Being attractive without having to look good (part 2)

(The following are edited highlights from the message preached by Michael Larsen on June 9, 2019.)

Galatians 5:22-23, “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”  This is God’s picture of an extreme makeover that He wants to do in our inner world.  

Peace is something that we desperately want physically, relationally, for our future.  

The picture of God’s peace.

The biblical word “peace”, the biblical definition in the Bible is “absence of war.”  That’s what peace means – absence of war.  That there would be absence of war between me and God. Absence of war between you and me. And that there would be absence of war in my inner world, in my life – with me.

Colossians 1:20 says “By Him [Jesus] God reconciled everything to Himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of His blood on the cross.” I can have peace with God because of what Jesus did on the cross.  

I can have peace with others.  Romans 12:18 “Do your part to live in peace with everyone.”  2 Corinthians 13:11 “Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Then because of what God has already done, we can have peace with ourselves. Jesus said in John 14:27 “I am leaving you with the gift.  Peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.”  The peace the world gives is made up of empty promises.

That’s why we’ve got to look at the problem.  

The problem is I have my little list of enemies of peace 

Worry.

Control.  

Consume.

Procrastinate.  

Anger.  

Guilt.  

The spiritual fix.  

Philippians 4:6-9  “Don’t worry about anything.  Instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done.  If you do this you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now dear brothers and sisters let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about the things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you’ve learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing and the God of peace will be with you.”  

You want to take some steps towards peace in your life?  The F in this word Spiritual FIX is…

F - Filter the noise.

     Unplug from social media.

     Lighten up your schedule. 

I - Investigate for truth.

X - out the enemies of peace. 

Romans 5:1 says “Therefore since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”  

2 Corinthians 5:15-18. It’s kind of long but I want you to see it.  “He included every one in His death so that everyone could also be included in His life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look [That’s all the external stuff. Now watch this] Now we look inside. What we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start is created new.  The old life is gone.  A new life burgeons.  All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and Him and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.”  The new life burgeons!  

Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired, worn out, burned out on religion.  Come to Me.  Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with Me and work with Me.  Watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you.  Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

You and I have a choice. We can keep playing games and avoid peace or we can pursue God’s fix and exchange our restlessness – the fear, the anger, the guilt – for His rest.