Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Junior Level
Most Christians today are very familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul. This week with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will be studying in Ephesians and studying the significance of the shoes of the gospel of peace that we need to have on that are included in the Whole Armor of God.
Handout: Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Many times God leads me to teach about the battle that we are in with the evil one. It is so important that we understand that we are actually in a battle. We are soldiers in the army of God. When we are not prepared, we die. This is why it is so important to understand how we can be good soldiers. When a person goes into services of some branch of Armed forces, they do not just directly go into combat usually. There is a time of basic training. We as soldiers of the Lord need to be trained how to do combat with the devil because we can be sure that he is prepared and has his war strategy down. Turn if you will to Ephesians 6 beginning with verse 13.
Ephesians 6:13-17
13Wherefore 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. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Why is having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, or having on the shoes of peace? Walking in the shoes of peace is trusting God to give you courage to share the gospel with those around you. What is the gospel? The gospel is the proclamation of God’s grace manifested in Christ Jesus.
Without the shoes of the gospel of peace, we are not prepared and we are not Christ like. Putting on the shoes of the gospel of peace keeps us grounded and we then follow in the footsteps that Christ left for us to walk in.
Today let’s discuss ways that we can put on the shoes of the gospel of peace.
In order to walk in peace, we must know peace. Jesus is the author of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
Hebrews 13:20 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”
Philippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”
So we see in these scriptures of God’s word that, God is The God of Peace. This takes us to the second way in which to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace.
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
When we keep our minds on Christ, we are focused on Spiritual things, and it leaves no room for our minds to be preoccupied with carnal things. When we meditate on the Lord, the Holy Spirit is leading us and we are indeed walking in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Yes! Walk in the Spirit with your feet shod with the gospel of peace!
What is the fruit of the Spirit?
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is not law.”
Ephesians 5:9 “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”
How do we bear that fruit?
John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
We must abide in Christ in order to bear fruit and to manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Without Him we can do nothing! The sooner we learn that, the better off we are. Christ has started a work in us, we must obey and yield to Him and let Him finish what He has begun.
The last thing we must do in order to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace is this:
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might now sin against thee.”
When we get God’s word embedded into our hearts, then we know the things that we should and should not do. We as creatures of emotion, we will follow after the thing in which we love and the things in which we are passionate about. This is why the greatest commandment is for us to Love the Lord with everything we have in us.
Matthew 22:35-37 “Then one of them , which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
This is repeated twice in God’s word. We will follow that which we love. When we fall in love with Christ, we will live to do and to be like Him. This is the will of The Father! When we love the Lord our God with all our heart, souls, and minds, then everything else will fall into place.
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.”
Don’t forget to put on your shoes of the gospel of peace, when you are putting on the whole armor of God Dear One. Go out prepared and fight the good fight of faith! May God always be with you.
Dear Heavenly Righteous Father,
We come today in thanksgiving and in Honor of You, who You are, and all that You do. Father today we thank You for yet another week and another day to life up the name of Jesus. We thank You for watching over, protecting and providing for us and our loved ones. Father today we ask that You help us to put on Your whole armor that we can be Mighty Warriors in Your army against evil. Help us to keep our feet covered with the shoes of the gospel of peace. We love You, we Praise You and we will ever live to glorify Your name, In the Lovely name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
~*Cindygirl*~
June 14, 2009