“and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Ephesians 6:15-16 KJV
As part of our arsenal, preparation is required to proclaim the gospel of peace and buckle up in faith. These contribute to our efficacy as workmen and to strengthen and build our edifies as sons. Today beloved we dive into these two aspects of our armor.
To begin with, what is the gospel? Isaiah 52:7 KJV, defines the gospel most profoundly; “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” The gospel is a message of peace, bringing salvation to the hearer, and most of all it is the Word of God, about God and from God. According to John 1:1-4, we see a vivid picture of this concept, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was true in the beginning with God. This speaks of Jesus, the Word made incarnate in flesh, the very image of God (Colossians 1:15). He made all things; and without him was not anything made that was made, by this verse we understand that the making of man exists even by this phenomenon. The verse further reads, in him was life; and the life was the light of men,the very Word spoken of carries a dimension of enlightenment that quickens mortal men and guides their path in the way of truth. And this is what delivers men from condemnation and brings peace. The gospel is the pathway to life at its fullest, as Jesus said the way, the truth and the life.
Romans 10 from verse 13 further helps us understand “For whosoever shall call upon 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, except they be sent? For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, Their sound went into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.” This brings us to the fourth armor; the shield of faith. The gospel remains powerless in the life of the one who cannot believe nor has faith. The impact of the gospel we preach is as relevant in the life of the hearer as he or she chooses to believe. Faith is the very driving force that makes the gospel effective. Hence verse 17 of the verse reads: faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of God. Until the gospel is made active through faith all we have discussed so far will be of no effect. The faith it requires needs only as little as a mustard seed. Jesus spoke of it in Mathew 13:31, also emphasizing the former, the gospel speaks of a kingdom that accepted in faith produces a multitude of harvest. Faith is so powerful that it penetrates every lie and deception of the devil. That is why the verse says to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. When faith is held onto through the active force of the word of God, the believer can conquer and cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ .(2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV). Warfare begins in the mind, hence guarding the mind by this means accertains victory.
So then beloved to be effective as a believer, as an effective workman and maintaining sonship, be effective in word and truth. Buckle up faith which is able to move mountains and break barriers. Go about your day with these armors and be the light the world needs. Good morning.