ALERT: We are at war!
REALITY: This is a death-struggle for souls!
MANDATE: Be strong in the Lord!
Put on whole armor of God!
OPPONENT: The devil and his evil schemes!
RESPONSIBILITY: Stand & withstand in the evil day!
• The Physical Armor: The Shoes
− Foot gear was of prime importance to the Roman
soldiers—designed to protect their feet, which
would thus protect their whole body
− The Roman soldiers typically wore a “half-boot” sandal made of
leather, with thick soles and tied up to the ankles and shins
− The Roman soldier’s sandals were studded with hobnails to give
him firm footing on any terrain for long marches, for battle &
for hand-to-hand combat
− Having feet shod was a sign of one who was equipped and
ready—ready to move, to march, to do battle
• The Spiritual Armor: Feet Shod with Preparat
− “Preparation” here means “a firm foundation,
stability or readiness of mind”
• We must have firm footing to be able to “stand”
• We must show ourselves to be equipped and ready
− Our firm footing is provided by the gospel of peace
• The good news gives us the firmest possible foothold to fight evil
• The gospel is where we stand (1 Cor. 15:1)
− The gospel produces peace (Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:6-7)
• The gospel produces peace because:
− God is the God of peace (Rom. 15:33)
− Our Captain is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)
− It tears down walls of enmity (Eph. 2:14-22)
− It works from the inside, while war rages on the outside (Phil. 4:7)
• The gospel produces a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27)
• The gospel produces a peace that prepares us for battle (Col. 3:15)
• Our Responsibility: Shod Our Feet with the
Preparation of the Gospel
− We must be prepared with a knowledge of the
gospel of peace (Eph. 1:13; 2 Pet. 3:18)
− We must be eager/prepared to proclaim the gospel
(Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15; Mark 16:15; Eph. 2:17)
− We must be eager/prepared to defend the gospel (Phil. 1:16-17;
1 Pet. 3:15; Jude 3)
− We must be eager/prepared to live the gospel (Phil. 1:27; Col.
1:10; Eph. 4:1; Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:7; 3 John 4)
− We must be eager/prepared to meet God (2 Thess. 1:7-9)
− We must be prepared in order to withstand the attacks of our
enemy (Eph. 6:10-18)