September 8, 2013 – Read the Word on Worship
Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of the Gospel of Peace from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.
From my experience, I do not think that Christians experience the full peace of God and as a result we are vulnerable to the attack of Satan. As I look around I see so many who live in fear and anxiety. Parents who are anxious about their children, families who are anxious about their finances, and churches anxious about their programs and facilities- anxiety appears to be a staple of day to day life. We speak on Sunday about the sovereignty of God but our anxiety about the day to day tasks of our lives often conflict with the tenants of our faith and the character of God.
Join us this Sunday as we examine the spiritual armor of the gospel shoes of peace as we continue in our study of Ephesians 6 and the armor of God.
Word On Worship – September 8, 2013 Download / Print
Ephesians 6:14-15
“Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE…”
From my experience, I do not think that Christians experience the full peace of God and as a result we are vulnerable to the attack of Satan. As I look around I see so many who live in fear and anxiety. To parents anxious about their children, families anxious about their finances, and churches anxious about their programs and facilities – anxiety appears to be a staple of day-to-day life. We speak on Sunday about the sovereignty of God but our anxiety about the daily tasks of our lives often conflict with the tenets of our faith and the character of God.
Peace is something God has accomplished in Jesus Christ but it is something the Christian must pursue. The question we must be answer is how does the Christian pursue peace? Our pursuit of peace must begin at the cross and cause us to return to the cross continually to consider its ramifications in our life. We must make peace a priority and a guiding principle that governs our conduct. We must focus on the character of God and His sovereign plans and purposes. We must recognize He gives us peace in the midst of adversity and suffering. We obtain peace the same way we obtain all of God’s gracious gifts to us: as gifts of grace by faith.
True peace comes from delighting in God. He is our salvation and our security and peace is the result of rejoicing and resting in Him. Peace is the fruit of pursuing unity and harmony while graciously enduring the weakness and faults of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We find peace through prayer as we petition Him to meet our every need and then trust Him to do so. Peace comes when we refuse to allow our hearts and minds to entertain thoughts which fall short of truth and righteousness. Peace comes when we put into practice what we know to be true and have pondered in our hearts.
Peace comes from God and God alone. Peace comes through Jesus Christ who made peace between God and man. He is the One who gives us true peace and enables us to stand in the midst of Satan’s schemes. Inner feelings of peace are not proof that we are in the right, but being in the right is the basis for peace. May we all find peace in Him by trusting in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. For it is by His righteousness that we have fellowship with God and each other.