Shoes of the Gospel

Ephesians 6:15

Remember, this is a prison epistle.  Paul wrote it while in Rome under house arrest, awaiting trial and execution.  He was to be beheaded.  History asserts that he would have been chained to a Roman guard 24 hours per day.  They worked in 6 hour shifts.  I have to believe that as he winds down this letter and writes about the whole armor of God, He's looking at a Roman soldier.

Perhaps God used this as He led Paul to write about putting on the girdle of truth, and 'having on' the breastplate of righteousness. 

Next, Paul looks at the unique shoes that guard is wearing, and says what he says in v. 15.

Before we get into that, look at v. 13 'the evil day.'  THE is a definite article, referring to a particular day.  We would pronounce it ‘thee’ rather than ‘thuh’.  If you and I aren’t living in that exact time I will eat my hat!

Not since Noah’s flood has evil ran rampant like today.  And Jesus said when the world becomes evil like that again, look up, for He will come back and destroy all evil again, for good this time.  And the evil today is greater in quantity than back then.  And since the Bible says in the last days evil will wax worse and worse, we can be sure that today’s evil is worse in quality as well.  There’s never been more perversion / decadence / wicked thinking / evil actions than today.  What the Bible describes as abominations…the worst sins possible in God’s eyes, are considered good things now.  Woe to them who call good evil [Christianity] and evil good.

We live in the evil day, and yet the evil day has always existed in all times and for all peoples.  Every believer in each generation was commanded to put on this whole armor of God because for them, there would be great days of temptation. 

Tell me about an evil day for Eve / Joseph / Job / Samson / Saul / Jonah / 3 Hebrew children / Daniel / Ananias and Sapphira / Jesus!

        Some of these fell to temptation.  Some had victory.

This is all about being prepared in advance for what is coming.  In the moment when you least expect it, the devil will make his fiercest attack.  We are to be preppers!

The devil has a plan for you to make a really bad decision...and in one fell swoop...one brief moment, your life changes forever!  Forgiveness is possible, but the consequences follow.

That moment happened to King David, who wasn't prepared against the day of evil.  He would never be the same, though forgiven, it carried lasting consequences. 

That moment happened to Moses, called of God to lead His people to the Promised Land.  But in a weak moment of anger he twice smote the Rock which symbolized Christ, our once smitten Savior, and 40 years of work went down the drain and he wasn't allowed to enter Canaan, the abundant life.

That moment happened to Peter, who denied Christ, and forever in the annals of history it can never be undone or redone.  He is the guy. 

Only the armor of God can withstand the onslaught of Satan.  America and Israel have a missile defense system, and Christians need a fiery dart defense system.  [In 1986 Biden said Reagan’s Star Wars ‘iron dome’ idea would never work!]

We are in a spiritual battle as individuals, and also as a church.  What are the signs of real spiritual victory?  Souls saved, discipleship happening, attendance, giving, answered prayers, what?

Even tougher days could be upon us at any time.  We need to be able to withstand the evil day.

Shoes of the gospel

v. 15        The Roman soldier wore thick leather sandals, attached to his feet with thick straps.  On bottom were hobnails, which were sort of like cleats.  They were very important.  Just as one of the top priorities for our soldiers at war is good, dry shoes, because your whole body is built upon them.

'Preparation' in v. 15 means foundation.  4 times in this passage we are told to stand.  A soldier who cannot stand, cannot fight. 

Our foundation is the gospel!  What is the gospel?  [1 Cor. 15]  The good news of Christ!  And Satan tries to pollute and dilute the gospel. 

Galatians 1:6-9
⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
 

If you are wrong on the gospel, you will be wrong on everything else in life, for it is the firm foundation...sure footing!

These shoes of the gospel provide:

1.     Stability.

The hobnails helped him keep his footing, and keep from being knocked over. 

        Some churchgoers will believe anything they hear, as long as a preacher says it.  Any great quote online they will like, share, and live by if it tickles their fancy, regardless of whether it is Scriptural or not! 

They aren't like the Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily, to see if it was so.  They are more like the children in...

Ephesians 4:14 [turn]
... tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

I could get my children to believe about anything.  Sometimes I kid and tease.  You've never seen it from me, but it is so!

ill.--smokestacks = cloud making machines.  I had them believing that for a while.  I had my wife believing that for a while!

ill.--make it rain, daddy [window washer] / make light turn green [watch other side]  I guess I’m just a liar!

Sadly, many believe what the media says, or “Christian” tv/radio says...they're that gullible.  And desperate people with health or financial problems get sucked in first.

        "Make it rain, preacher!"

I hear people sometimes tell their kids to 'live a good Christian life so you can go to heaven,' or, 'God will let good people into heaven.' 'One religion is as good as the next, as long as you're sincere!' Now there's somebody who needs their feet shod w/ the gospel!

This Bible is true, including how it says to be saved, and that Jesus is the ONLY way.  And so to those who say we're all going to heaven, just taking different roads, I put on my gospel shoes and kick 'em in the backside saying, you're either on the Jesus road, or you're not going to heaven!

This provides stability - absolutes!

James 1:8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.

And so, don't tell me about a book written by someone who had a near death experience and toured heaven before coming back, and expect me to accept it like it's Bible doctrine!  It may be from some funky mushrooms on their pizza!

There's some who have claimed to have toured hell as well, and returned as a warning.  See Luke 16, which says, those on earth have the prophets [Bible]!  God wants us to believe His Word, and by faith, not by proof.

We hold in our hands the full/final revelation of God.  And God doesn't need any help in adding our own info.

Let God be true and every man a liar!

stability...

2.     Mobility.

Caesar wanted his soldiers to have proper shoes to move quickly.  They were designed with fur inside to keep their feet from getting tired.  Imagine fuzzy bunny slipper comfort with a good sport shoe outside!

No matter how skilled an army, if they stand still, they will be defeated.  Yes, stability is necessary, but so is mobility.  Stability is our message [Word].  Mobility is our method of getting out the message.

The Word is a non-negotiable. 

Now, the devil is constantly changing his methods, tactics, and approaches.  Some of you senior saints are seeing things today you never dreamed of in this world.  And so, some of our methods need to be negotiable to change, without message compromise.

People don't like change, however. 

5 hindrances to change:

• Pride.  "I don't need change."  "We never did it that way before!"
• Fear.  "I'm scared to change."  "Too much risk."  [trapeze artist has to let go and risk - there's a guy supposed to catch him on the other side, but for a few moments there it's just him and his underwear flying thru the air!]
• Rebellion.  "I don't want to change."  "I don't want to submit myself to anyone."  "It may inconvenience me."  [true story:  a church was getting full, and pastor noticed everyone was sitting by their coats, taking up 2 seats in actuality.  Pastor asked them to start hanging them up.  One guy stood up in next business meeting:  "Preacher, we've been sitting by our coats for 50 years, and so did our fathers before us...I don't see why we should change now!"]
• Laziness.  "It's too much work to change."  "Why can't we just sit back, 'we four and no more'?"  Because that's not our calling!
• Ignorance.  "I don't know how to change".  Some need and want change, but until someone shows them how from the Bible, they remain in ignorance.

This is mobility!

stability, mobility...

3.     Opportunity.

A readiness to carry the message.  "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel! 

These soldiers kept their shoes on in a state of war, they even slept in them.  They were at the ready.  And a good Christian is always looking for an opportunity.

Every one of us could witness to one person this week, if we would want to.  Are your feet shod w/ the gospel?  Are you stable, mobile, and available to take opportunity?