The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Main Premise: The Gospel of Peace Steadies the Christian for Battle

Introduction: What You Wear On Your Feet Has a Big Impact:

As I was thinking about this sermon for this morning about having our feet shod with the Gospel of piece, and the roll that shoes play in the armor of God, I had an interesting memory that I wanted to share with you guys by way of introduction.

I was in the 9th grade, and playing on the freshman football team. One Monday morning as I was rushing around gathering my things to catch the bus I accidentally forgot to grab my football cleats on the way out the door. I went through the entire day without realizing that I forgot to grab them.

At the very end of the day, right as the last bell rang of my last class for the day it suddenly dawned on me that I had practice after school that day and I did not have my cleats. Now, my football coach and I didn’t really get along well, because I was a bit of a slacker. And I knew if I showed up to practice without my cleats he was going to make me run laps for the entire hour and a half long practice. I did not want to run laps for the entire hour and a half long practice.

My brain immediately began to scroll through all the different ways I could get out of this predicament. And then the lightbulb popped on and my 15 year old brain had a sudden flash of genius. If I don’t say anything, he probably won’t notice!

So I went to practice, got dressed like normal, and walked out to the field and started warm ups. It didn’t take me very long to figure out that I was in pretty big trouble. I fell 3 times before I even finished with warm ups. One of those times being directly in front of my coach, who gave me a disapproving side eye , but still did not notice I wasn’t wearing cleats.

But then I had to do trench drills. If you don’t know what trench drills are let me describe them to you. I was a defensive linemen. In particular I was a nose tackle. I was fairly small for a linemen, but I was quick and strong, and thoroughly enjoyed playing that position, except when I had to do trench drills.

Trench drills are when two linemen line up across from one another, with board in the middle of them. They have to put their feet one on each side of the board, get in a good position, and when the coach blows the whistle, you go head on against one another, and try push the other guy directly backwards and push him past the board. You can’t go to the right or the left, either you beat him head on, or he beats you head on.

I got blasted off the line 3 times in a row going up against a guy that I normally easily could have beaten. And it was at this point that I was busted. My coached called me over to the the sideline, and asked me, using language that most people don’t realize that high school football coaches use, why I was on his football field without having the equipment I needed to do the job.

He concluded his lecture by telling me “Son, are you trying to get yourself killed out here? We make football players wear cleats, because they need cleats to do the job we are asking them to do.” Then, he sent me to run laps for the rest of football practice. Mission not accomplished.

I was wearing every other piece of equipment I needed. I had my helmet, my shoulder pads, my hip pads, my knee pads, but because I didn’t have the right kind of shoes on my feet, my feet slipped easily, and I was incapable of competing in the game.

1. What are the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace?

The Romans Soldiers Shoes

What is the Gospel of Peace?

Peace Of His Pardon

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

The Peace of His Pressance

Romans 5:2-5 “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Because of the pace we have with God (v1), we now have hope in the midst of our trials, knowing that God is working our trials to bring us closer to Him. Trials produce hope in us, because they teach us look to Him. And all this happens, v6 says, because the love of God is poured out out in our hearts throu the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit brings peace to the Christian, regardless of our circumstances.

Philippians 4:9 “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

John 14:26-27 ““But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Peace is fruite of the Spirit in the live of the Christians Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

The Peace of Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

How does it prepare us for Battle?

2. Why do You Need the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace? (“Preparation”)

You cannot fight if your footing is not firm. You can’t do anything if your feat are not steady.

I’ve learned this lesson the hard way over the course of the last year.

Before the concussion, I would strut around everywhere without thinking twice about my footing. Just walk by a normal person.

But after I had the concussion all of the sudden, because of the brain injury, I began to be very careful about where and how I would step. My feet were unsteady, and as such, the ONLY THING I could think about was just trying to walk without falling.

When you feet are not steady, you cannot pay attention to anything else. You brain is wired in such a way that if you do not have balance, you cannot think about anything else, but keeping your footing. That’s no condition to be in when you are fighting a fight.

The Gospel of Peace is the firm footing upon which the Christian fights.

Your Sins have been pardoned and you have peace with God.

His Spirit indwells you so that there is peace within

You have a constant audience with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord’s, and you can bring all your cares and troubles before Him.

You have no fear of death, and your eternal reward is secure in Heaven

The Gospel of peace eliminates the distractions would wobble the feet of the Christian, in order that his mind may be attentive to the task at hand.

3. How to Put on the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Remind yourself daily of the truth of the Gospel.

When you sin, remind yourself of the Gospel.

When you worry, remind yourself of the Gospel.

When you are afraid remind yourself of the Gospel.

The Gospel will be your peace, your hope, and your steady footing.

The Gospel of Peace will steady your feet, and provide you firm footing, so you can do battle with the enemy, when he comes to challenge you.

Conclusion: