Two painters were asked to paint a picture illustrating peace. The first painted a beautiful evening scene in the foreground of which was a lake, its surface absolutely calm and unruffled. Trees surrounded it, meadows stretched away to the distant cattle gently browsing; a little cottage, the setting sun-all spoke of perfect rest.

The second painter drew a wild, stormy scene. Heavy black clouds hung overhead; in the centre of the picture, an immense waterfall poured forth huge volumes of water covered with foam. One could almost hear its unceasing roar, yet perhaps the first thing to strike the eye was a small bird, perched in a cleft of a huge rock, absolutely sheltered from all danger, pouring forth its sweet notes of joy.

It is the second painter who could describe the peace that passeth all understanding which only the Lord Jesus Christ can give. One can stand against the wiles of the devil ONLY if he has peace with God.

Transition

The armour of God that we are going to consider this evening is the shoes of God’s peace. To help us put on those shoes, we must first answer three important questions about this armour.

Of What Significance Were Shoes to the Soldiers?

  1. Roman soldiers wore sandals in battle
    1. These were bound on by straps
      1. “Shod,” means to under bind.
      2. I our day we would say “put on your combat boots.”
    2. The soles were thickly studded with nails
      1. This was to give a firm grip and foundation especially during hand-to-hand combat.
      2. Sandals were also to protect the feet. If wounded in the foot or leg the soldier could not stand against his enemy nor run for protection.
  2. Often greaves were part of their foot armour
    1. These were shields of bras fitted to the lower leg
    2. One Bible example of this is in Goliath’s armour.“And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.” (1Sa 17:6)

How Does God Apply Putting on Shoes to Spiritual Warfare?

  1. To win the battle against temptation, you must be able to stand firmly.
    1. “Stand therefore (v.14)…having your feet shod” is your personal responsibility
      1. As with the belt and breastplate, shoeing the feet is also in the middle voice and aorist tense making it a personal duty done before combat begins.
      2. You have to put on your own spiritual combat boots.
    2. The word “preparation” is a key word here.
      1. It is a noun that describes “the act of preparing” or “readiness” or “firm-footing”. Vincent
      2. “The idea seems to be that the mind is to be steadied, kept from fear and flutter, by means of the good news of peace.” Pulpit
  2. The Christian’s firm-footing is the gospel of peace
    1. Remember, this armour is God’s not our own (Ro 10:15)
      1. God clearly told us that the source of our protection was the Person, power and panoply of God. The demonic enemy is too powerful for us.
      2. Because this armour is defensive, it is speaking of the peace the Gospel gives, not a Christian’s witness.“Here the preparedness which makes us fully ready to plunge into the fight a readiness inspired by the gospel”. (Lenski p. 667)

        “The Christian who does not have a “firm-footing” in the gospel message is totally unprepared.” Dunagan

    2. The word “gospel” literally means “good news”.
      1. The NT gospel is that Christ died, was buried, rose again to pay for our sin and give us eternal life.
      2. This is “good news”.Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

        “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Ro 5:1)

How Can We Put on the Shoes of Peace?

All that we have as Christians is possible because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He paid our debt so that we can have peace.

  1. We must daily put on the shoes of peace.
    1. Renew peace through inspection and confession.Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
    2. Spend time in the Bible with the Lord.Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
    3. Walk in the Spirit so He can produce His fruit in you.Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
    4. Thank God regularly for his peace. Sing of God’s peace. Dwell upon verses that give peace.
  2. We must give our burdens to the Lord.
    1. If we keep our burdens they worry and weaken us
    2. When God takes our burdens, he gives divine peace.Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

      Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

    3. Claim Christ’s peace when you are afraid.John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

      Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

  3. We must keep wearing God’s peace for stability.
    1. Keep God’s peace by fleeing wrong and following right.2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

      Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

    2. Let God’s peace control your thoughts.Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

Conclusion

Many of Satan’s attacks strike us in areas that should be protected by God’s armour. He gets us to think things that are not true because we do not wear the belt of God’s truth. He defeats us by reminding us of our sinfulness because we do not wear the breastplate of God’s righteousness. He causes us to slip and slide with worry and fear because we fail to put on God’s shoes of the Gospel of Peace.

At salvation, God forgives our sin, reconciles us to God, and gives us peace. That peace can be kept active if we flee wrong and follow right. We can rest in God’s peace in the midst of storm if we will give our burdens to the Lord.

Are you wearing the spiritual combat boots of God’s peace this evening? If not you need to ask God’s forgiveness, give him your burdens, and claim his peace. Lacking God’s peace is like going barefoot into battle.

Song: It is Well with My Soul 256 (vs. 1-3)
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Shoes of Peace
3 August 2014 PM – Ephesians 6:15 – Eph 14 – Scott Childs