PEACE

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PEACE
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Definition of Peace - the cessation of hostilities and freedom from inner turmoil.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
“The Lord gives strength to his people; theLord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
Trusting in God gives perfect peace.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee” (Isaiah 2:3).
The perfect peace is beyond all understanding, beyond all ups and downs, it is irrespective of health, wealth and life situations (Philippians 4:7 Steve paraphrase)
The perfect Peace refers to the Shalom.
“Love the LORD our God with all of our minds” (Matthew 22:37).
“Transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2).
“We must have the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5).
“We are not to set our mind on earthly things, but to set our mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2)
Perfect peace belongs to believers: 
“Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).
 1. Developing perfect peace…regular Bible reading
“Perfect peace has those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” Psalm 119:165
2. Then prayer and praise
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
3. Then obedience required 
Shalom is not the absence of conflict
What happened to peace when Adam and Eve sinned?
1. Loss of inner peace. Suddenly guilt and shame filled their hearts and peace was ruined.
2. Destroyed peace with God.

3. Wreaked havoc on peaceful relationships.
4. Broke the harmony and unity between humanity and nature.
“The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22).
God made a way for peace to be restored. 
But now through Christ Jesus you, who were once far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. So he is our peace. Ephesians 2:13-14 (GW)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV)  
Jesus is our peace.
Fruit of the SPIRIT, not the Fruit of the Saints.
1. Peace always Follows Grace. 
2. Peace Comes Through Unwavering Prayer.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)  
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. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
3. Peace Grow By Obedience.
“Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 (NIV)  
4. Peace Is Cultivated Through Discipline.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)