The Whole Armor of God Series
Part 6 – The Shoes of Preparedness
SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 6:15
“15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
PRAYER
SHOES SLIDE
King James states, “And your feet shod” (Strong’s #5265) hupŏdĕô – hoop-od-eh’-o which means ‘To bind under ones feet’ bind on – (be) shod
The shoes of the Roman soldier were made with special care. They were designed to protect the soldier as well as enable him to travel long distances. The sole was designed with layers of metal and leather and had “hob-nail” spikes about ½ to 1 inch long sticking out from the sole so the soldier could plant his feet into the ground so they could not be moved. Some had toe spikes or spurs as well. Some were armored to protect the shin and knee as well.
Paul was more than likely quoting one of his favorite verses from Isaiah when he wrote this part of Ephesians.
Isaiah 52:7
“7 How beautiful on the mountains (Lands, Difficult Terrain, Hard Climb, Upward)
are the feet of those who bring good news, (Active, Moving, Going Messenger)
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation, (News of Christ)
who say to Zion, (Jerusalem or City of David) to all, Jew & Gentile!
"Your God reigns!"
So today we ask ourselves the following;
Have I put on the “Belt of Truth?” Have I accepted Christ?
Have I put no the “Breastplate of Righteousness?” Have I accepted that Christ died for my sins and I am forgiven and have been given God’s righteousness to protect my heart and weak areas of my life from Satanic attack?
Have I put on my “Shoes of Preparedness?” Have I made myself ready to share Christ with others?
How do the Shoes of preparedness protect me?
Why is this considered the armor of God? To prepare ourselves we must study God’s word. In this studying we will become more knowledgeable about the will and character of God, as well as give ourselves ammunition against the devil.
Remember, the scriptures say;
Many of my people DIE because of lack of knowledge.
Lack of what knowledge? Christ and the Holy Word.
In 2 Timothy 2:15 we are told “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
How can we share God if we don’t understand His word?
(Jehovah Witness Story)
I was ready for a relaxing evening of working on my RV.
My mind was not on the word of God, but on where I left my Phillips screwdriver because I was replacing a mirror inside the bathroom of the RV.
A young man named James showed up and asked if he could speak with me.
It didn’t take long and I knew he was a witness.
I asked him if he was and he said yes.
I told him that I appreciated the witnesses because they were pretty close to the truth, but there were a few errors, and I would listen to him if afterwards he would listen to me.
He agreed.
After he told me his beliefs I asked him a few questions. I had just finished a study on the Holy Spirit in my Seminary.
I asked if he believed in the Holy Spirit. He said yes, but it was a power like electricity not a person.
So I showed him in his bible (because theirs is different from the King James everyone else in the world uses, re-written to fit their beliefs.)
Ephesians 4:30
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God...”
And I asked, “How does electricity grieve?” he didn’t know how to answer.
Or how about;
John 15:26
“26. but when the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
“HE shall testify of me.”
So know I had him thinking… So I went on,
I asked, “Do you believe in Jesus?” He said yes.
I asked, “Do you believe He is God?” He said no.
I asked, “Who do you believe He is?” and he said the archangel Michael.
I asked him to read from his bible;
John 1:14
“14. and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
I asked, “Do you believe Jesus is the word made flesh?” He said yes.
I asked, “Was Michael the ONLY angel?” He said no.
I said, “But this scripture says “ONLY begotten of the Father”
Again he didn’t know what to say.
So I gave him one last scripture,
JOHN 1:1-3
“1. in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Michael is a created angel, here it says the Word always was and created everything! Michael couldn’t create himself!
What if I wouldn’t have been prepared for that day? What if I wouldn’t have studied about the Holy Spirit in Seminary for the previous weeks?
God wanted someone to reach James. God knew I was prepared, and He brought James to my door that day.
Are we prepared? Are we preparing ourselves as we should?
We are not all preachers, teachers, evangelists, but we ALL have gifts from the Holy Spirit that we need to recognize and use for the edification and growth of the Church. We need to discover out God given talent and PUT IT ON, preparing ourselves for when we leave this building so that we may be prepared to share the Gospel.
What Gospel?
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Gospel of God
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
And if they do not know God, The Gospel of salvation!
WWJP? (What Would Jesus Preach?)
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted
To preach deliverance to those captive to sin
To give sight to the blind
T free those who are oppressed
To preach the second coming
Then Jesus says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled, here and now!”
This is why the church is here.
This is God’s will and mission for this church. To preach reconciliation and mend the broken relationship between God and the people!
This is the message we are to prepare ourselves to share.
The unsaved are the ones we are commissioned by Christ to reach, as well as those who know God but are in NEED!
Today we stand in the direct path of Satan.
Today we plant our feet as a church in the ground, sinking our ‘Hob-Nails’ deep into the foundation of Christ.
Standing FIRM on His word and resisting satanic attacks upon our lives, our families, our church, and our country!
Today this scripture will be fulfilled in this church! And we will shod our feet and prepare for spreading of the Good News of Christ and the message of salvation to all who will come and accept Him as their Lord and Savior!
Today is the beginning of a New Church, the seed in Tawas City is beginning to grow into a sapling, and before you know it, WE will be the mighty Oak God has willed us to be in this community!
CLOSING PRAYER
Romans 10:11-17
“11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14How, then, can they call on the Lord? And how can they believe in the Lord if they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
15And how can someone preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
16But not all accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?”
17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
