Armor: Shoes of Peace

Spiritual Warfare – Part 4
Perry Duggar

October 9, 2022

I. Introduction: We continue our series, Spiritual Warfare.

• Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 6:13-15; Philippians 4:6-7

A. Today’s message will focus on footwear; it is entitled, Shoes of Peace.

1. Ephesians 6:13–15 (NLT)— Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [Or, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.]
   
2. Theme verse: Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV)— Stand firm … with your feet fitted with … readiness … from the gospel of peace.
3. Roman soldiers wore sandals made of leather, strapped up to the knee and tightly fastened to the soldier’s leg. (Invented or at least advocated by Alexander the Great)
4. Nails or metal bits were driven through the soles of the shoes for traction and stability.
5. These sandals allowed soldiers to be sure-footed in battle, so they wouldn’t slip.

B. Spiritual meaning of the shoes of peace (Good News shoes).

1. Footwear is not the Gospel of peace, but the readiness that results from the Gospel.
   
2. Peace with God prepares [or readies] me for battle. (In at least two ways.)
3. Romans 5:1 (NLT)— Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
4. By faith in the Gospel message: Christ died for our sins, when we believe that, we are forgiven and are no longer enemies of God; we have become friends. (Romans 5:10)
5. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the hostility which existed between us and God is removed; we are declared right by Him and have peace with Him.
6. Then, we can resist attempts by Satan to discourage us with the threat of condemnation for sin because we have been justified; we stand rightly, perfectly, in the sight of God.
7. We can’t enter battle clear-headed if we are uncertain about our connection to God.
8. We won’t be sure-footed when attacked if our commitment to God is unstable.
9. Having peace with God also includes trusting Him in difficult circumstances.
10. When situations in our lives are not going well, demons will whisper that we should doubt God’s love, His care, His concern, for us.
11. If we truly know God, we will trust Him, and experience peace despite our problems.
12. Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)— Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [2 Timothy 1:12]
13. Our prayers don’t always change our predicaments, but they change our perspective.
14. When we talk to God, we bring Him into the foreground of our minds and push our problems and worries into the background, so we experience peace in God’s Presence.
15. Having peace with God because our sins are forgiven, and experiencing peace within ourselves because we can trust Him in the midst of our troubles, makes us ready!
16. Ready for what? Spreading the Gospel! Telling faith stories (witnessing, evangelism).

II. How readiness to witness resists spiritual enemies:

• Readiness means preparation, eagerness or willingness, to spread Good News!
• A Witness gives testimony by telling the story of what they have seen and heard!

Readiness to witness…

1. Provides purpose. (Acts 20:24; Romans 10:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:11,18-21)

1. 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (NLT)— And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors [official representative w. auth.] ; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [Romans 10:13-15]
2. When we become aware that we have the ability and responsibility to speak for God to people who are outside of Christ, it will provide meaning and purpose for our lives.
3. God has given us honor and privilege of expressing this wonderful Good News to people and inviting them to receive what they need most: forgiveness of their sins, freedom from guilt and shame, acceptance by God, and eternity in heaven.
4. Representing God to people who may be unaware, or even skeptical, of what we are saying will cause us to firm up our allegiance to, and awareness of, God.
5. A determination to speak for Christ, calling people back to God, will focus our attention on discovering faith, which will defend us from devilish diversions and distractions.
6. Indifference and complacency toward God and His work causes us to become inconsistent in following Christ, which makes us susceptible to temptations.
7. The devil and his demons are looking for people whose lives are aimless, directionless, who allow the culture to form their thinking and determine their path as they move from one popular fascination to another.
8. ILL.: I don’t know my opinion on issues until social media tells me what to think
9. Demonic forces descend on people whose knowledge of God is shallow and commitment to Him is unsettled.
10. People with passion for God and energy for His work, are not easy targets for Satan.
11. APP.: Do you have a clear purpose for your life? Are you spreading Good News?

Readiness to witness…

2. Promotes righteousness. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15-16)

1. Colossians 4:5–6 (NLT)— Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
2. Readiness to witness requires us to look for opportunities to share our faith stories, to treat them with kindness and respond to their questions with respect.
3. If I have concern for people coming to Christ, I will be careful about the way I live.
4. I will avoid attitudes and actions that will damage my credibility and the sincerity of my faith by displaying hypocrisy or a lack of conviction about my beliefs.
5. 1 Peter 2:11–12 (NLT)— Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. …
6. If I am focused on concern for the spiritual state of others, I will avoid immorality, anger, pride, materialism and other self-centered pursuits.
7. I will live my faith authentically, honestly, without pretense or false spirituality.
8. The devil and his demons will point out every weakness and mistake; they will emphasize every regret from your past.
9. The proof of my faith is not being perfect, but improving, becoming more like Jesus;
10. people you are reaching will understand, even appreciate that; it will give them hope.
11. We don’t have to be sinless to be believable, but we must be willing to admit mistakes, apologize for offenses, and attempt to resolve conflicts, especially ones I create.
12. APP.: Is my behavior consistent with my declared beliefs?

Readiness to witness…

3. Prevents fear. (Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16-17; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; 2 Timothy 1:7-8)

1. The idea of telling someone about your faith may frighten you.
2. Satan will emphasize our lack of biblical knowledge.
3. He will remind us that there are many potential questions you can’t answer.
4. When God calls us to a task, He provides the power and ability to perform it.
5. 2 Timothy 1:7–8 (NLT)— For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
6. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. … With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
7. When we rely on the strength God provides through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we can refuse control by personal insecurities and resist intimidation by demonic forces.
8. You only have to tell your story, spell out your experience with Jesus—on that subject, you are the expert—and the Spirit will provide you the words to speak. (Luke 12:11-12)
9. When people ask questions you don’t know the answer to, reply this way: “I don’t know, but I will look it up and get back to you,” which reveals your concern.
10. Here’s help: Mark Taylor offering a seminar, The Gospel through Story (yours), on Sunday, October 23 at 4 pm in the Balcony Room. Sign up online by 10/19 at brookwoodchurch.org/events.
11. Sometimes you may need to address sin issues in someone’s life, but remember that you are not the one determining right and wrong, God is.
12. Our purpose is never to shame someone for their sins, it is to lovingly speak truth so they can experience freedom from sin and receive what God wants for them.
13. Remember, you are not responsible for converting people, just tell your story, talk about what Jesus has done for you and let the Holy Spirit work.
14. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin and convinces them of truth; demons cannot overpower the Spirit; they cannot prevent His work, though they can impede it.
15. When the devil or his demons attack us and attempt to frustrate our efforts to spread the Gospel, remember that Satan himself is no match for the Spirit who lives in us!
16. James 4:7 (NLT)— So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
17. We can stand firm with our feet fitted with readiness… from the gospel of peace.
18. APP.: Has fear silenced your witness? Trust in the Spirit to empower and equip you!
19. Will you ask God to give you someone to reach with Good News?
20. Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)— So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”