“Be Prepared” – the motto of the Scouting movement
Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:13 New International Version
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14-15 New International Version
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Preparation for the battle is paramount
1 Samuel 17:33-37 New Living Translation
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.
I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”
John Wooden on preparation:
“The time to prepare isn’t after you have been given the opportunity. It’s long before that opportunity arises. Once the opportunity arrives, it’s too late to prepare.”
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”
The unseen spiritual world is real
Because it is, “Therefore”
Take possession of the armor of God
Put on the full armor of God
Wearing the armor is intentional and deliberate
An overwhelming spiritual assault is coming for each of us – a spiritual D Day
Not just a rough day, but a focused time of destruction where circumstances can derail or destroy our faith
Prepared feet are the foundation for every soldier
The gospel of peace is both the foundation and the hope for which we battle
Romans 10:15 New International Version
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Isaiah 52:7 New International Version
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
We must withstand
We must stand our ground
We must stand armed
1 Peter 5:8-9 New Living Translation
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.
James 4:7 New International Version
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 John 4:2-4 New International Version
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Praise the Lord – written by Brown Bannister & Mike Hudson 1979
When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams
And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears
Don’t let the faith you’re standing in seem to disappear
Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
when you praise Him
Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think that we are paupers
When he knows himself we’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle must be won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen so the work’s already done
Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
when you praise Him
Sermon Based Questions
- Describe a time when an injury to your feet cost you the opportunity to do something you desired.
- Describe a time when your preparation was a key to your success – at work, at home, or in the community
- Do you think people would describe you as someone who prepares too much, not enough, or appropriately for the situation? Why?
- How prepared are you for the “day of evil”, the onslaught of the devil? What can you do to better prepare for the battle?
- When you face a spiritual battle, how do you cultivate an awareness that the “gospel of peace” could transform the lives of the very people Satan is using to try and destroy your faith? Is it possible that your response in the battle might lead them to Jesus?