Galatians 5:22 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Day four of our look at Galatians 5:22 we are going to look at “Peace”.

John 14:25-27 (KJV) “25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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.”

If I asked you to take an inventory of your peace in your home on a scale of 1-10 what would you score yourself?
How about at work?
In relationships?
Within your own heart? 1 or 10?

Peace is not the absence of all troubles and cares. Peace is the presence of Christ in the midst of all of our troubles and cares.  Peace is what Jesus gave us not as the world gives peace and then the word of God tells us, “Don’t let your heart be trouble or afraid.”  In other words the world is going to be at war with our peace—don’t let it.
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Are you at peace today? Right now? If not ask God to give you the Holy Spirit and not only will you receive peace but also the Counselor who will teach and remind you of the things of God that will enable you to keep your heart and mind stayed on Him. 

For further study check this out: ​http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/peace/

​  Galatians 5:22 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Day three of our look at Galatians 5:22 we are going to look at “Forbearance”.

Forbearance is defined as patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.  The quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry is one having forbearance.  We don’t hear the word a lot today we usually use the word patience. Patience has a very similar definition meaning the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.  Needless to say the world could use a little help in the patience category. For this study we will use patience.

Patience is the Greek word hypomone (Strong's #5278) which is a compound word made up of two other words: hypo (a preposition meaning 'under') and moneo (a verb meaning to 'remain' or 'abide'). 

Thus, the idea is to 'remain under' or 'abide under' difficult circumstances - as when it is not possible to escape or avoid them. A tea bag doesn’t jump out of the hot water but what’s inside of it does seeps out.  The same goes with us. When we are under difficult circumstances and in situations that are heated we as well as others will find out exactly what is inside of us. Much like that tea bag we have no control over the situation.  We can however determine what comes out of us. You are asking yourself how? By what we put in.  This is why it is so important to read the Word of God and guard our hearts and minds with all diligence. (Proverbs 4:23)

Philippians 4:7 (NIV) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Patience begins with obedience. We make a decision that we are going to be patient and then follow through on that promise whether anyone knows it or not.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) “1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Keeping Jesus on our minds and what He did for us and what our reward for having patience will supply is the warfare strategy we need to have in order to forbear. The next time you find yourself in hot water remind yourself that you too can be patient and see what comes out of you.  You and others may be pleasantly surprised.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuOGPnx-T8E    This video is for children the one below is for adults.
 
 

Galatians 5:22 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Yesterday I shared with you about kindness.  The rest of this week we will talk about the Fruits of the Spirit listed in the scripture above. (Galatians 5:22)

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, --and the last three--faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. I think these three are listed last because they really show maturity when we’re able to conquer the flesh and be filled with the Spirit of God within our lives.

Gentle is defined as mildness of manners or disposition, moderate, warm, full of sunshine and pleasantness. When we think we are being gentle we need to ask ourselves are we warm, moderate and full of sunshine and pleasantness.

Gentleness is good manners. A gentle person is a peacemaker. That person shows respect and kindness. Gentleness is the opposite of violence. “The world tells us to be assertive. The Word tells us to be gentle.” (Florence Littauer in 'The Best of Florence Littauer', Christianity Today, vol. 34#13). “Ninety percent of the friction of daily life is caused by the use of the wrong tone of voice!” (Leadership, Vol. 1, #4) And look at this- “Advice is like snow, the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon and the deeper it sinks into the mind.”(Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Christian Reader, Vol. 33#1)

Action step for this week is to show gentleness is all you do and say. Be a peacemaker.
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“Peace is the fruit of love, a love that is also justice. But to grow in love requires work -- hard work. And it can bring pain because it implies loss -- loss of the certitudes, comforts, and hurts that shelter and define us.” 
― Jean Vanier, Finding Peace