Be Ready to Speak of Jesus: Evangelism as Spiritual Warfare

On my desk sits a ebook with a darkish graphic on its protect: a Christian soldier stands by itself, surrounded by non secular enemies. Seven arrows and a spear intention at his coronary heart loss of life and the devil attract shut. The soldier has some armor and a shield, but he nonetheless appears determined — outmatched, outmanned, and completely aware of it. He folds his hands and appears to be to heaven.

As a portrayal of the Christian’s non secular warfare, the image holds some benefit. We reside in “the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13). Lies fly toward us like invisible arrows as we engage “the prince of the energy of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). We frequently sense besieged and beleaguered, tempted and tossed, pushed down and retained down. O Lord, we cry, produce us.

If we consider, on the other hand, the saints of Christ constantly defending, and hardly ever advancing, our concept of spiritual warfare demands a sharper blade. As Richard Lovelace writes, “In people faith the posture of the Christian toward fallen angels is defensive in Scripture the church is on the offensive, and the blows it receives from Satan occur from a retreating enemy” (Dynamics of Non secular Lifetime, 136).

“We are, 1st and foremost, not a church attacked, but a church attacking.”

Our Lord Jesus did not commission his disciples to hunker down and protect on their own, but to start the world’s most epic offensive (Matthew 28:19–20). We are, first and foremost, not a church attacked, but a church attacking. And so, between the spiritual weapons Paul arms believers in Ephesians 6:12–18, we obtain not only “the sword of the Spirit,” but also “as shoes for your ft . . . the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15, 17).

Peace in our hearts, gospel on our lips, we are messengers of the triumphant Christ, the tide of war irreversibly on our side.

The Soldier’s Footwear

Some uncertainty surrounds the Christian soldier’s footwear in Ephesians 6:15. In Roman warfare (from which Paul appears to be to have drawn some of his imagery), a soldier’s sneakers assisted him to stand firmly underneath attack — and in context, Paul calls Christians to “stand” three moments (Ephesians 6:11, 13–14). So possibly “the readiness given by the gospel of peace” suggests our readiness to stand immovable in the genuine gospel somewhat than currently being “tossed to and fro . . . by every single wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

On the other hand, Paul’s language listed here bears a hanging resemblance to the prophet Isaiah’s description of the content gospel messenger: “How attractive upon the mountains are the ft of him who brings superior information, who publishes peace, who brings superior news of contentment!” (Isaiah 52:7). Iain Duguid notes that the terms toes, excellent information, and peace show up closely jointly only 3 occasions in Scripture: Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 1:15 (an echo of the Isaiah text), and Ephesians 6:15. These footwear, then, look designed for additional than standing business: they’re designed for marching.

Notice also the fury of the devil’s assaults in Ephesians 6. In this battle, flaming darts fly, swords maim, and helmets get examined. Only “the total armor of God” will guard us (Ephesians 6:13). Take into account, on the other hand: Upon what variety of church is the devil very likely to launch this sort of a entire-throttled assault? On a serene and peaceful church? Upon a church that retains to its possess business enterprise? On a church that shares the gospel only on Sundays and in small group?

Probably. The satan hates religion in Christ anywhere he finds it. But his serious dread is an advancing church. The feet he hates most are marching feet, tramping toes, feet whose ahead methods thunder his coming doom (Romans 16:20).

“Wherever they go, Christian soldiers are inclined, eager, completely ready to speak about Jesus.”

Just as Pharaoh did not mind the Israelites right until they multiplied, the devil might not brain silent church buildings all that substantially. But he will unleash his powers to maintain the entrance line from advancing, to continue to keep the church of Christ from positioning one extra foot on his area of darkness. He will bend again his bow in opposition to any man or woman who embraces Paul’s ambition: “[Pray] for me, that words could be offered to me in opening my mouth boldly” (Ephesians 6:19).

Evangelistic Misconceptions

Paul’s description of the church’s evangelistic process corrects some popular misconceptions.

To start with, Paul hands this armor to the total church, not just its pastors and evangelists. Sure, the risen Christ has given “evangelists” to the church (Ephesians 4:11), individuals beautifully restless saints who itch to discuss of Jesus and seem to be to do so very easily. But Jesus gave these kinds of evangelists “to equip the saints for the operate of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12), a work that contains talking “the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Some Christians are official, gifted evangelists just about every Christian is a messenger.

Second, Paul has in head proactive, not simply reactive, evangelism. Christians who comply with Jesus faithfully may perhaps certainly entice notice and even inquiries, and our gospel shoes make us prepared for such moments (1 Peter 3:15). But the toes of God’s messengers are “beautiful” exactly because they “carry good news” (Isaiah 52:7), not for the reason that they offer you it when requested. This kind of shoes ship us to people and places we in no way would have approached usually. They spur us to cross oceans or cross streets, strike up text with strangers and request daring concerns, invite around neighbors no one particular else would.

3rd, faithful evangelism relies significantly much more on will and wish than it does on procedures. No doubt, techniques can be handy in evangelism. But methods simply cannot create a want to share Christ where it doesn’t by now exist. So, in Ephesians 6:15, Paul fastens on the Christian soldier’s readiness: “As sneakers for your toes . . . put on the readiness supplied by the gospel of peace.” Anywhere they go, Christian troopers are prepared, keen, completely ready to converse about Jesus.

With Christ Our Captain

Probably, like me, you want aid putting on these sneakers. I can think of two modern scenarios in which I was not prepared and skipped a wide-open up opportunity to communicate a term about Jesus. On many days, I uncover myself significantly more prepared to function, relaxation, read, perform, consume, or even do chores than to say “Jesus” to a good friend or neighbor. How, then, could we come to be far more all set to talk the gospel of peace?

“Every devoted phrase you communicate has the authority of the King at the rear of it. Each individual hill you see will a single working day wave his flag.”

In some strategies, only meditating on that phrase readiness could possibly commence to shape our day by day prayers and programs. Prepared Christians, or Christians who want to be all set, have a habit of praying, “Lord, give me prospects to converse of you today — and give me the courage to just take them.” They also have a behavior of placing them selves in locations and amid individuals in which opportunities are likely to come up.

But the most stirring views appear from remembering the sort of non secular fight we’re battling — and what Captain we stick to.

He Arrived and Conquered

Contemplate, first, the Captain you abide by. As opposed to some, he does not concern commands from the again of his military. Nor does he conceal himself among his troops, like some Ahab sporting another’s robes (1 Kings 22:30). No, ahead of he at any time handed us shoes and named us to go, “he came” (Ephesians 2:17). He arrived and preached peace. He came and manufactured peace. He arrived and became our peace (Ephesians 2:14–15, 17). He rode not just at the head of the military, but on your own, utterly on your own — our solitary Victor, large and lifted up.

And now, his each individual connect with will come with a assure: “Behold, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). The sneakers he fingers us are an invitation to operate in his beautiful footsteps, to publish the peace he received, and all along the way, to know a fellowship with him that arrives only as we advance his induce.

He Will Fill the Earth

Then, next, appear to where by your Captain potential customers. When Paul mentions the “rulers” and “authorities,” the “cosmic powers” and “spiritual forces of evil” in Ephesians 6:12, he absolutely usually means for us to see them as fearsome enemies. But he also implies for us to keep in mind what he wrote in chapter 1, where he tells us that Jesus, our risen Lord, is now seated at the ideal hand of the throne of God, “far over all rule and authority and energy and dominion” (Ephesians 1:21). He is, in addition, “head in excess of all issues,” with the church as “his system, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22–23).

Christ, our exalted and unassailable Captain, already holds dominion around each foe. Their time is small, their times numbered. His kingdom has presently spread to a degree awful for our enemy to see. And the spreading have to go on. His kingdom will progress till the gates of hell lie fallen beneath the ft of the triumphant overall body of Christ.

And so, J.I. Packer writes to each and every trembling evangelist,

You are not on a fool’s errand. You are not losing either your time or theirs. You have no motive to be ashamed of your message, or halfhearted and apologetic in delivering it. You have just about every purpose to be daring, and no cost, and normal, and hopeful of success. (Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 116)

Each and every trustworthy term you speak has the authority of the King at the rear of it. Every hill you see will one particular working day wave his flag. Do not think about, then, Christian, that you are a soldier basically on defense. Sure, just take the complete armor of God shield by yourself from assault. But put on your sneakers as well — and pray and operate and communicate beneath the banner of your advancing King.