CULTIVATE: ENDURING PATIENCE AND PERFECT PEACE

2025-11-09 

Charles Billingsley 

Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT) 

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 

Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who areChrist’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

So what does it mean to walk in the Spirit?   

The key to bearing any fruit in your life is to walk in the Spirit . 

How do we walk in the Spirit?

Let me give you another picture of this before we get to our 2 key words for the day in this list of virtues that we call the fruit of the Spirit.   

Observations on Fruit

– Fruit is always visible.

– Fruit is always consistent with the plant from which it was produced.

–  Fruit does not exist for itself.   

– Fruit eventually dies once it is detached from the vine.  

– Fruit doesn’t try to be anything that it is not. 

John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything 

Me + Everything = Nothing 

1. Peace

You will never know the Peace of God until you have Peace with God

A. Peace with God 

Do you have peace with God? 

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 2:14-18  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man fromthe two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

A beautiful illustration of this is the cross itself. 

The only way you can have peace with God – is through His son Jesus.  Have you accepted the grace and the love of Jesus in your life?  

B. The Peace of God

The peace of God will: 

Quiet your Spirit 

Calm your Soul 

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.

It is in His perfect presence that we find perfect peace which allows us to rest in His perfect plan.  

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Guard your Heart 

Phillipians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 4:8 paints the picture of this peace: 

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”

2. Patience 

Galatians 5:13-15 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

When we walk in the spirit this kind of Patience or longsuffering will do several things. 

A.  Patience will help us see others through God’s eyes – rather than judging them through our own.  

Romans 2:1-4   You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Judge less.  Love more.  

B.  Patience allows us to love others the way God want us to love them.  

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT)

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

C.  Patience will bring you Peace with other people 

Colossians 3:12-15  (NLT)

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.