Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
The devil uses schemes like temptation, accusation, affliction, oppression, and deception to try and steal, kill, and destroy everything, including our peace. He takes advantage of unrenewed areas of our minds to turn them into emotional “roller coaster ride”. The fluidity of life will cause us to feel like we are continually being tossed to and fro. Therefore, we must put on the armour of God, in particular, the shoes of peace, to experience peace with God and the peace of God amid the storm.
Ephesians (6:15 AMP) and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].
Roman soldiers’ sandals were studded with spikes to help them maintain a firm grip and navigate different terrain in war zones. Similarly, we need to walk firmly in rocky and thorny situations and be protected by peace. In Ephesians 6:15, the original word for “preparation” implies a firm and solid understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what causes us to dig in. When the devil comes with his deception, if we understand the gospel, we are rooted and firmly founded upon it. Therefore, when flaming arrows are being shot against us, we must keep the peace of God—which He has given us—in our hearts and minds by meditating on the truth. The peace of God resembles having a garrison of Roman soldiers standing guard around it.
The peace of God is a peace present in all circumstances! It is God’s plan and will for us to have this supernatural, inexplicable peace that surpasses all understanding. Peace comes when we are aware that God is with us. The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, Helper and Comforter, lives in us and is always there for us, giving us peace from God. He, being our Counsellor, will help us in times of need by bringing Scriptures into our remembrance to maintain the peace that can otherwise be stolen if we choose to look, think, and worry because the peace of God is proportionate to how much we allow circumstances to affect us.
Therefore, start praying and casting our cares, anxieties, and concerns to the Lord and thereafter begin to praise and thank Him. Knowing who we are in Christ will drive out fear, and the peace of God will belong to us.
Sermon Series: The Weapon of Our Spiritual Warfare (Part 3)
神的平安
腓利比书 4:6-9 应当一无挂虑,只要凡事藉着祷告、祈求,和感谢,将你们所要的告诉 神。 神所赐出人意外的平安必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。弟兄们,我还有未尽的话:凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的,若有什么德行,若有什么称赞,这些事你们都要思念。你们在我身上所学习的,所领受的,所听见的,所看见的,这些事你们都要去行,赐平安的 神就必与你们同在。
魔鬼以各种阴谋诡计,如诱惑、控告、磨难、痛苦、压迫和欺骗来试炼、偷窃、杀戮和毁灭一切,包括我们的平安。他利用我们头脑中尚未更新的领域,将它们变成情绪的 “过山车”,在生命的滔滔巨流中我们觉得自己仿佛被不停地在浪尖上抛来抛去。因此我们必需穿戴神的盔甲,尤其是,平安的鞋,以经历与神和睦及在暴风雨中神的平安。
以弗所书 6:15 又用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋穿在脚上[以因福音而生发的脚踏实地的稳定性以及准备就绪来面对敌人。]
罗马兵丁凉鞋底部钉有尖刺,帮助他们在战斗中保持稳固的抓地力,并在战区的各种地形中穿行。同样的,我们需要在坎坷不平、荆棘丛生等困难情况下稳步前行,并得到平安的保护。以弗所书 6:15“准备”一词的原文词汇意味着对耶稣基督福音的坚定和坚实的理解。这就是我们深入研究它的原因。当魔鬼来欺哄我们时,如果我们明白福音,我们就根基稳固。因此,当火箭向我们射来时,我们必须藉着默想真理,将上帝赐予我们的平安持守在心中。上帝的平安就仿佛我们周遭有一支罗马士兵在守卫。
神的平安是一种在任何情况下都存在的平安!! 神的计划和旨意就是要我们拥有这种超越一切理解的超自然的平安,当我们意识到神与我们同在,平安就临到。圣灵是我们的老师、帮助者和安慰者。祂内住在我们里面。时刻准备帮助我们,把神的平安赐给我们。 圣灵是我们的谋士,祂会在我们需要时把经文带到我们的记忆中,以持守这平安,但如果我们选择去看,去想,去担心,这平安就会被偷走,因为神的平安与我们允许环境影响我们的程度成反比。
因此,开始祷告吧,把我们的关切、焦虑和担忧交给主,然后开始赞美和感谢祂。知道我们在基督里的身份,这能够驱走恐惧,然后上帝的平安就会属于我们。
讲章系列:我们属灵战争的武器(第三部分)
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