OceanSide church of Christ

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THE ARMOR OF GOD

 

Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.  A soldier is an individual who is accustomed to marching.

1.   Long marches

2.   Difficult marches

3.   Frequent marches

4.   Marches in all kinds of elements

 

B.  A march in the first century was necessary to get to the field of battle.  Once there, the field of battle could involve all types of terrain.

 

C.  On the march and on the field of battle, the soldier is thankful for a good, reliable pair of shoes (boots).

 

D.  Paul did not leave shoes out of the Christian armor.  This is a third piece of the armor that he lists (Eph. 6:15).

 

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

 

I.            BACKGROUND

 

A.  The Roman soldier’s shoe was called a caliga.

1.   It was composed of an extremely thick leather sole.

2.   Often iron hobnails were hammered into the sole causing them to resemble our modern cleats.

3.   Several pieces of leather were stitched into the sole that would be wrapped around the foot, ankle, and lower part of the leg.

4.   There were laces in the center of the shoes that were pulled tight and tied at the top.

 

B.  The shoe did several things for the soldiers.

1.   Protection

a.   The hard marble pavement on the main roads

b.   Debris, nails, glass, and sharp stones placed on the ground by the enemy

2.   Traction

3.   Strength:  a difference in hiking in the wilderness in hiking boots, tennis shoes, and bare feet

4.   Stability

5.   Endurance

 

II.           FEET

 

A.  Why would the apostle Paul mention feet to these Christians?

1.   Jesus Christ left His people with a mission

a.   Mark 16:15

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

b.   Talking about the lost, Paul said:  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Rom. 10:14-15).

2.   If Christians were going to obey the command in the first century to go, the main mode of transportation would be by feet (Acts 8:29-30).

 

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him…

 

B.  They who went forth to preach the gospel did not go barefooted.  A sandal was put on (Acts 12:8).

 

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals, and he did so…

 

III.         SHOE

 

A.  Our shoe is the preparation of the gospel of peace.

1.   The material of the Roman soldier’s shoe was leather.

2.   Ours is “the gospel of peace.”

a.   Gospel

1)   Definitions

a)   Strong (2098):  a good message

b)   Thayer:  good tidings, glad tidings

2)   The gospel is good news in many ways:

a)   God loves man (John 3:16).

b)   God sent His Son to die for man’s sins (Rom. 3:24-25; 5:8-10).

c)   The means of obtaining God’s forgiveness is found in the New Covenant (Rom. 1:16-17).

d)   Those who trust and obey will be forgiven of their sins and have hope of eternal life (Acts 2:38; Matt. 7:21; Rev. 22:14).

b.   Peace

1)   Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

2)   Peace within (Rom. 15:13; Phil. 4:7; Col. 3:15; II Thess. 3:16).

3)   Peace with others (Rom. 14:19; Heb. 12:14).

 

B.  Notice that Paul says there must be preparation.

1.   Preparing is the action of getting ready.

2.   On commentator noted:  Many Christians take on certain battles before they are ready.

3.   We cannot take the gospel of peace to others unless we prepare ourselves to take it.

a.   How to Study the Bible

b.   Fundamental Gospel Truths

c.   Denominational Doctrines

4.   Parents, older Christians, and the church needs to prepare the youth of the church, as well as, the new Christians.

a.   Ephesians 6:4

 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord

 

b.   II Timothy 2:2

 

And the things which thou hast heard of m among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

c.   Titus 2:14

 

That they (the aged women) may be able to teach the younger women.

 

d.   Ephesians 4:11-12

 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

 

IV.         PURPOSE

 

A.  Protection

1.   When we spread the gospel there are many dangerous terrains that we will battle upon.

2.   God’s Word can protect us (Ps. 119:104).

 

Through thy precepts I get understanding:  therefore I hate every false way.

 

B.  Stability

1.   The enemy will often come against us with his engines wide open.

2.   When he hits us, we do not need to lose our footing.

3.   Proverbs 12:3

 

A man shall not be established by wickedness:  but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

 

C.  Strength

1.   The better the shoe the more strength one has.

2.   Psalm 119:28

 

My soul melteth for heaviness:  strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

 

 

 

D.  Traction

1.   Sometimes we feel like the ground is slipping beneath us.  We become fearful of falling.

2.   God’s Word provides us with traction to keep us moving forward (Ps. 18:36).

 

Thou hast enlarged by steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

 

E.  Endurance

1.   Shoes allow us to travel farther than if we were walking with bare feet, especially on hard or rocky ground, or, in cold weather.

2.   Psalm 37:34

 

Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:  when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.  If you leave your shoes off, you will find yourself weak and vulnerable in the fight against wickedness.

 

B.  There have been many who have taken off their shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace and have fallen in the way.

 

C.  Isaiah 52:7

 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publish peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publish salvation; that saith unto them, Thy God reigneth!