Embracing God’s love, joy and peace

The latter part of Galatians 5 reveals that everything we humans do, is motivated by a pursuit of love joy and peace. When we pursue God however, we experience love, joy and peace through His Holy Spirit. When we pursue these in the flesh, we end up in grabbing at substitutes and falling to sin. So how do we pursue God and embrace the love, joy and peace that comes only from Him and has no substitute? Philippians 4 is one of many passages which give us practical instructions on doing exactly this.

Scripture

Galatians 5:16-24 ESV  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  [17]  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  [18]  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  [19]  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  [20]  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  [21]  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  [22]  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  [23]  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  [24]  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Bible Study Questions

Philippians 4:4-9 ESV  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  [5]  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  [6]  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  [7]  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  [8]  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  [9]  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Flesh vs Spirit

Galatians 5:19-22 ESV  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  [20]  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  [21]  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  [22]  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  [23]  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Crucifying the flesh

If we belong to Christ it’s because we’ve believed in Him and been reborn. To be reborn we must have died first. This death is miraculously brought by the Holy Spirit in the process of rebirth, but it doesn’t end there. What part do we play in crucifying the flesh?

Galatians 5:24 ESV  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 2:20 ESV  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Colossians 3:5-9 ESV  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  [6]  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  [7]  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  [8]  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  [9]  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Embracing God’s Joy

The fact that God has redeemed us from sin and death is our greatest reason for joy - and it can not be changed by life’s circumstances.. We can choose to embrace this joy and celebrate it any time. How does Psalm 34:18-20 help us to embrace this joy?

Philippians 4:4-5 ESV  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  [5]  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Psalms 51:12 ESV  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalms 34:18-20 ESV  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  [19]  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  [20]  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Rejecting Anxiety

The Greek word used fro anxious comes from the idea of being thoughts that are “divided up and separated”. An anxious mind is torn in different directions, all over the place, unable to come to rest and focus on a single thing. When we are like this we need to draw our thoughts together in the same direction. The best way to do so is prayer, supplication and thanksgiving. What are prayer, supplication and thanksgiving and how are they different from each other? How does David do this in the Psalm 144?

Philippians 4:6 ESV do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  

Psalms 144:1-3 ESV  Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;  [2]  he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.  [3]  O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?

Embracing God’s Peace

When we reject anxiety - choosing rather to direct all our thoughts according to God’s character and power according to His Word, we can trust in His promise to replace that anxiety with His peace. What does His peace do to our thoughts and understanding?

Philippians 4:7 ESV And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

Isaiah 26:3 ESV  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Meditating God’s way

Pagan religion and false teaching in many so-called churches is full of meditation. This meditation usually focuses on emptying the mind to attain altered states of consciousness which leave us vulnerable to interference by demonic spirits. Christian meditation never empties the mind, it fills it with truth. What can be purer and more excellent than God’s Word and His Works? How can we practically think of these things?

Philippians 4:8 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Psalms 145:1-5 ESV  A Song of Praise. Of David. I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.  [2]  Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.  [3]  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  [4]  One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.  [5]  On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Embracing the God of Peace in love

Our relationship with God is living and active when we trust and obey His Words. We know God by trusting Him and putting His Word into practice. The more we do this - the closer we grow to Him, and the great our love for Him, and the greater our experience of His love.

Philippians 4:9 ESV  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

John 14:21 ESV  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”