually healthy - free from discord within the soul. These disturbing factors are banished: jealousy - envy - discontent - temper - selfishness - pride - intolerance - harsh criticism. His peace fills the soul.

He does not give imperfect peace as the world gives. The kind of peace that is imperfect is:

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The Peace Of Ignorance

Imagining all is well.

Jeremiah 6:14 "... Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

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The Peace Of Stagnation

The pool may be calm - underneath it is foul and green. Judgment will stir it up and reveal it for what it is.

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The Peace Of Dependence

Dependence on something or someone in this world. How unsatisfactory - it will fail, or the person may die.

In wonderful contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is peace, "perfect peace". The fruit of the Spirit is perfect because it is rooted and grounded in His love (Ephesians 3:17 ). The world's peace is unstable, built on the sand, having no foundation it falls before the storm (Matthew 7:24-27 ).

The Authorised Version margin renders Isaiah 26:3 "peace, peace" (Isaiah 57:19 NKJV) in other words, double peace. It is sufficient and exactly meets our needs. Peace to garrison our minds and peace to calm our hearts.

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

We get to know the "peace of God" when we get to know "peace with God".

Job 22:21 "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace ..."

The fruit of the Spirit "peace" fed by knowledge of God, grows into perfect peace.

The whole of our Lord's life was characterised by an abiding and unchanging peace that nothing could disturb.

Mark 4:37-40 "And there arose a great storm of wind, ... 38 And he was ... asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, ... 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, ... 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?"

The great calm on the sea of Galilee, so recently storm-ridden, was as nothing to the great calm that dwelt in His own heart during all that wild and tempestuous scene.

(Mark 5:35-42 ). They came with news of despair. "Your daughter died". Why trouble Jesus any more? Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36 KJV). We see on the part of others, the hopeless despair - excessive grief - tumult - But on the part of Jesus, perfect calm - peace - and confidence.

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

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."

He could speak of His peace when on the way to the cross, and comfort His disciples - with the promise of His own peace. The peace of Christ is vividly demonstrated in the dark hour of the treachery of Judas, and so to follow the denial of Peter, and the abandonment by the disciple team - but His peace remained and He was able to offer it to others, so vast was the flow. His soul was "exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death." (Matthew 26:38 KJV). But underneath all the agony experienced as SIN-BEARER, was the deep, harmonious undertone of perfect peace. "Not as I will, but as You will."

The agony and forsakenness could not remove the perfect trust and peace.

Matthew 27:50 "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit."

His earthly life and mission ended in a glorious burst of triumphant peace. "It is finished." His peace demonstrated and proved, He gives to us. It is His peace in us.

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, ... through Christ Jesus."

John 14:27 "... my peace I give unto you: ..."

This peace of God is derived through Christ Jesus. Only the believer possesses this peace. Peace through "the blood of the cross" brings His peace through His indwelling. The Holy Spirit produces this lovely fruit in us; His gift of peace is realised by possessing Him.

The promise in Isaiah 26:3 is "He will keep".

Psalm 121:4 "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

His Word is sure. How we love His Word and this again guarantees peace. Note the GREAT PROMISE in:

Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

A better rendering is "nothing shall disturb them." The secret of undisturbed and maintained peace - love for and obedience to God's Word. By thinking His Word and letting it dwell in us richly, peace is never intermittent, but always constant and sure (Colossians 3:15-17 ).

Again, Isaiah shows there is perfect peace in experience when the "mind" is stayed on the Lord.

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

As the line of the Hymn says,

"Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blessed,
Finding as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest."

Let the Lord settle all questionings.

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts ..."

The Greek word for "rule" here is 'brabeuo'. It means, to be an umpire, to arbitrate, direct and govern. (To decide in a conflict between contending forces) - it is only used here. When you allow peace to reign in your heart imparted and flourishing through the Spirit, you will enjoy and know the will of God. Do nothing nor go anywhere that is not permitted by His peace in your inner heart. The fruit of the Spirit "peace" brings new meaning to the expression of good will in the words "Go in peace." We should be thankful for the protecting, discerning, directing government of His peace.

Let the Lord make you effective against the enemy.

Romans 16:20 "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly ..."

The peace of Christ is an aggressive weapon against the enemy of your soul. The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. You will be wonderfully effective against Satan, as the prince of peace reigns within. How frustrating and devastating is perfect peace to the enemy's wiles and attacks, because this is no passive peace, but a peace that expresses itself in joyous thankfulness. (Colossians 3:15 ) Peace and praise crush and defeat the enemy. The fruit of the Spirit is peace. By pervading our lives it is a joy to God - a pleasure to ourselves - and a blessing to others.