Shoes of Peace
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
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.
Just like with the other pieces of armor we have looked at over the last few weeks. With the Belt of Truth we looked at the idea that there was the Truth that has been revealed to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ and then there is truth that we seek to live by or the truth of our Character. Seeking to live with integrity. Doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
Last week we looked at the Breastplate of Righteousness. The righteousness that has been imputed to us by God himself through our trust in Jesus Christ. Rom 3:10 “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.” Preacher was telling a story one time about how one night as he was with his two daughters the younger daughter said that she didn’t want to go to heaven. After the initial shock of that statement he asked why. the little girl said becasue there were bad people in heaven. the older daughter then said no only good people go to heaven.
We also talked about how not only are we given righteousness from God but we should also seek to live righteous lives. We should flee from things that the bible says is not good for us
Eph 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Eph 5:9 “For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” Rom 6:16
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.
Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
Today we come to Verse 15 Eph 6:15 “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”
So Paul has been telling the church at Ephesus to stand firm. I would think we could all agree that when we a standing we are doing so on our fett. I have heard many times how you have to be sure and take care of your feet. I would think every man in here can agree that a good pair of work boots makes a huge difference in the way you stand. I address the men because it seems women don’t much care about the comfort of the shoe as much as they do the look of the shoe or how it matches an outfit. I can remember my grandpa always wearing the cheap velcro shoes from Walmart. I can also remember that he was always complaining about his aching back. He would say my aching back. Finally in his older age he was taken to a dr and he told him of course you have aches and pains in your feet legs and back look at the shoes your wearing.
Paul again is more than likely standing next to or in close vicinity to a Roman Soldier. These men would have shoes on that would look different than the shoes most people wore during that time it is said that they had leather stacked about 3/4” for a sole with nails pearced through for added traction. Which is not hard to understand because we have cleates today and they are basically used for that same reason. Whether it be for bball, football, track, soccer what ever the case they make a shoe that is designed to help you in that. For the Soldier it is something that can help him keep his footing during battle. You would not want to be slipping around while you are trying to engage in hand to hand combat.
And we are going to look again at two ideas that come from this piece of armor. Flip back with me to -
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.
So Christ has brought us this peace. What peace is that? Jesus tells his followers in John 14:23-27
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
You are at peace with God
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.
and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
You should also be at peace with others
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Romans Road
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”