Last Sunday, we considered Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia. Specifically, we reviewed what Paul referred to as the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. As you may recall, Paul wrote: 22 “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23a (NLT2) Throughout the Scriptures, we are given examples of God’s people who displayed this kind of fruit in their lives. You will notice that this fruit has nine characteristics. Some people in the Bible were better at developing these characteristics than others. For example, Job has been considered as a model of “patience.” Abraham displayed great “faithfulness.” The “Good Samaritan” showed us what it means to demonstrate “kindness.” We could go on naming various other people from the Scriptures who excelled in one or more of these attributes.
But, only one person gave us the supreme example of what it looks like to live out ALL NINE of these characteristics on a daily basis. That person is the Son of God—Jesus Christ. This morning, let’s focus on the first three Fruit of the Holy Spirit: The gifts of “LOVE,” “JOY” and “PEACE.” For example, consider this passage from Mark’s Gospel and what Jesus shows us about these spiritual gifts. Jesus had spent most of the day preaching to crowds along the Sea of Galilee. The sun was going down and it was time for Him and the disciples to pack up and go back across the lake. Mark tells us:
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41 (NLT2)
Think about this as if you had been on that boat. When you sailed out from shore, the water was calm and a gentle breeze was blowing. There was no indication of any foul weather in the forecast. But, that’s the tricky thing about the Sea of Galilee. There are two valleys near the western shore of the lake that can gather winds like a funnel. And, with the water being almost 700’ below sea level, it often produces downdrafts. These downdrafts pull in the cooler air from the Golan Heights. When the cool air collides with the warmer air near the surface of the water, it causes violent storms that crop up without warning.[1] That was apparently what happened while Jesus and the disciples were far out into the water.
When the storm hit, it says that Jesus was sleeping peacefully on a “cushion” in the stern of the boat. But, don’t think that Jesus was shirking His duty by not assisting with the sailing. After a full day of preaching, He was exhausted and was entitled to some badly needed rest. By going into the covered part at the rear of the boat, Jesus was also trying to be out of the way so that those of his disciples who were sailors could more easily attend to sailing the boat. And note that He wasn’t resting His head on a cushy pillow stuffed with goose feathers. In all likelihood, the so-called “cushion” was a hard sandbag that was used as a ballast for the boat.[2]
The storm hit so hard and so fast that the waves were about to sink the boat. The disciples were in a panic. They were sure that all of them were about to drown. But, Jesus calmly issued a command and the storm immediately gave way to tranquility. All was still, calm and perfectly peaceful. No doubt, earlier in the day when Jesus was preaching, He addressed the topic of faith in God. He may well have explained to His disciples and the listening crowd something that Paul would later teach. It’s an important thing to remember. Faith is something that goes beyond our grasp as human beings. Those who come to faith in Christ begin to understand what Paul was saying in Philippians 4: 4 “REJOICE [in other words, have great JOY] in the Lord always; again I will say, REJOICE. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry 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.” Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV) This PEACE that Jesus offers to those who follow Him is deeply rooted in our faith. Though it far surpasses our limited human ability to comprehend, it is nevertheless a sure peace, tranquility and calmness that will sustain us during the difficult trials of life. It is a PEACE that we do not produce on our own. Rather, it is a gift from the Holy Spirit that is given once we have faith that Jesus will provide for us—even unto death. As followers of Christ, we begin to experience this PEACE through prayer, thanksgiving and rejoicing in the love of Christ. Most importantly, we can have this PEACE once we let God take control over the situation rather than worrying about how we can overcome it on our own. We need to take our difficulties and worries out of our hands and put them into the Lord’s hands.[3] That is the part that is so hard for us to do. But, as your faith in Christ grows, it becomes natural to allow Jesus that full measure of control.
We have this tendency to look at the storms of life and envision the worst things that can happen. And, usually, we see these worst-case scenarios as being our doom. This causes worries and anxieties that are spiritually counterproductive. But, if you will surrender your troubles to Christ and realize that even if the “worst thing” happens, it could well be the very thing that Jesus is using to bring about the greatest good over the long term. We cannot see into the future as to how that may be truth. And so, in faith, we trust our future to Christ. Our trust in Christ for provision, protection and guidance is the foundation of our faith. In this regard, Paul teaches us that: “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (TEV)
Getting back to those disciples in the boat—when the storm hit, they had not yet come to know the kind of PEACE that faith in Christ produces. And so, at that point, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. That does not mean we shouldn’t be concerned when we face the dangers of life. When troubled times come into our lives, we have many concerns. Depending upon the “storm” that hits, we may be concerned for the welfare of loved ones and friends who are facing bad times. Or, maybe the “storm” could be something more personal such as a serious health issue. There can be financial problems that cause worries to come our way. Or, maybe we look around and have concerns about all the evil that seems to be growing in the world today. To some degree, these concerns are natural to our human condition. But, they need not slip into the darkness of worries and fears of what tomorrow may bring.
Jesus wasn’t rebuking the disciples because they were desperately trying to keep the boat afloat during the storm. He wasn’t telling them to just ignore the storm and give up. If we want to understand the attitude that Jesus was trying to teach them, we could turn to the Book of Daniel. In Daniel, a “storm” had descended upon three men who lived out their faith in a manner consistent with Jesus’ teachings. The three men were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. But, the “storm” they faced wasn’t brewing in the skies overhead. Rather, it was a “storm” that presented a crisis of faith caused by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had made a golden statue and ordered everyone in his kingdom to bow down to it. But, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship any worldly idol. This is what happened as a result of their commitment to worshipping the One True God:
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO YOU, YOUR MAJESTY, THAT WE WILL NEVER SERVE YOUR GODS OR WORSHIP THE GOLD STATUE YOU HAVE SET UP.” Daniel 3:13-18 (NLT2)
So, how can we summarize the mindset and spiritual attitude of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego when facing the storms of life—even those storms that may end up in death? The Apostle Paul does this well when writing to the church in Philippi, Greece. Paul expressed his faith in Jesus Christ like this: 20 “For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, WHETHER I LIVE OR DIE. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I LONG TO GO AND BE WITH CHRIST, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.” Philippians 1:20-24 (NLT2)
Think about what Paul says here in the New Testament and compare it to what the disciples experienced during the storm at sea. Then, contrast it with the Old Testament account of the three young men who were in a faceoff with King Nebuchadnezzar. We find an amazing connection in these passages of Scripture. THAT LINKAGE IS THE SAME: JESUS CHRIST! Paul, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced the boldness of faith that comes when committing your life unto the hands of Jesus. The disciples’ faith had to develop quite a bit more before that was the case. But, how can we say that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in Christ? Well, take a look at what happened when they stood their ground against Nebuchadnezzar. The Book of Daniel tells us:
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 2 “Look!” he answered, “I see FOUR men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the SON OF GOD." Daniel 3:19-25 (NKJV) YES, JESUS WAS THE FOURTH MAN IN THE FIRE!
You see, Paul, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego all shared that bold faith of David, who, in Psalm 23, stated with confidence: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) During their frantic attempt to keep the boat afloat, Jesus’ disciples understood death as an enemy that was to be avoided at all costs. On one point, they were correct, but on the other, their faith needed to develop further. They were right in thinking that, in this world, death truly is an enemy. And yet, for those who are in Christ, “death is the final pain and the last enemy.”[4] But, through His work and the Cross, Christ conquered death. His victory was for you and me. In his letter to the Church in Corinth, Greece, the Apostle Paul assures us: 25 “For Christ must reign until He humbles all His enemies beneath His feet. 26 AND THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH.” 1st Corinthians 15:25-26 (NLT2) What Paul is giving us here is a sure promise that you can rely upon. And the reason you can rely upon it is because Jesus died on the Cross for your sins and mine. Yes, He died and was buried. But, on the third day, He rose again—just as those who accept Him as Lord and Savior will one day rise again. But, this isn’t merely a promise of the Apostle Paul. This is the PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION given by Jesus Himself!
When His friend, Lazarus, died, Jesus came to Bethany and had a conversation with Martha in which He affirmed this promise. According to John 11, 23 “Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24 ‘Yes,’ Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.’ 25 Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.” John 11:23-26a (NLT2) If Jesus Christ is your Shepherd—if you truly follow Him as your Lord and Savior, then when you make that final walk through the “valley of the shadow of death,” you will have no need to fear. For when you emerge from that dark valley, you will be bathed in the brilliant light of Jesus’ face. Once we accept the reality of the resurrection, the storms of life should no longer bring fear, worry or doubt. Those things will be in your past and replaced by totally difference reactions. LOVE, JOY and PEACE will abound despite the storms that descend upon you. And what are the aspects of this new-found LOVE, JOY and PEACE?
The LOVE we speak of here is expressed by the Greek word “agape” (ἀγάπη). This is the PERFECT LOVE that comes only from the Holy Spirit. It is an AMAZING LOVE that produces our LOVE FOR GOD, as well as the ability to “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”[5]
The JOY we receive from the Holy Spirit is unique and differs profoundly from mere worldly joy. Worldly joy is dependent upon the circumstances that you happen to be experiencing at the time. Only during those “good times of life” can you experience worldly joy. There was an old country song many years ago entitled, “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues.”[6] Apparently, Charlie was like so many of those today who can never experience REAL JOY in life during those times when the sailing gets rough. But, the JOY provided by the Holy Spirit is infinitely superior to the “Good-Time-Charlie” brand of worldly joy. The Holy Spirit’s JOY is something we can experience even during the “bad times,” as well as the “good” ones. James, the half-brother of Jesus, expressed it this way: 2 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for GREAT JOY. 3 For you know that when your FAITH IS TESTED, your ENDURANCE HAS A CHANCE TO GROW. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NLT2)
And finally, the PEACE offered to you by the Holy Spirit is an inner tranquility that exists when you are right with God and living in harmony with those around you. It is the difference between living under the worldly influences of our sinful human nature as opposed to a life of calmness and wholeness when you allow the Holy Spirit into your heart. Paul put it this way: 5 “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. 6 To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in LIFE AND PEACE.” Romans 8:5-6 (TEV) [7] Eventually, Jesus’ disciples would experience this PEACE. Once they placed their faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit brought them true LOVE, JOY and PEACE like they had never experienced before. They came to understand and believe Jesus when He said: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
The circumstances of life, whether the times were good or bad, never diminished Jesus’ LOVE, JOY and PEACE. Even in the storm-tossed boat, Jesus’ faith in the Father’s goodness and protection allowed Him to sleep like a baby. The disciples’ faith was weak and so their reaction to the storm was terror—NOT PEACE. And, during that most trying of times, when Jesus went to the Cross—even then His LOVE, JOY and PEACE was not affected. John 3:16 proclaims the LOVE of God the Father: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV) The LOVE of the Father for the world was reflected by Jesus during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said: “Your will be done.”[8]
The PEACE of Christ did not fully come to His disciples until Jesus went to the Cross and was resurrected from the dead. Then, their faith developed to the point that they could join Paul in saying: “It was through what His Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to Him—all things in Heaven and on earth—for Christ’s death on the Cross has made PEACE with God for all by His blood.” Colossians 1:20 (TLB)
But, what about JOY? Was there JOY in Christ when going to the Cross? Jesus’ love for humanity was so great that even His time on the Cross brought a JOY that is beyond our human understanding. The Book of Hebrews affirms that Jesus went to the Cross for the JOY of saving repentant sinners. Hebrews provides a linkage between the LOVE and JOY of Christ in relationship to our FAITH in saying: 2 “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.” Hebrews 12:2 (TEV)
Once the disciples had a committed faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit provided the Fruit of the Spirit that grew and filled them with LOVE, JOY and PEACE like they had never known before. You can have this wonderful Fruit as well. Trust in God and put your faith in His Son. When you do, your fears, worries and doubts will be replaced by the LOVE, JOY and PEACE of God. That is not to say that life, from then on, will be smooth sailing. But, you can rest assured that you’ll never be overwhelmed by any “storms” again!
Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
August 25, 2024
©2024 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] Clinton E. Arnold, ed., Matthew, Mark, Luke, (USA: Zondervan, 2002), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 234.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Experiencing the Peace That Surpasses All Understanding: A Biblical Perspective,” Church Leaders, https://churchleaders.com/christianity/470059-experiencing-the-peace-that-surpasses-all-understanding-a-biblical-perspective.html (February 22, 2024).
[4] Randy Alcorn, Heaven, p. 544.
[5] Mark 12:29-31 29 “This is the most important,” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” (HCSB)
[6] Danny O'Keefe, “Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues”, from the album, “The Road,” produced by Ahmet Ertegün (1972).
[7] Penny Noyes, “What is the Fruit of the Spirit?” Christianity.com, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holy-spirit/what-are-the-fruits-of-the-spirit.html (July 10, 2024).
Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NLT2)
[8] Luke 22:42 “Father,” He said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from Me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” (TEV)
Topics: Fruit of the Spirit
