Check Your Shoes!

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15

After putting on the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, the Apostle Paul encourages us to ensure that our feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. What exactly does this mean? 

Well, it means we need to make sure we have on the right spiritual shoes!  Shoes are very important because they enable us to stand firmly without toppling over or losing our balance when the strong winds of evil blow our way. In addition, good, protective shoes enable us to move over rough, rocky ground and reach our destination without discomfort or hindrance. 

The Gospel of grace declares that God has now reconciled Himself to man through Christ's death and resurrection. We, who were once God's enemies because of sin, have now become His children and experience shalom peace with our Heavenly Father. (See the book of Romans). In the Hebrew, shalom peace means nothing is missing or broken in our relationship with Him - we have completion in Christ. Now, isn't that good news?

But again, how many of us hear this in our churches? We hear about all the wrong we've done, and how we've grieved God, but that isn't the Gospel preached by the apostles of old! No, the true Gospel is that, through Christ, you have been reconciled to God - you have peace with Him and He is not angry or displeased with you. He loves you! 

The enemy wants to knock you off this revelation and make you feel condemned and ashamed, but fight the good fight of faith and stand firm, knowing you have shalom peace with your Heavenly Father! And likewise, as you are directed by Him to move forward and complete the Gospel tasks prepared for you, remember that this shalom peace is the foundation upon which you live and move  and have your being! Acts 17:28.

You are Righteous In Him!

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13.

Last night, I stumbled across some very disturbing pictures on my Facebook timeline of an ISIS decapitation. Gruesome and surreal because of the horrific nature in which people are being systematically killed on the other side of the world due to their beliefs. And in our day and time. Today, 2014, people are being butchered because of faith. 

I draw a deep breath, because I know it is real, and it is prophesied in God's Word. Even the Apostle Paul was beheaded, and all the other apostles except for John were gruesomely martyred for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus warns us in Matthew and in Revelation that there is coming in the last days a great persecution of Christians. I have to ask - are North American, denominational church-goers ready for what is to come?

Many do not believe their faith will ever be tested in such a way, and I hope they are correct. But what if they are wrong? Do denominational believers understand they are in a spiritual battle with real demonic principalities that cannot be seen with the natural eye? Do they know how to fight and remain standing when the evil day comes?

Paul tells us in Ephesians that our first mode of defensive armor is the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. So many Christians in America do not know the truth that they are righteous. They have been told they are sinners saved by grace and that's it! Powerless sinners who are like lowly worms and have no hope in being righteous before a holy God! That is a doctrine of demons!

The truth is, if you are born again in Christ, then you are a NEW CREATION and are NO LONGER a sinner! Yes, you were once a sinner, but you were saved by God's grace! And yes, you may still sin, but your spiritual condition is not based on your conduct - it is based on your birth. 

Consider: When you came out of your mothers womb, you were born into sin because of Adam's sin - not because of your actions but because of Adam's actions in the garden (the first Adam). Likewise, at the moment of salvation, you were considered to have been born again in Christ as a new creation - not because of your actions but because of Jesus' actions on the cross (the last Adam). God considered you to have died with Jesus and to have been raised with Him into a righteous child of God. There is no sinner-saved-by-grace condition. You are either a sinner or a new creation in Christ Jesus!

Do you hear this message in your church? This is the Gospel which Paul preached, and it is the ONLY Gospel. Galatians1:8-9.

If you have believed and confessed in Jesus as your savior from sin and death, then this is the Truth of what He did for you 2000 years ago! Through His obedience on the cross, you are righteous and can never be anything other than righteous before Father God. Protect this truth! 

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm! Keep your loins properly girded about with this Truth wrapped tightly around your waist like a belt AND keep that breastplate of righteousness over your heart. 

Stay tuned for more...