The Battle Plan (TBP) - Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
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Show video - Doomsday Preppers
Are You A Prepper?
Earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Concerns of Iran getting involved.
Hezbollah threatening to get involved from the north - Lebanon
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in America.
Hamas’ goal is the total extermination of every Jew on the face of the earth.
Hamas just called upon all Muslims around to world to mobilize and fight in this war.
And yet, as I said last week, we are to pray:
Peace
Peace
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.”
But the question I want to deal with today is what kind of peace is being referenced here?
Secondly, I want to explain why it’s called the Gospel of Peace.
Finally, how do we prepare for it?
This is the kind of prepping I’m meaning today.
Read Psalm 122
What Kind of Peace?
What Kind of Peace?
Let’s begin by looking at what kind of peace
First of all, Psalm 122 was written by King David
The theme of the psalm is the delight that King David has in going to the house of the Lord, located in Jerusalem.
This Psalm is a declaration upon coming to Jerusalem for one of the 3 pilgrimage feasts, all of which have some connection to God’s redeeming Israel from Egypt.
A cry that he like thousands of others has arrived at the goal of the pilgrimage. He is standing in Jerusalem. The goal is to stand in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem means “the height or foundation of peace”. And it’s traditional meaning is “the city of peace”.
So, ironically we are asked to pray for peace for the city of peace.
The first mention of Jerusalem in Scripture is in reference to Melchizedek, who was King of Salem (Shalom - related word)
Turn to Genesis 14.18-20
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all.
Melchizedek means King of Righteousness.
Notice he was a priest as well as king.
Melchizedek was a type of Christ. A foreshadowing of who Jesus was to be. Heb 5.5-6
Abram is blessed - David - Jesus
Isaiah 9:6–7 (NASB95)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Notice bread and wine.
Communion, last supper, crucifixion.
God delivered Abram’s enemies over to him
God delivered Satan over to Jesus
Now, turn to Ephesians 6:14-15, notice peace and righteousness and one other term.
Jerusalem - City of Peace
Melchizedek - King of Righteousness
Breastplate of Righteousness
Gospel of Peace
Jesus is our Righteousness - the way
Jesus is our Truth - truth
Jesus is our Peace - life
So now, what kind of peace is Psalm 122 really dealing with?
Ultimately Psalm 122 was a futuristic cry for God’s kingship on the earth, through which his people are blessed with His presence and total and final peace is obtained.
The goal? to be at peace with God.
So when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we are praying that they find ultimate peace with God through Jesus Christ.
We are praying that they would recognize that Jesus is the Messiah.
We are praying that Jesus would be their King of Righteousness.
Why Is It The Gospel of Peace?
Why Is It The Gospel of Peace?
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, mankind has been at odds with God.
The Bible calls mankind enemies of God and that we are dead in our trespasses and sins.
We have not been at peace with God, but the cry of our soul is to be at peace.
Unfortunately most people don’t understand that and try to find that peace through everything else.
Paul makes it clear though:
Romans 5:1 (NASB95)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
And that my friends is why it is called the Gospel of Peace.
Gospel means good news, and it is the good news that Jesus has made it possible for us to be at peace with God.
As we’ve already seen, Jesus is the truth. Jesus is our peace. Jesus is our righteousness. Jesus is our Melchizedekian High Priest.
Peace with God can only come through Jesus Christ, by faith in who Jesus is.
So once again, the peace we pray for Jerusalem is a spiritual peace. May Jerusalem be at spiritual peace with God.
So when we pray for the peace of Israel, we are first praying that they will come to know Jesus Christ and put their faith in Him.
So when we stand with Israel, it’s not standing for who they are today, but rather who they will be someday.
We stand on the promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We stand with Israel on the basis that God still has a plan for Israel and He will be faithful to fulfill His promise to them.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
Maybe this is the war that opens their eyes. Because if this truly is the beginning of the end which is Armageddon, then God is getting ready for the final act.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
In context the weeping appears to be genuine repentance over their sin in the piercing of the servant of God (Jesus) and their sin over the worship of false gods. (Chapter 13 gives us a glimpse of this)
Likewise, in the end, Israel will once again weep over the one they pierced, and in true repentance for missing the point the first time.
God is getting ready to do away with Sin, Satan, and death forever, and usher in final peace, and when He does that, there will also be physical peace.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with praying for the temporary physical peace today. Just don’t forget that there is an eternal peace that is more important that we keep in mind when we pray.
Secondly, when we pray for the peace of Israel, we are praying for the fulfillment of both spiritual and physical peace for the spiritual Israel.
Physical peace will come in heaven.
And we will attain the goal of Psalm 122 - standing in Jerusalem in the New Jerusalem, which will be the ushering in of final peace.
Spiritual Israel is all Jews and Gentiles who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Eph 2:11ff
The Good News or Gospel of Peace is that we (Gentiles) get to reap the blessings of the Covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
And with that peace comes hope.
Hope in knowing that there is coming a day when all believers in Jesus will be at peace with God, peace with each other, and at peace with ourselves in the best and most perfect way possible.
So, what if Armageddon is right around the corner? We have peace with God spiritually, now, and have a living hope for eternity.
We can know that God is in control and working all this out according to His perfect plan.
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
How are we to be “Preppers” for the Gospel of Peace?
How are we to be “Preppers” for the Gospel of Peace?
Now, if you’re a physical prepper, I’m not meaning to demean you.
We do have a responsibility to protect our families.
But don’t forget what I said last week. Matt 24
Jesus Himself said, when you see these things happening, don’t be frightened, don’t be alarmed, they must happen.
But when they do, take action, flee to the mountains, pray you’re not nursing an infant.
But let’s make sure we are also prepping for what’s the most important thing.
None of our prepping is going to do one iota of good, if our souls aren’t ready.
We can prep all we want, but what good is that to one who hasn’t prepped and who’s soul is not ready.
The Ranch - maybe it will be a safe house for the tribulation saints. Dennis Delano.
Do you spend as much time prepping for the Gospel of peace as you do prepping for Armageddon?
Are we preppers for the Gospel of peace?
The word preparation in Ephesians 6:15 means to have firm footing or a good foundation.
Do you know what the elements of the Gospel are?
Do you have a firm and solid knowledge of the Gospel?
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Do you know how to talk to people about it?
Let’s first lay out the Gospel as simply as we can. Then we’ll discuss how to share it.
Go to I Cor 15, Paul makes the Gospel very simple.
The Gospel
Christ died for our sins - according to the Scriptures
He was buried
He was raised on the third day - according to the Scriptures
He had numerous post resurrection appearances to many people at different times.
Observations:
According to the Scriptures
fulfillment of prophecy
showing the Messiah had to suffer.
showing that Messiah’s suffering would bring forgiveness of sin.
the resurrection event was also prophesied in the OT
He was buried - he actually and verifiably was dead.
Post resurrection appearances - proof that He really was God. That He really was who He said He was and did what He said He would do.
the resurrection is the main thing that separates Christianity from all other world religions.
Died for our sins.
sin is a real thing
we are all sinners
sin separates
something had to be done about our sin
but there was nothing we could do about it ourselves
S.A.L.T. method of evangelism.
Start a conversation.
Ask questions.
Do you think the world is getting better or worse? Why?
Do you have any hope for the world? Mankind? Why?
Is there anything that I can pray for you about?
listen
tell the story
2 methods (of many)
Wordless bracelet - Have you heard of threads of hope?
Bridge model - one verse evangelism
Tell the story - What is hope?
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
The point - to give an account for the hope that is in you.
defense - apologia (apologetics)
Standard apologetics - logic and fact based is good. It builds up an already believer’s faith. And can help answer the critics objections to the faith. But it’s not the logic and facts that lead a person to Christ.
According to Peter, it’s giving an account for the hope that is in me and doing it with gentleness and respect.
what is our hope?
Ephesians 2:12 (NASB95)
remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
No hope = Not in a relationship with Jesus, unfamiliar with the promises of God, God not present in our daily lives.
Hope = the opposite of that.
1 Peter 1:3–5 (NASB95)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Hope = God’s CPR on our souls that brings us back to life, through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, guaranteeing an inheritance that has been RSVP’d for us waiting for us in heaven, AND we are protected by God through faith in this life until we are ready to receive it.
Conclusion:
There’s already a broken, hurting world that is in chaos and not at peace. It’s about to get worse.
We have the answer and we have a responsibility to be sharing the hope that is within us with whoever God gives us opportunity.
It can even be reminding believers of the hope we share so that they can be of the right mind through these crazy times.
Closing Song: My Jesus