Spiritual Warfare: The Furnishings for Spiritual Warfare - 3

Introduction: In this first section we have dealt with the first two items listed in the armor of God.

“The implication of v. 13 is that Christians, having been forewarned, must be forearmed. Knowing warfare is always a possibility, they must make all the necessary preparations beforehand to withstand attack.”

Bonnie Bowman Thurston, Reading Colossians, Ephesians, and 2 Thessalonians : A Literary and Theological Commentary, Reading the New Testament Series (Macon, GA: Smith & Helwys Publishing, 2007), 147.

Verse 14 the Bible says that we are to have our “loins girt about with truth...”

In that very same verse we have the conjunction ‘and’ which ties together then next item which is “the breastplate of righteousness...”

I would like to begin by reading this excerpt from Josephus concerning the Roman Soldiers of that day. He speaks in this particular section of the armor of the Soldiers.

Notice what he states,

“The footmen are armed with breastplates and head-pieces, and have swords on each side; but the sword which is upon their left side is much longer than the other, for that on the right side is not longer than a span. Those foot-men also that are chosen out from the rest to be about the general himself have a lance and a buckler, but the rest of the foot soldiers have a spear and a long buckler, besides a saw and a basket, a pick-axe and an axe, a thong of leather and a hook, with provisions for three days, so that a footman hath no great need of a mule to carry his burdens. The horsemen have a long sword on their right sides, axed a long pole in their hand; a shield also lies by them obliquely on one side of their horses, with three or more darts that are borne in their quiver, having broad points, and not smaller than spears. They have also head-pieces and breastplates, in like manner as have all the footmen. And for those that are chosen to be about the general, their armor no way differs from that of the horsemen belonging to other troops; and he always leads the legions forth to whom the lot assigns that employment.

Now they so manage their preparatory exercises of their weapons, that not the bodies of the soldiers only, but their souls may also become stronger: they are moreover hardened for war by fear; for their laws inflict capital punishments, not only for soldiers running away from the ranks, but for slothfulness and inactivity, though it be but in a lesser degree; as are their generals more severe than their laws, for they prevent any imputation of cruelty toward those under condemnation, by the great rewards they bestow on the valiant soldiers; and the readiness of obeying their commanders is so great, that it is very ornamental in peace; but when they come to a battle, the whole army is but one body, so well coupled together are their ranks, so sudden are their turnings about, so sharp their hearing as to what orders are given them, so quick their sight of the ensigns, and so nimble are their hands when they set to work; whereby it comes to pass that what they do is done quickly, and what they suffer they bear with the greatest patience.”

Josephus - The Wars of the Jews Chapter 3.55, 3.57 (~75 AD)

And so we can see here in just this excerpt how the Roman Soldiers were dressed, trained and thus prepared for battle.

So let us turn attention now to our text beginning in verse 14-16,

“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.”

I want us to think about and meditate upon these last two items in this section; the shod feet and the shield of faith.

You will notice a picture I have included in your notes from the Museum of London. This will help us to understand what is being spoken about here.

In the picture, you see the bottom of a Roman Sandal. On the bottom side of this sandal you will notice “hobnails” affixed. These hobnails were in place to give the wearer traction and allow them to stand firm. (We might think about spikes on a pair of golf shoes or cleats worn for sports) In addition, interestingly enough it was not uncommon for the owner to arrange the hobnails in some sort of religious or astrological symbol. In this case we have the Roman god Neptune’s trident. This of course was superstitious belief that somehow the wearer would be empowered because of these symbols.

Notice several points then concerning our text.

Remember we are dealing with Spiritual Warfare.

We have already discussed having our loins encircled with truth. We have said we must have on our breastplate of righteousness which speaks to both right living and also the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ imputed to our account.

Now we see here that Bible says we are to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...”

What a tremendous statement! Many times in the Scriptures we come across peculiar sayings that seem to defy reason.

How can we find peace in the midst of a raging war; really the war to end all wars? How can it be?

If we were dealing with worldly wisdom we would certainly say this is foolishness! But here we have a gem of God’s wisdom.

The Word of God tells us that, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” I Corinthians 1:25

And so it is.

I want you to see first of all what is being directed.

We are to shod our feet. The word that is used here means to tie underneath; to bind of to fasten.

The idea here is that our feet need to covered and protected.

We might be thinking that we wear shoes all the time.

This is the case, for most of us we would not think about going outside without shoes.

But this was not the case in the 1st century. Certainly on long journeys sandals were worn.

Because of the expense of leather sandals, they would not be worn all the time.

Notice this excerpt from Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament - “The verb hypodéō means “to furnish with footgear,” middle “to put on sandals.” In the Near East and Greece people usually go barefoot or wear sandals. Sandals are put off for worship, mourning, and fasting. Slaves tie and untie them, and carry them when not needed. Assyrian soldiers wear laced boots, the Roman legionaries wear half-boots with strong soles, and in Rome shoes of leather, often expensive, are worn. John the Baptist is not even worthy to carry or untie the sandals of the mightier one who is to come (Mt. 3:11 and par.)”

Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985), 705.

Here we are commanded to have our feet shod. The question that naturally arises then is:

What are we to shod our feet with?

The answer is given in our text, “the preparation of the gospel of peace...”

The word ‘preparation’ in our text gives the idea of being ready for movement and sturdiness in standing.

This is exactly what we find when looking at the hobnails and leather soles of that time period.

I want you to think about two of the greatest assaults in the warfare we face.

The first is primary and that has to do with doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

All religions and philosophies can be tried with the litmus paper, “What think ye of Christ?”

The Bible says in I John 4:2-3 “2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Of course, the Christian should expect this, for the Bible declares that the “world hates” the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:7, John 15:18)and the many deceivers and antichrists are in this world. (I John 2:18)

The second is directly connected to the first, and that is doctrine concerning Salvation.

As we look at the text, we would soon discover what we already know.

We Stand Upon The Gospel of Peace

That is that we stand upon is the gospel of peace.

John Gill stated this in his commentary concerning this passage, “the word ετοιμασια [preparation] signifies a "base", or foundation; and so it is used by the Septuagint interpreters on Zec 5:11 [Ezra 3:3; Psalm 88:15 ‘throne’] ; and here it designs a firm and solid knowledge of the Gospel, as it publishes peace by Jesus Christ, which yields a sure foundation for the Christian soldier to set his foot upon, and stand fast on; it being that to him, as the shoe is to the foot, its base or foundation: and for the feet to be "shod with" it”

We have truth girt about us. We have the breastplate of righteousness. Then we have preparation of the gospel of peace.

This is the solid foundation by which we stand.

All that is entailed with the Gospel; the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we must be stedfast upon.

We are thrust back to remember the Lord’s incarnation and reminded that peace came into this world and into our hearts and minds through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember the words found in Luke 2:14.

These came from messengers sent by God to reveal what was taking place by God being tabernacled with us, that is robed in flesh.

The messengers declared, “14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.”

As we read through the Gospel records we would understand that the Lord referenced not bringing peace but a sword.

Matthew 10:34 “34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, but He also separates the wheat from the chaff.

John the Baptist, the voice crying in the wilderness announcing the Lord stated, “... I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

In other words, He is the great divider. The all-consuming question is always this, What think ye of Christ?

For the Christian, the one who has received Christ as their Savior, they have peace with God and can have the peace of God.

So as we look at the application of this we have several items to consider.

You and I ought to be settled and grounded in the Gospel.

Our greatest understanding ought to be centered on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and Salvation.

The Devil succeeds in His warfare against us if the Christian is in doubt of their Salvation.

As we look at the Word of God we would see that the Gospel is sure, the Gospel is truth.

This cannot change regardless of what someone may or may not believe concerning it.

Regardless of whether I am steady or not, the Gospel of our Salvation is sure.

But for whatever the underlying reasons, many have not shod their feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

The question ought to be answered by each of us, “What do you know concerning the Gospel of peace?”

Is your faith grounded in the Word of God?

Can you point to what is recorded in the Word of God concerning Gospel of peace?

I would submit to you that the more you commit God’s Holy Word to your heart, the more you will be steadied on your feet.

When we deal with someone who has doubts about their Salvation there are two things that must be done.

a. We must take them to the Scriptures.

This is a primary thing.

This ought to be Spirit led.

Here are a few verses that may be helpful:

John 1:12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 3:14-21, John 3:36, John 10:27-30, Ephesians 2:9-9, John 3:14-21, John 10:27-30; Romans 4:5, Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6

We should show them what the Bible say concerning Salvation.

The person in question needs to be shown from the Scriptures what God has to say. Nothing else matters.

When the Bible declares, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27) Who is it that will be giving an account to God? It is the individual.

They will give an account to God. It will not matter what my words are in that moment. What will matter is what the Word of God declares.

b. We must with God’s help and their willingness lead them to understand why it is that they are doubting.

Is their faith in the incarnate Word and the Word of God?

Have they been living a life away from the Lord Jesus Christ, out of fellowship?

If we are to be steady and prepared to move forward for the Lord it will only take place as we are settled upon the Gospel.

Remember that every piece of the armor are linked one to another to form the “whole armor of God.”

If I make wrong choices and do not live righteously and soberly in this present world (Titus 2:12), then I may find my self barefooted, not having my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

The Bible says in Philippians 2:12-13 “12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Many people have a great deal of trouble with this verse. But what is being spoken about here is a very practical thing.

Paul is letting these Philippian believers know that through obedience, they are displaying the outward fruits of Salvation. They are working out their Salvation.

They are strengthening their understanding that they are children of God by yielding to the work of the Lord in their lives.

I may very well own the shoes, but I must put them on.

There are many with this very issue.

They are Christians, they have trusted in Christ, but they have not ‘shod’ their feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

Secondly,

2. We ought to be ready to declare the Gospel of peace.

I believe by way of application that many are not ready for battle because they are not prepared to declare the Gospel of peace.

This creates an unsteadiness and inability to advance for the Lord.

The Bible says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” I Peter 3:15-16

How do I prepare to declare the Gospel of peace?

We spend time reading and knowing the Word of God.

We commit to memory the Gospel message. (We do the work to be able to tell someone about our Savior.)

We ask the Lord for boldness, utterance, and wisdom.

We will see Paul mention these very things toward the end of this passage.

3. We must stay in the steps of the Savior.

Illustration: Up in the Swiss alpine mountains, the guides take careful attention in snowy mountainsides to wear heavy boots with spikes. As they lead a group of adventuresome hikers, they protect themselves by tying themselves to the guide in a row. The guide will sometimes look back and declare to the hikes, “Keep carefully in my steps, gentlemen; for a false step here might start the snow, and send us down in an avalanche.”

Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: Ephesians (New York; Chicago; Toronto; London; Edinburgh: Fleming H. Revell Company, n.d.), 658.

How true the implications of this are concerning the Gospel of peace.

This piece of armor speaks to our movement in the steps of the Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us in this manner.

In Matthew chapter 16 one of the most remarkable turn of events took place in the life of Simon Peter.

In verses 13-17 Peter makes a remarkable heaven given statement concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. He answers the one important question of this life, that is key to everything.

The Lord Jesus asks, “whom say ye that I am?”

And the Word of God records this wonderful response, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The gospel of peace exclaimed. Here Peter is standing on the Rock!

But just a few verses later we find Peter on sinking sand.

In verse 21 of that same chapter we find these words, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

The Lord Jesus then explains the peril of not walking in His steps. Notice with me what he states,

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (vs. 24,25)

All of that the Lord says, speaks to our preparedness of the forward movement of the Gospel of peace.

The Shield of Faith

Listed last in this first section is the shield of faith.

The Bible says in verse 16, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

We are in the midst of spiritual battle. In this there is a fight going on. And the enemy is attacking. The enemies of the cross are looking to take you out of the fight.

These statements are instructive for you and I since they imply an action on our part.

- At the beginning we are told to “stand.”

- We are commanded to girt our loins with truth.

- It is implied that we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness.

- We are told to shod our feet.

- Here, the Bible states we are take up the shield of faith.

Armor is intended on providing protection and prepares us for battle.

But here we are told specifically that taking up the shield of faith provides a defense against “the fiery darts of the wicked.”

This shield more than likely refers to a Roman Scutum.

This type of “shield was large, usually about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather. As the soldier held it before him, it protected him from spears, arrows, and “fiery darts.” The edges of these shields were so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall. This suggests that we Christians are not in the battle alone.”

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 58.

The Christian life is a life of faith.

It is not just believe or trust, but rather belief in the our God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our trust and belief in Him and His Word.

We hold His truth in our hands. We read it reckoning on all that is contained in it.

Charles Spurgeon had this to say concerning the shield of faith, “a full faith in Christ preserves us against dangerous heresies, and enables us to hold fast those things which we have received, which we have been taught, and have learned, and have made our own by experience. Unsettledness in notion generally springs from a weakness of faith. While faith will guard the head, it will also guard the heart. When temptation to love the world comes in, then faith holds up thoughts of the future and confidence of the reward that awaits the people of God, and enables the Christian to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, and so the heart is protected.

Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: Ephesians (New York; Chicago; Toronto; London; Edinburgh: Fleming H. Revell Company, n.d.), 664

While we think of this metaphor concerning faith, we come to understand that fiery darts are headed our direction.

A shield is only in the possession of the individual with the expectation of taking the attack of the enemy intended to hurt the Soldier.

Herein we see the necessity for God’s protective design for the faith-life of the Christian.

It is the opposite of disbelief as we find in the garden of eden and the fall of man.

Earlier in this passage the Lord gave us a revelation that we are in spiritual warfare (verse 12).

This was something we could not know in this degree had the Bible not revealed it to us.

How is it that we combat the fiery darts of doubt that the enemy sends our way?

With truth? Yes, but truth without believe is no good to us.

Truth must be girt about us. But truth must be known and believed. It must be lived out and acted upon thus validating that our faith is true faith.

Example: What if I were to tell you that this building is on fire, and in a matter of ten minutes it will all be consumed?

Let us suppose this is truth. But as you look around you cannot see anything on fire.

If it is faith, in the one who told you, you would kindly leave the building quickly.

You would be exhibiting faith in the one who told you the building would be consumed by fire in ten minutes.

You would be exhibiting faith in the words of the one who told you it would be consumed as well.

So it is for you and I with the Word of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has given us His Word. We who are Christians already entered into Grace of God, Salvation through faith. We must continue on with the shield of faith. The difference for you and I is that we have experience in our belts of truth.

We have those things we can see that God has done in our lives in addition to what the Lord Jesus Christ has given us in His Holy Word.

We have all of creation around us. We have internal witness of the indwelling presence of God.

We have the Bible that show us over and over again the result of others who have run before us the end of their.

The text thus says for you and “Above all...” take the shield of faith.

This is not here to imply that we can leave the others undone. If that were the case we might find reason to excuse ourselves from the admonition found to take the whole armor of God.

But rather these words mean that you and are are to cover all, from top to bottom with faith.

It seems to me that without faith, truth is of no use.

Without faith, righteousness is unknown for truth cannot be realized.

Faith in God and His Word are required.

If I believe not truth, it is still truth, but I am without the benefit of it.

And this is the Devils game, to cast doubt upon the believer.

It is the first item that receives the attacks from the enemy. And so we see the great importance of this matter of faith.

When we come back pray fully we will begin to finish out this passage and from there move on the Forging in Spiritual Warfare.