Spiritual Armor - The Battle of Peace
Notes
Transcript
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
As believers, we are in a Spiritual Battle! Over the past two Sundays we have focused on “Truth” and “Righteousness” as pars of the Battle armor we are to put on in our spiritual battle. We have focused on the Significance of Truth: Truth about Jesus, Truth about the Bible, and Truth about Creation.
Last week we focused on Righteousness - the Righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, who himself is righteousness and then we talked about the righteousness that we need to put on each day being empower by the Holy Spirit to live according to God’s standards.
Today we are getting our feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel.
I remember getting fitted for my first pair of shoes for basketball.
We were known as the West Fargo Packers; our school colors were Green and White. My first year on the Jr. Varsity, we were asked to get green converse shoes. If my memory serves me correctly, the cost was about $20. The coach said they were the best shoe we could buy because they gave you the best grip on the floor while playing.
Since then, we have seen brand names such as Niki’s Air Jordans; Rebook, Adidas, and many more popular athletic and other specialized shoes. The point is having the best shoes for your feet.
As we get older, we discover that the comfort we once had while walking eventually get’s harder to come by. Sometimes it’s because of neuropathy or Diabetes or simply the fact that the padding on the bottom of our feet becomes less and less. That where Dr. Scholes comes in.
We continue to discover that comfort and wearing the right shoes is so very important for doing things in life. Our feet in many regards are the foundation of our body.
Paul talks about being fitted with the readiness of the Gospel. What does he mean by this?
Once again we are reminded of the Analogy of the Roman Soldier. They wore “shoes thickly studded with sharp nails” so as to ensure a good grip while walking. The Military successes of men such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies’ being well prepared to undertake long marches, at incredible speed, over rough terrain.
So what does this mean for the Christian to have your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace....
For most people, peace represents tranquility - a state of being. We often hear the word ‘Shalom’
states…
3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Here in it is the greek word ‘eirene’ which is a state of being - a time of peace. We are to be the messengers of peace which comes from having a relationship with Jesus.
From my own perspective it appears that many people think peace is an absence of conflict or struggle. The fact is, in this world we will have trouble. But Jesus said, Take heart, I have overcome the world.
As long as we live in this world there will be struggles. The message of peace that God would have us share is that in the midst of all our conflicts and struggles, we can have peace in and through Jesus.
Second,
There is Rough Terrain in life...
There can be physical struggles, emotional struggles, financial struggle, relational struggles, and spiritual struggles… all of which can bench us; cause us to feel inadequate or incapable of carrying on in life.
We seek out Physicians to help us find the cause of our pain or ailment.
We seek out Psychiatrist or psychologists to help us with our emotional needs.
We seek out a financial planner to help us with our finances.
When it comes to relationships, we seek out counselors - people that can help us sort through our struggles. All of which are good in their own right. However, when it comes to the spiritual struggles we have, this is where we need the guidance and counsel of God, which often takes care of all of the other struggles we face in life.
People are seeking peace in the midst of the storms in life.
For the Christian - those who have put their faith in Jesus, they too struggle with the things mentioned above. However, they have come to understand and know that even in the midst of these struggles there is one who gives peace beyond our understanding, and that person is Jesus. That is what the Good New of the Gospel is all about - Jesus, the one who paid the price for our sin, takes away our guilt and shame; proclaims to us that you are no longer condemned for your sins and we are asked to trust God God Daily for all things. HE will give you peace!
Remember that Paul told us earlier that our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, agains the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.
So, for the Believer, when we are attacked spiritually, emotionally, physically, and psychologically, we need to first stand… with shoes that are fitted to stand the schemes of the devil; studded shoes to gain a firm footing… it is the Good News that God spoke into your life and it is the Good News that God would have you speak into the lives of those who do not believe, so they may believe and be saved and find peace.
Paul Writes in
15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
We are the messengers of this Good News! How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!!! When our first Grandchild was born, there were some complications right at the time of delivery. My son went in with his wife and we did not hear anything for nearly an hour. When he finally came out, he brought news that everything was alright. yes, there had been complications… we prayed… and we were blessed to receive the good news.
The Good News that we have to bring people today is the peace that speaks into the heart of sinful humanity which leads them to Christ; a peace that is made possible by the Blood of Jesus on the Christ.
Illustration of Mary’s Dad...
Several years ago I was asked by a congregational member to visit with her father who was in the hospital dying of cancer. I didn’t know him; in fact I had never met him, nor did I know the kind of life he had lived. All I knew was that he wasn’t save and he was a very hard hearted man who didn’t believe God could save him.
I walked into his hospital room, expecting to find a man with a scowl on his face, with little interest in hearing the Good News of Jesus.
When I introduced myself to him and said that his Daughter had asked if I would stop by and visit him, his face lit up! It was not what I expected.
As our conversation went forward, we began to talk about Spiritual things. He shared with me that there were things he had done in life that he thought God could never forgive him for. Then he said, that just a few days earlier, there was a chaplain who came to visit him and bring him communion. At first he refused, not thinking it was worth it. Then the chaplain shared the Gospel; the Good News of Jesus Christ and how his sins could be forgiven and that God would give him peace and Hope if he simply believed in Jesus and what he taught about love and forgiveness.
The man accepted Christ and the result of his decision to believe in Jesus led him to peace and eternal life.
The Bible tells us in
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.
Note: The Bible tells us this in ;
Dictionary of Bible Themes 6701 peace, human search for
peace, human search for
Scripture teaches that peace is only found in God, but people try to find it elsewhere. A person’s desire for peace varies according to his or her circumstances.
The places where people search for peace
People search for peace in others Ge 5:28-29 See also SS 8:10
People search for peace in material possessions Ecc 4:8 See also Job 21:7-13; Da 4:4; Mt 19:16-22; Lk 12:16-19
People search for peace in God Ps 4:8 See also Job 22:21; Pr 19:23; Isa 26:3; Lk 7:37-50
Scripture teaches that peace is only found in God, but people try to find it elsewhere. A person’s desire for peace varies according to his or her circumstance.
People search for peace in others
28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son.
29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”
People search for peace in material possessions
Peace is found in God
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Because of Human sinfulness, God’s provision of peace is always under threat. Here are some causes of peace destruction...
Sin and self-centeredness -
7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
Idolatry -
9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Fear and anxiety -
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Where there is no peace, people suffer; Nation’s suffer; all of creation suffers
Dictionary of Bible Themes 6704 peace, divine in NT
peace, divine in NT
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ that peace with God can be achieved and maintained.
Provision of peace through the Father
Peace in a believer’s relationship with the Father Ro 5:1 See also Ro 8:1,31-39; 1Co 1:2-3
Peace through the Father’s provision for the believer 1Ti 6:17 See also Mt 6:25-34 pp Lk 12:22-31; Mt 7:7-11 pp Lk 11:9-13
Provision of peace through Jesus Christ
Through Jesus Christ’s coming Lk 2:10-14
These OT prophecies are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ: Isa 9:6-7; Mic 5:2-5; Zec 9:9-10
Lk 2:25-32; Eph 2:17
Through Jesus Christ’s teaching Jn 16:33 See also Jn 14:23-27; 15:3
Through Jesus Christ’s ministry Ac 10:36 See also Mk 4:35-41 pp Mt 8:23-27 pp Lk 8:22-25; Lk 4:33-35 pp Mk 1:23-25; Lk 4:38-41 pp Mt 8:14-17 pp Mk 1:29-34
Through Jesus Christ’s death Col 1:19-20 See also Isa 53:5; Mt 26:26-28 pp Mk 14:22-24 pp Lk 22:19-20; Gal 6:14-16; Eph 2:13-17
Through Jesus Christ’s resurrection Lk 24:36 See also Mk 16:4-6 pp Lk 24:1-8; Jn 20:19-21,26-29; 2Co 4:14; Heb 13:20-21
Through Jesus Christ’s ascension Ro 8:34 See also Lk 24:51-53; Ac 2:33-39
Provision of peace through the Holy Spirit
Through the Holy Spirit’s inner witness 2Co 1:21-22 See also Ro 8:14-17; Gal 4:6-7
Through the Holy Spirit’s presence Ac 9:31 See also Jn 14:16-18; Gal 5:16-18; Rev 22:17
Peace as the Holy Spirit’s fruit and gift Gal 5:22 See also Ro 14:17
God’s ultimate provision of peace is discovered in the person of Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ that peace with God can be achieved and maintained.
Our peace comes from Know his first coming...
From the teachings of Jesus
33 “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.”
Through His ministry
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Through His Death
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Through His Resurrection
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Through the Holy Spirit
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Peace is the birthright of every believer in all circumstances. it is found only in God and is maintained through having a close relationship with Him… He is there for times of sickness, pressure and hardships.
He is there in times of death and grief -
In a conversation with a good pastoral friend of mine, who just lost his father, he said, I grieve, but not like those who don’t know Christ. I grieve over not being able to have the conversations we’ve had over the years, but I know I will see him again in heaven.
People of peace are people of hope. I was visiting with another believer who has faced illness much of his life and he simply said, “I’m blessed to have what I have and to know that each day is a blessing from God.”
Another good friend of mine who passed away after struggling with cancer for about 8 years, when asked how he was, he would always respond with the words, “better than I deserve, and grateful for another day.”
These are words of peace that come from people who know the God of peace. Our role is to walk in that peace and to tell others of the peace that we find, which comes from having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Billy Graham wrote: The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep. That is peace - to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ, we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace at last.
He is our God of hope
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans A Soul Possessed with Divine Love
Behold! on what sure foundations his happiness is built whose soul is possessed with divine love, whose will is transformed into the will of God, and whose greatest desire is that his Maker should be pleased. O the peace, the rest, the satisfaction that attends such a temper of mind!
HENRY SCOUGAL
Dictionary of Bible Themes 3215 Holy Spirit, and peace
Holy Spirit, and peace
The Holy Spirit brings a sense of well-being, contentment and wholeness to believers whatever their outward circumstances. Peace is therefore an indication of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Dictionary of Bible Themes 4440 fig-tree
fig-tree
A tree common in the Near East, with soft, sweet fruit which can be eaten fresh or dried. The fruit was an important part of the diet in biblical times and the tree was symbolic of peace and security.