Church at this time. Alright. Alright. Here they come. Alright.

Take your Bibles if you would and turn to begin with to Ephesians chapter six. We'll be reading from there. Ephesians chapter six in just a moment moment as we as we continue our our series here on preparing ourselves for victory and for revival, putting on the armor of God. Do you really want revival? Do you really want to see revival?

Well, it begins with who? Begins with us. It really does. And if we wanna see revival, we need to prepare ourselves for revival. We take a trip to Virginia and Ohio once a year.

We don't do that without a little bit of what? Preparation. I gotta make sure the car is in decent shape to make the 2,000 mile trip up and up and back, and somebody has to pack the clothes and make sure we have we take presents up for relatives and all that has to be prepared ahead of time. And I think my wife starts preparing about now for us to go in November. So would be silly and ridiculous for to go to war without first making plans.

Joshua chapter three, that's exactly what Joshua's doing. He's preparing the Israelites for war on the other side of the Jordan River. And he tells them, Joshua said unto the people, sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. The Lord will do wonders, but Joshua says, first, you need to do what? You need to sanctify yourselves.

You need to prepare yourselves. You need to dedicate yourselves. You need to to clean up and get ready to go. Oh, we got a place to go. We got a job to do.

So let's let's clean up. Let's let's pack up. Let's get prepared and let's head off to the wonderful victory that is ours and yet. And they were already assured victory. Yes.

They had to go to war. Yes. They had to go to battle. They had to go into the land. They had to take the land, but they were already assured what?

Victory. And so are we. The victory is ours in who? Jesus Christ. It is already assured, but that does not mean that there is not a battle before us in our own hearts, in our own lives, in the lives of others, in the world in which we live between God and Satan.

For the souls of men and women, there is a battle. Victory is coming. But today is the day of what? Battle and preparation. We need to be prepared.

We have two weeks, we have revival. That'll be another battle in the war, and we need to be we need to be prepared. Do not take these opportunities for granted. We we take life too much for granted. We take Sundays and the Bible that you have in front of you too much for granted.

We take the time we have with the Lord here and and to bring glory to him for granted. We take things like revival services sometimes too much for granted and somebody's life could be changed forever this week, next week, could be yours. We need to prepare ourselves, sanctify ourselves, dedicate ourselves, clean up and get ready. We need to put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians chapter six verse 10.

Ephesians six verse 10. Finally, my brother, Paul is finishing up the letter here that he wrote to the church at Ephesus, and he wraps it up with very important challenge here at the end. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, 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. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins gird about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Paul is challenging the Christians at Ephesus to put on the whole armor of God. We stopped at the verse we did because we're gonna cover the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace this morning. They needed tools to be used. God has given us tools.

Now they're not of flesh and blood. We need to put on the armor of who? The armor of God and the power of the Lord. If we're going to defeat a spiritual enemy, a powerful enemy, we are to escape the wiles and the snares of the devil and avoid the fiery darts which he so cunningly devises and surrounds us with. If we are to pull down strongholds of our enemy in our life and the lives of others, we have to put on the armor of God.

We have to take up the weapons and the tools that God has given us. If we do, we will see victory. We will see great and mighty things. Second Corinthians 10, Paul wrote, church at Corinth, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

What kind of strong ones he's talking about? Spiritual strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, every deception of Satan in which people are bound and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Those things are possible in the power of God. If we walk in the spirit, we won't fulfill the what?

The lust of the flesh. We need to walk in the spirit a lot more, don't we? We need to put on the armor of God. Two weeks ago, we looked at the first piece of the armor and that is the belt of truth, the centerpiece of our armor to which everything else is connected. It is a vital piece of armor.

How do we prepare our ourselves for battle? By searching out and embracing the what? The truth. Satan has so many people in this world over a barrel. He has them bound in sin.

How does he do it? He is a deceiver. He is a a liar. And that's how he binds them and leads them down a path that leads to what? Destruction.

Truth. The truth sets us free. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth, Jesus said. And also, ye shall know the truth and the truth shall what?

Make you free. The truth shall set you free. Open your eyes. See the path that leads to everlasting joy, peace, and life. That truth begins with the word of God.

We know that it is the truth because God does not lie. You cannot serve the Lord if you do not know him. What desires what he desires for us or why we are here, where we are going. The truth is key. So many people are lost in sin because they don't know the what.

They don't know the truth. We have the truth, And sometimes we just kind of ignore it. And we don't we don't sift the things we take in in this world through the truth, through what we know to be the truth, through that filter to help us because we live in a world of deceit, but we have the truth before us. So embrace it. Fill your mind and heart with it.

It will set you free from the lies of who? From the lies of Satan. It is an important part of the armor of God. Number two is the breastplate of righteousness. Protecting ourselves from the wiles and temptations of sin and Satan by receiving the righteousness which is of God through faith in whom?

In Jesus Christ. First Corinthians five twenty one, for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the what? The righteousness of God in him. The him there is Jesus Christ. For God, the father made Jesus Christ to be sin for us on the cross who knew no sin that he might that we might be made in turn the righteousness of God through faith in him.

In other words, the righteous son of God died on the cross to pay the punishment for our sins that in turn having paid the price for sins, we might receive his what? Clothed in his righteousness and justified before the throne of God in heaven. Our righteousness is insufficient. It's a is what? Filthy rags.

It cannot please God. We cannot please God with filthy rags. But if we clothe ourselves in the righteousness of God by faith, then we can please God. Without faith, it's impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Must we must not only receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, but putting on the breastplate of righteousness also entails that we purposefully each day we purpose each day to live righteously in this present evil world. God didn't give us the righteousness of Christ for us to just kinda set it there and look at it and go, oh, it looks nice. No. He gave us the righteousness of Christ so we can what? We can use it.

We can live it. We can apply it. That our good works might bring glory to our father. Where? In heaven.

First Peter one fourteen through 16, as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts and your ignorance. But as he which hath called you as holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation and all all areas of conduct because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy. God gave us his righteousness, called us holy, now he asks us to be holy, to be more like him, to live out that righteousness. When we do, we put on the armor of God. When we purpose in our heart, as did Daniel, to do that which pleases God and to not defile ourselves with the things of the world.

Luke says we need to do that how often? Daily. Yeah. Daily. And every time you get every morning you get up and purpose in your heart to do those things that are pleasing to the Lord, you're taking the breastplate of righteousness and you're doing what?

You're putting it on. And it will protect you from the temptations that Satan throws at you. We need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. We don't need to just coast through the day and, well, what happens happens. No.

You have the breastplate of righteousness. Put it on. Put it on. And then this morning, have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Going around barefoot in our in your own house or in your backyard, depending on your backyard, is one thing.

But we do not go to battle without the proper footwear nor likely did the guards who showed up to watch Paul. The feet of Roman soldiers were adorned with shoes which offered some protection and particularly a sure footing. Roman soldiers went into battle with shoes on, with cleats on the bottom so they could run fast, carry out the mission, so they could be surefooted in battle. Our footgear as Christians is the gospel of what? The gospel of peace.

The gospel which brings peace. That which brings peace to his saints in his service, but also the message that they carry which brings peace to all who will receive it. Peace between God and man through Jesus Christ. Let's first talk this morning about our beautiful feet. Beautiful feet.

Do you have beautiful feet? Isaiah fifty two seven, Isaiah writes this. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth. Isaiah writes to the children of Israel, blessed is those who brings a message of salvation and deliverance from the Lord on high. Their feet are beautiful when they're carrying that, what, that message to the world.

Paul repeats that in Romans chapter 10, bringing it into the New Testament. Paul writes, how then shall they call on him of whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? How thou shall they hear without a preacher? Now the word preacher there doesn't just mean the guy in the pulpit.

It means anyone who will proclaim what? The gospel. And how shall they preach and accept they be sent? Well, if you're a child of God, you've been sent to someone to share the good news. As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.

How beautiful indeed in the sight of our heavenly father are the feet of those who carry the gospel of peace to a lost and dying world. Like a a remedy to an illness that is inflicting millions, a remedy that they desperately need. How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the healing remedy. And the gospel is that for the greatest disease, ailment that plagues mankind, Sin. I'm not sure about you, but I don't recall ever having been complimented on my beautiful feet.

I've complimented them myself, but I don't think anybody else has. For that matter, I don't recall having been complimented upon my handsome face either. Not too often anyway. But God does but God sees the feet of his faithful messengers as beautiful indeed. Beautiful because of the beautiful message that they carry.

There are many good messages that can be brought, but none as beautiful, beneficial, or powerful as the gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to have beautiful feet in the eyes of the Lord, we need to be what? Prepared. We need to be prepared to communicate that gospel of peace knowing that it can change the lives and win many battles in the hearts of men and women. First Peter three fifteen, Peter writes this.

He says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Here's that word sanctify again. It just pops up, know. But sanctify, set apart the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. What hope is that?

That's the hope of the gospel. Be always ready, prepared in your heart and in your mind, Peter writes, to testify of the hope that you have. The hope that is in who? A person, Jesus Christ. Let them see that hope.

Let them hear that hope. Let them see it on your face. And then be ready to tell them why it's on your face. The good news, which brings peace between God and men through faith in Jesus Christ, we need to be prepared to give by personal testimony and the word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the what?

The word of God. Our feet need to carry us to those who need to hear what God has done in your life, why you have hope, your personal testimony, and the promises that God has made to us. Prepare yourself and then use your feet and your mouth to spread that message where you go. Mark sixteen fifteen. He said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the what?

The gospel to every creature. To those whose paths we daily cross, to those who are our neighbors, to those who enter the doors of our church, to those who live in our house, to those outside of our community and around the world represented by these faces in Matthew twenty eight eighteen on the wall up here. Go ye therefore and teach all nations. Teach them about who? About Jesus.

Baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost, teaching them all things whatsoever I've commanded you always. Commanded you and I will be with you till what? The end of the world or the end of the age. And they have a map back there on the wall that tells you where all our missionaries are that we support. Pray for them.

Give so they can go. But don't forget about the people that are around you because as God has sent them there to be a witness there, he has placed us here to be a witness here. In Acts one eight, Jesus said to his disciples, but ye shall receive power. After that, the Holy Ghost has come upon you. You shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

What did Jesus say to his disciples? You start at home and then work your way what? Work your way out. Take the gospel with you. Wherever your feet go, gospel goes with you.

That's exactly what happened. Now, they need a little bit of encouragement and persecution brought a little bit of that and they left Jerusalem, they left Judea, and they went to Samaria, and they went to Syria, and they went to Cilicia, which is in Turkey, and they went and they and they began, especially through the ministry of the apostle Paul, to pray the gospel into Europe. And as they went, they carried the gospel with them, not only Paul and the disciples, but others who were saved on account of their ministry. It's interesting, Paul often went to cities where there was a lot of trade. He went to cities that were on Roman roads and on at ports and people would be saved as they were passing through, and then they would take the gospel to wherever they were going.

And the good news spread through beautiful feet of those who prepared themselves to tell others and then opened their mouths and handed out tracts and invited people to church and prayed for their mission. And the gospel spread and souls were saved. And God is still in the business of saving souls today through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we are those witnesses today. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel means preparing yourself, preparing yourself to be that messenger, to be that witness.

Give it a little bit of thought. I don't know what to say. Well, take some time to think about watching. Maybe write it out. Memorize a few verses.

Lot of times we don't feel prepared to witness because we're not prepared to witness. We prepare for a lot of other things, but we don't prepare for that one. Why not? It's the most important thing to be prepared for. Having on your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace also implies something else.

Feet are, of course, vital in the battle for they both carry one end of battle and give the stability needed to win the battle, particularly illustrated in athletics. If you notice, athletes are very concerned about their shoes, And runners wear shoes that are adapted particularly to grip the the track that they they race on it. And basketball players don't wear track shoes. They wear basketball shoes. And and soccer players and football players, they wear they wear cleats.

And baseball players wear cleats, but they're a little different than football because they play on a different, you know, field. And it's important to them because if you don't have your footing, then everything else is for what? We're not. You're not gonna win the race and you're not gonna win the game if you're slipping and sliding all around. A few weeks ago, I watched part of a football game in which the ground was covered with snow.

Those are some of the most fun football games to watch because everybody's slipping and sliding around. They go to make a cut and their feet just go out from under and they they slide. They they dive into the end zone and they, you know, slide for, like, 20 feet on the in the snow. It's kind of fun to watch. You know?

But it's not so fun if you're in battle and you can't you don't have your footing because when you slip, now you're vulnerable. Footing is important. Our traction is important. Our feet need the protection and traction afforded us by putting on the gospel shoes. If one's feet are injured or if one's feet do not have good traction, you're in trouble.

The protection and traction required in this battle is not shoes with spikes or or metal shin guards, but the readiness of the gospel of peace. Our confidence and reliance and knowledge of the gospel is that which gives us traction, is that which gives us staying power, is that which gives us confidence and peace in the midst of battle. We need to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel so that we can have staying power and confidence as we go into battle. Having first of all peace with God. What does the what does the gospel give us?

It gives us peace with God. Why did Jesus Christ die on the cross? The just for the unjust? That he might bring us to God. That the war between us and God might come to peace, and we might be reunited.

The peace with God. Romans five one, therefore, being justified by faith, we have what? Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation through faith in Christ should give us peace, should give us confidence because we know that he's brought us peace with who? Peace with God.

When I lay my head down on my pillow at night, I don't have to wonder if I don't wake up where I will be. When when things around in life are difficult and trials come, when you're sick or ill, you know, if you know that you have salvation, you are secure in Jesus Christ, it gives you peace and confidence as you fight the battle that is in front of you. Second Timothy one twelve, Paul wrote this, for that for the which cause, I also suffer these things, the cause of the gospel he's talking about. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. What did Paul committed unto the Lord?

His soul. And Paul said, even though I'm facing these trials and and and he lists them in a couple of places, he said, I can get up and I can keep going day after day with peace and joy in my heart. Why? How? Because he knows in whom he believed.

And he knows that the one whom he put his faith and trust in wasn't gonna fail him. He was secure in Christ. And if the next city he went to, they took his life for me to live as Christ, to die as what? To die as gain. So Paul was not deterred by the obstacles that he faced or the pain that he endured or the seeming failures that he had to overcome or the critics that opposed and mocked him at every turn.

He had his feet shod with the what? The preparation of the gospel of peace. He knew where he was going. So he continued on in service for Christ day after day after day because he had absolutely no doubt of his standing before God. Thanks for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For I am not ashamed, Paul wrote, of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Paul wasn't ashamed. He didn't doubt. He didn't know. He didn't wonder what was coming.

He knew Christ was with him. He knew he had the truth, and he knew that it had changed lives and would continue to do so. His feet were shod with the what? The preparation of the gospel of peace. It brought him peace with God and it brought him the peace of God in the midst of the storm.

A peace that we should enjoy as well as Christians. Of all people in this world, when tragedy comes, when when life is tumultuous about us, when disasters happen, we, the children of God, should have what? Peace. Philippians four, six, and seven, Paul writes, be careful for nothing. It means be anxious for nothing.

But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God and the wine. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Colossians three five 15, I don't have it up here, but Paul writes, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you are called in one body and be thankful. In Isaiah twenty six thirty three, Isaiah writes, thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. The gospel of peace not only assures us of peace with God, but it supplies in abundance the peace above God to the wonder of others.

No matter what is swirling around us in life, God gives his children perfect peace whose feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of what? Peace. As we remember the promises of God, if we as we stand firm in the security that we have in Jesus Christ, it gives us confidence and it gives us what? Peace. Peace.

I'm a take just a moment to sing a little bit of a song. It's entitled Perfect Peace. When life's burdens get so heavy and it seems I'm all alone, I cast my care on Jesus and come boldly to his throne. I find his grace sufficient when his promises I heed. For his very life he sacrificed and he lives to intercede.

He is the Lord of lords and when he speaks winds and waves obey when Jesus whispers peace be still then darkness turns today and as I'm trusting in my savior's word Doubts and fears all cease. And beneath the shelter of his wings, I'm at rest in perfect peace. The second verse goes, I will seek for souls in darkness, Calvary's love with them to share. Empowered by his spirit, I will follow anywhere for I know what ere befalls me. My Lord is in control.

And as my mind is stayed on him, perfect peace, he gives my soul. That is the peace that we should have as we shone our feet, put on the shoes of the gospel, peace. That gives us peace and confidence as we go out into the world to take the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of peace to others who need it. Are your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel? Four questions.

Number one, are you saved? Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? What is the gospel of peace? It is this, Jesus sent his only begotten son for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son who died on the cross for our sins and rose again. That whosoever believes in him should, what?

Not perish but have everlasting life. Trying to get there some other way. You are not securing Christ. You do not have on shoes with good traction. You're not gonna get up the hill that Christ already went up for us to secure heaven and our place.

Are you saved? Have you trusted Christ? Number two, are you prepared? And are you preparing your heart for revival, your testimony for the Lord? Are you going?

Are you going? Are you taking those feet and those shoes and taking the gospel to others? Are you secure and at peace in Jesus Christ? If you aren't, you can be. You need to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace.

You need to be reminded. You need you need to stand firm, and you need not to be allowed the doubts to creep in. He will give you peace. Let's pray. Dear heavenly father, thank you, Lord, for your word.

Thank you for the peace that the gospel brings to those who will receive it. I pray, Lord, that we will prepare ourselves to share it. I I pray, Lord, we'll spend more time in your word and get to know you better so that we might have the peace of God in our lives as we deal with the difficulties that life in a sinful world brings. But, Lord, we thank you that you said you'll never leave us nor forsake us. Lord, give those that are here this morning peace.

And Lord, if there be one that is yet to receive Christ as savior, I pray they would not leave this place this morning without making sure that they've got that settled and that they can have peace with God and the peace of God in their heart before this day is out. In Jesus' precious name, we do pray. Amen.