The Gospel of John. A Miniseries Putting on Your Armor ~ The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Ephesians 6:15

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1 The Gospel of John A Miniseries Putting on Your Armor ~ The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Ephesians 6:15 H ank Hanegraaff opens this section in his book The Covering by stating: As I begin this chapter, the National Basketball Association s second season-the NBA playoffs are in full swing. This year the world-champion Los Angeles Lakers are odds-on favorites to win the basketball wars for a third straight year. Not only do they feature Kobe Bryant, widely touted as heir apparent to Michael Jordan, but they boast Shaquille O Neal, arguably the most dominant big man in the history of the NBA. One obstacle stands between the Lakers and a three-peat, however Shaq s arthritic big toe. Despite Shaq s strength and skill, a tiny foot problem threatens to bring the game s big man down to size. Much as he hates to admit it, when his toes ache, Shaq doesn t have the same quickness to the ball, can t block as may shots, and isn t as Godzillalike on the glass. Thus, to prepare him for battle, Shaq s size twenty-twos have been fitted with a technologically advanced carbon orthotic device. No expense was spared because, if Shaq can t stand, the Lakers will fall. As Shaq s sneakers are essential to winning the basketball wars, so too our feet must be properly fitted in order to prevail in spiritual warfare. All the skill and resources humanity has to offer have been brought to bear on protecting the feet of a thirty-million-dollar-per-year basketball star. That, however pales by comparison to the price that was paid to have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 1 A. Introduction B. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Verse 15 C. Paul s Point D. Application How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation and saying to Tziyon, Your God is King! Isaiah 52:7 CJB A. Introduction: Truth and righteousness are the foundation of the Christian life. Truth with a capital T is God s truth and without it there is no hope for salvation. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:4-6). 1 Hanegraaff, Hank, The Covering, W. Publishing Group, 2002, p

2 And it is through Christ s work on the cross that we are found positionally righteous. As we live out God s truth in our lives, we are involved in the process of sanctification and want to practically live a righteous life. I am not ashamed of the gospel, For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17). As we saw last time fruit and blessings flows from the Christian walk. These were joy from obedience, the Fruit of the Spirit, and rewards. write(s) this to make our joy complete (1 John 1:4). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25). If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. Don t you know that you yourselves are God s temple and that God s Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor. 3:12-16). So as we are obedient, put on the armor of God, and are filled with the Spirit we fight the spiritual battle which leads us to the next piece of the armor B. The Shoes of Peace: First then let us take a look at Roman footwear. The NIV Bible Background Commentary states: Soldiers needed to wear sandals or boots (technically the Roman caliga, a half boot) so they could advance toward the enemy undistracted about what they might step on; this gear was essential to their preparation for battle. 2 Wood notes: Once the breastplate has been fitted into position, the soldier puts on his strong army boots or caligae. Josephus described them as shoes thickly studded with sharp nails (War VI.1.8) so as to ensure a good grip. The military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain. 3 There are two aspects to peace and the good news of that peace, the gospel. 2 Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, Wood, A. Skevington, The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Ephesians, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 ) 450 (

3 C. Paul s Point: Both of these can be found in scripture. First, humanity is at war with God and Christ s sacrifice brings an end to that war. Peace with God is available to any who accept the work of the cross. But no matter how good someone is they are still at war with God if they are unwilling to come to Him on His terms. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). And when we find peace with God we have the opportunity to find peace with other believers. This means the local body of believers is to be a place of safety and care. It is to be a place where we can forgive one another. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift (Mat 5:23-24). Just as we are at peace with God, and can be with one another, we can have peace in the midst of life s craziness. This doesn t mean circumstantial peace but inner peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). To the extent Satan can keep a believer, or the local body, chaotic, that is, maintain the absence of peace, we are defeated and unavailable to be used by God. D. Application: We ve see that all the pieces of the armor are interconnected. We start again with a definition and keep in mind Paul s context within the community of believers. PEACE (Heb. shalom, peace, Gr. eirene, concord). Completeness, soundness, neighborliness (see Ps 28:3 KJV), well-being and security (Eccl 3:8), or the reward of a mind stayed on God (Isa 26:3). It is linked with honest dealing and true justice (see Zech 8:16 KJV), and is a prominent feature of the coming Messiah (see Isa 9:6). Peace results from God s forgiveness (Phil 4:7) and is the ideal relation with one s brother (see 2 Cor 13:11; cf. Matt 5:23-24). Peace, a mark of serenity (see John 14:27) to be sought after (see Heb 12:14), summarizes the gospel message (Acts 10:36). It is a fruit of the Spirit (see Gal 5:22), will benefit those who practice it both now (see James 3:18) and at the Second Coming (see Rom 2:10), and is the opposite of disorder or confusion (1 Cor 14:33). Peace is the presence of God, not the absence of conflict. Christ brought, preached, and is our peace (see Eph 2:14ff.). 4 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace (Eccl 3:8). You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3). And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). 4 Douglas, J. D. and Merrill C. Tenney, editors, NIV Bible Dictionary, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 ) 451 (

4 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all (Acts 10:36). For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33). For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14 ESV). I like the way Wiersbe 5 identifies four characteristics flowing from peace. We see how it flows from the definition and uses a combination of both aspects to draw our application. These characteristics are: Stability, Balance, Mobility, and Opportunity. 1. Stability: One of the problems endemic to many of my clients is a lack of emotional stability. At the core this is a spiritual problem. Aside from chemical imbalance, emotional chaos is one of spiritual warfare s fallouts. If Satan can keep us in chaos we are useless, which is right where he wants us. Paul has already pointed out stability comes from walking with the Lord. And God provides the resources we need to do so. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:11-14). Sadly the struggle some Christians were having with The Da Vinci Code let their faith be shaken and had them being tossed to and fro. This isn t anything new. It s just a product of not being grounded in the word and therefore not experiencing God s peace. The author of Hebrews warns against this lack of stability. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them (Hebrews 13:9). So with the peace that comes first from acceptance of the gospel, and second, the gospel lived out comes stability. And being stable also means having 2. Balance: Balance is one of my favorite words when speaking of the Christian life. A balanced person is peaceful, and stable. A balanced person has a healthy view of scripture and is not off to one extreme or the another. Where individuals lose balance they are chaotic. In this context Wiersbie talks about balance this way. 5 Wiersbe, Warren W., ed. Classic Sermons on Spiritual Warfare, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992, adapted from p ) 452 (

5 The shoes of the Gospel of peace not only give you stability but also give you balance. A soldier doesn t wear just one shoe into battle. To do so would throw off his balance and cause him to limp when he walked. He knows that he must have both shoes so that he can have good footing and balance in battle. Satan loves unbalanced Christians those who concentrate so completely on one doctrine or practice of Scripture that they ignore its other teachings and what else God would have them do. 6 Examples of the consequences of this lack of balance include: fears over the November election, the belief that God intends all Christians to speak in tongues or they are second class, thinking we never should ask for forgiveness because we are practically sinless and any number of other extreme teachings at one or the other end of the theological spectrum. Balance is what helps us reconcile truths such as God elects the individual to salvation and we choose to accept His gift of salvation. There is one God, but God presents Himself in three persons. All these are truth and balance helps us understand or at least accept them. So with the peace that comes first, from acceptance of the gospel, and second, the gospel lived out comes stability. And being stable also means being balanced. While Paul calls us to stand firm, this is not the same as being inflexible. We are to let scripture direct us, not a fixed, inflexible commitment to a set of teachings, be they sound or not. Where there is balance and stability, there is also peace with the community of believers. Much of the in fighting comes from a lack of these qualities. Keep in mind that a body can only be as strong as its weakest members. Can you give any examples of this truth? James speaks to this when he says: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:1-7). For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33). These first two qualities, balance and stability, are more inward and impact how we function individually and corporately. The next two qualities deal with how we move out into the world at large, carrying the gospel of peace to others. After all if you aren t going to move just how important are your shoes anyway? 6 Ibid., p. 51. ) 453 (

6 3. Mobility: Change isn t always bad although it is stressful. On one hand we are called to stand, but on another, we are called to go out. And going out always necessitates flexibility and being able to accept change. When I m talking about change I m not talking about changing the truth of scripture, of the gospel. But as Satan s tactics change with the times we need to be flexible in how we present truth so it is accessible to those who need it. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). 4. Opportunity: Remember we are talking about the Gospel here. It is the gospel which brings peace and out of that peace flows stability and balance. Action is another product. This action requires flexibility in the ways we serve the Lord. It also means taking action whenever the opportunity is available to present the gospel. How beautiful on the mountains 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). By putting on the shoes of the peace of the gospel, we are at peace with God. We are at peace within ourselves. And we are at peace with one another. In the midst of experiencing this peace we also discover our purpose, which beyond worshiping God, is to get out there, bringing the Gospel of Peace to those who are at war with God and consequently living in chaos. In so doing we defeat the wiles of Satan and win in the midst of the spiritual war. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, sight, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed his own blood for my soul. My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious tho t: My sin not in part, but the whole Is nail d to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be The clouds be roll d back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. Chorus: It is well, It is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul. 7 7 Spafford, Horatio G., It is Well with My Soul, Public Domain ) 454 (

7 The Gospel of John A Miniseries Putting on Your Armor ~ The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Ephesians 6:15 A. Introduction B. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Verse 15 C. Paul s Point D. Application A. Introduction: (Isaiah 52:7; John 14:4-6; Romans 1:16-17; 1 John 1:4; Galatians 5:22-25; 1 Corinthians 3:12-16) B. The Shoes of Peace: C. Paul s Point: (Romans 5:1; Matthew 5:23-24; John 14:27) D. Application: (Ecclesiastes3:8; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:7; Acts 10:36; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 2:14)

8 1. Stability: (Ephesians 4:11-14; Hebrews 13:9) 2. Balance: (James 4:1-7; 1 Corinthians 14:33) 3. Mobility: (Matthew 28:19) 4. Opportunity: (Isaiah 52:7) Personal Application: This week meditate on the place of God s peace in your life and how you offer the peace of the Gospel to others. Prayer for the Week: Lord, may Your Spirit help me to experience You Peace and share it with others. In Jesus name, amen.