This Month's Newsletter

Ephesians 6:15 (NKJV)¹⁵and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Most Roman soldiers wore hobbed sandals on their feet. They were made form one piece of leather, stitched up the back and laced up the front. The soles of the sandals were approximately ½ inch thick made from layers of leather and studded with iron hobnails. The hobnails were designed to provide traction on slippery slopes in the midst of battle. Many enemies would plant “call traps which were razor sharp spikes sticking out of the ground. They knew that if the soldiers foot was pierced he wouldn’t be long in the battle. And if he made it to the battle field he would be an easy victim, because he wouldn’t be able to stand properly. Therefore before every battle soldiers took great care in lacing up their shoes properly and performing rituals to make their soles harder to penetrate.

This is why Paul explained that spiritual soldiers in God’s army need to have good shoes to protect them while they are on the battle field. The thick soles of the gospel of peace can protect us from the razor sharp attacks of the enemy.

The gospel of peace is the firm foundation on which to stand in the midst of battle. It is the solid footing on which every born again believer has the right to stand upon.

What is the gospel of peace?

It is because of Jesus that our position of standing with God is one of peace. We now have peace with our creator because of the finished work of his son the Christ. Jesus is now man’s mediator between God and man and has established a peace with God in our hearts. In fact he is also called the God of peace.

Philippians 4:9 (NKJV)⁹The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God pf peace will be with you.

Now that we have peace with God and peace with our fellow members in the body of Christ don’t let Satan lie to you.

Ephesians 2:12-17 (NKJV)¹²that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.¹⁴For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Satan is the master of disturbance. He is continually trying to stir things up in Christ’s body and wreck havoc of God’s peace.

So we must remember if we want to be effective in the body we must be at peace with God in our hearts and at peace with our fellow man. This peace comes form knowing that you are forgiven of your sins and you are willing to forgive others that sin against you. Forgiveness is the “thick leather” of peace that is placed on our feet to protect us from being pierced or wounded by the enemy.

Peace is so important in your Christian walk. Satan knows that if he can’t entice us to harbor bitterness and unforgiveness toward God or others he can’t puncture our feet with his poisonous spikes. So instead he will try to use us to scatter the same spikes in the path of our brethren.

Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV)¹⁵looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many have become defiled;

If we don’t extend forgiveness to others we are then separated from God’s protective covering and soon find ourselves outside his hedge and open prey to the tormentors. Only God’s grace can protect us, but unforgiveness gives Satan the victory.

James 3:14-16 (NKJV)¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

So it is our solemn duty as a soldier in God’s army and a child of the king of the universe to walk in peace and allow the God of peace to use us to spread the peace of God into Satan’s dark kingdom. When we are spreading God’s peace to others and helping them make peace with God themselves then we are truly a peacemaker. And Jesus said; “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5

Continued Next Month