Faith Scripture:

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

As we follow Jesus and walk in "Everyday Faith," this series is designed to help you get free and walk in life more abundantly.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The steps of following Jesus:

• Born-again – Saved
• Water Baptized
• Holy Spirit Activated
• Healed and Set Free
• In Community
• Contributing
• Personal Growth
• Reproducing

Ephesians 6:10-19

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

There are 2 Objectives to this series:

We need to step into preventative truth rather than reactionary deliverance.

Isaiah 49:9 (NIV) “…say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

We learn how to access what God has given us so we can properly grow in our faith by accessing the ‘knowledge of the truth.”

I Timothy 2:3-6 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If we are going to live in "knowledge of the truth," we first have to understand “Why did Jesus even come?”

I John 3:8 “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

To get Battle Ready, it is not just proper Training but proper Attire. The armor is designed specifically for the enemy we are fighting.

The Enemy: The Armor was designed because of the specific enemy we face.

Two Terms:

Devil - Greek - Diabolos

Devil - one who continually strikes and strikes again, beating against the walls of one’s mind, until he finally breaks through and penetrates their thought process.

Satan - Hebrew - shatana- to hate; to accuse

Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

This term is used over 50 times in the Bible.

Jesus ever lives to intercede. (Hebrews 7:25) Satan lives to accuse.

Angel of Light - II Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

What does all this mean? “Satan” is the proper name. “Devil” is his plan of action. “Angel of Light” is his mode of operation to deceive you.

With this knowledge of the truth, we can understand the armor: "Why" the specific order is mentioned and "How" to get maximum use out of it.

Shoes

Militaries live in a "State of Readiness," which comes from being trained to GO!

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Peace - Greek - eirene - A peace that prevails or conquering peace.

The Shoes consisted of 2 parts.

The Greave - a tube-like structure that covers from the top of the knee to the ankle.

The Shoe - 2 pieces of brass, the top/first piece covering the foot and the second covering the sole, equipped with dangerous and sharp spikes. They were laced together with leather straps.

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (KJV)

Shod - Greek - hupodeomai. hupo – under; deo - to bind to bind something very tightly under the bottom of one's foot.

Peace is not something you are in, but it is something you are bound to, and therefore, wherever you go, peace is.

Conquering Peace

God didn't call you to "Safe places," he called you to Faith places!

Matthew 14:22-27

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[b] from the land,[c] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[d] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

In the storm, Jesus was "Walking ON the Water."

The peace of God does so much more than keep you afloat. Peace keeps you in control during the storm rather than the storm controlling you.

Jesus was bound to Peace, as he is the Prince of Peace. So, he wasn't walking on water, but Jesus was walking on Peace.

Walking on Peace kept him:

• above the water and waves,
• in control of the wind,
• and gave him power over the storm.

Matthew 14:22-29

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.”

Inspired Faith without Peace will cause you to sink. Peter walked in peace for the moment, but wasn't bound to it.

Traction Peace

You cannot move forward physically or spiritually without traction.

Rome was conquering the known world, and the terrain was rugged. It was not flat or smooth.

The spikes on the soles of the shoes ranged from 1 to 3 inches long, depending on the terrain.

1. The peace that God gives you is for a firm footing for your walk of Faith because the journey with Jesus is never smooth.

2. The peace that God gives you is for you, Victory over the enemy.

Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

Crush - Greek - suntribo - to smash, break, or crush bones beyond recognition so as never to be mended or healed.

Under - Shows your Authority and satan’s position.

Power Peace

This Victory is "the God of Peace," not "peace of God."

Romans 16:20 “The ‘God of Peace’ will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

There comes a time when there is a transformational shift from "peace being a gift from God' to "God who exhibits a power called peace through you."

Peter walked in a “gift” of Jesus’ peace on the water.

Jesus walked in God and exhibited a power called peace.

The gift is from the outward in. The Power is from the inside out.