The Armor of God (Part 3)

INTRO:

We are at war and our enemy is:

“Devil” - means “accuser” (He accuses God’s people day and night before the throne of God)

“Devil” - means “accuser” (He accuses God’s people day and night before the throne of God)

“Satan” - means “adversary” (He is an enemy of God)

“Satan” - means “adversary” (He is an enemy of God)

He is called the “tempter,” “murder,” “liar”

He is called the “tempter,” “murder,” “liar”

We have learned:

Belt of Truth—Are we trusting in the word of God?

Breastplate of Righteousness—a practical righteousness (living in Christlikeness)

This morning we are going to answer the question: How can we be prepared for the spiritual battle we face daily?

III) The Shoes of the Gospel (v15)

Since, I have become a parent, I have understood the importance of shoes in a new way.

Ex: Stepping on Legos

Ex: Tripping over a toy left in the floor in the middle of the night.

But… It is important to make sure we have the right shoes on, especially in war.

Ex:

Ill: During the Korean War, the American foot soldiers suffered from frostbite due to inadequate shoes. The areas were so damp that when the temperature lowed, there shoes froze. The problem that the soldiers had to deal with in the battle was not the guns of the enemy but their own inadequate clothing.

The Roman soldier wore leather boots that protected the feet and ankles. These boots allowed the soldier to advance toward the enemy undistracted about what they might step on. In addition, these boots usually had hobnailed soles, which means they had bits of metal, or nails, driven through them. These hobnailed soles gave the Roman soldier great traction as he climbed hills, and fought on uneven terrain. The boots worn by the Roman soldier gave him great stability as he engaged the enemy.

These boots usually had hobnailed soles, which means they had bits of metal, or nails, driven through them. These hobnailed soles gave the Roman soldier great traction as he climbed hills, and fought on uneven terrain. The boots worn by the Roman soldier gave him great stability as he engaged the enemy.

These boots usually had hobnailed soles, which means they had bits of metal, or nails, driven through them. These hobnailed soles gave the Roman soldier great traction as he climbed hills, and fought on uneven terrain. The boots worn by the Roman soldier gave him great stability as he engaged the enemy. This piece of the armor was essential to the Roman soldier’s “preparation” for battle.

As believer, in the war against Satan, it is important for us to have the right shoes on. Paul writes:

“and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace” ().

What gives us footing in battle? The Gospel of Peace!

What is the Gospel of Peace, and how does it protect us in battle?

A) “Sharing the Gospel”

We are all called to go share the Gospel with this lost world. We are commanded to proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, but this is not exactly what Paul is referring too. (Passage is referring to “standing” not “going”)

B) “Standing on the Gospel”

What gives us comfort through battle is the fact we have peace with God!

We have peace with God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul writes,

“Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. he was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” ().

Before Christ, we were enemies of God. There was nothing we could do to save ourselves from the punishment of sin. But God loved us, He sent His’ Son Jesus to live the life we could not live and to die the death we should have died. When we believe in Him, we are justified (declared right before God). In addition, Paul writes,

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” ().

We have Peace with God! This means we are no longer enemies, but now we are friends of God! Again, the question is:

The

How does the Peace of God help and protect us in the war against Satan?

Problem is we view the Gospel only as the introduction to Christian, but that incorrect. Tim Keller said, “The Gospel is not the ABC’s of the Christian faith, but the A to Z of the Christian faith.”

The Gospel is not the ABC’s of the Christian faith, but the A to Z of the Christian faith.

What the “Gospel of Peace” means is “We Can Stand Confident Knowing:

What gives us

Beloved, “the Gospel of peace” Paul refers to here is the marvelous news that in Christ we are at peace with God. It is the glorious truth that we have been made one with the Lord. So, having “your feet sandaled with readiness for Gospel of peace” means “We Stand Confident that:

God Loves Us

God Saved Us

God has Forgives Us

God Fights for Us

When we have that confidence, and when we possess the peace of God in our hearts, we are “ready” to “stand” against any enemy that comes against us.

It is the confidence that we are saved. When we have that confidence, and when we possess the peace of God in our hearts, we are “ready” to “stand” against any enemy that comes against us.

Ex: Battle of Jericho: Israel had peace because they placed their trust in the Lord to follow His’ unusual strategy.

The redeemed child of God, who stands in the Lord’s power, and in full assurance of the Lord’s salvation, does not have to fear any enemy, even if that enemy is Satan himself. When we are attacked, we stand on the firm, unchanging ground of the Gospel of grace. The same Gospel that converted us from sinners into saints. The same Gospel that changed God from our enemy to into our protector. We who were one on the outside, are now the sons of God. He is our heavenly Father, and we are His children.

The redeemed child of God, who stands in the Lord’s power, and in full assurance of the Lord’s salvation, does not have to fear any enemy, even if that enemy is Satan himself.

The same love He poured out on the cross He pours out daily.

The same love He had to save us He uses to sustain us.

We must stand confident in our salvation. Listen to the promises of God:

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No , in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (; ).

IV) The Shield of Faith (v16)

The Roman Soldier’s Shield

The shield in a Roman soldier’s attire, made of wood, was and 2 1/2’ wide and 4’ long. It was overlaid with linen and leather, to absorb fiery arrows.

The shield in a Roman soldier’s attire, made of wood, was and 2 1/2’ wide and 4’ long. It was overlaid with linen and leather, to absorb fiery arrows.

The soldiers would march side by side with their shield’s together. Arrows, swords, and spears were useless against the Roman phalanx. Any missiles thrown by the enemy would fall harmlessly to the ground. At times, the Romans phalanx was as much as a mile wide.

A) The Shield of Faith

This is not a reference to saving faith, but to daily faith in Jesus. This is a daily trust and reliance on the Lord in all aspects of our life. As we are in battle against the Devil, we are protected by trusting in the Lord!

As we are in battle against the Devil, we are protected by trusting in the Lord!

Are you daily trusting in Jesus? Are you trusting Jesus in both the good and the bad?

In America, we are blessed with riches that people in this world have never experienced. We must beware, because with success comes the temptation to place our trust within ourselves. As a result we are leaving the door wide-open for Satan to attack our unguarded lives.

When do you come to the Lord in seeking His’ will? When do you come to the Lord seeking His’ provision? When do you come to the Lord for guidance? Is it all the time or in the bad times?

In America, we must fight against the temptation to place our trust within our self?

During the French war, a train carrying dispatches to the headquarters was compelled to go over sixty miles of very rough road, and reach its destination within an hour. The engineer was the bearer of the dispatches, and his wife and child were in the coach. Every moment threatened to pitch the train over the embankment or over a bridge, and, as it rolled from side to side, leaping at times almost in the air, rushing past stations, the few people inside held their breath and often cried out with terror as they sped along. There was one on that train who knew nothing of their fears and that was the child of the engineer. Happy as a bird, she laughed aloud when asked if she were not afraid, and looked up and answered, “Why, my father is at the engine.” A little later, the engineer came into the car to cheer up his wife and, as he wiped the great drops of sweat from his face, the child leaped into his arms and laid her head upon his bosom, as happy and peaceful as when at home. What a lesson for the children of the heavenly Father!

How do we grow in our faith?

Remember the Past

Ill: Israel failed to remember the past

When I’m tempted to doubt, I remind myself of how God worked in my life in the past.

Remember His’ Promises

Remember His’ Presence

CONCLUSION:

Do you have Peace with God?

If not, it’s time to wave the white flag and surrender.

If so, daily remind your self of the Gospel (God loves you, God died for you, God is with you, God will never leave you, and etc.)

Are you trusting in God?

You father is at the wheel!