(part 5)
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”-
Ephesians 6:14-15.
In
combat the ability to stand your ground is essential. One slip or misstep could
prove fatal; therefore a soldier’s shoes became an essential element of their
armor. A Roman soldier’s footwear consisted of a sandal firmly bound by straps
to the soldier’s calf, ankle and foot. In addition the soles of the shoe were
studded with small spikes to prevent slipping.
The
Apostle Paul must have recognized the importance of the soldier’s shoes as
evidenced by Ephesians 6:11, 13, and 14; where three times he instructs the
Ephesian believers to stand firm. The repetition of this idea demonstrates that
standing firm is essential for spiritual victory and that there is a real
danger of losing one’s footing. Because our footing is so important to our
victory, God made provision for us by equipping us with feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
If
our feet are to be fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,
what then is the gospel of peace? The gospel of peace is the good news that God
brought peace (between Himself and mankind) through the death of his son and
offers it to sinners who put their faith in Jesus Christ:
“Therefore, since we have been justified
through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom we have gained access by faith into the grace in which we now stand. And
we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”- Romans 5:1-2
This
position is a defensive one. When the enemy attacks our position by attempting
to undermine our peace, we are reminded that the grace in which we now stand
was purchased for us through Christ’s blood. When the enemy attempts to bring
division and separate us from the peace of God, we are reminded that the peace
we enjoy was not generated from our own abilities or desire; but secured for us
by Christ’s sacrificial death:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is
our peace who made the two one and destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of
hostility.”-Ephesians 2:13-14.
Nevertheless,
this piece of armor was designed to do more than protect our territory; it was
designed to take ground. Once we are securely fitted with the peace that comes
from our faith in Christ, we ought to then be ready to take that same message
of peace to others who are lost without it. The Prophet Isaiah declared:
“How beautiful on the
mountain 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!”-Isaiah 52:7
The
message we carry is not simply a nice little story designed to make people feel
better. We carry the gospel of Christ; the power of God unto salvation:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it
is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile.”-Romans 1:16.
We
are carrying a weaponized message that can destroy Satan’s stronghold on
people’s lives. Satan is keenly aware of this and works to constantly bring the
battle to us through temptation, sin and compromise; so that we do not carry
the gospel of peace into his kingdom.
We
take the battle to him when we storm into the lives of people bound by sin, who
need to hear the life giving message of God’s peace, available through Jesus
Christ, and proclaim freedom to the captives!
Pastor
Scott Burr
Lead
Pastor
Dayspring
Community Church
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