How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win

As we continue to look at the armor of God, we are reminded that we are to put on the shoes of peace. Peace is our message and our environment. We walk in peace, we live in peace, and we proclaim peace. We are not like those who are often likened to an army singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” where we know that we are to put on the army of God and yet we don’t take heed. Imagine Jesus reviewing the troops, who are supposed to be fresh and ready for battle. But some have fairly recent wounds, nicks in their armor, arms in slings, casts, etc. Jesus asks, “What’s the matter here? Why, are they wounded already?” “Oh, they’ve been fighting in the barracks again.”¹ Oftentimes, there is more truth to that than we care to admit. No, we are to walk in peace — not in strife. Put on the preparation of the gospel of peace. But what are these shoes about? That’s the question we are going to look at in today’s podcast. How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Question: How has your prayer life changed since you have practiced God’s Word and put on the Gospel Shoes of Peace? Share your story in the comments section below.

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About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

Once again, let’s talk the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:14–17 (ESV) — 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The Armor of God: The Gospel Shoes of Peace

We come now to the third essential piece of devil-defeating armor, the shoes.
We started with the loin belt of truth, we went up from there to the Breastplate of Righteousness, and now we go down to the shoes — the gospel shoes of peace.
If you are going to ‘stand therefore,’ don’t you think you need a good pair of shoes?
But, these are not just ordinary everyday shoes — these are military shoes, and with that thought here is the Historical Background of the Day.

If the Christian soldier is to stand up against the attack of the demons, he must see to it that his feet are properly protected and equipped. The Roman soldier wore sandals which were bound by throngs over the instep and around the ankle, and the soles were thickly studded with nails. This would give him a firm footing in case of attack²

Roman military shoes were spiked shoes.
The spikes gave extra traction to the soldiers and helped them keep their footing — that is, helped them to stand in all kinds of slippery conditions.
Steven the Evangelist showed us what it meant to have on these gospel shoes of peace in Acts seven.
In the face of a hostile religious crowd, Stephen stood his ground and refused to compromise the message he was anointed to deliver.
So, we all need to have the truth that’s characterized by the loin belt of truth but, we also need to have firm footing as we deliver that same truth.
Do you have on your gospel shoes of peace today?

Matthew 9:35 (ESV) — And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

Jesus had been going through all the towns and villages of Israel, teaching, and preaching about the kingdom, and healing the sick.
As Jesus observed the crowds, He had compassion toward them.
Jesus saw that the people were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
What was the next step to correct this?
I mean, Jesus taught the Word, and there’s no better teacher than Him.
Jesus healed the sick and there’s no better healer than He.
Jesus preached the Word and there is no better preacher that ever lifted their voice.
Jesus had the maximum impact you could have as a minister of God.
And yet…

Matthew 9:36–38 (ESV) — 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Despite the marvelous single-handed results of His own ministry, Jesus declared the great need for additional laborers.
Meaning that preaching, teaching, and healing are not enough.
Something else is needed – someone else is needed, additional laborers clothed with power — decked out with spiritual armor.
Armor that shines forth the magnificent light of God.
These essential workers put on their gospel shoes and preach this peace that’s been provided by Jesus Christ.
Just like Peter did in Acts ten.

Acts 10:34, 36–42 (ESV) — 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said… 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,

What is this that Peter declared in the face of the Gentiles?
This is the gospel of peace.
The gospel of peace includes the good news of peace that we can have with God through Jesus Christ.
This gospel includes healing according to verse thirty-eight.
The gospel of peace includes the death of Jesus, that’s per verse thirty-nine.
This marvelous good news includes the Resurrection of Jesus — you find that in verse forty.
Peter went on to declare.

41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

So you see, these gospel shoes of peace also include the judgment for rejecting the provisions of this all-saving peace.
That’s the shoes we are to lace up and go forward in.

The Armor of God: The Preparation Part of the Gospel Shoes of Peace

Let’s read it once more.

Again, stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Did you hear the word readiness?
Let’s talk about it.
This same verse in the King James Version of the Bible reads as follows.

Ephesians 6:15 (KJV 1900): And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

So the KJV has it as ‘preparation of the gospel of peace’ and the ESV has it as ‘readiness given by the gospel of peace.’
Readiness — preparation, it’s the same Greek word translated differently.
This Greek word is the one we want to look at and with that thought, here peace is the Definition of the Day.
The noun preparation or readiness is translated in the Septuagint to mean a stand or a base.
This word was used in classical Greek in the sense of establishment or firm foundation.
So, the gospel of peace is a sure foundation.
Once again, we come to yet another word that points its big finger to the standing part with which we conduct spiritual warfare.
Having done all to stand, stand.
We don’t fight laying down; we fight standing up.
Stand for the gospel.
Be right and stand upright.
You know there is an old adage, and with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.
Here’s the quote — you may have heard it before.

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

That’s what the preparation part of your shoes means.
These gospel shoes are not ordinary the ordinary variety.
They are not sneakers or hiking boots.
These shoes are spiked Roman military footwear.
They are meant for war — they are meant for severe combat situations.
Victory is the thinking behind these gospel shoes of peace or any other piece of the armor of God.
You don’t wear the armor to lose; you wear it to win.
These shoes are part and parcel of your firm foundation or your base in life.
No shoes — no foundation, no readiness.
Firm footing is essential.
No one can stay standing for long without the gospel shoes of peace.
Jesus talked to us at length about the vital nature of foundation in Luke six.

Luke 6:46–49 (ESV) — 46 Why do you call me ‘ Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and [hears my words and does them], I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

So here, in Luke, Jesus is talking about the stability that comes from doing the Word.
Here in Ephesians, Paul is talking about the stability that comes from that same Word of God that you are ready to share.
That’s the preparation of the gospel of peace.

The Armor of God: Priests, Warriors, and Shoes

Here is a telling connection that we need to make between the armor of God and the clothing that the priests wore in the Old Testament.

Priests of the Old Covenant Had a Breastplate

Exodus 28:1–4 (ESV) — 1 “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. 4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.

The armor of God is God’s own armor — it’s His clothes that He has pulled out of his closet for you to wear.
We found that in Isaiah fifty-nine.

Isaiah 59:15–19 (ESV) — 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. 19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.

The gospel shoes of peace — are God’s shoes.
They are a one size fits all deal.
But take a look at the clothing that God instructed the priests to wear.

Exodus 28:30 (ESV) — 30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

It was called the Breastplate of Judgement.
But, you as a child of God don’t wear the Breastplate of Judgment — you wear the Breastplate of Righteousness.
We spoke at length about that Breastplate of Righteousness in a previous podcast.

Exodus 28:15 (ESV) — “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.

So the High Priest wore a breastplate.
We just read that the priest wore an ephod, a robe, a coat of checkerwork, a turban, and a sash.
So, the priest was decked head to toe, oh but wait — not head to toe.
Head to ankle — there are no shoes!
Why?
Why no shoes?

Exodus 3:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

When you approach a Holy God, you take off your shoes.
This same passage is quoted by Stephen, the same Stephen we said had his shoes on in Acts 7:33.
You can see that same phenomenon in the book of Joshua.

Joshua 5:13–15 (ESV) — 13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Moses took his shoes off in the presence of God and Joshua did the same thing.
So, there is a contrast between priests and warriors.
There is a difference in their roles.
As a child of God, you are both a warrior and a priest.
The warrior portion is depicted by the armor of God that we are studying here in Ephesians six.
You find the priest portion for a Jesus follower in the epistles.

1 Peter 2:1–2 (ESV) — 1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

Here in these first two verses, Peter addresses childlike behavior, malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander along with the cure.
What’s the cure? — Milk so that you may grow into your salvation.
So, babies and milk are the focus of the first two verses.
Now, drop down to verse five.

1 Peter 2:5 (ESV) — 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Peter, by the Spirit of God, tells these believers who are in a babyhood state of Christianity, that they are a part of a spiritual house and a holy priesthood.
So, baby Christians are as much holy priests as mature, grown-up in God, saints.
He says the same thing and verse nine.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

But, just know that when you put on your priestly garments, there are no shoes.
But, when you switch to warrior mode, there’s a garment change, you need to put on your shoes and lace them up.
Now, this is all figurative speech.
The principles are what we need to understand.
God is a holy God and as such, He needs to be respected — that’s why you take your shoes off when you engage His Presence.
What we are talking about here are bare-footed priests and armor-shoe-wearing warriors.
Shoes are for standing — barefeet are for worship.
Do you see the difference?
When you are in having ‘done all to stand mode’ — that is warrior mode — you’re dealing with the unholy.

Ephesians 6:12–13 (ESV) — 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Warriors come against and wrestle with levels of devils — four different levels for that matter.
Saintly soldiers deal with the unholy
When you are dealing with the unholy you need shoes to separate you from the dirt.
But, when you come to God’s presence, you don’t need to come with your armor on, in one sense, you need to come with an open face.
You don’t need your shield — you’re not fighting God.
Now, people oddly have this view of God.
They think that they have to wrestle with God to get His blessings released in their life.
But, that’s an error.

Luke 12:32 (ESV) — 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

We can say it this way: t is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the provisions of the Kingdom, the blessings of the Kingdom, the protection of the Kingdom — the all in all of the Kingdom.
You don’t wrestle God – You believe you receive.

Mark 11:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Now, there is a standing part — we saw that in the book of Daniel, chapter ten.
So that’s a noteworthy difference when we talk about the gospel shoes of peace.
You have peace with God — you do not need your armor when beholding His face.

The Armor of God: Shoes and Feet Bible References

As we get ready to close today, take note of the following verses that speak of the feet or the shoes of peace.

Isaiah 52:7 (ESV) — 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Paul quotes this in Romans.

Romans 10:15 (ESV) — 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Do you remember God’s instruction to the Israelites during the first Passover?

Exodus 12:11 (ESV) — 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

The need for shoes is obvious — they were going on a long journey and they would have to fight many enemies along the way.
What’s the point here?
In life, it’s best to be prepared for the journey and to be prepared for war.
Did you get anything out of this podcast today?

Now, Father God in Jesus Name – how we praise you?How we thank you? How we glorify your name for your great goodness and ultimate kindness towards us in Christ. Oh, my you’re so lovely, so wonderful, so glorious. Thank you for these shoes of peace. Thank you that we have them to wear and that we have them to share with others. All praises belong to you in the marvelous Name of Jesus. Thank you Lord.

How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win.
You guys have a great God week in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How Gideon Overcame the Voices of Insecurity

__________
References:

Source unknown, Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002). ↩
Wuest ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

How the Gospel Shoes of Peace Helps a Holy Warrior Win

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Eleven

by Emery Horvath

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Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

The Armor of God: The Gospel Shoes of Peace

The Armor of God: The Preparation Part of the Gospel Shoes of Peace

The Armor of God: Priests, Warriors, and Shoes

Priests of the Old Covenant Had a Breastplate

The Armor of God: Shoes and Feet Bible References

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

The Armor of God: The Gospel Shoes of Peace

The Armor of God: The Preparation Part of the Gospel Shoes of Peace

The Armor of God: Priests, Warriors, and Shoes

Priests of the Old Covenant Had a Breastplate

The Armor of God: Shoes and Feet Bible References

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