Use the Sword 101

Study 6

Feet Shod with Peace

This week we will study the sandals or shoes of peace.

But before we do, one note on the armor of God.
You can read through these studies over and over, but unless you put them into practice they are of no effect.

Think of it this way; say you are really hungry for a chocolate cake with rich chocolate frosting. So you go to the store and buy all the ingredients for the cake and bring them home. You sit there and read the directions over and over on how to make this luscious chocolate cake but never do it.
Now you can go to anyone and say, "I know how to make a chocolate cake because I read the instructions". But as they look at you, they never see any evidence of you ever making a chocolate cake. No crumbs around your mouth, in fact you look to skinny because you haven't eaten at all.
You see, reading the instructions do you no good unless you actually do what the instructions tell you to do.
Sure, you can tell others how to do it, but eventually you will die from starvation.
It's the same with God's word. Unless you put what you read into action, you will starve spiritually because you read the instructions but never put them into action.

Throughout these studies and all the other ones I have encouraged all to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Have you read it?
Have you done it?

In the book of James (Which will be our next study series), James says:

  • James 1:22-25 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.


    • So if you haven't been a doer of the word but only a hearer, I would encourage you to start off this New Year being a doer and not only a hearer of God's word.
    It all starts off by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
    And it all takes a prayer by faith, believing that the words are true and from your heart.
    A prayer just like this one.

    Jesus, I admit I am a sinner. I ask you to please forgive me for my sins. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again on the third day. Please change my life and make me a new creation. May I no longer be just a hearer of your word but a doer also. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me the ability and wisdom and most important the love to share You with others. I ask this in Your Name Jesus. AMEN!

    If you just prayed this prayer from your heart you are now a Christian, welcome to the family of God. Now continue in God's word and be a doer of His word not a hearer only.

    Maybe you are a Christian and have spent a lot of time in God's word. You may have gone through all the studies here at this web site as well as others. You go to church every Sunday and even during the week.
    But it seems no matter how much you learn you still feel like you are a failure and you constantly fall into sin.
    Once again the question is, have you been putting what you learned into action or do you just read and/or hear it?

    This year, this month, this day, this very moment you can have victory over sin. And that victory is in Jesus Christ.
    James also has a word for you too.

  • James 2:19-20 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?


    • Jesus also says:

  • Rev 2:4-5 4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.


    • It's possible that you have left your first love, Jesus, and have gotten so caught up in things of religion that you forgotten about having a relationship with Jesus your Savior?

    For you as a believer it also takes a prayer of faith to repent and return to the Lord Jesus.

    Jesus, I have been so caught up in religion that I have pushed you aside. I ask you to please forgive me. I repent of this sin and I want to return to You, my first love. Please help me to fall in love with You again and to do the first works You have called me to do. May You be my strength in my weaknesses and help me to have victory over the sins that have bound me. May others see more of You in my life and less of me each day. Thank You Jesus for Your forgiveness and that You have never left me nor forsaken me. I ask this all in Your Name Jesus. AMEN!!!

    What ever you are facing in your life right now, seek the Lord and His wisdom and guidance.

  • Prov 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
    And He shall direct your paths.


    • Make the Lord first in your life in all things and allow Him to direct your path. Give your all to Jesus and ask Him to remove what He doesn't want in your life and to fill it with what He does want in your life.

    So let's get started in this weeks study.

  • Eph 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;


    • What does "shod" mean?

    Greek word: hupodeo (hoop-od-eh'-o)
    Part of Speech: verb
    bind on
    1) to underbind
    2) to bind under one's self, bind on
    "To bind underneath," is used of binding of sandals.

    Did you notice that this is a verb or an action word? It means to do something.

    Looking at the same verse in the NLT and Living Bible may help also.

  • Eph 6:15 (NLT) For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.


  • Eph 6:15 (Living) Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God.


    • Put on, wear, action words again. Also when you think of sandals, if you look at the ones the soldiers used to wear, they were laced up the legs. It was no small task to lace up these sandals, but it served a purpose, which was to hold the sandals in place as well as to help protect the lower leg.
    Another commentary I read said: This part of the armor, is for the feet, is needful, considering what a journey we have to go; what a race to run. Our feet must be so shod, that our footsteps slip not.

    So shod means to put on or lace up your sandals or shoes.
    So what is this "gospel of peace"?

  • Rom 10:13-15 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 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!"


  • Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)78 Because of God's tender mercy,
    the light from heaven is about to break upon us,
    79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace."


    • The word "gospel" means; good news and Jesus is our peace.
    So to put this all together, it would be to walk with the peace that is in Jesus Christ and tell others about Him.

    So how do we apply this to the armor and our walk with the Lord?

    Think of the places you go to and the things you say everyday.
    We all go to work or school, we all go to the store, we all go to friends and families homes, we should all be going to church.
    Where have you been going? Has it been other places then these?
    Maybe you have been going to bars or nightclubs. Maybe you go to X rated movies or even go to X rated sites on the Internet.
    Maybe you go home and watch soap operas or talk shows.
    Maybe you have been going to someone's house that you shouldn't be. Or maybe out with someone you shouldn't be.
    Think of all the places you go, have you had a peace about each place or have you been doubting if the Lord really wants you there?
    Maybe you haven't been going to the wrong places, what about your speech or the things you talk about?
    Do you join in with those at work when they start saying dirty jokes or do you talk just like they do?
    What about at home or at your friend's house, how do you talk to them? Is it with love and compassion, or do you yell at your family all the time speaking harsh words to them and about them?

    You see, to put on the gospel of peace, you don't go places where the Lord doesn't want you to go.

  • Acts 16:6-7 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.


    • If you have been wondering about where to go or if you have been going in the right direction, seek the Lord and He will direct your path.

  • Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.


  • Psa 27:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.


  • Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.


  • 2Th 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.


    • Also during the day, listen to what you have been saying and ask yourself, "If I where talking to Jesus, would I say that to Him?"

  • Mal 3:16-18 16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,
    And the LORD listened and heard them;
    So a book of remembrance was written before Him
    For those who fear the LORD
    And who meditate on His name.
    17 "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts,
    "On the day that I make them My jewels.
    And I will spare them
    As a man spares his own son who serves him."
    18 Then you shall again discern
    Between the righteous and the wicked,
    Between one who serves God
    And one who does not serve Him.


  • Eph 5:19-21 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.


  • Prov 10:19 Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!


  • Prov 10:20 (NLT) The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.


  • Prov 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings,
    But a wise man holds them back.


  • 1 Tim 6:20 (NLT) Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.


  • 2 Tim 2:16-18 (NLT) 16 Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of this. 18 They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some.


    • One more key word in this weeks verse and that's "preparation" or rather, "the preparedness," or "readiness of," that is, arising from the "Gospel". Preparedness to do and suffer all that God wills; readiness for march, as a Christian soldier.

    So using this weeks piece of armor, watch where you are going, whether it be physically from one place to another or what you watch or read.
    Also listen to what you say to others with your speech or even your body actions.

    Pray each day that the Lord will prepare you for the things of the day, that He will direct your footsteps each day, and the he will guard your tongue from saying what He wouldn't want you to say. This is having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

    To sum it all up in one verse would be:

  • Isaiah 52:7 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!"


    • Does Your God reign?

    Next week the "Shield of Faith"

    May God reign in your life and the life of your family.
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