Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
The Roman’s hobnail sandals, were for their sure footing in all kinds of terrain.
They were hard on the bottom, with little spikes to grab into the earth.
They had leather straps which tied the leather leggings….so that their ankles and legs were supported, and protected.
In the Christian life, we need sure footing, if we are to walk through this world,….and all it’s situations;
….and resist the Adversary of our souls.
That solid footing is provided by the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace, is that Word from the Lord to us about our peace….
…Judicial peace because we are born again…Hallelujah
…”Peace be still” to the storm around us.
…Hold your peace, and let Me fight for you.
We stand in His Word….on His promises to us….to uphold and keep us.
(In the world we have all sorts of things….”bombarding” us.
Not just temptations….although they are there…
….but things of our common life….bills, illness, fights with family and co-workers,….all the things with cause us to worry, and become fearful.)
But there is a place of rest, and peace of mind for every Christian.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
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.”
This peace is God’s hiding place for every believer….
Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
That “secret place” is a place of covering and protection….so is His promises to us.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
Peace “keeps” us….
For it settles our “ruffled feathers”…..it soothes our weary minds….it keeps us from sinning with our lips…..it protects us from charging after the “pie in the sky”…..
….and mostly…..importantly….it keeps us attached to God….for He is our peace….it is His arms about us.
If we do not learn how to depend upon the promises of God for peace,……than we will not have sure footing……to be able to stand against the wiles of the Adversary.
Why is it our feet? Why not our minds, or breastplate?
Because it is in our everyday life….our everyday circumstances….that we run into strife, anger (ours or others), hurt, and worry.
It is as we are walking along in the Lord’s Way, that we are attacked…..and if we do not have sure footing in God’s promises to us….then we can be thrown off balance and knocked down.
Worry, anxiety, tension, fear….meet all of these with the Gospel of peace…a promise for you from His Word.
One that you can get a hold of…and one that can get a hold of you.
The Lord wants to garrison your walk with Him….with His peace.
This is of the Holy Spirit, not something you do…..it is not your hanging on to Him….but your yielding to Him….His Word…..His promise to you.
Then He does the guarding and protecting. And He does all things well.
(My daughter, when she was just beginning High School, was in a study room that was chaos. She could not do her work for the constant noise, and antics.
The teacher that was suppose to monitor the room, just ignored the situations.
She would enter in if there things being thrown around….but mostly, the noise she would ignore.
Finally, she became so frustrated, she began to just sit there, waiting till the time was up.
I told her, that what she needed was peace……
She said, “yes, peace and quiet, so I can get my work done.”
So I told her to pray…..right before she went in….asking for peace for herself.
A few days later, she told me that the noise was not any better….
….but that, instead, she had like a barrier to it in her mind…..she could really concentrate on her studies!
And get them done.)
God’s peace comes to us….and grounds us….in Him. We feel His presence,….we know His help,….we rest in His keeping us.
This is God’s sure footing for us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 