We have spent the last few weeks taking some time to study the whole armour of God. This spiritual armour is given to us because we are in a battle. It is not a battle of flesh & blood, it is a spiritual battle therefore the equipment we need is not of aphysical, but a spiritual nature. Paul who is at the time of this writing a prisoner who would have had ample opportunity to study the roman soldiers who would have been gaurding him. He has seen the armour that the soldiers would use in battle and knew that others would recognize the picture that he was using to describe the equipment used as they prepared to do battle. Again the physical armour of the roman soldier is used to describe the spiritual armour the believers needs to be fully equipped for battle! We began by looking at the belt of truth and noted it was put on before anything else. Truth is what God’s word is! Jesus is the living word. He says I am the way, the truth and the life. Before we can be equipped for battle in the spirtual realm we must first have Christ.
We talked last week about the breastplate of righteousness. We asked and answered questions concerning what the breastplate was, what it represented, and why it came second in our equipment. We began by noting that this is something we have already. If we have Christ, the belt, then we have righteousness imputed to us by God. We noted that the breastplate gaurded the vital organs especially the heart. It is God’s righteousness that gaurds our hearts against the attacks of the devil. We noted that the breastplate would be tied to, anchored to the belt. Just as righteousness is tied to Christ! It is not self righteousness, but righteousness imputed and imparted from God. Imparted as God works through us by Christ in us! Ephesians 2:10 "10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
This week we will look at the third piece of equipment, the footware that is spoken of in verse 15. Lets read again verses 10-18, concentrating on the equipment we have already covered and adding this new piece in verse 15....
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore 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. 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. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
This morning we are going to learn somthing that some women already know, It’s all about the shoes! Let’s look at this as we have with the other pieces. we will determine first what Paul is speaking about. What are these shoes that the soldier would wear? Secondly, what is Paul trying to tell us or show us? And last, Why is it, all about the shoes?
1. The Soldiers Footware
The KJV uses the word shod " And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;". I think the first thing we need to understand is what shod means. When you think of the days of Jesus and the apostle Paul, the days of the roman empire. What do you think of concerning shoes. I think of sandals. I think of the scripture where John the Baptist says in Mark chapter 1 "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose." The NIV says untie the thong of His sandals. When we think of sandals we think of something like flip flops that we slip our foot into or onto. I think that is why Paul uses the word shod here, so we get a better understanding of what the roman soldiers footware is like. The word shod means "to bind on" it was not something they casually slipped their foot into. It was deliberately tied on. Now let me tell you a little about the kind of footware the soldier would have. The shoes of the Roman soldier were thick, reinforced, and had nail studded sole. The metal nail protrusions helped give the warrior greater stability and quickness of movement. The shoes covered from the middle of the leg down with wide strips of leather that securely fixed the shoes to the soles of feet. They were fitted securely to facilitate the rapid, non-slip foot movement necessary for hand-to-hand combat. The ability to stand firm without slipping or falling was a great help in battle. The soldier who lost his footing could lose his life. A soldier would "shod" tie on these shoes to be prepared for the battle. Think about it for a moment, one of the most valued pieces of a modern soldiers equipment are his boots. They never knew what kind of enviroment or terrain they would be fighting so they had to have confidence in their footware for protection as well as traction. Again a soldier that loses his footing could lose his life.
2. What is Paul trying to tell us or show us with this illustration?
The first thing I want you to see is again, we are not told to "put on the shoes", this verse is tied to the previous one. Verse 14 began with "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" This is also something we should have as a result of receiving Christ. If we have the belt of truth (Christ) we have been covered with the breastplate of righteousness (God’s Righteousness) It is a work of God , we can not put on God’s righteousness it is given to those made righteous by Christ. Verse 15 is a continuation AND your feet shod. The shoes are ties to your feet! You have been equipped with shoes that will help you in the battle. Shoes to protect and shoes that will help you from slipping and falling, giving you a firm foundation. Do you want to know what the shoes are? Well, let’s look at what it says "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" . The preperation of... The word preperation according to the greek means this "the condition of a person or thing so far forth as prepared, preparedness, readiness" Peter writes in 1Peter 1:10-12 of something that was prepared for us, Listen to what he says "10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."
The shoes have been prepared for us, but what are they? They are the Gospel of peace. The good news! This is our foundation, our stronghold, our anchor. It is the Gospel. Here is the Gospel...
"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Romans 10 verses 8-11 " 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
So what does this mean? This is the anchor that allows us to stand against the enemy. God did it through Christ our Lord. Salvation is by grace through faith. The enemy is going to throw all kinds of garbage at us, but the bottom line is this. Christ has already given us the victory. If we are clothed with the belt, and the breastplate of righteousness and we have the gospel that has been prepared for us We are more than conquerers!
3. Why is iat all about the Shoes
I’m getting alittle excited right now so bear with me. Paul write in Romans 8:31-39 " 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That my friends is the gospel of PEACE.
See you thought I was just going to leave that word peace dangling didn’t you? The Peace comes when we know we have that sure footing, that solid foundation. Again it is not based on us! It is all God through Christ our Lord! The equipment so far has been provided by God and we have it already. If you have recieved Christ you have the belt of truth, you have the breastplate of God’s righteousness and you have the sure footing, the foundation that comes from the Gospel that has been prepared for YOU! It is a Gospel of Peace! Without the shoes we would have to do something. But the good news is God has done it all through Christ our Lord! It is all about the shoes! It is all about Jesus!
Next week we will look at the first piece that we are told to take, The shield of faith!
