Gospel Feet

I have been contemplating the 'whole armor of God'.  "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

Ephesians:6:12-18

The Holy Bible instructs us to put on the armor of God, as soldiers would when they prepare for a battle.  The ones who follow Jesus Christ are soldiers of the Heavenly Kingdom.  Our enemies are principalities, powers, and world rulers of darkness of the age - spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places.  Following the donning of the whole armor of God we are instructed to pray, pray, pray, at all times, in the Spirit.  We never hang up the phone with God.  In fact, when we invite Him in, Jesus lives within us to empower us in our walk with Him, on this earth.  We commune with Him, continually, making requests, and praying for 'the Saints' - our brothers and sisters in Christ.  God's own people.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit prays within us, on our behalf.  God knows our weaknesses, as His soldiers, and where we are weak, He is strong.  The Holy Bible tells us:  "In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered. He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom he foreordained, them he also called. Whom he called, them he also justified. Whom he justified, them he also glorified. What then will we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? Who could bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter." No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans:8:26-39

First is mentioned the utility belt of Truth.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  It is Jesus that fulfils the function as our utility belt of Truth.  Wearing this truth around our waist protects us in our tender area of emotion.  When I am hurt I feel it in my gut.  Yet, if I abide in Jesus, and His truth, then I am knowing the truth and am not so affected by the lie.  My tender area is protected.  My gut feeling can be a response to the Truth that lives within me - Christ Jesus.  The belt of truth also keeps the other articles of clothing/armor in it's place - saving us from awkwardness and shame.  It helps hold everything together.  It is also the place where the sword (God's Word) is kept, ready for battle with the enemy!

Next is the Breastplate of Righteousness.  Jesus is all our righteousness as we live lives in surrender to Him.  Apart from Jesus, all my own righteousness is as filthy rags.  I am born in enmity to God, and if Jesus is not my righteousness then I die in enmity with God - no matter how many wonderful works I do.  I cannot stand up to a Holy God on my own.  Only Jesus causes me to stand.  Only Jesus is my righteousness.  Only His blood cleanses me from all my sin, and makes me white as snow.  There is power in the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Our footwear is the preparation of the Gospel of Peace - being ever made ready to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through whose sacrifice there is made peace between God and man.  The scripture does not say, "the footwear of the Gospel of Peace".  No.  It says "the PREPARATION of the Gospel of Peace".  Some translations of the Holy Bible use the word 'readiness' in the place of preparation.  We need to be ready to move on the Gospel of Peace, at any time - prepared!

The Gospel of Peace... what does this mean?  Here is an account of  what happened the night Christ Jesus was born: "There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, On earth peace, good will toward men. It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.""
Luke:2:8-15

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Himself, said, "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34  What, then, is this peace on Earth, goodwill to men?   It is this: Jesus' gospel is that of bringing peace between God and man, whereas before Christ Jesus is made Lord of our life we are at enmity with God.  Here is what the Holy Bible says about the Gospel of Peace:

"But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians:5:18-21

And, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;"
1 Timothy:2:5-6

The truth is, Jesus warns us that if we are at peace with God, through Him, we will be at enmity with the world.  He even tells us that we will suffer, and the world will hate us, when we walk in obedience to the Heavenly Father, and according to His Will.  "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me, hates my Father also. If I hadn't done among them the works which none other did, they wouldn't have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father. But that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'"
John:15:18-25

Next it is mentioned that above all - of primary importance - is the shield of faith with which we are able to quench the fiery darts of the evil one.  Yes, the devil is always taking aim at us.  He is a  liar.  He is an accuser.  He is a hater, and a destroyer.  The shield of our faith in Christ Jesus renders those flaming attacks powerless.  Keep up that shield of faith, Christian!  Do not give the evil one a foothold, or an opportunity.

Then is mentioned the helmet of salvation.  Jesus Christ is our salvation, and keeping our focus on Him - replacing our thoughts with His thoughts - protects our mind from the lies and delusions of the evil one.  Here are a few scriptures on what our thought life ought to be:

"Don't be fashioned according to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans:12:2

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things."
Philippians:4:8

Our weapon is the sword of the (Holy) Spirit, which is the Word of God. We do well to practice weilding the sword so we may become adept in it's use.  And, Jesus is also the Word!  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.  He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about him. He cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.'" From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only conceived Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him."
John:1:1-18

The Holy Bible also indicates that a sword has two sides:  "For the Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Hebrews:4:12

All the books in the world will not contain the power and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Bible as His letter to us.  There will be no warrior's success in replacements, or feeble replicas.  Only Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Amen.  We cannot have peace with God in replicas, or if we do not accept the whole of His Word - even, and especially, those more difficult parts, and sayings.  There are so many 'enlightened' quotes by this person, and that, online.  The Word of God has become outdated for many who claim the title 'Christian'.  So much of it sounds 'right', and 'good'.  "There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death."  Proverbs:14:12.  We love the first 12 verses of 'The Sermon On The Mount' - not so much the remaining 2 1/2 chapters.  We often want the blessing, and not the reproof (rebuke).  Yet, we can never experience the blessing apart from it.  The Heavenly Father corrects the child He loves.  "and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with sons, "My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by him; For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, And scourges every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline? But if you are without discipline, whereof all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."
Hebrews:12:5-13

So many of the church are asking for a sign - a healing - before making peace, through Christ Jesus, with our Heavenly Father first!  "Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will put on. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? Which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to the measure of his life? Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith? Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added to you. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient."
Matthew:6:25-34

Too, here is how Jesus responded when asked for a sign: "The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed."
Matthew:16:1-4

And more about what Jesus said about sending a warning - a sign:. "Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
Luke:16:19-31

My heart is broken for those who call their self by Christ's Name.  Today they have seemed to find the Gospel of Peace with God insufficient.  Without it, however, they will not have on the full armor of God, and will live lives lacking in the power of God, and be wide open for the attacks of the enemy.  So, I pray, pray, pray.

Heavenly Father - I pray for those who call themselves by Your Holy Name.  Deliver us, each one, from doctrines of demons by a confrontation with You, and the Truth of You, as found in the Word you have left us, contained in the scriptures of the Holy Bible.  May we not deviate to the left, or to the right, of the testimony of the Holy scriptures, and the gospel contained therein - for all else is from the evil one, and comes with a curse.  Thank you for your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - Yeshua, the Worthy Lamb of God, come in the flesh to take upon Himself the penalty of the sins of the whole world, so that we may be saved who believe in Him.  Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one can come to You, Heavenly Father, except through Him.  In His Holy Name I pray that, by Your Holy Spirit, you will give each of us understanding to know that we are not saved by our works, but by faith in the finished work of the Cross by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Power of His Blood to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness - and that our salvation produces works in keeping with Your Will by our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - He Who holds the keys to heaven and hell.  Heavenly Father, I pray that You deliver us from evil, as we daily seek to take up our Cross and follow in the steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Let us be found busy doing Your good work upon His return. Let our hearts be broken before you, Heavenly Father, for a broken and a contrite heart you will not despise.  Replace our thoughts with Your thoughts, and our hearts with Your heart, that we may be living lives in accord with Your Will - so that others may be saved, and You may be glorified in all the earth, and in the heavens.  Thank you, Holy Lord God, Almighty, for your goodness, and consideration, toward us shown to us by the glorious gift of your precious Son, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  In His Holy Name I pray, Amen.