3 Aug 2024 Sermon

The Gospel of Peace

Ephesians 6:15 NIV

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians The Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10–20)

There are the sandals. Sandals were the sign of one equipped and ready to move. The sign of Christians is that they are eager to be on the way to share the gospel with others who have not heard it.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Romans–Philemon 3. The Panoply of the Lord for the Evil Day Conflict (6:13–17)

The preparation of the gospel of peace with which the Christian soldier’s feet are to be shod is an offensive item of warfare. The Roman soldier’s sandal-shod feet signified readiness for immediate service. There is probably an allusion here to Christ’s example that Paul has given in Ephesians 2:17 (cf. Isa. 52:7). In any event, the Great Commission was to active service in spiritual attack upon the kingdom of darkness and not attempted self-preservation (Matt. 28:18–20; cf. Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18). Christ’s statement that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against” His Church (Matt. 16:18) suggests an offensive attack upon evil by the Church, rather than the Church’s defense against evil. It is the gates of hell that will not be able to hold out against the attacks of the Church, and not vice versa as has so often been thought (cf. S.S. 6:10). There is no place here for the defensive sentiment expressed in the song

Hold the fort for I am coming,

Jesus signals still;

Wave the answer back to heaven,

By Thy grace we will.

Rather the believing soldier’s feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace suggests the militant Christian.

Onward, Christian soldiers!

Marching as to war,

With the Cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Christ, the royal Master,

Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle

See his banners go!

The Annotated Bible, Volume 7: Romans to Ephesians 6. The Warfare and the Panoply of God (Chapter 6:10–20)

The feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. This does not mean the preaching of the Gospel to others, Christian service or soul winning. We have through the Gospel perfect peace with God. We know that God is for us, who then can be against us? This perfect peace we have, in which we stand is our preparation. And we have the peace of God as well, yea, the legacy our Lord left unto us, “My peace I give unto you.” Therefore are we not terrified by our adversaries (Phil. 1:28). Israel wandered over the desert rocks and desert sands for forty years with shoes, which did not wear out. We too wander through the wilderness, the feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, a peace which will last as long as God Himself. Knowing this Peace, knowing we are in God’s hands, knowing that we are Christ’s and Christ is God’s, knowing that all things are ours, we can stand and withstand the wiles of the devil. He cannot touch one who rests in the peace of God and who trusts in the God of peace.

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament Chapter 6

And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel—Let this be always ready to direct and confirm you in every step. This part of the armour for the feet is needful, considering what a journey we have to go; what a race to run. Our feet must be shod, that our footsteps slip not. To order our life and conversation aright, we are prepared by the Gospel blessing, the peace and love of God ruling in the heart, (Col. 3:14, 15.) By this only can we tread the rough ways, surmount our difficulties, and hold out to the end.

Ephesians 4–6: Introduction, Translation and Commentary on Chapter 4–6 Notes

The “peace” and the “gospel” to which Eph 6:15 refers can only be the “peace made” and “proclaimed” by the Messiah which was described in 2:13–18. It is not a victory of men inside God’s kingdom over men outside it that makes the saints stand “steadfast.” Rather the Messianic “peace” which has united and will further draw together “those far” and “those near” gives the strength to resist non-human, demonic attacks however spiritual their origin.

Isaiah 52:7 NIV

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!”

Romans 10:15 NIV

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Ephesians 2:17 NIV

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

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Shoes equal motion, moving, doing

Gospel of peace - good news of peace

Calm people do things that anxious people can’t

The gospel of peace allows us to move quickly

(Look at how fast I can run in my new shoes.)

Ephesians 6:13–15 ESV

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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

With verse 15 this ends the list of everyday wear items in Paul’s list of armor.

Shoes. Shoes are generally the last thing we put on before we are fully ready to go. NO matter where we are going we need shoes to get there.

Shoes some how change things. They can make you feel something.

—> I’m always reminded during the back to school season how true this is. You see little kids all the time in stores doing back to school shopping and they’ll put on their shoes and they’ll run, and they’ll say look how fast I am in my new shoes!

—> The other day when me and the girls were on what has now been called “the death hike” at Mt. Scout. I wasn’t anticipating the type of terrain we were going to be hiking. I’m used to East Texas hiking which is trails cut through woods and trees where the danger is getting your shoes wet or muddy. The trail we were on as Payson says was the desert. It was sharp rocks, sand, cactus, prickly bush, and I wore the wrong shoes. I have hiking boots but they were in the closet back at home instead I was wearing some old tennis shoes that have served me well but were getting a little warn out.

I was doing good until about half way through I jump from one rock to another and my foot slides a little and there goes part of the bottom of my shoe. A little while later I’m walking and i feel something hitting the bottom of my other foot and its the sole of my other shoe starting to separate. I knew I was definitely wearing the wrong shoes, and may not have been dressed for success.

—> Paul says to equip your feet with the “Gospel of Peace”

what is that?

—> It is the good news about Jesus Christ that brings us peace.

—> but why peace?

—> If you don’t have peace what do you really have?

—> anxiety, fear, doubt are all products of a lack of peace.

—> They are all things that cripple us and stop us in our tracks.

—> The girls were in a school district a couple years back that pushed success on the state tests as the only path of success. You had to do great or you were letting your teachers, your friends, and your self down. Pushed, pushed, pushed it. To the point where it caused so much anxiety for the students that they could no longer perform their best. When we aren’t at peace we aren’t at our best.

—> Now I’m not saying if you have peace on your feet you aren’t ever going to feel those emotions because you are at times, but if you are constantly equipping yourself to move in ways that lead to Peace in Christ you are never going to be stuck with them.

—> how do we attain this peace? By believing in and relying on Christ Jesus.

—> Week 1 we talked about the Belt of Truth and learning the truth through Jesus his qualities and his teachings.

—> Week 2 we talked about the breastplate of righteousness that our identity is found in Christ and that it is Christ that makes us good and right with God and not our own deeds or qualities.

—> The Gospel of Peace is the acknowledgement of those 2 things that then moves us to action.

—> If we have the tools and we know who we are we then have the full confidence to move forward into battle of the enemy.

—> There is a peace that comes when we are prepared.

—> That peace is real. I’ve lived it and am still living it. These past years could not have been possible without the Gospel of Peace. Without the knowledge that Jesus Christ is faithful and still capable of miracles. Without the knowledge that I am equipped with the strength of the Spirit. Without putting my full trust in God to be the Lord and light of my life. I would be in a mental hospital or a grave. And yet I’m not. I’m on the move in Tuttle, OK its crazy where the shoes of the Gospel of Peace will take you if you are willing to put them on and keep them on.