Fitting Footwear
Scripture: Ephesians 6:15
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [1] (Eph. 6)
32 “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16)
[2]
3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. [3] (1 John 5)
If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
Chinese Proverb
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
1. God proposes to bring peace to the heart of every person.
Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, who supervised the creation of the first atomic bomb, appeared before a Congressional Committee. They inquired of him if there were any defense against the weapon. “Certainly,” the great physicist replied.
“And that is—”
Dr. Oppenheimer looked over the hushed, expectant audience and said softly: “Peace.”[4]
It is interesting that the Lord Jesus Christ is called the Prince of Peace. He is not called the Prince of Hope, though that would be appropriate. He is not called the Prince of Love, though that would fit him. He is not called the Prince of Faith, though that would not be out of place. He is called the Prince of Peace.
And what is true peace?
I've been told that a way to achieve inner peace is to finish the things I have started.
Today I finished two bags of potato chips and a chocolate cake.
I feel better already.
There is nothing quite like the experience of God’s peace in the middle of trying times and circumstances. It is understandable when we find peace in the absence of life’s storms, but in the middle of the trial, to find peace. . . that is quite another thing. It is as supernatural and mysterious that a person could find a place of calm in the storm as it is to see restlessness and turmoil in the life of the person who has everything and yet is not at peace with himself. One has nothing and yet has everything and the other has everything and nothing to show for it all. As far as I know, the abiding peace that visits folks in times of distress and turmoil is the evidence of the presence of God alone.
Here are some scriptures that speak of the results in a person’s life of the visitation of the Prince of Peace.
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (Proverbs 23:7)
[5]
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 4)
[6]
3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
[7]
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” b says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” c 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12)
[8]
The sermon this morning is a continuation on the armor of the believer that is described in Ephesians 6. It is absolutely essential for the well-being of the child of God. It is a part of the “kit” or the package but it must be pursued and maintained if it is to serve us well.
2. God’s provisions are personalized to every believer.
We are all different. The sooner we can learn that and the sooner we can learn to accept that people who see things differently than we do are not necessarily wrong but certainly different, the better off we are. Paul writes that our feet must be “fitted”. What is fitted to us is uniquely different than what is fitted to another person. I cannot wear another person shoes and expect that they will protect my own feet and make me comfortable.
The kind of footwear that you wear is extremely important. Technology has given us a multitude of choices these days. We choose footwear based on:
· the kind of activity that we are engaged in
· the peculiarities of our own feet
· the conditions to which we must adapt
It was important to the Roman soldier in Paul’s day.
SANDALS. “Having your feet shod with the preparedness of the
gospel of peace.” The legs of the Roman soldier were covered with
greaves, and below these were the sandals, or caligae. Swiftness of foot
was of great consequence in military movements. Christians are to show a
readiness, a celerity, an alacrity of movement, in doing God’s will. This
preparedness is the effect of the gospel of peace, which inspires us with
severity and courage, and liberates us from those doubts which generate
weakness. The Roman sandal was furnished with nails that gripped the ground firmly, even when it was sloping or slippery; so the good news of peace keeps us upright and firm. The unready warrior is liable to sudden and secret attacks. The
Christian ought ever to be prepared to advance against the enemy, to obey
his great Captain, to fight, to suffer, and to die in the cause of God and
truth.
It I strange that a man of peace would be the best soldier. Who makes the best critic – the man who is the least critical. We train not to fight. Our students are less prone to engage in combat with others because they have no reason to prove themselves. They have no internal reason or compulsion to fight. When in the name of God you fight with men then you are an instrument of the devil? The Americans drove ahead to take Baghdad – they refused to engage in every skirmish to the detriment of the greater goal. The mind achieves its greatest state of readiness through peace. Before you go, let peace prepare your steps and your pathway.
"The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others. And they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength and feel that they can learn from him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence, and his power for good. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm." - James Allen
3. God’s preparations are practical.
The person who experiences God’s peace in their hearts is a prepared person. The scripture this morning speaks of being “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [9] (Eph. 6). That seems to indicate to me that a person who truly
[ I can maintain peace in today’s hurried and relentless society if I will seek to understand and live by God’s priorities. I was at the shape and race on Saturday troubled by the things that I needed to be doing at home. Sitting by my son scratching his back and experiencing the moment with him. The peace within me resumed when I realized that although there were other things that I needed to be doing, I was currently doing the most important thing. I realized suddenly that I can have peace in the rat race if I am living by God’s priorities.
[ I can maintain peace in my life if I will clearly establish who I wish to please. There are times when you have to say, “I don’t care whether other people approve of what I am doing or not, regardless of the consequences.”
[ I can maintain peace in my life if I choose to see life from God’s perspective. However painful or difficult, or, on the other hand, however inconspicuous or humdrum life may be, the Christian finds his peace in accepting and playing his part in the master plan.
J. B. Phillips (1906-1982)
PERCEPTION
Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.
Hans Margolius
The storm was raging. The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was sound asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head tucked serenely under its wing. That is peace: to be able to sleep in the storm!
In Christ we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace-at last!
Billy Graham (1918- )
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[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[4]Tan, P. L. (1979; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1997). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers] (electronic ed.). Garland TX: Bible Communications.
[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[7]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
b Deut. 32:35
c Prov. 25:21 , 22
[8]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
[9]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) . Zondervan: Grand Rapids