Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 4: Tuesday, January 19, 2010

 

Overview

The theme for today is the words of Jesus:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

As we have already seen this week, the peace our Lord gives us doesn’t mean we are free of troubles or problems in this life. This is well illustrated in account of the storm on the Sea of Galilee told in Matt. 8:23-27. We can be at peace and are never in critical danger where we have a reason to panic. We are safe under the watchful care of our Savior.

 

Observations

We will now consider the words of Jesus in the following verse where he declares there will be no peace:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34 ESV)

From this verse we should realize that on this earth there is an enemy that Jesus was referring to and would never make peace with. Since any enemy of Jesus is also our enemy we need to clearly understand who it is. We should also know what is the ‘sword’ of God is that will be used to defend against this enemy.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph. 6:10-13 ESV)

Clearly, our one and only real enemy is the devil who has control of the world we presently live in. Our peace with God and the peace God imputes into our lives does not include having peace with whom there can be no peace. We will see what God’s sword is and then consider how it is to be used, without neglecting the other armor mentioned as important for a Christian to be wearing:

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Eph. 6:17 ESV)

The Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible is the Word of God. Only the Bible is referred to as the Sword of God. John 1:1 declares that Jesus is the Word. The source of all Scripture is Jesus, the Word. Therefore, the very words of Jesus is the Sword of God. Anything outside of the Bible is not the Sword and not the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rev. 1:1 states that Jesus Christ is the source of the words recorded in the book of Revelation. Rev. 19:10 clearly states that the testimony (witness able to give evidence) of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy.

 

Summary

1. Our peace with God and the internal peace he imputes into our lives cannot include making peace with the devil who is the ruler of this present age and is the author of rebellion against God.
2. Our one and only offensive weapon against the ruler of this evil world is the Sword of God, the very words of God, found recorded in the Bible and nowhere else. It is critically important to know what is the true word of God because an empty false weapon could lead to your eternal death.
3. The book of Revelation declares that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’. Jesus is our only witness able to give testimony from heaven as to the mind and word of God. Anyone who attempts to rob him of this role and title is a false prophet who is propagating the deadly false wisdom of this present dark age.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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