Ephesians 6:10-13, 14

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 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. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

In Ephesians 6 Paul introduces us to God’s awesome armor as well as the real war that is being waged in this world. It is the third piece of armor, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, that help us to gain a firm footing as we stand against Satan’s strategies. When it comes to a fight seasoned soldiers know the importance of good footwear. The Roman soldiers of Paul’s day wore shoes called caligae, these were heavy-soled hobnailed military boots were worn by all ranks up to and including centurions. Even though caligae seem to resemble our modern day sandals they were actually marching boots. They were designed to reduce the likelihood of blisters forming during forced marches, and their open design allowed for a free flow of air to the feet to combat disabling foot conditions like trench foot. Caligae were constructed from three leather layers with iron hobnails hammered into the soles giving the soldier both reinforcement and traction. It was their footwear that provides a firm foothold while marching through treacherous terrain. So when facing the enemy on a slope instead of slipping and stumbling and giving ground they could stand. It was their footwear that helped them to make quick moves without slipping, sliding or surrendering. One of the most overlooked factors in winning the war is actually what’s fitted to your feet. So Paul reminds us to be prepared for the war that will be waged; it is not if we will fight but when. So how does this peace prepare us? The Gospel of peace, just like the footwear that Roman soldiers wore, provides the solid sole, a firm foundation no matter the terrain. We must remember that it is a foundation that has already been laid, God’s provision of peace that we walk in. This “Good News” comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, when He paid the penalty for our sin. He brings us peace first by reconciling us to God, Colossians 1:20-21 “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.” Because as Romans 5:10 reminds us, we were enemies of God, “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” but now we are His family by faith, Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” God is now our strength and refuge, our feet are fitted in His provision of peace enabling us to proceed.  We stand on the foundation of forgiveness, resting in His redemption, knowing that we are His and He is ours. Because of the cross of Calvary we can proceed in confident peace without fear for the Lord has promised in 1 Samuel 2:9 that, “He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness”. The psalmist held on to this same assurance when cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me” Psalm 94:18. Without the security that comes from having our feet firmly planted in faith we would fail, apart from the Word of God it’s just a slippery slope. Not only can we stand against the strategies of Satan but we can proclaim God’s peace to a hopeless and hurting world.  We are called to go forth into battle under Christ’s banner, announcing His plan of peace to all people. Are you engaged in the battle, are you boldly proclaiming His message of mercy?  Isaiah 52:7 reminds us: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” Peace is practical it’s where the sole meets the soil, it provides the way to win the war. Are you resting on the solid sole of peace, are you standing firm in the faith? If we only give “peace” a loosely fitting position in our lives, then attacks of our adversary will take us down. We need to let His provision of peace permeate our minds and engage our emotions in a confidence peace that can overcome our carnal panic. It is His peace that allows us to move out in conquering faith despite what we may see or hear. It is this aggressive peace that puts us in a position to look directly into the face of fear and confront the challenge instead of cowering and giving ground.  God’s perfect plan is that His prevailing and conquering peace will dominate and direct your life. Only His prevailing and conquering peace can hold you in place when the devil is trying to drive you back. The call for God’s children is to stand, In Ephesians 6 we are called to “Stand” in 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul urges us, “Watch, stand fast in the faith…” and 2 Corinthians 1:24, Paul says, “…for by faith you stand.” We are called to stand strong and secure in the firm footing that peace provides. Are you standing on scripture, on the spoken promises of God? In this life there will be dark discouraging moments when you will be tempted to turn and run instead of resist. What is it that is going to keep you in place when the wicked winds pound and opposition threatens to overwhelm you?  Only the peace of God can hold you in place, just like the roots of a tree that resists the storm holding it fast in the midst of the furry, so His peace will provide us protection in the wicked winds of this war. Are your feet firmly planted in the soil of God’s Word, are you grounded in the peace of God? Not only will His peace protect but it also provides the way to stand secure in this war because there is more power in God’s peace than in the one who prowls.

Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

In Luke 12:15 a man told Jesus to tell his brother to divide up their inheritance, seeing what was really going on Jesus called him out for coveting: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” It is here that we see Jesus confronting the covetous heart and clearly contradicting the values of our coveting consumer culture. When we have a covetous character, no matter what we have, it is never enough. Our stuff will not satisfy, our relationships will never result in being good enough. We will always be left want something that we don’t have. Here in America we have amassed more materially, we much of the world’s wealth and it has not made us more contented, only more covetous. Peace is not found in a covetous heart but a:

• CONTENTED HEART

The key becomes learning how to be content in a coveting culture without giving in to the destructive desire for more. Paul learned and teaches us that contentment is not found in our circumstance but in Christ: Philippians 4:11-13 “11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” So how do we learn contentment in a culture that constantly demands bigger and better, more and more? First realize that contentment comes from resting in Christ’s provision not constant consuming, Philippians 4:19 says: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” When we rely on self instead of the Savior we fall into the trap of continual trying. Rest in Christ and then resist the urge to compare yourself to others. 2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” We compare careers, clothes, cars, just about anything and everything. Why do we compare, because that’s the way our society keeps score. We count points by possessions, but your possessions have nothing to do with your significance or importance. You can have all the possessions and amass all the points and still live a pointless life. You can be a millionaire and be a miser or you can be poor and live a purposeful life. It’s not about what you have, we need to learn to admire without having to acquire. Next Rejoice in what you do have, Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “If God gives a man wealth and property he should be grateful and enjoy what he has. It is a gift from God” If we are not careful we can fall into the trap of “When and Then” thinking: When I get married, then I’ll be happy or when I get divorced, then I’ll be happy. When we have kids, then we’ll be happy or when I get another job, then I’ll be happy. We need to remember that happiness is not getting whatever you want it’s enjoying whatever you have. 2 Timothy 6 reminds us that God has richly given us everything for our enjoyment. The problem is that many of us are so busy buying into the belief that we have to have more that we never enjoy what we have. There is a story about a rich man that finds a man lazily man sitting by his boat. “Why aren’t you fishing?” asks the rich man. “Because I’ve caught enough fish for today.” “Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?” the rich man asks. “What would I do with them?” replied the fisherman. “You could sell them for money, buy a better boat, go into deeper water, catch even more fish and make lots more money. Soon you could have a fleet of fishing boats and be rich like me.” So the fisherman asked, “Then what would I do?” “You could sit down and enjoy life.” To which he replied “What do you think I’m doing now?” Chasing the myth of more always moves us away from contentment and into crazy, trying to catch the carrot that is always just out of reach. Next release what you have to help others, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 says “17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” It’s easy to read this verse and fail to realize that we are the rich this verse is referring to. When we compare ourselves to the rest of the world we are rich and this verse gives us four precautions. 1. Don’t become proud of your wealth, don’t think you are better than others because of your bucks. 2. Don’t put your trust in money, security is not your bank account but in the Saviors blood. 3. Use your money to do good, don’t blow your wealth bless with it. Stop hording and start helping. 4. Give cheerfully, giving is the opposite of getting and it is the best cure for coveting. Next we need to learn to think thankful, 1 Timothy 6:6-11 says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”  When we train ourselves to think thankful it not only affect our attitudes but also our actions. Then start coveting the right things, in Philippians 3:8,10 Paul says: “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” We need to refocus from the rubbish to the true riches and what is going to last. What are you worshipping wealth or the worthwhile?  Are you holding on to truth or the temporary? Do you have a coveting heart or a content heart?