R787 The Key To Personal Peace

God has an encouraging word for you and me today through the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton about the key to personal peace.

We're headed to the book of Romans, and we'll start in chapter 10 in just a moment with Dr. Don Wilton, well-known author, evangelist, seminary professor, and pastor. And today as he gives us insight to this concept of keys to personal peace, know that we'd love to pray with you about the peace that God's ready to bring into your life right now. We're available 24 hours a day at 866-899-WORD.

As Dr. Don would say, we all need some 2 a.m. friends, and we'd love to be one of yours. 866-899-9673 or online at www.tewonline.org. We're here for you. That's online at www.tewonline.org. Now today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton, the key to personal peace. Now friends, every week I receive literally scores of letters, and I'm grateful to the Lord for that. I wish that I could stand in this pulpit every Sunday and just read to you the blessings that we receive here through the encouraging word broadcast ministry, and the response that we get from people whose lives are touched through the Word of God and how deeply grateful we are. I want to read to you a letter that I received this week. I have it in my hand.

Without mentioning any names, not that I think that would be a problem at all, but I want you to listen to this. I received that this week. Dear Brother Wilton, I'm thankful for you and your church for the wonderful TV ministry. About three years ago, I watched your message, and it touched my heart greatly. After the message, I started to the bathroom.

You have to go through my bedroom to get there. I didn't get to the bathroom right away because God stopped me at the foot of my bed, and he said, oh boy, it's time. It was there that I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and repented of my sins. Again, I'm very thankful that you chose that message that day for that service. I have not been the same since. It changed my life about 360 degrees. Thank you.

From North Carolina. I want to speak to you this morning about my favorite subject. The key to personal peace. I'm going to invite you to open your Bibles with me to Romans chapter 10. The book of Romans in chapter 10. Wonderful passage of scripture.

One of my favorite. I don't know where I would be without Romans 10. And what God has to say to somebody like me about unlocking the key to personal peace.

Let me read it for you. Romans chapter 10 and beginning at verse 9. That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all. And the same Lord richly blesses all. Did you get that? All who call on him for everyone.

Did you catch that? For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. I don't think that I need to stand up here today and talk to you about the desire of all mankind to have peace in their heart. But all of us search for peace. I want to share with you today the key to personal peace. And I want you to listen very carefully because in just a moment I'm going to tell you exactly the same thing that God has told me. I want to give you exactly the same thing that God has given to me. I want you to know that I have found peace in my heart and in my life. And it has come from the Lord Jesus Christ.

And I'm so glad to tell you today that what Jesus Christ has done for Don Wilton. That he will do exactly the same thing for you. So let's consider this marvelous subject this morning. Number one, we can have personal peace. Number one, by understanding the search that we are engaged in. That's what the Bible says in Jeremiah chapter 29 and verse 13.

You will seek me and find me when you seek with all of your heart. Most of us strive to be happy. If you were to take a census of public opinion today. And I've noticed this when people are interviewed from time to time concerning a variety of subjects. And they're asked, what would you want most of all in life?

Many people respond readily. I just want to have peace. There is a massive search going on in the hearts of all human beings to find peace. May surprise you because we would expect some people to say, well I just want to have a lot of money. And I want to marry a very fine person. And I want to have plenty of children.

And all of these things are not irrelevant to our sense of well being. But what we want most of all is peace. Maybe you find yourself engaged in that search today. I've got wonderful and good news to share with you this morning. I too was engaged in a search for peace. And I found it. God showed me the key to personal peace. And I want to share that with you this morning.

Yes, you can have personal peace. Number one, by understanding the search that you are engaged in. Number two, by seeing the torment that we are struggling in. You see friends, we know that we are in torment.

You know that, don't you? You don't need to sit down and tell you that you're in torment. Now torment is defined by different degrees of hardship. I would readily agree with you that I may not experience the same torment as some wonderful families in Iraq who wake up every day for fear of their lives. I recognize that there are people who have been affected by the tsunami in Asia. Who are experiencing untold torment.

But God's word tells us in Lamentations one and verse 20. See oh Lord how distressed I am. See how I am in torment from within. And in my heart I am deeply disturbed.

And it seems to me as we travel around the echelons of society that you'll encounter people just like you and me. Not only engaged in a search but struggling in the midst of torment. I don't want to try and define your torment today but you know about it. It might come because of the marriage you find yourself in. The divorce that you've gone through. The thoughts that you entertain. The struggles that you have.

But I'm going to tell you my friend unequivocally that you can have the same personal peace that I have had. And that I enjoy. That I know that millions of people around the world have come to understand and hold dear in their hearts.

Number one by understanding the search that you're engaged in. And number two by seeing the torment that you are struggling in. Accept that today.

See it. Lay that right there at the foot of the cross right now. But number three you can have personal peace by admitting the problem we are held captive in. You see my friends the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. There's this thing called sin.

The Bible tells us that we have sinned against God. If we had time this morning I'd take you on a journey back to the Garden of Eden when God created two beautiful people. Made perfectly each one of them male and female. He created them in the image of God. And what fellowship they had with the Lord.

I love those stories I can just imagine how tranquil and peaceful it must have been in the Garden of Eden during those early days. But something happened. A problem arose. The Bible calls it sin. They sinned against God. It seems to me rather remarkable don't you think that prior to that moment when sin entered into the heart and life of man. The moment from which man was held captive and in bondage to sin. That prior to that moment the sweetness of the fellowship, the radiance of the relationship that existed between God and man. But sin entered their lives.

This problem came up. This insurmountable problem, this ugly thing that reared its head into this tranquil peaceful existence between God and his creation. And they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. God placed an angel with a flaming sword at its gate. All of a sudden they became conscious of their nakedness.

All of a sudden they became overwhelmed by their weakness. All of a sudden they became consumed by their emotions and they began to run and hide and flee from the very presence of a righteous and a holy God. And you and I because of our sin were thrown out of the Garden of Eden. You see we've got a problem my friends and God's word calls it sin. What is sin? Number one sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3 verse 4 tells me that the person who breaks God's law is sinful. It's lawlessness. We talk about the lawlessness in the streets of Baghdad and the Fallujah.

In America today in our democratic institutions we cry out and we say let's restore law and order. We understand that but God says that sin is lawlessness. Sin causes man to be held captive by a problem that he has no control over. And so man runs rampant in his heart and seeks after that which would satisfy his human being. Sin is lawlessness. Number two sin is iniquity. It is turning away from that which is right. James tells us about it in James chapter 1 verse 14 and 15.

This is what he said. People are tempted when their own evil desires lead them away and trap them. Their desire leads to sin and then sin grows and brings death.

You see friends this problem that all people have it is lawlessness. It is iniquity. But number three sin is missing the mark. The purpose for which God created all of us was to have fellowship with him. And sin causes us to miss the mark. The Bible says that all of us have sinned, watch this, and fallen short of the glory of God. It's much like when we go hunting with a bow and an arrow. And we pull that bow back and we aim it at a target.

And we pull the arrow and the arrow instead of hitting its mark falls short. Bible says that sin is missing the mark. Number four sin is trespassing.

Please forgive the interruption as Dr. Don is preaching and teaching and convicting for sin is indeed trespassing. Perhaps there is an opportunity for us to join with you in praying over whatever you're going through right now. Know that we're here for you. When we began the ministry years ago, Dr. Wilton said it was essential for any listener that had a concern that needed to be prayed over. Right now you can reach us at 866-899-9673. That's 866-899 word.

And I say right now you can reach us because it's 24 hours. That will route you to one of us honored and pleased and ready even at 2 o'clock in the morning to pray with you and for you. We're also available to connect you with wonderful resources that will help you grow in your faith. There's a resource on our website right now that's all about praying and the power that comes in praying over our children and grandchildren. Again, that's on our website at www.tewonline.org.

That's www.tewonline.org. Now let's return to today's great message, The Key to Personal Peace with Dr. Don Wilton. Everywhere you go, in the upstate and the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, you will find signs posted, Trespassers, beware, do not trespass. Well, sin is putting self before God instead of reaching out to God. Mark chapter 8 and verse 34, God says, if anyone would come after me, he must deny him or herself.

Take up the cross and follow me. Sin is trespassing against the law of God. But number five, sin is belief, unbelief, my friends. The Bible is very clear about this.

Not only is sin lawlessness and iniquity and missing the mark and trespassing, but sin is unbelief. One John chapter 5 and verse 10, anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe, listen to this, has made God out to be a liar because he has not believed the testimony of God that he has given about his Son. And this is the testimony that he has given, that God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, does not have life. Now, what is God telling us about this problem?

That we need to admit that we are held captive in. Sin, yes, sin is unbelief. The Bible says if you do not believe, you're calling God a liar. That's what sin causes man to do. Number four, number four, yes, we can have personal peace by knowing the God that we must put our trust in.

I love this. The Bible is very clear, my friend. If I'm going to have personal peace, and I want to just remind you again that by the grace of God alone, I have found that personal peace. And I have met literally thousands of people all around the world, from Australia, to England, to Africa, to Asia, the United States of America, all across Canada, to islands in the Caribbean. I've met people everywhere from every walk of life, red and yellow and black and white, all made precious in the sight of God because they have found the key to personal peace.

Yes, I can, by understanding the search that I'm engaged in, by seeing the torment that I'm struggling in, by admitting the problem that I'm held captive in. Number four, by knowing the God that I must put my trust in. Who is this God? Who is this God? Who is God?

Oh God, where are you? And what are you and who are you? If I'm going to unlock the key to personal peace, I must know the God that I must put my trust in. Just four things I want to tell you about this God. Number one, God is spirit.

John 4 tells us that. God is spirit. That means that God is not limited.

When I say the word spirit, we kind of conjure up images of ghosts and things in our human imagination. God is spirit, which means that God has the capacity to be everywhere because he is all capacity. It means that God is not limited. Number two, God is a person. God is a person. Most of the attributes of man God loves, God thinks, God does, God feels. God is a person.

He's the third person, the first person of the Trinity of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. But number three, God is holy and righteous. God is holy and righteous, friend.

The Bible tells us that we must recognize that the reason why Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden was because of the righteousness and the holiness of God. It means that this is the reason why God cannot ignore the problem we have, which is the sin in our life. But number four, God is love. He loves you.

He loves me. The Lord loves you, my friend, very much. I want you to know that your pastor doesn't have the solution. But what we do know and what I do know is that I can point you to the Word of God, which tells me how that I can have personal peace. The Bible tells me four things must be done. Number one, that we repent of our sin.

Friend, watch me, listen to me. If you want to have personal peace, you must repent of your sin. The Bible says repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. That word there, repent, means to admit and acknowledge that you're a sinner. I spoke about sin just a moment ago. Are you willing to say to the Lord, Lord, I know that I'm a sinner. I repent of that sin.

I'm sorry for it. Number two, number two, you must confess that sin to the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, he is the image of the invisible God. He's the Son of God. He's the only begotten.

He's the only unique one. He's the one who paid the price. Now, here's what Jesus said. He made an announcement.

Watch this. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to the Father, but watch this, through me.

So, if I'm going to unlock the key to personal peace. Number one, I need to repent of my sin. I need to acknowledge that I'm a sinner before God.

Not turn it over, hide it under a carpet, pretend it's not there. Yes, Lord, I am guilty as charged. Number two, I need to confess that to who? To the Lord Jesus Christ. Not to anybody else, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, if I tell somebody else that I'm a sinner, it may make me feel better, but it will not save me, because no man can do that but the Lord Jesus Christ. Number three, I must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Now, folks, watch this.

Listen to me carefully. The resurrection, what is that about? Remember Jesus died? He died, we like to talk about it, dying on Friday. He was raised on Sunday. Remember what we do on Easter weekend?

We call it Good Friday, Easter Sunday morning. Bible tells us Jesus died for our sin, but did he stay in the grave? No. Is he dead? What sets Christianity apart from all religions in the world? Our savior is alive.

He's alive. We worship a living savior, and the Bible tells us in our passage this morning that if we believe in our heart, there's that word believe, remember, unbelief is sin. Sin separates me from God. If I believe in my heart, what? That God raised Jesus from the dead, I will be saved.

So here it is. Number one, repent of my sin, acknowledge that sin. Number two, confess that sin to Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, I want you to know that I repent of my sin. I confess that sin to you. I confess all my sin to you. Number three, I believe I am convicted. I'm not just saying this.

I am convicted and convinced in my heart that Jesus Christ is alive. I had a young person say to me one time, I've met this young lady. How do I know if she's the one that I need to ask to marry me? Now, what do you say to that? Well, she looks good. She sounds good. She does what you do. You jive together.

You have many things in common. No, I said to this young man, the most strange thing in the world, I looked at him and I said to him, son, you'll know, you'll know. You see, folks, believing is knowing.

It's not pretending. It's coming to that point in my heart that I believe. I am willing to place my faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. I say, listen, I don't understand how it is that Jesus rose from the dead and I certainly don't understand all these big terms and all the things about the Bible, but I'm glad that my faith is not dependent upon my knowledge. My faith is dependent upon my willing to trust, to hand myself over in simple childlike belief. What did Jesus say? Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Now, you put that into perspective. God says my faith and my trust needs to be simple.

It needs to be like a child. I repent. I confess to Jesus Christ. I believe. I'm convicted in my heart.

I know that God raised Jesus from the dead and I'm willing to accept that as the truth of God. And number four, I put my faith and trust in him. I put my faith and trust in him. That means I take my hands off it. Would you do that today? Would you bow your heads with me right now where you are? Would you pray this prayer with me this morning? Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. My sin is before me. I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me because he loves me. I confess my sin to you, Lord Jesus, because you are the son of God. I believe that you are alive.

God raised you from the dead. And right now, I put my faith and my trust in you. I have prayed this prayer according to the Scriptures, and I believe you have come into my heart in Jesus' name.

If you just prayed along with Dr. Wilton moments ago to give your life to Jesus Christ or rededicate your life to Jesus, welcome to the family of God. We would love to pray with you and for you, and Dr. Don would like to pray for you and give you some free resources that will help you grow in your faith. If you'll call us at 866-899-WORD, we'll get these resources out to you right away. Again, the number is 866-899-9673, or you can connect with us as well on our website at tewonline.org. We would love to encourage you, and one of the ways we can encourage you is with resources like this. Fred God's encouraging word to your friends, family, and community with the classic book set from Dr. Don Wilton.

These nine powerful books include Forgiven, The Power of the Cross, Undefeated, God's Strategy for Successful Living, See You at the Finish Line, When God Prayed, Totally Secure, A Hope and a Future, Overcoming Discouragement, Praying for a Miracle, Defying the Odds, and The Encouragement in His Presence Devotional. To order, please visit our website at tewonline.org or call 866-899-WORD to order your set today. That's just one of many great resources on our website at tewonline.org. I hope you'll drop by today.

That's tewonline.org. Now, it doesn't happen often, but we've got just a moment left, and it could be that this is a special moment that God has given us in our broadcast today as we go back to Dr. Don Wilton for one more thought. You know, perhaps just a moment ago, you prayed with me to receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life. I rejoice with you, but there again, maybe you hesitated just for a second, and that second divides you from all time and eternity.

Do it now. Pray with me right now. Dear God, I know that Jesus loves me and that he died on a cross for me. I give my heart and life to you by faith. I repent of my sin, and I receive you into my heart, and I pray this in Jesus' name. My friend, if you've prayed that prayer, I just welcome you with the love of Jesus. Amen, welcoming you to the family of God.

Sometimes that's just how God has us, gives us the opportunity for a second chance or a third chance. Know that we'd love to speak with you, to give you those free resources I mentioned earlier if you'll meet us on the phone at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 or online at TEWOnline.org. We'd love to welcome you to the family and give you those free resources. Thank you for sharing your prayer support and financial support of the encouraging word. The Encouraging Word