The Gospel of Peace

Introduction

The first two weeks we talked about the importance of putting on the FULL armor of God to stand against the evil works of Satan in our lives. Adam preached on the importance of the belt of truth and the fact that it holds up all of the pieces of armor that Paul describes in this passage, last week stacey emphasized the importance of the breastplate of righteousness.

As we continue this series today and as we look at the shoes of the gospel of peace we will continue to see the importance of each piece of armor that we put on daily to protect ourselves from satan and his demons’ attacks on our lives as believers. We cannot afford to neglect any piece of armor that Paul spoke about here in these few verses of Scripture. We have a foe that has ultimately been defeated Hebrews 2:14 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” and we know that like in 1 John 4:4 says “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

However we still live in this interim period of the now-not yet where we live in the overlapping of the age of Adam and the Age of Christ and satan is still the ruler of this world so we must be like 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” And we must be diligent to resist the deceit of Satan James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

So today we are going to be talking about the shoes of readiness of the gospel of peace which will allow us to “stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Stability in our stance against enemy onslaughts

Importance of wearing the right shoes

How silly would it be for someone to walk into battle as a member of the U.S. Military with flip flops on?

Illustration of wearing the right footwear. (forgot my cleats for an away baseball game and had to play in my terf shoes, unloading a whole house worth of wood and metal sheeting at 10pm at night in flip flops, wading in a river with old tennis shoes)

How you clothe and protect your feet is extremely important.

I don’t know if you know it, but slipping or losing your footing in hand to hand combat is not a good situation to be in.

If you’re not firm in your footing during battle nothing else you do is important.

Roman cleat sandals for battle: several layers of leather studded with hollow headed hobnails that gave them extreme stability. During that time enemies would create ground traps (sharpened sticks stuck in the ground sharp edge upward) and this was very strategic because if an enemy could weaken your feet or cause a foot injury because of improper protection you were just about rendered useless in battle.

How fitting is it that the gospel of peace is the garment of clothing that Paul describes to us as foot protection in order to stand firm without slipping.

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

Tranquility of mind in the midst of enemy onslaughts

Gospel of Peace: Represents the peace you have with God through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel has reconciled us back to the God of the universe. We are no longer dead in our sins but have been made alive by Christ’s work on the cross. Even in the midst of the schemes of satan of any kind in any season of life we can have a tranquil mind because of our firm grip on the gospel.

God loved us before we loved him. He gave us salvation through His Son the Christ. Romans 5:8 “But God shows us his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

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

Ephesians 6:10-11“Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Security of heart in the Gospel Message

big brother protecting little brother illustration.

Exodus 14:13 “And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.” or 2 Chronicles 20:17 “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’”

Security in whom we serve: I am secure in my salvation in Christ because of the gospel of peace. So I have no fear of Satan because God is on my side and His strength is greater than Satan.

Judges 7: Gideon and the 300 men against 120,000+

Romans 8:31-39 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 8:31–39). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Application

Do you have the confidence in the gospel to stand firm against the schemes of Satan?

Watched American Gospel on Netflix this past week and it reminded me of our need to be reminded of the gospel even as Christians.