Please turn in your copy of the scriptures to the New Testament book of Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. And you'll notice there where we've said a few weeks ago at verse 10, Paul writes, finally be strong, and he goes on. And why does he say finally? Well, in light of everything he has just said in chapters one, two, three, four, and five, now he says finally. And in those first five chapters, Paul explains how we are to live the Christian life, what the Christian life entails. And so now he says, in light of all that, finally, and he sets for us one of, if not the greatest impediment to living the Christian life. And that is the reality that there is a spirit world that exists and does its utmost to keep us from being faithful to God. There is a spirit world in which the devil lives along with his demons. It is a realm that is beyond our vision. It is a realm in which angels as well reside in. and it is very potent, very able to sideline, sidetrack anyone who is serious about living the Christian life. It involves here what we see, this unseen spirit world that so many people suggest doesn't exist. Because I can't see it, it must not exist. And yet what they don't realize is that they experience it from day to day, all year round. It's a real world. I certainly wouldn't ask you to dabble in it, or to invite it, but neither should you ignore it. Understand that the devil does exist, Lucifer is real, And so are his demonic forces. A friend of mine noted to me how someone else preached on this topic and he was just a young boy and now he's a man. And he found what was said to him very memorable and he repeated it to me and now I'm gonna repeat it to you. Take a look at that slide and it'll detail it for you. This is what Satan does. This is what Satan does. Satan deceives. And that's why here in the text we're told to put on the belt of truth. Satan defiles. And so we're told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Satan also detains us. He tries to slow us down in our Christian walk. So we are to wear the gospel of peace and be prepared to move. Satan tries to destroy us and that's why we have to carry the shield of faith in order to protect ourselves. Satan also attempts to disarm us, take away our weaponry and that's why we need to read the Word of God which is our sword. And Satan tries to detach us Detach us from God. Detach us from the family of God. And that's why we need to take time to pray. These are the schemes of the devil. And as you know very well, he is very, very successful. He does this so well. He's got thousands of years of practice. And we so often forget that Satan is actually lurking not far from us, looking to devour us. Now maybe you saw the army parade yesterday. The United States Army celebrated 250 years of existence. I didn't catch the parade. I caught parts of it early this morning. I saw also the fireworks display, and I'll tell you, at times it brings goosebumps if you have any sense of patriotism. And what a display of military might, wasn't it? And it's unfortunate that we even have to do this. It was more than just a celebration. The White House was also issuing a warning to the world of who we are and what we have. And of course, what they displayed was a great show of military strength. And I was thinking, imagine what they're not showing us. Proper equipment is essential. if you're going to win a war. And here we are, Christians involved in warfare. And so we're given here the proper, the essential pieces of equipment by which we can actually be successful. What does success look like? Well, if you read on, you see the success means that at the end of the battle, you remain standing. But it's not just standing. If you read on, you see that it's, you remain standing and you actually take on more ground. So the Christian warfare is not just about defending yourself, but it's also about gaining ground for the kingdom of God. And if you want to do just that, remain standing and even be effective to gain ground, you need to be wearing the full armor of God. Some of us say amen, but I don't want to wear the whole thing because it's rather cumbersome. It really cramps my style. The truth is, my friends, is that if you want to be successful, in this Christian warfare, and I hope you do, you have to wear the full armor. You have to put on every single piece. And what we see here is a disclosure of the pieces of armor that the Roman soldier would put on in the order that the Roman soldier would put it on. We have the soldier's equipment and as we come to verse 15 we see that involved in that equipment is also footwear. Let me read to you, beginning at six, let's see. Let's start with 14. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and that shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Let me read that again, verse 15. And that shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. You know, in our culture today, we have footwear any occasion, for any specific occasion. Athletes have footwear for indoor sports and outdoor sports. Some of them are cleated, others are smooth, some of them are just downright ugly like bowling shoes. Some are made for the beach, while others are made for rugged hiking. We have shoes for formal wear, so for when we go to weddings. We have shoes for casual lunches. We have shoes to wear when we are running a distance or climbing a cliff, yet a different one. We have steel-toed shoes for working in a warehouse. We have shoes for everything. Why? Because we understand that proper footwear is crucial in order to get the job done right. It's that simple. Now, the Roman soldier wore a type of sandal or a boot sandal called a collegii. that was heavily studded with nails on the bottom, and it would provide him with a particular amount of grip that he would need as he marches from place to place. In fact, the military success of both Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great had much to do with the velocity that their armies were able to travel on foot, and it was mostly because of the type of footwear they were wearing. bringing about the success that these two military leaders historically have had. Well here in chapter 6 verse 15 of Ephesians the Christian is told that he has, she has to wear the proper spiritual footwear. We too need to wear the proper footwear because if we don't we will find ourselves slipping, stumbling, and falling and with that will be the suffering of defeat. We will be defeated. So I have two points for you this morning and I must say they are simple but let me ask you to pay close attention because what you'll notice here at verse 15 it is a rather difficult verse to translate from the Greek to the English language. The first point is this take a look at the Christians spiritual shoes. It's a rather difficult Greek sentence to translate into English. What I see here in my English standard version is this, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. We are to put on this shoe, which here is described as the readiness given by the gospel of peace. So it's speaking about being prepared. In other words, there ought to be, Christian, in you this disposition of readiness to take the gospel of peace wherever you go. There should be no hesitation. When the time calls for it, you should be ready to take the gospel of peace. Now, I find it interesting because, as I said, it's a difficult verse to translate. I find it interesting that the first edition of the New International Version put it this way, with your feet fitted with the gospel of peace as a firm footing. A bit different, isn't it? Some of you see it. Some of you are saying, what is the difference? Well, let me read it again. with your feet fitted with the gospel of peace as a firm footing. In other words, your Christian life is already established on a firm foundation of peace with God. Your life as a believer, as a father of God, already has a good foothold to engage the devil in battle because you are given peace with God and therefore you have God's peace. And so says, as a Christian, you are given this already. You have peace with God, so you're ready to engage the devil. And so take it and put it on. You've been given this. And so as I said, difficult passage. And so does it mean be ready to take the gospel of peace to others? Or does it mean you are ready already to engage in battle because of the peace you have with God? I don't know if it's one or the other, but I can't say this, both are true. Both are true. Does that suit you? I know you like for me to be definitive and say it's one or the other, but I can't say both are true. Go backwards in that book of Ephesians to chapter two and look at verse 17. Chapter two, verse 17. It reads this way. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Christ came and he preached peace to you who were far off. You know, you were nowhere close to coming to Christ. He preached to you and peace to those who were near, especially the Jews. The gospel of peace. If you go back to Isaiah 52, can you get there quickly? Isaiah 52 7. A passage that's quoted in Romans chapter 10. Isaiah 52 7 reads this way. Are you there? How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bring good news. Who publishes peace. who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, your God reigns. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news, news of peace. And jump over then back to the New Testament to Titus chapter 3, chapter 3 verse 1. I'm showing to you that both are true. Be ready to take the gospel of peace to others and be ready to engage in battle because of God's peace with you. Look at what Titus 3.1 reads. Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. In other words, be people of peace. Be people of peace, Titus 3.1. Now, as Christians, we already have the gospel peace, don't we? We have the gospel, and if we are truly in Christ, we are then given peace. There's a reconciliation between me and my creator, my savior, that didn't exist before. So the Christian has already embraced that gospel, therefore he has embraced the peace of God, he has been given that peace, and now we are called to take that gospel of peace and to be ready to take that gospel of peace out to others. But as I was studying, I did find this passage even more complicated because I'm looking at it and I'm wondering, so what's the emphasis here? As I'm looking at this verse, and maybe those of you who are taking the hermeneutics class are thinking likewise, but what is the emphasis here? Is the emphasis on readiness? Be ready to share the gospel and make Christ known? Or maybe the emphasis, the central theme here is the gospel. Take the gospel to others. Or maybe the emphasis is on peace. Bring the peace of the gospel to others. Well, I believe the emphasis is on readiness, and I like the way the ESV translates it. It says, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. The Christian is to be ready for battle and to be ready to take that gospel of peace to others. Emphasis on ready. You already, Christian, have the gospel of peace. God's peace has already been given to you. You should be living in that peace yourself. The scriptures call on you here to take it on, put it on your feet, be ready then to carry that peace to others. Here's point number two then. Let's take a look at this Christian's readiness. John Chrysostom, one of the church fathers noted saying, As we are making war with the devil, we are making peace with God. So true, isn't it? When we war against the devil, we are making peace with God. But let me add to what Chrysostom says here, because the opposite is true as well. Yes, when we are making war with the devil, we are making peace with God, but listen, When we war against God, we are making peace with the devil. When we war against the church of God, we are making peace with the devil. So there is no neutral ground, my friends. Either our actions will side with Satan or with God. There's no in-between. There's no neutral ground. The Christian is already, again, equipped to engage in a battle against the schemes and fiery darts of the devil. Keep in mind, 2 Chronicles chapter 20, verse 15, the battle belongs to the Lord. So the child of God is ready, already equipped to engage in the fight against the devil. But now, Christian, you need to take up and put on the readiness of the gospel of peace. Because a Christian has been established into a relationship of peace with God already, so that now no longer is God your enemy, rather now God is your defender. You realize that when you are standing outside of Christ's saving work, when you are standing in opposition to what God says about your soul being dead and your need of a savior, understand that then God is not on your side. God is not your defender, but rather God is your enemy. The one who will judge you, the one who will correct and discipline you, But when you come to a place in your life where you say, I need a savior, I am a sinner, and I want to give by faith my life to Christ, not because I deserve it, but I trust in your grace, then not only does he give you new life, but he becomes your defender. What a beautiful truth that is. Open in your scriptures to the book of Romans, in your New Testament, Romans. to chapter one in verse 18, and we're going to take a look at three different passages. So in Romans, we're gonna start with one and work our way to the right. Romans chapter one, look at verse 18. Romans chapter one, verse 18, it reads this way. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." Big heavy words, aren't they? The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Now move over to the right to chapter 5. Look at chapter 5 in verse 1. Chapter 5 verse 1 reads this way, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Since we have been justified not by our works, not because we deserve it, not because we're really excellent people, but because of our God-given faith, we are justified by faith, we now have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now jump over to chapter 8, Romans chapter 8. And look at verse 31. Chapter 8, verse 31. A beautiful passage. I think they all are, including chapter 1. But Romans chapter 8 just puts wind in our sails. Look at verse 31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? What's the answer? No one. Or who cares? God's on my side. He's my defender. Look at verse 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He's your defender. He brings peace into your life. There is now peace between you and your creator. who has become your Savior when you placed your faith in Him. And nothing but nothing can separate you from the love of God. Sometimes we run into people who really try hard to see whether or not God really loves me. But not even they can escape the love of God. One writer put it this way, Victory comes to those who stand in God's power. Victory comes to those who stand in God's power. Well, my friends, the Christian is equipped with peace with God in order to engage in the battle, and the Christian is to then take that gospel of peace with him so that there ought to be a constant readiness, ready to take that gospel of peace wherever you go. That's why it's shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Wherever you go, take that peace. Take that peace. Now notice, when I talk about the gospel of peace, it's not talking about evangelizing the lost. This passage is not about evangelizing the lost at all. It's about fighting a battle, and it's about remaining on your feet at the end of the battle. It's not about evangelism. God's love God's presence. That's what it's about. As you live in his peace and bring his peace to others. Does that resonate with you? Taking God's peace because I am a person of peace because I have God's peace to others. It's about knowing God's love and his presence with you. It's about knowing the help of God in your life. It's about being a person who is in fellowship and communion with God and that you know his commitment to you and therefore you respond by being committed to him. And these are the things that will guarantee you standing at the end of the battle against the devil. His peace in you. However, You must put on that readiness of the Gospel of Peace. He's already provided it for you, but now you have to put it on. You must readily wear it. You have to take it up to yourself. It's offered to you, but you must appropriate it, my friends, so that wherever you go, it goes with you. shod your feet with it. So how do you put on the gospel of peace on your feet? How do you appropriate this readiness of the gospel of peace? Well, I'll give you three steps. The first one is this. If you are looking to put on these spiritual shoes, the shoes of peace with God and with others, It begins by first having faith, placing faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It begins there. It begins when you recognize that there is animosity between you and God, that you are alienated from God, that you were born this way, spiritually dead, a sinner, living among sinners. And you come to a point in which you say, I need forgiveness. I need redemption. I need to place my faith in Christ and give him my life. And say, Lord, be my savior. That's where it begins. And here we see from Romans chapter 8 that then nothing will separate you from the love of God. And the peace of God will reign in you as long as you look to it, as long as you put it on. So it begins by placing your faith in Jesus Christ. Here's step number two. You must then live within the confines of the peace of God. You have to live within the confines of the peace of God. You know, in counseling, usually teenagers, usually there's Family rebellion, they're doing what so many teenagers are expected to do, unfortunately. I could say this, I never expected my children to rebel. And by God's grace, they didn't. I think we have to teach them that, teach them the principles of God. And what I often do in counseling is I make a circle and I say, these are the things that need to happen in your home with you if you want to be at peace with your parents. You have to make your bed. You have to do your homework. I mean, all the teenage stuff, right? Simple stuff. Now, this sounds so simple, it sounds ridiculous. And yet, nine out of 10 times, a teenager will go, whoa, I never thought of that. I said, but when you don't do these things, you're outside of the circle, and you cannot expect to have the blessings of the circle when you are over here, outside of the circle. And they go, huh, never thought of that. That's why they're called teenagers, right? I never thought of that. But listen, Christian, the same is true when it comes to the peace of God. If we want to know the peace of God, we have to live within the confines of God's peace, whatever is in that circle of peace. And when we do or live or think in ways that are outside of what God said brings peace, well, guess what the result is going to be? No peace. And often we are living, looking for peace, but we're living outside of what constitutes, what brings peace. We have to then do what? We have to then get rid of anything that impedes God's peace in our lives and in our relationships. What is it that impedes peace in your own heart? You need to eliminate that. Let me suggest to you four things, and I call these peace destroyers. And you could probably add to the list, but I think these are the four primary and initial peace destroyers in our lives. The first one is anger. The second one is pride. The third is vengeance, and the fourth is jealousy. Anger, pride, vengeance, and jealousy will take away your peace, and it will take away the peace of those around you. So when the Bible says, put on the gospel of peace on your feet. So wherever you go, there's this readiness to take the gospel. It means you cannot have these elements in your life because these are peace busters. They will destroy peace. Anger, pride, vengeance, and jealousy. These things war against God. And when you war against God, you make peace with the devil. anger, pride, vengeance, and jealousy. My friends, if you are looking to extend God's gospel peace wherever you go, you need to eliminate those things that jeopardize peace. There needs to be a readiness to take, wherever you go, the peace of God created through the gospel in you. It's that simple. And as an example, consider what was read to us earlier from Judges chapter 7, the story of Gideon. The story of Gideon of men who were ready. Few tend to be ready with the gospel of peace. In the story of Gideon, Judges chapter 7, remember Gideon had 32,000 military men ready to fight. And I would imagine that Gideon said, you know what? We can use another 50,000. But Lord, we'll take the 32,000. And God said, you know something, Gideon? If you are victorious with your 32,000 men, what are you going to say? It's what's natural of all of us. Well, look at what we accomplished. Well, God may have helped some, but look at what this army was able to do. And God was determined on not losing any of his glory. God had a point to make on that particular day for that particular battle. And so he told Gideon, he said, Gideon, go ahead and tell your men, and Gideon does, go ahead and tell your men, listen, if you are afraid of fighting, you can go home. Don't worry, nobody's gonna shame you. Go home, go back to your wife, go back to your children. And I would imagine Gideon was thinking, well, we're gonna lose a few. Well, he loses more than a few. He loses two-thirds of his army. He's now down to 10,000 men. Whoa. That's a little frightening, isn't it? From 32 to 10,000, and he's got here the Amalekites and the Midianites coming at him. He's down to 10,000 men. But God looks and says, no, there's still too many. These 10,000 men are going to even be prouder. Look, 10,000 of us took down all of them. Look at how mighty we are. And God said, Gideon, take these men to where there's water they can drink. We're going to reduce your army a little more. Those men who lay down, who kneel down, lay down, and just drink the water and just take it as much as they can with their face in the water, those men are going to be eliminated. But those men who crouch down and scoop the water and lap it from their hand, those were going to keep. And that's exactly what happened. But there were only 300 of those men who stood up straight and lapped the water from their hands. What was the difference between the two? Well, you see, the ones who laid down to drink the water from the river, they put their arms down. They put their weaponry down. But the ones who simply stooped down and drank from their hands, they were ready to fight. They drank as they looked over and watched to see where the enemies were and if anybody was invading at that time. Those were the ones who were ready to fight, and those are the ones who would fight and defend Israel. And so God would now use these men who were ready He would use them to defeat the Midianites. And there were only 300 of them. And as we read in chapter 7, verse 21, in regards to the enemy or the opposing army, the army ran, and they cried out and fled. 300 ready soldiers. Would you be counted among the ready? Not in terms of Gideon, but in terms of taking the gospel of peace to others. Are you a peacemaker? Are you someone who brings God's peace to others? Or are you someone who brings angst and jealousy and vengeance and pride to others? Be among the 300, my friends. Be ready. 1 Peter 3.15 reads this way. Always being prepared to take a defense, to make a defense, I'm sorry, I'll start again. Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. You do it with gentleness and respect. Be ready. Readiness. Be equipped And it's not something you say, oh, let me put those shoes on really quick and then I'll go. No, no, no, no. Go to sleep with God's shoes of peace readied on your soul. Don't take them off. Don't take them off. Now, what's most difficult? I'm not gonna ask you the answer. I'm gonna propose a few answers for you. What would you say is most difficult? Coming to Christ and admitting that I'm a sinner in need of salvation, or understanding that I have an attitude that does not bring peace, or finding time and courage to share the gospel. Which would you say is most difficult? Now, I think the most difficult was the first one I mentioned. coming to a place in my life in which I understand that I need a Savior and that God is calling me and I cannot refuse Him any longer. And my friends, if that is you today, if you are standing outside of God's saving grace, then today is the day of salvation. Today, give your life to Christ. God beckons. And he calls on you to respond. And yes, that is a very difficult decision to make, but it is a decision that will count literally for eternity. And nothing will separate you from the love of God. But what's the second most difficult? Would it be evangelism? And many people would say, yes, it's so hard for me to evangelize. It's not that I don't want to, I just never know what to say, and I'm so afraid. Evangelism is just not my thing, pastor. Well, my friends, that's not the second hardest. The second most difficult is admitting when and where I harbor an attitude or a way of thinking and even a way of living that does not put on the peace of God. Listen, if I am living in anger, it does not bring God's peace. A life of anger means I'm embittered towards other people. If you're wondering, what does anger look like? Are you embittered by other people or towards other people? If pride is the issue, you're not bringing God's peace. Pride means that you are concerned with yourself and always seeking to prove yourself to others. That's pride. Jealousy. Jealousy comes when we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking. That's what jealousy is all about. Jealousy only happens when I think I didn't get what I should have. Or when I don't have what you have. You see, if I have what you have, or if I have more, I'll never be jealous of you. Jealousy comes when I think I should have more. I deserve more. After all, Look at me. Or vengeance. A desire to see that person injured or maybe to see that person suffer. Vengeance is a desire for payback. Vengeance is a smug attitude that says, you deserved it. And that, my friends, is a peace breaker, a peace buster. You cannot bring peace to others. if in any way you hold on to anger, pride, jealousy, or vengeance, whether it's all four in one, or just one of these attitudes. And when these rest very comfortably in your heart, you will not be wearing the peace of God, and you will be defeated, and in fact, you will be enlisting in the army of the devil, not the army of God, and you will be used to produce havoc, not peace. Let me paraphrase verse 15 this way in closing. This is what Paul is saying. Cover your spiritual feet with the readiness of the good news of God's peace so that wherever you go you will be protected by that peace and you will be extending that peace to others. Shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Let me pray. Lord and our God, we are so grateful that you have brought peace between us and yourself, between the redeemed and you as our creator. And we thank you, Lord, that peace is possible between us, you and I, us and you. We pray now, Lord, that we would be people who would be quick to wear and carry wherever we go the good news of peace, that we would be displaying that peace, and that we would be wearing this defensive garment that will bring blessings to our lives. In your name we pray, amen.