Jun 23 2008

Bible Study Week 17 Spiritual Warfare - Preaching the Gospel of Peace

Published by Rose under Weekly Reflections

Purpose of This Lesson

This lesson will guide us to understand that is not a physical battle and that one cannot fight it with physical weapons, but with the weapons of the Spirit, which are mighty for “pulling down strongholds” (2 Cor 10:42 Cor 10:4
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4 ,  

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) and to set the ‘captives’ free. (Luke 4:18Luke 4:18
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18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,  )

Lesson Objective:

This lesson will guide the participants to:

  1. Understand the effectiveness of preaching the
  2. Understand why we should preach the
  3. Understand ways in which the weapon of peace is used in

Introduction

In Matthew 26:51Matthew 26:51
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51 And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.  

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we read a story of how Peter attempted to protect his master Jesus after Judas betrayed him. Peter was so mistaken because he thought that the is to be gained by the sword, and he therefore struck at the High Priest’s slave, cutting off his ear, which Jesus healed instantly. Unlike the kingdoms of this world, is a kingdom of peace and goodwill, and that is why when Jesus was confronted by his persecutors he chose not to fight back. Likewise, Christians should be ready to preach the in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:22 Tim 4:2
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2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  ).
Begin Today’s Lesson by reading: Matt 5:38-41Matt 5:38-41
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38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.  , Acts 7:54-60Acts 7:54-60
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54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [the Lord], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.   and 2 Timothy 1:7-82 Timothy 1:7-8
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7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. 8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;  , 2 Tim 4:1-72 Tim 4:1-7
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4 1 I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. 5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. 6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:  

vs. Satan’s Kingdom

Jesus describing the agenda of the Kingdom of Satan said in John 10:10John 10:10
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10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.  

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“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly”. Christians have the duty to fulfill God’s agenda by preaching the message of peace in a dark and desperate world; a world where violence has become very common. Violence has become common everywhere and a day hardly passes by without a report on violence on the media. The Psalmist said “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do”? (Psa 11:3Psa 11:3
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3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?  ), the righteous have a duty to preach peace.

Paul was learned and powerful and greatly feared because he had been persecuting with the authority given to him by the high priests; in fact he had been part of the crowd that had killed Stephen (Acts 7:58Acts 7:58
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58 and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  

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), but now writing to the in Ephesus in Eph 6: 15Eph 6: 15
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15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;   his approach has significantly changed and he now gives advice on how to do span saying “shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace . . .” Paul had come to the realization that the is not advanced by swords and spears. This fact had dawned on him when he met Christ on his way to Damascus (Acts 22:16-14Acts 22:16-14
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 ) on his mission to persecute Christians.

After this encounter with Christ, Paul was completely transformed and he now understood that the was not to be defended by arrows and spears, but by preaching the ! Whereas the devil’s agenda is to hold people as captives, our agenda is to preach the gospel so that people may be set free from anger, revenge, hatred, and violence.
Let us therefore preach the to the captives who are held in the kingdom of darkness, so that they may be set free, free by God’s power.

Questions For Discussion - Week 17

  1. Why do you think the gospel of peace is important to you as a Christian today? Please explain
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  2. What is the significance that the Apostle Paul attaches to the soldier’s shoes or sandals in preaching peace? Please explain
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  3. Do you agree that the action of “shoding our feet’ is still valid to you today as you are living in the 21st century considering that there are many modes of transport available today? Please explain
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  4. What do you think Jesus meant when he said we should turn the “other cheek” in Matt 5: 39Matt 5: 39
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    39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.      ? Please explain
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  5. Please give an example of how today may apply the teaching in Matt 5:38-41Matt 5:38-41
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    38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.       to promote peace. Please explain
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  6. How can you “shod” your feet with the gospel of peace today? Please give practical examples using Paul’s advice to Timothy in 2 Tim 4:22 Tim 4:2
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    2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.      .

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  7. How can we apply the message in Eph 6: 15Eph 6: 15
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    15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;       in the situation which has occurred our country today? Please explain
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Reflection: Matthew 5:41Matthew 5:41
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.  

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“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go two with him”.

Lord make us instruments of your peace; where there is hatred let your love increase.

Amen

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