Tis the Season to be...Peaceful

Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 01 December 2001 19:00

Galatians 5:16-25

"(16) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (17) For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (19) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; (20) idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (21) and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

We're working our way through a series of lessons which we are calling "Becoming the Person That You Always Wanted To Be" and we're looking at a monumental, mind-altering passage of scripture from Galatians 5, where God, speaking through the apostle Paul, gives us a snapshot of what it looks like to be the person that we always wanted to be and he lists what he calls the "Fruit of the Spirit" and the third one of those that he lists is the fruit of "peace", and we're talking about that this morning.

Now I am so very glad that you are here with us today. This is an exciting time to be in church, period. But it's a very, very exciting time I believe to be part of Gateway and if you are visiting today, thank you so much for coming. This is a great time to be locking into our congregation. I'm going to be telling you why; I'm going to be making an announcement about that in a minute.

But we're glad that you made the Herculean effort to be here today, and we believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this room is occupied not by accident . We believe that we are all here by design. That you have come here today to hear something from God about peace. That may be because you need to communicate that to someone else, it may be because there's unrest in your life.

So let me give you a road map for what we are going to be doing this morning and I'm going to give that especially for our boys and girls. I'm really glad that our young people are in here today. One Sunday a month we like to have our young people in with us because we want them to see what we do in here when we're all together. The other three or four Sunday's a month we have them in the back and it's awesome and they have a great time back there, but one Sunday a month we want to have them in here with us. So I want to say a couple of words to our young people who are in here with us today. I'm assuming that you have already used the bathroom so that means you can sit tight. And here's the problem, when you're up and down and we're trying to do what we do in here, it makes it hard for us to listen. So I want you to do your best to lock in today to what I am saying, but you know what, there are a couple of places where if it gets a little boring you can tune out just a little bit. Maybe you could even doodle on your program, that's okay with me, but I'm going to give you a road map of what we are going to do today and I'm going to tell you especially the places where you need to lock in. Are you ready?

The first thing that we're going to do is just kind of give a general introduction. I'm not even talking about what I'm doing right now. Right now it's just me talking because I love to hear myself talk! I'm going to give a general introduction, and then we're going to give what the Bible means by the word peace, so we're going to give a definition of that word peace. And then we're going to look at what the real source of peace is. Now I'm giving this both because you guys are in here today so you can follow me, but also because we are taking a circuitous route today, we're going a round about. I usually like to have things one fall right after the other and we reach a great big climax, but that's not exactly how it's going to work today. We're going to go a little bit a round about. We're going to give the definition of peace and then we're going to talk about the source of peace and then we're going to wind it all up and during that source of peace, boys and girls, there's going to be a certain point we're I want you to really listen up. Because right in the middle of that section I'm going to tell you what may be the most important thing you'll ever hear. Now my apologies to the people who are in my home fellowship, this is one of the problems with being in small group with the pastor. You get to hear the same lesson twice in one week, so I'm sorry. But we're going to do that again, and I want you to listen up and I'm going to say, you know what I often say, I'm going to say if you've missed everything else don't miss this. And it's going to be a really, really, really important thing, and I'm going to want you to listen up and tell your parents about it later. And the very last thing we're going to do, and I'm going to want you to listen to this too, because you're going to want to ask your parents these. I'm going to give you some self-evaluation, self-examination questions, so we can check up on ourselves on this business of having God's peace.

Now one of the things that the church has historically done for centuries, is that at a certain point in almost every service, churches will say pass the peace of Christ to one another. And there is a ritual way of saying that, which represents a long history of God dealing with us as a people together and with us as individuals. One person says, "Peace of the Lord be with you", and the other person says "Also with you". And as I've said many times there are other ways of doing that. One person can say "Hello, how ya doing", and the other person says?..what ever you want to. So I want you to quickly stand and pass Christ's peace to one another and it's phenomenal that we get to do this today, because this is what we are talking about today. Stand and pass Christ's peace to one another.

We're going to spend eight weeks together locking into one passage of scripture and one of the reasons that we're doing this, and boys and girls I want you to hear this, one of the reasons we're doing this is because Mr. Robinson back there who's running the PowerPoint, he has occasionally complained to me, (which is very unusual for Mr. Robinson), he has occasionally complained to me and others have as well, saying Mr. Allen you stand up there on Sunday mornings and you say a lot of good things and we go over it and it's really good and we hardly have time to apply it to lives and really think about it and it's another week and you're saying more good things. So that's why we're going to spend several weeks trying to lock in on one passage of scripture, because the Bible is so amazing, that you can really spend a lifetime kind of drilling down on one spot, on one section of scripture. Now it's better not to do that, but it's just so rich you can keep mining it for more and more resources.

That's what we're doing with this passage of scripture in Galatians 5. And really over this whole series of lessons we're trying to make one point, and we're making it from a lot of different directions and a lot of different ways, but we're really making one point, so don't miss this. The point we're making is, the absolute key to being the people that you and I want to be. Now for some of you this is kind of new. For others of you this is just a reminder, but we cannot say it to one another enough. The key to being the people that you and I want to be is to be living in lock step with God's spirit that inhabits us. It's to be living in lock step with God's spirit that inhabits us. We've used the image before of an operating system in a computer. And God makes such a claim on your life and mine that he says I want you to trade in that old operating system which is doing things your way, I want you to install a brand new operating system with a whole different set of software. It's called living under the Spirit, living under the impulse of God, being in complete dependence on God and as you learn to live under that new operating system, as you learn to navigate it, as you learn it's capabilities, as you learn how to negotiate it's software, more and more by concentrating on that, you'll be the person you want to be. As a by-product of that, you try to aim directly at being the person you want to be, you know Victor says "man I need to be more loving", so he figures out 25 ways to be more loving, and at the end of it you know what happens? Three weeks later there's another water stain on his ceiling. That's not how we get there, you know we've said you take the indirect route and the indirect route is locking in to the activity of God's spirit in your life, so with that in mind, we're going to read that passage again.

Galatians 5:16-26

"(16) So I say, live by the Spirit and you won't gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (17) For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."

They are mutually exclusive. They don't operate effectively along side one another, so that you do not do what you want.

Galatians 5:18-26

"(18) But if you live by the Spirit, you are not under law."

"(19) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: Sexually immorality, impurity and debauchery; (20) idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (21) and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

"(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (26) Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Father, I pray that you will apply your words to our hearts today. We're not going to get this unless you break open our hearts and break open your word and apply the one to the other, so Lord, we pray today for that miracle. That you would break it open and let us see it and feel it, and experience it and walk it out in a new way. In the strong name of Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Okay, so much for the general introduction. I am going to move to the meaning of the word peace, but before I do let me take a quick break and offer a little advertisement. You know it happens every 15 minutes on television, so let me offer a quick advertisement. I said a minute ago that this was a great time to be locking into Gateway, and it really is.

One of the things that we are involved in right now at Gateway, and have been for a few months, is writing our Charter, which is our organizational diagram that's how we're going to be organized, how we are going to be run. It's a legal document, but it's also a spiritual document for us.

We spent some weeks going over that and talking about it together. I've had individual conversations with many of you, we had we called the Charter road show where we went to the different home fellowships and presented the charter and then got lots of comments. We have made some very helpful and important corrections and additions to it and within the next week and a half it will be out again, the final copy, and what I'd like to do, we had thought originally we would vote on it in November, but decided instead it would really be perfect and poetic to vote on it the first Sunday in the New Year.

So on January 6 we're going to launch 2002 and beyond, by having a vote on our Charter service. On January 6 we are sort of launching Gateway. At least Chapter 2. It's going to be thrilling and exciting I think, what God is going to do in our midst. So those of you who are visiting today please know that this is a great time to say, you know, I'm in. I like what I see.

One of the things that we are going to do in response to this Chapter 2 is we're going to have a Charter celebration service. So sometime, late January, maybe January 27th that's the initial target date, we want to have a service of celebrating our new Charter. Now that's a all-hands-on-deck service. That's a time for us to kind of relaunch Gateway, to say again to folks around us, family and friends, hey there's something special happening here, come check it out. So you'll be hearing more about that and some of you need to sign up and help us organize that and make it happen, in particular. We want to make a really great celebratory event to announce that we're here. To congratulate ourselves and what God has done among us. It gives me an opportunity to thank you and gives us an opportunity to invite the community, to come look in at what God is doing.

I've asked Crystal C. and Chris W., if they would, to head this up. So speak to one of them if you want to help with this. We're going to need everybody. Those of you heading up teams forewarning, challenging time coming up. It's going to be exciting. End of announcement. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

The meaning of the word peace. Interestingly, the word that the Bible uses that we translate peace has almost exactly the same range of meaning that our English word peace does. For instance, it can mean the opposite of war. We're in a time of peace. For instance, Luke 12:51:

Luke 12:51

"(51) Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."

I was fascinated as I surveyed the 91 instances in which this word is used in the New Testament. There's really only two times when it clearly means that, as far as I can tell. Somebody else survey that this week and let me know if you find more, but I was surprised to see how seldom it's used with that meaning in the New Testament.

Another meaning is simply "order" as in the same way we would use the word: Can I have a little peace here please?! It's used that way in 1 Corinthians 14:33, but again surprisingly, that was the only incident in the New Testament in which I found it had exactly that meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:33

"(33) For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."

Primarily, it means two other things, which it also suggests to us when we use it in English. First, there's there overall sense of well-being, the sense of security, the sense of wholeness with people around us, in the world around us. For instance in Acts 9:31 it means literally physical security. In Luke 11:21 the same word is actually translated "to be safe".

Acts 9:31

"(31) Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace."

Luke 11:21

"(21) When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe."

It's often used in this way in connection with healing. There are many times in the New Testament, when Jesus healed people and he said "Your faith has made you well. Go in peace". and he means with a sense of God's wholeness. Go with a sense of well-being. Go with a new found sense of safety and security.

Specifically with healing there are also many instances in which Jesus used it in exactly this way toward his followers, especially as he got toward the end of his life. He was telling them about his impending death. All these traumatic events that were about to come, but he said look, "In the world there is trouble, but in me you can have peace. Don't be afraid, be at peace". And this is what he means, John 14:27, John 16:33.

John 14:27

"(27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 16:33

"(33) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

And then lastly, this word peace can mean relational harmony, at peace with one another. It's used that way in Romans 14:19, Ephesians 2:14-15 and many other places. Interestingly, only one reference, 2 Peter 3:14, it's used to have that kind of peace relational harmony with God himself.

Romans 14:19

"(19) Let us therefore made every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

Ephesians 2:14-15

"(14) For he himself is our peace, who had made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (15) by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations... "

2 Peter 3:14

"(14) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."

Okay, so where does this kind of peace come from. You and I really, at a certain level, are convinced that peace comes in our life from the right arrangement of circumstances. You know I'm just so worried because I don't have a job and you know the current employment climate. There's just so much difficulty at home between the husband and I, there's no peace in my life. I heard some really bad news from the doctor or my eldest heard some really bad news from the doctor. Shatters, destroys our sense of peace. And we're convinced, at a certain level, you and I are convinced that the way to reclaim our sense of peace is to have the right arrangement of circumstances.

You need to know this morning, that the Bible could not disagree with you more. Now you may be right, but just know that if that's your operating assumption, you need to know that you completely disagree with the Bible.

The Bible suggests to you that there is a root cause for the lack of peace in my life and your life when we experience it. In fact, the Bible would suggest to you and I that life, being as it is, we'll never be able to keep the circumstances of our life completely in balance all the time. It's not going to happen. And whenever it does happen in those rare glimpses of moments when all the circumstances in our lives seem to come together. The kind of peace that creates is so incredibly fragile. It's a house of cards and as soon as anyone of those cards is removed, all the cards, the house, the sense of peace, come tumbling down.

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6 don't worry about anything, but take your worries, the Bible says, to God. Present your problems to God.

Philippians 4:6-7

"(6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

He's acknowledging you've got problems; deep serious problems. Some of you this morning are coming in with shoulders slumped. Some of you this morning are dealing with heavy problems. Heavy situations in your marriage. Heavy problems in your work environment. Some of you this morning are coming in with health issues. Even in a room this small there are huge problems. Burdens that we're bearing.

God doesn't say there aren't any problems, come to me and there are no problems. Jesus said "in the world you'll have trouble, but in me you can have peace". And Paul says in Philippians 4:6 take your worries to Him, deposit them with Him with Thanksgiving. Thank you God that I can deposit that problem with you. And then the result is, Paul says, the peace of God.

Incredible phrase right here "that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Don't continue to work your brains out at trying to arrange your circumstances right in life. Do you know what you are doing? You are rearranging furniture on deck of the Titanic! It's going down! You need another source of peace and that source of peace is locking in to the activity of God in your life.

I said I was going to tell you something that's critically important this morning, maybe more important, and boys and girls now is the time to start listening. Maybe more important than anything you have heard. The Bible tells us that our natures, that's that sinful nature, that old operating system, that old way of doing things, not locked into God, it's in conflict with the new system, what Paul calls "living by the spirit". They are in conflict with one another.

In another passage Colossians 1:21, Paul calls us, when we are operating under this system, "enemies of God". That's an offensive phrase! If you talk to most people about God, you go out and ask most people this afternoon, who are out cutting their grass because it's been so unbelievably warm for the last two weeks - what happened to Christmas? - Anyway, if you go talk to those folks, do you believe in God? Yeah, I believe in God. Do you know that the Bible says that if you are operating over here you're an enemy of God? I'm not an enemy of God! The Bible says in fact that you are:

Colossians 1:21

"(21) Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."

Listen to this. It's amazing and it's incredible. We're going to get, in a minute, to that core of the gospel that you cannot miss. But let me set it up. Now I'm convinced, the Bible teaches us, that God has established a moral law into the framework of the universe. I believe you have heard me say this before. I'm convinced that that law is as powerful and potent and universally true as say, for instance, the law of gravity. And you know what the law of gravity is, if I pick this up and let it go, this little body of mass will move to meet this much bigger body of mass that we call the planet. So if I let it go, it will fall. It's the law of gravity. The reason they call it the law of gravity, is because everywhere in the universe, that same principle is in operation. The apostle Paul in Romans 8 talks about a different law. He calls it the law of sin and death. And this is the law, he explains it for us. He says the law works like this. You sin and you die, forever, you are away from God! That's the essence of the bad news. You sin and your life disappears for eternity! You live in a nothingness. That's what Jesus came to announce! The wages of sin are death, Paul says.

Romans 8:1-4, 6

"(1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,(2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, (4) in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

(6) The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit? The mind of sinful man is death?"

Well that's the bad news. You and I are under a law. So, if Terri is operating under that old system, Terri is bound to spend an eternity in death. Forever. Isolated, separated from that which she wants to be - in union with God.

There is some good news. The word that the Bible uses "gospel", in fact, that word literally means good news. There is good news. And the good news is not that God is so loving he forgets about that. That's what some people would like to think.

You talk to some people about death, or about judgment and they say, I thought God was loving. You know, my response to that is often, are you loving? They usually say yes. Are you also just and fair? Well sometimes. Do you ever get angry for a good reason? Yes of course I do! Well, what makes you think that God's personality is any less complex than yours! God is loving, but he is also just! He's also fair and by his character God has created the universe in such a way that sin meets consequences. And to not have it be that way would be God violating His own character and His own sense of justice. So here's the absolutely critical point that you can't miss.

I've known people who have been in churches for years and years and they don't know this, so boys and girls you get to hear it today and if you've missed everything else, and not just today but for the last six months, if you've missed everything else, don't miss this.

The people who wrote the Bible, their lives were so turned upside down and revolutionized by their encounter with God, that they used images to describe, just like we do, you know I talk about operating systems, they used images to describe the radical transformation that had happened in their heart and one of their favorite images was the image of salvation. As if they were lost and dying and someone came and rescued them and saved them. The use of that image is all over the Bible, but don't miss this, you are not saved from the devil. You and I are not even in the strictest sense of the word saved from our sins, even though the Bible talks about being saved from sin, but what it really means is saved from the penalty of sin. That's what you and I think, we're saved from the devil. It's not saved from the boogeyman, it's not even saved from our sins, you not what you're saved from? God! You are saved from the wrath of God!

God says when there is sin there is death to pay. And I can't change that, it's built in to the fabric of the universe, it's an expression of my character. Well, God had a problem, because His justice was at odds with His love. And so God solved that problem by taking our sin on Himself. God solved that problem by dying our death. God solved that problem by overcoming the penalty that we had to bear.

And the releasing the resources of life to us and what has He released? Wow! Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He has released those things to us as we live in lock step with His spirit. That's the core of the gospel. That's what Paul was trying to communicate to these Galatian Christians.

You know this group of Christians were entertaining the idea that there were other ways to get to God. They were talking about living in the law, doing good things. Going and being circumcised, which was a symbol of becoming a Jew and then following the law. They talked about that as if that's what the essence of religion was. Paul made it thunderously clear - that's not what religion is! Religion is living in lock step with God's activity in our heart. In lock step with God's activity in our lives. Like Paul says in Romans 5:1:

Romans 5:1

"(1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[1] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"

The core of the gospel? Tap into God, by connecting with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is available to you. And all that separates you from Him has been overcome in Christ. It is that simple. But as Craig is want to say, it is not easy.

One final word in this connection. Those of you this morning, who have made that decision, that's a part of your life. You're a believer. I want you to be thankful this morning. I want you to be thankful because of the peace that really is a fruit of your life.

You know what I suspect is true for many us? We've so grown accustomed to living out the peace that passes all understanding, that the slightest little fissure in it we recognize as a complete lack of peace. You are used to the background noise of God that you don't even recognize any longer how incredibly peaceful it does make you feel in spite of circumstances. Good and bad. God's peace is guarding your hearts and minds.

Some of you, I know your stories, some of you over the last 10 years have been through moments, some of you have been through seasons of hell and you are still here! You are still here! And that's because God has guarded your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus! He's guarded you with His peace. Be thankful.

The interesting thing about this passage is, he talks about the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives and he doesn't say, there's this tree out there that's God, and it's got a bunch of different fruit on it, so go out when you're not feeling very patient, you need some patience, go out to God's tree and pick that fruit of patience and then try to bite into it. When you're not feeling very kind, go out to find God's tree and pick the fruit of kindness and bite into it. No, it's very different and much more wonderful. The Bible tells us that this is the fruit of OUR lives. This is the fruit that's manifested in our lives. Sometimes in ways, and at times, that we don't even get, we don't even understand.

I had a guy a number of years ago, who was part of our former church, said to me that one of the reasons he became a Christian was because of me. Which was shocking and amazing to me. And in a later conversation, I said what was it about me that made you become a Christian? I kind of wanted to congratulate myself! And he said, you're so humble and so kind. Can I tell you, those are two words I would have never used to describe myself? I was overwhelmed! I left that conversation?. my only response? thank you, God.

Okay, last stop on our route this morning are self-examination questions. What do we ask ourselves in response to this?

I'm convinced that underneath this desire for the right arrangement of circumstances is really an even deeper desire. Sometimes the solution to the problem is a distance away from where the problem actually manifests itself. I'm want to suggest to you and me that there is a problem underneath the problem, that's underneath our wrong pursuit of peace. I want to suggest to you and me that underneath our desire to have the right circumstances arranged rightly in our lives, I think there are two basic needs, two basic drives that are pushing us forward. One is the need for control, need for security. Another is the desire for applause and recognition.

Hey, look at me! If I can just have these circumstances arranged and people will look at me and say wow, what a great guy Joe is. I'll get the applause?. if I just had the right job so that people would pat me on the back and give me enough money so I could move out to one of those big ranches on Route 50.

So a couple of self-examination questions for you and I this morning.

To what degree does the need for control compete with and inhibit your ability to live by the Spirit?
To what degree does the desire for recognition and applause compete with and inhibit your ability to live by the Spirit?

You notice I haven't said anything about peace? I haven't said anything about peace because God makes it clear, that if we learn to live in lock step with the Spirit, then we will have peace. If we pursue peace, we will end up empty handed. We'll end up perennially redoing the ceiling in our bedroom and we will never fix the problem.

Last question, and this is an important one for those of you who have not yet completely locked in. For those of you this morning who don't feel like you've exchanged that operating system yet, you're not quite sure you can for whatever reason - there are a variety of reasons - for some of you it's intellectual, you can't bring yourself to the point of believing the whole story that I laid out this morning. For some of you it's emotional, you're just at a hump you can't get over. For some of you it's simply a matter of will, and for those of you who are sitting in that seat this morning, it all seems to be coming together for you but your will cannot engage with fully changing your operating system, then I want to give you a kick in the seat this morning.

Let's ask this question: How do you see religion, essentially, at its core? Do you see it as a ritual? Obedience to a certain set of rules? A vague sense of belief - oh I guess I believe in God, I want to be a good person; it's a good thing to go to church, good for the kids. Do you see it like that or do you see it as radical dependence on God? Do you see it as exchanging your operating system for His? Living your life under His control. Acknowledging that He died your death, and now releases to you His life.

Father, hear our prayer this morning. We long to be people at peace and we are about to come into the most frenetic period of our year. We've got decorations to put up and presents to buy and people to go see and cookies to make and at some point, Lord, it seems to become all about that. In advance, Father, right now, we want to ask your forgiveness for that and we declare this morning that this is the season to be at peace. We declare this morning that toward that end, we will be still and know that you are God. Toward that end, we will acknowledge you have died our death and allow us to live your life and your life is a life of peace and a life of love and joy and patience and kindness, exactly the people that we want to be. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that you would take this simple and life-altering truth and explode in our hearts and our minds and wills with the power of it. Lord, we give you permission this morning, you don't need it, but we give it, we give you permission this morning to overcome us. Show us how to walk in your Spirit, how to stay in step with your Spirit, so that we can drink deeply of the byproduct of that which is your peace.

Father, if there is someone here today who has not locked into you, I pray Lord that you will speak and you will bring his or her will to the place of surrender. Bring their mind to the place of agreement and bring their heart to the place of satisfaction. Lord, for those of us who have been walking with you for a while, Father I pray that you will release today a newfound sense of thanks for the way that you do operate in us. We take it for granted. There is peace in our lives when it's beyond comprehension, it's not even understandable. We're in the midst of horrible heat and yet we're able to put one foot in front of the other because you are guarding us. We thank you. Continue to do your work in us.

In the strong name of Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

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