Gospel Of Peace

Gospel Of Peace. Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

To begin with Brothers and sisters, Christian Friends,Well Wishers, and Saints of God In light of the seriousness, and gravity, and strong feelings, about the future of our city, our parish, our state , our country and our world I think it is appropriate for me to give world view on our current affairs.

Somebody once said stick to the bible and the argument here is that every preacher prophet pastor and priest in the bible whether OT or NT spoke to the current issues events and ideologies of their culture.

And so in this day and age it’s the same way. And my take on things is this. I didn’t come to teach or preach a negative Gospel. Because the word Gospel means Good News. The Transliteration in the Greek Vernacular is the word Euangelion it’s listed 77 times in scripture. and it means Good Message. And so I’m here to deliver the good message on behalf of the Master to meet the needs of the Masses.

My world view is to have the Gospel of Peace. If you always talking negative that’s your Message. If it’s always gloom and doom that’s your Ideology. If you sow discord that’s your Psychology.

And If your culture dictates hate and division that’s your philosophy. And having taken Psychology, Philosophy and Sociology from Southern, LSU, UNO, and Nichols State, I discovered something that shaped my world view. Here it is “You are where you are because that is exactly where you want to be”. Because Birds of a feather flock together. If you’re always bubbly and they’re always negative either you are going to get from around them or they will push you away from their presence.

Listen to me misery loves company People who are mad and sad and act bad want to be around other folk that are mad and sad and act bad. And so my world view is The Gospel of Peace. I want to be at peace with my brothers and sisters. So don’t go trying to disturb my peace because you miserable. I don’t want to be miserable. I know what misery feels like and I don’t need no undue stress.

Tell your neighbor: I want the Gospel of Peace.

Let me add some integrity to the text Hermenutics 101. That means teach talk and tell us what the scriptures are saying to us. In Ephesians 6:10 The word of Power says 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1.Finally Means to wrap it up, too come to an end, to find closure, to indicate a finality and finish. In other words It’s time for You to be strong in the Lord. Why because Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Time out for being weak Christians. Also the last thing the text says in verse 10 is And in the power of His might. That means that God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. We’ve got to stand up in the Might and Power of God Word Peacefully.

2. In verse 11 Say learn to put on the right equipment for war. The first thing the soldier does is makes sure he has the equipment necessary to go out in battle. You never go to a gun fight with a just knife, but you bring your knife because you might have to do some field dressing. The second part of verse 11 says that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. That means that we’ve got to be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil, The devil entices with devices. If he can’t get you one way he’ll try another way. so you need the whole armour of God because he’ll sneak in he’ll slip in, he’ll slip in, and he’ll snake his way in. And the church said Amen.

3.In verse 12 the word says several things. Lets look at the text again. If you have it in your bibles let’s read it together (V 12) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.

1.The Christian, faces three enemies: the flesh , the world, and the devil. Quickly, “The flesh” is the old nature that we inherited from Adam, and that’s why the word of God teaches us to guard against “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”

“The world” refers to the system around us that is opposed to God. That why we must be careful with the phrase Modern Society because “Society apart from God” is the definition of “the world system” and it is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please God.

And then there is the devil the devil the devil (“Hum the melody the ghetto)” The devil is satan is the serpent is the evil one is Lucifer. Devil means accuser, Satan means adversary and enemy of God, serpent means tempter, and Lucifer means the son of the morning

And that’s who we wrestle with. We wrestle with Lucifer. Listen to me real good Soldiers of the Cross. it was Lucifer the serpent the Satan the devil who beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yeah He tricked Eve and Adam went right along with it. The fight that Christian fight are not carnal they are not tangible you can’t touch them or put your hand on them because they are spiritually learned and discerned. Flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God and so we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. This thing is deep far and wide. In the book of Daniel Chapter 10 The Prophet Daniel wrote about how Satan’s angels struggle against God’s angels for control of the affairs of nations. There’s a war going on! And right now in 2024 there is a battle for the soul of our great nation. and brothers and sisters

On every level of our Lives experiences we encounters with the rulers of the darkness of this world who engage in wickedness!! I looked up wickedness. It means the active evil that we see every day. Wickedness is not the commercial event called Halloween. The month of October is dedicated to Witches warlock vampires zoobies gools and goblens and the like. Costumes to commemorate Hallow eve. The night of the dead the holiday is a norse myth where the night is supposed to ward off evil spirits and to invite good spirits. And when I was little i had my costumes and went trick or treating too.But that not the definition of wickedness. NO NO NO Wickedness ain’t just a holiday… It’s a lifestyle. Wickedness is Satan on display. What you mean Dr. Allen Here’s the true definition by example of wickedness. The Lord God Jehovah asked Satan the devil Where are you going and what are you doing? Satan said I’m going to and fro up and down the earth seeking who I may devour… Wickedness is Active Evil… A wicked person don’t want bother you just one time.. They want bother you over and over until they make you want to flip out flash out and carry out something wicked. Teach Me Pastor.

And so 3x what do you do to stay in the will the way the work and the word of God? Somebody say What we do Rev? The word of God says in verse 13 says Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. I see at least two things here before we get to the Christian Uniform

1. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can take advantage of us. Give the devil an inch and he’ll take a mile. In modern society we call that an Opportunist. An opportunist will take advantage of every angle against you. I hate to have to constantly think like that but that’s the world we live in now.

2. Put on the whole armour of God and don’t let down your guards. Old man Mr. Smithy had a gym where he taught kids in the neighborhood boxing. And Mr. Smithy taught us never let your guards down unless you want to be knocked out! Then the words says

1. In verse 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,. Why is Truth so important. Well for one thing. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the Life no man comes to the Father but by Me. In other words you’ve got to have some truth in you in order to go to heaven. Also we need to be wrapped up in the truth because Satan is a professional liar. In fact John 8:44 says that Satan is the father of the lie. He invented lying way back in the Garden of Eden. And some of us have been falling for it every since. That’s not all But as Paul describes the Equipment of the Roman Soldier this girdle holds the other parts of the armor together, and that’s why the truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian. You can’t be no good Christian unless you’re governed by Truth. Because the Truth will set you free. and

2. In verse 14 and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Brothers and sisters This piece of armor, The Breastplate of Righteousness in ancient time was made of metal plates or chains that covered the body from the neck to the waist, both front and back. It symbolizes the believer’s righteousness in Christ . Listen to me real good. The life we live either fortifies us against Satan’s attacks or makes it easier for him to defeat us. If you’re living right Satan can’t defeat you.

#3. In verse 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

1. I’ve got shoes you’ve got shoes all of God’s children got shoes.

2. Gospel Shoes are very important to have. because The illustration that Paul uses to describe the shoes of the Gospel were sandals with hobnails in the soles that the Roman Soldiers us to give them better footing for the battle.

3. In 2024 as we battle for the soul of American Democracy let’s remember to be peaceful. I’ve been purposefully being more peaceful in my home. purposefully being more peaceful out in the communities that I live and serve in. And I found out something. Folk out in our communities are willing to be more peaceful lately. Maybe I live in the bubble of being a positive christian hearted person and refuse to be Negative Nathaniel or Nasty Nancy. I like good vibrations around me. I like to laugh and love and live happy. I really like the song by Bobby Mc Farland wrote “Don’t worry be happy”. I got to have peace in my life. I realize that some folk have turmoil all around them. And sometimes they get mad at your joy and your calm and your peace because they don’t have peace in their lives. Countless people have come to my office where I prepare these sermon lessons and just sat down. and This week Vince the roofer from across the street from my home came and sat down. And his basketball coach worked with me at Belaire High. Vince is tall and built but he’s a kind fellow and He said Rev. It’s so peaceful in here. I could stay in here all day but I’ve got to get back to work. White and Black alike come and sit down in my office and say the same thing. The text says Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. You have to prepare your foot step for peace. Because the bible says the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. He guides my steps.. and God’s word is a lamp unto to footsteps and a light unto my pathways. I’ve got to have the Gospel of Peace. I’ve got to have the G.O.P. I was listening to some advice for 50 cent. He said never take on other people’s problems like they are your own because they’ll bring you down.... I said Boy ain’t that the Truth. You can’t fix everybody’s problems. Get you some peace and let every tub sit on its own bottom. Period!

4. In verse 16 the bible says “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Saints of God if it were ever a piece of the Christian Uniform that you must have It’s the Shield of Faith. I can remember being beat up by life’s circumstances, whether home, community, church, job or employment. And I wanted to give this all up. And the Good Lord sent somebody to tell me to hold on a little while longer because help is on the way. And then I became acquainted with the Shield of Faith. Listen good when you have to use the Shield of Faith, You Ain’t doing no fighting. You’re on defense. Defense Jags Alot lotta of Defense. You holding up that Shield because any one of those daggers from the devil wound or even kill you. Because the devil comes to steal kill and destroy. and the Shield of Faith is there to help you ward off and quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. The Christian uniform is essential for your survival. Because we’re fighting a new kind of fight now because we’re fighting a crafty cunning and clever adversary who masquerades as an angel of light but it’s pure evil. Tell your neighbor: Keep your shield up Don’t fall for it

5. In verse 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Take the Helmet of Salvation. Put it own your head!!Because Your mind will play tricks on you. That’s why the bible says Let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus and he’ll give you perfect peace. That Helmet of Salvation protect your mind from evil thought that capture the imagination of mankind. And for the record it was the imagination of the mind of mankind that made God destroy the world by flood. Only Noah and his family made it out alive. So keep your mind stayed on Jesus . The song writer said I woke this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus Hallelujah 2x.

6. In that same 17th verse it says and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: David said Lord Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God. My word doesn’t mean anything but God’s word is all powerful. God’s word is the final authority. Listen God’s word, You’ve got to read to wise, live it to be holy and then practice it to stay saved. Teach Me Pastor.

Finally the word of God says 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 19 And pray for me, too. And Paul says and Ask God to give your Pastor the right words to say so he can boldly teach and preach the mysteries of God’s plan. And the reason Paul says pray for him is so that everybody may know that the Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ that is for the Jews and Gentiles alike. In other words the Gospel is for everybody .Because God is no respecter of persons.

And so as I leave you here today Great God I’m so glad that I’ve got Jesus in my life. um um um yes because there was a story about a man named John who was black born and a slave. John said I’m going to go and help the Union Army fight this civil war. Yes. Some where along the way John got shot down and wounded on the battlefield. Oh Lordy

And I heard John saying if my relatives should ask you how I died, If my friends should ask you how I died, if my wife and children should ask you how I died , If my church should ask you how I died, Tell them I died on the Battlefield for the Lord. John said I’m on the Battlefield for my Lord and I promised Him that I would serve Him Serve Him Serve Him until I die.

I’m out of here now, but I feel like John yes I do, Because, I told the Lord yeah, if He save my soul, if He made me whole, if He pick me up and turn me around, if He put my feet on solid ground Hey Hey Hey Lord

I promised the Lord 3x that for the rest of my days I’ll Praise His Holy Name. Ain’t He Alright 3x