Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Text: Ephesians 6:10–17

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth,

and having on the breastplate of Righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with The preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking The shield of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take

The helmet of salvation,

And

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication

in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Introduction:

Feet Shod with the Gospel

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (6:15)

* Today we have shoes for every conceivable type of activity. We have dress shoes, work shoes, leisure shoes. In athletics there are special shoes for every sport, sometimes several types for a given sport.

* A tennis player might wear one type of shoe on a concrete court, another kind on clay, and still another on grass. Football and baseball players wear different shoes to play on different surfaces.

* A soldier’s shoes are more important even than an athlete’s, because his very life could depend on them.

* As he marches on rough, hot roads, climbs over jagged rocks, tramples over thorns, and wades through stream beds of jagged stones, his feet need much protection.

* A soldier whose feet are blistered, cut, or swollen cannot fight well and might not even be able to stand up—that would be a dangerous situation in a battle.

* He wouldn’t be able handle his sword or shield and cannot advance rapidly or even retreat.

* The Apostle Paul knew that a Roman soldier’s shoes needed to be tough and durable to protect his feet.

* The Roman soldier’s shoes, or boots, were usually impregnated with bits of metal or nails to give him greater traction as he climbed a slippery cliff and greater stability as he fought.

Body:

* In spiritual warfare, a Christian’s spiritual footwear is equally important in his warfare against the schemes of the devil.

* Paul knew that even If a Christian has carefully girded his loins with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness, but has not properly shod his feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, he is destined to stumble, fall, and suffer defeat win spiritual warfare.

* The Greek word used here that is translated preparation has the general meaning of readiness. In Titus 3:1 Paul uses this same word term to exhort believers “to be ready for every good deed”

* A good pair of boots allows the soldier to be ready to march, climb, fight, or do whatever else is necessary. Christ demands the same readiness of His people.

* Because Paul quoted Isaiah 52:7 in the context of preaching the gospel (“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom. 10:15), many commentators also interpret Ephesians 6:15 as a reference to preaching the Gospel.

* But in the Ephesians text Paul is not talking about preaching or teaching, but he is talking about fighting spiritual battles.

* And he is not talking about traveling, but about but standing firm (vv. 11, 13, 14).

Ephesians 6:10–15 (KJV 1900)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

* Paul’s subject subject is not evangelizing the lost but fighting the devil in what we call spiritual warfare!

* In this passage the gospel of peace refers to the good news that believers are at peace with God.

* The unsaved person is helpless, ungodly, sinful, and an enemy of God (Rom. 5:6–10).

* Turn with me now to Romans 5:6-11:

Romans 5:6–11 (KJV 1900)

6 For when we were yet without strength,

* Without strength for what? Without strength to fight against sin and the deceptions of the devil!

in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,

* While we were yet sinners means while we were too weak on our own to fight the devil and sin…

Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

* When we started out in this spiritual war, we were on the side of the devil. God reaches down and saves us, strengthens us with his own power, and enables us to stand in battle against our old master the devil.

* Now the unsaved person starts out as the enemy of God, facing the wrath of a Holy God, The saved person, on the other hand, is reconciled to God through faith in His Son (vv. 10–11).

* Look at verses 10 and 11:

we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

* As Paul had proclaimed a few verses earlier, in Romans 5:1 “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1).

Romans 5:1–6 (KJV 1900)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Paul explained to the Colossians, Colossians (1:21–22).

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,” “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach”

* The gospel of peace is the marvelous truth that in Christ we are now at peace with God and are one with Him.

* The Apostle Paul reminds us a couple of chapters later in the book of Romans in chapter 8 that since we are at peace with God, then we are not to go around feeling condemned all the time.

Romans 8:1 (KJV 1900)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

* Just a few verses later, in this same chapter, Romans chapter 8, Paul reminds us that we can have an attitude of complete confidence, because God is for us- God is on our side in the battles of spiritual warfare!

Romans 8:30–31 (KJV 1900)

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

* Paul goes on to give in great detail why we can stand firm against the devil and sin in this spiritual warfare, since God is on our side.

* Listen to just how much God is on our side:

Romans 8:32–39 (KJV 1900)

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

* My friend this morning, if the feet of our minds are are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, we can stand in the confidence of God’s love for us, His union with us, and His commitment to fight for us!

* When Peter took out his sword as the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, he considered himself invincible, because he had just seen all the soldiers fall to the ground simply at Jesus’ words, “I am He” (John 18:6).

* As the children of Israel faced the great Midianite army that numbered some thirty–two thousand men, the Lord told Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, lest Israel become boastful, saying ‘My own power has delivered me’ ” (Judg. 7:2).

* After Gideon had trimmed his own force down to a mere three hundred men, the Lord gave Israel an astounding victory without their using a single weapon (v. 22).

* As Judah was about to be invaded by the powerful armies of Ammon and Moab, the Lord promised King Jehoshaphat, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15).

* As His people “began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Self, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

* At that battle, the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely, and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

* When God’s people came to the lookout hill in the wilderness, they looked toward the camp of the enemy; and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped” (vv. 22–24).

* As with Gideon’s band against Midian, the Lord won the victory without His people raising a weapon.

* Our text this morning in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10 says

Ephesians 6:10–11 (KJV 1900)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

* The believer who stands in the Lord’s power need not fear any enemy, even Satan himself When he comes to attack us, because our feet are rooted firmly on the solid ground of the gospel of peace!

* We are at peace with God and God is on our side!

* By making peace with us, God changed from being our our enemy to being our defender!

* We who were once His enemies are now His children!

* Our heavenly Father offers us His full resources to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

* “If God is for us, who is against us?” Paul asks. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us!

* For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:31, 37–39).

* I have told you many times in this series about spiritual warfare, that the battleground on which spiritual warfare, this battle between God’s people and the devil and sin, is carried out in the mind and the emotions.

* Our text this morning says:

Ephesians 6:10–11 (KJV 1900)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

* So how are we to be strong and stand against the trickery and deception, what Paul called the “Wiles” and the “fiery darts” of the devil in spiritual warfare?

* We protect our minds and emotions with the “power infusing”- confidence instilling- truth that because we have obeyed the Gospel, we are at peace with God!

* Turn with me to Philippians chapter 4 and verses 5-7

* I would like to share with you 5 simple principles that the apostle Paul says will guarantee you a peace in your life that is so great, it is impossible to understand with the human mind!

Philippians 4:5–7 (KJV 1900)

1). Remember the Lord is right there to help you at any time!

The Lord is at hand.

2). Stop worrying!

6 Be careful for nothing;

3). Pray about everything!

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

4). Be thankful and content with what you have!

with thanksgiving

5). Leave things in God’s hands!

let your requests be made known unto God.

Garneted Result:

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

* Let me repeat this principles to you once more in the shortest form:

1). Remember the Lord is right there to help you at any time!

2). Stop worrying!

3). Pray about everything!

4). Be thankful and content with what you have!

5). Leave things in God’s hands!

Garneted Result:

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

* There you have it in a nut-shell!

* The way to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might is to strengthen,, reinforce, transform your heart and mind with the truth that God has made peace with us through the Gospel!

* The Spirit–filled believer who is fully clad in God’s armor can sing confidently with, the old slave-trader turned preacher, who you know as the author of the song “Amazing Grace”- John Newton

Though many foes beset you round,

And feeble is your arm,

Your life is hid with Christ in God

Beyond the realm of harm.

Weak as you are you shall not fade,

Or fainting shall not die;

Jesus the strength of every saint

Will aid you from on high.

Though unperceived by mortal sense,

Faith sees Him always near,

A guide, a glory, a defense,

What have you to fear?

As surely as He overcame,

And triumphed once for you,

So surely you that love His name

Shall in Him triumph too.

Conclusion:

* Let me ask you now this morning- Has the Devil conned you into living your life full of fear?

- fear that you are not good enough?

- fear that God might not answer your prayers?

- fear that, if you make a commitment to openly live for God in a way that other people can see, you might mess up and be ashamed?

- fear that something bad is always around the corner?

- fear that you will never be happy?

* Has the devil deceived you into doubting this morning?

- doubting that God can really bless you after the things that you have done?

- doubting the Goodness of God?

- doubting God’s ability to completely forgive and forget your past sins?

* Does the devil have you brainwashed and beat down by worry this morning?

* Does he have you convinced that you have no reason to be happy and rejoice in the life that God has given you this morning?

* Has the Devil invaded your mind and away stole your peace?

* My friend, the secret of happiness and blessing- The secret of a “peace that passes understanding” rests in the knowledge that God has made peace with us.

* If you will hang on to this glorious truth, that through the Gospel, we are at peace with God, it will give you the strength and courage you need as you stand against the devil and sin in this great battle we call spiritual warfare!

* There may be someone here who is tired of having no peace in your heart. You long for peace and rest in your heart and soul like a person in a hot desert would long for a cool glass of water!

* The Holy Spirit of God is speaking to your heart right now, pleading with you to come to God and make peace with him.