“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15 – NKJV)
One of the significant causes of defeat that many believers experience in their battles against the devil is their ignorance to discern, recognize, or understand the whole armor of God at their disposal and how to put it on and put it to practical use in spiritual warfare.
In this piece, we shall examine another piece of the armor of God presented to us in Ephesians 6:13-17, the Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Ephesians 6:15 – NKJV
15 And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
The ancient Roman soldiers wore boots with nails to grip the ground in combat. Some had toe spikes and built-in spurs with which to do damage to the enemy.
The believer’s shoes or boots are “the Gospel of Peace.”
The Scripture clearly states this truth.
“Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet.” (Eph. 6:15 BBE).
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7 NKJV).
Just as the Roman soldier always has his boots on the battlefield, so must you “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV).
How do you put on the shoes of the gospel of peace?
By understanding, believing, and walking in the consciousness that you are now and always at peace with God and acceptable to God, not based on your self-righteousness, good works, or performance, but based on your faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for your sins!
Apostle Paul amply explains this truth in his epistles.
Romans 5:1-2 – NKJV
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 1:5-6 – NKJV
5 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Colossians 1:21-22 – NKJV
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
You are putting on your shoes of the gospel of peace when you acknowledge and hold fast unto Jesus Christ as your peace and relate with God as one who has been reconciled to God through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:13-14 – NKJV
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
Romans 5:10 – NKJV
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Some believers today are losing in their battles against the devil because they are not always putting on their shoes of the gospel of peace—they are not always walking in the consciousness of their eternal reconciliation with God through the death of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, you are not putting on your shoes of the gospel of peace if you don’t walk or live in this world as one who is perfectly loved, accepted, and favored by God in Christ Jesus.
Not only must you always rejoice and bear in mind that God is no longer angry or mad at you, having been eternally reconciled to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, but you must also always be prepared to share, preach, propagate, or publish the gospel of peace for others to hear, know, understand it and be reconciled to God.
The Lord Jesus commands you to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 NKJV).
Apostle Paul also states that you have been given the ministry and word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – NKJV
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me put on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace and use it daily to appropriate, enforce, enjoy, and demonstrate the victory that Christ has already won for me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.