The Gospel of Peace
Ephesians chapter 6:10-6:20
Introduction-
We again this morning we will be looking at the armor of God.
How the armor of God protects the believer, and by “submitting yourself to God”, you can resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Some will say Amen to that!
We have looked at two pieces of the armor so far.
The first piece is the belt of truth- the belt of the Roman soldier holds everything together. It held the sword and it connected the second piece we looked at- the breastplate of righteousness.
The breastplate of righteousness protected the soldier’s chest area and served to keep all of his vital organs safe.
Last week we said that we need to keep it simple.
Without Christ in our lives- you cannot put on the armor of God.
Our faith is a link that connects our breastplate with God’s infinite power.
NO CHRIST- NO RIGHTEOUSNESS
NO CHRIST- NO BREASTPLATE TO SPIRITUALLY PROTECT OUR VITAL ORGANS OF HEART AND SOUL.
Life application
Are you still trying to be good by your own righteousness?
Are you being beaten up by things of your past and things that you have turned over to the Lord?
Are you using all the spiritual armor that God provides for believers?
Ephesians 6:10-6:20
You see spiritually wearing each piece of God’s protective armor assures us of being a warrior in God’s army.
The great thing about that is the battle is the Lord’s, not ours.
“That is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.”
We fight in a battle, but the battle is the Lord’s
Illustration-
When our first granddaughter was very young, our son Tony was in the United States Army stationed in Afghanistan. When people asked her where her uncle Tony was, she would always say that he was in “the Lord’s army.”
This morning we are going to center in on the third piece of armor: (v15) “…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
The Battle Shoes
We have a belt
We have breastplate
We have battle shoes
Footwear provides protection, support, traction, and comfort for our feet.
Back to the soldier fighting the battle
He wore thick soul sandals that had nails coming out of the bottom of them.
They were comfortable enough so the soldier could march up to 20 miles in them.
Combat ready enough that the soldier had a firm footing when he was in hand-to hand combat.
He wore brass shin guards that went from his knee to his ankles. Together they protected the soldiers feet.
Those soldiers stepped in and out of rocky areas and walked through thick brush that would have ripped up his legs.
This protection kept him combat ready at all times.
Back to the text- “his feet were fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
What does that mean?
That would mean that Christian soldiers had to have their sandals on, be ready to proclaim the gospel of peace to the world.
Greaaaaaaaaaaat!
Here goes the preacher today telling all of us to be ready to preach the gospel.
This just turned into an evangelistic message.
Yes, it will get evangelistic for a moment.
Illustration:
Institute for Americans church growth asked 10,000 people this question-
What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?
Answers:
I had a need- 3%
I just walked in – 3%
I like the preacher-6%
I am just visiting-1%
I like the Bible study-5%
I attended a gospel meeting-.5%
I like the programs- 3%
A FRIEND OR RELATIVE INVITED ME- 79%
Now tell me how does God get His gospel out to those that need it! (answer) Through His people.
Almost 8 out of 1o will come from an interest in someone and inviting them to church.
It is God’s work
One plants,
one waters
God caused the growth.
He chose to use His people to get the process started.
Family, Friends, Neighbors. These are our responsibility to at least attempt to reach.
Acts chapter 10
Peter is recorded as preaching a message where 1000’s came to faith. More than 8000 in several combined services. Let me tell you someone who also has great reward in heaven for those souls, his brother Andrew. Andrew heard John the Baptist preach, responded to the call and went home and told his brother Peter- “we have found the Messiah.”
Check it out for yourself! He told his brother Peter, and brought him to Jesus!
The Bible tells us that we are to be spiritually equipped to battle when the devil comes against us.
We are to be spiritually ready to spread the gospel of Christ when God gives us opportunity.
That is for each and every one of us this morning.
The mathematical numbers of conversion is amazing, yet we continue to struggle to do it.
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are higher than your ways.”
He chooses to use us-all of us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
What does that look like?
It is getting involved with people- our study on Wednesday was all about mentoring someone.
You should be mentoring someone
Someone should be mentoring you.
Make a list of the people that you want to see saved.
Pray for them daily.
Demonstrate love for them.
Invite them to service and studies- which means you need to be here.
Demonstrate love to visitors who attend.
Don’t make them chase you down, you go to them.
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation.”
Isaiah is prophesying the coming of the prince of peace by proclaiming the gospel of peace. Amen.
Million dollar question- Why do we not share the gospel with others?
Wrong motives most of the time (too busy), and the rest of the time is because of fear.
What will I say?
What will they say?
What will they think?
Paul says “ And when it comes to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech, or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God, for I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
Just the simple gospel message
What the Lord has done in your life
Just invite them. Get them here, and let God take responsibility to what He will say to them when they get here.
The gospel to those that perish is foolishness, but life and light to those who believe it and are willing to follow and be included in Christ death.
How can they believe if no one tells them.
How can they hear if no one has enough compassion to tell them.
The mandate is clear
Go make disciples
Preach the gospel
“As my Father as sent me, I am sending you.”
Back to the soldier
The direction of your feet will determine the direction you will be walking.
Point your body in the direction that the Lord has told you to go.
You don’t like the direction, go the other way! (repeat)
If your car starts one out of every three times- is it reliable?
If the postman skips your house once a week, is he dependable?
God does not have two standards
One for you
One for everyone else.
He has one standard and we all have to fall in line.
Last point with the armor of God as the protection of our feet.
I will move away from evangelism for a moment, but it may take you off the hot seat, but it does not change the fact we all are evangelist.
The last point is this
We are all called (15) “to have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
That is what we have been talking about- spreading the gospel to those we have come into contact with.
Preparedness or readiness for God to use us to reach others.
There is another side of the armor of peace that God supplies to believers.
It is the peace of God as a protective weapon.
You put on the peace of God and you are able to fight off anxiety, worry, and all the battle scars of turmoil that we may be going through.
Closing
2 kinds of peace
Peace with God
Peace of God
Peace with God comes to you as you become a child of God and your relationship is made right. Peace with God.
The other comes as you put on the armor of God and you use God’s peace as a weapon to fight off the enemy.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called.”
The devil might try to distract your walk with God, or try to cause you to stumble in that abundant life He has promised us.
There is little that he can do when you have the peace of God working in your life. Those times he cannot move you- when you have your feet planted in the firm foundation of God’s word and His peace.
We are all going through something- including your pastors family. That is when we have to let the peace of God rule in our hearts!
There will be dark moments, but they will pass!
Amen.
