Gospel Shoes

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Gospel Shoes
Keyword: “evangelism”
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Never — neither here in Ephesians 6 nor anywhere else — does the Bible tell Christians to attack the devil. The devil attacks us — and we are not to attack back. We are to simply stand firm. AND, we can be confident that we have the capacity to stand firm or we would not be commanded to do so!

Our standing firm, though, will only be successful as we use the armor Paul lists. That armor is described in verses quoted below. For the next few days, we are going to take a look at the armor Paul recommends we use in the fight to stand strong in the day of sexual temptation.

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20*

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.

11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Questions

1. Take a look at verse 15. Can you remember the last time you stubbed your toe walking barefoot? Paul is trying to get us to imagine what it might have been like to fight in battle with no shoes. What would that be like?

 

2. What benefits would wearing shoes bring to a warrior?

 

Practical help

Today, there are shoes for just about every activity: basketball, football, tennis, track, baseball, jogging, sprinting, trail running, walking, hiking, ballet, and more.

Soldiers wear protective footwear today, as soldiers have throughout history. A good pair of boots enables a soldier to be ready for a march, a climb, a fight, an attack, or to simply stand his ground. In ancient warfare, shoes were mostly of the sandal variety, but every soldier fights better with shoes on.

The apostle Paul says that we are to make sure that we are wearing the shoes of the Gospel of peace.

Is he talking about how important it is to REMEMBER the blessed truths of the Gospel? I don’t think so! I think he’s saying that if we want to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, it is important that we SHARE the blessed truths of the Gospel with those who have not yet come to know Christ by faith.

Spiritual protection comes as we evangelize. How practical is that?! Paul isn’t saying, of course, that your life will go well or that you won’t be tempted if you witness regularly.

No, trials will come and so will temptations. BUT, God does build a sense of security, and joy, and confidence into the heart of the Christian who is actively sharing his or her faith.

If you want victory over the enemy’s attacks, put on your witnessing shoes as you walk out the door today. Tie those laces in double knots, and get ready to run to someone you know with the greatest message they will ever hear.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."