Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:10-18

Today, we will be looking at the concepts "Good News" or "Gospel" "Shoes" of "Peace" - one of God's Armor, and how to use them to stand against the devil.

"Gospel" or "Good News"

The word gospel is translated from the Greek word euangelion, and it means “good news” or “good tidings.” Our Lord Jesus Christ came to the world to tell people the good news, the gospel, of a coming Kingdom of God. This message was intended for the people to take a decision on where to spend their Eternity. “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). Also, our Lord Jesus Christ went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” (Matthew 4:23).The gospel message that Jesus brought was about a coming government of God on earth and what we should be doing to prepare for it!

Jesus brought a directive to His disciples, whose feet were to be firmly planted in the gospel: The good news of His coming Kingdom was to be shared and spread. “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2).The disciples carried out His command! “So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6). His final command to His disciples was , “the Great Commission,” . “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16). In fact, the feet of those disciples, who were delivering that message of peace, are figuratively described as beautiful: “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (Romans 10:15).

"Shoes of Peace"

In our world today, we have come to think of peace as a time when there are no active wars. But the Bible shows us that peace is more than just the absence of conflict—peace comes from unity and closeness with God (Isaiah 2:2-4).

During the time of the apostle Paul, the shoes worn by the soldiers of the Roman Empire were called "caligae". They were specifically designed to keep soldiers’ feet healthy during the rigors of long forced marches and were very different from the sandals worn by most of the populace.

The shoes were constructed from three layers of leather, which were pulled up and laced around the ankle. The "caligae" helped protect against blisters and foot diseases. In addition, small spikes or iron hobnails were often driven into the soles of the shoes in order to give firm footing on uneven terrain. in those days, a soldier’s shoes formed the foundation of his armament. The foot soldiers of the empire relied on walking as their primary means of transportation, so the ability to move easily and comfortably was a necessity for them. Also, they needed to be able to step about in battle without thinking about where they placed their feet. They needed solid footing in order to concentrate on the battle at hand. The hobnails on their shoes made it easier to hold their ground or navigate through difficult terrain.

The enemies of the Roman Empire would sometimes place sharp, spiked objects on the ground in front of them before a battle. Any attacking soldier not wearing shoes substantial enough for the attack would soon find himself crippled or fall dead in battle. The shoes were vital to the foot soldiers.

The same is true where the armor of God is concerned. Our enemy, Satan the devil, will use every opportunity to litter our path with distractions and traps—and only the shoes God gives us as part of His armor can give us the protection we need to keep moving safely across the battlefield.

There is a famous quote of “If you’re going to talk the talk, you also have to walk the walk.”

Just like having a good pair of shoes can help us walk across rough terrain, having confidence in Christ allows us to boldly proclaim His name. While we may face persecution in this life, we can rest in knowing the Savior of the world loves us and cares for us.
Having our feet fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace allows us to be ready to share God with others at all times. As Christians, we should always be prepared, as we never know when an opportunity may arise to share the good news of the gospel with someone else. Ultimately, the shoes of peace equip us to fight for Christ in the spiritual battles we face.

However, before we can activate God's Armor Shoe of Gospel and Peace, we need to be a friend of God. We must have given our lives to Christ and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour. Only by this can we use this "Shoes of Good News" to crush the devil and keep standing after the battle against him and all his demons, principalities and powers in heavenly places and of this world. In addition, when we put on the shoes of God and spread the "Good News", our feet shall be beautiful and we bring "joy", "peace" and "good tidings" wherever we go or step. We also must have been fortified by God and no power of darkness can harm us.

if you are willing to put on this "Shoe of Peace" but you are not yet born again, this is a best chance for you for tomorrow may be to late. Please say this short prayer- "Lord Jesus, I come to You today, come into my life, take control of my life, and change my world, in Your name I pray, amen".

Congratulations!!!

God bless you.

Peace!