Soul Defense: War Boots (Ephesians 6:15)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Recap what we have learned so far.
Intro story: David and Goliath
The need for unconventional armor.
We have our belt and breastplate… Now it is time to lace up our war boots.
Specifically: the “preparation of the gospel of peace.”
1. Peace WITH God
1. Peace WITH God
The first thing we must realize about the PEACE of this Gospel is Peace with God.
By believing on Jesus, we have peace WITH God. (We went over this Sunday.) (Romans 5:1)
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This is true for the whole world, but must be true in your own personal life.
Gospel presentation: I want to take a few moments and present the Gospel.
The ONLY way to have peace with God, is through Jesus Christ.
You have sinned (Romans 3:23)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
God has prepared a way out of that sin. (Romans 5:8 )
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We must put our faith and trust in Jesus, submitting to Him as our Lord. (Romans 10:9–10)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Our “peace” then comes from the assurance that He is fiathful in saving us. (Romans 10:13)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now, no matter what, this person has peace WITH God. Why? Not because of anything the sinner did, but because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2. Peace OF God
2. Peace OF God
The only way to have the peace of God, is to have peace with God.
However, once that is accomlished, it is the distinct priviledge of the Christina’s life to have the peace OF God.
When we say the peace of God, we mean a distinct peace that allows you to go through the most troublesome trials of your life and still have a peace in your heart.
Example: St. Lawrence, in 258 AD, was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted him. God gave him so much strength and joy that Lawrence joked with the judge saying "Turn me over". Before he died, he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus.
Could you imagine the shear anguish this man is going through? Yet, he had the peace of God on his life, because he had peace with God.
This should come as no surprise to us, Jesus informed us of this peace. (John 14:27 )
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
He not only gives us “a” peace, He gives us “His” peace. R. Kent Hughes says: “It was the peace he knew as he lay fast asleep in the boat amidst a storming sea (Matthew 8:23–27). It is the peace which so unnerved the fearful Pilate as he interrogated Christ (John 19:5–12). It is from above, and thus rises above the difficulties around it.”
One of the most tragic things in this whole world is a Christian who has no peace in his life. It is like the cobbler’s children who have no shoes.
We must not neglect the peace God has given us access to through His Son.
How do we apply this peace? I’ll leave you with this: Philippians 4:6-7, Paul gives us a guide to how we can attain the peace that God has granted to us as His children.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.