06/28/2020: Children Worship Praising & Sermon《Shoes of the Gospel of Peace》- Pastor Sidney

The Sunday before Father’s Day, Commander talked about the weapon God gave us to fight against the Satan, it is……? Yeah, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. How powerful is the word of God? 1. It teaches us God’s truth, so that we can fight against Satan’s lying and will not fall into his trap. 2. It teaches us God’s righteousness, so that we may not sin against God. And 3. It tells us about Jesus, so that we can bring people to accept Jesus and to get saved out from Satan’s kingdom.  We have learned several parts of the outfit of the armor of God, be sure you remember all of them.  Today we will learn a very essential part, which you may not think is important, however, it is really very important, it is the shoes, the shoes which are made up of the gospel of peace. Let’s read verses Ephesians 6:14-17, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Now let’s read verse 6:15 one more time: “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

Is a pair of shoes fitted to your feet important? Do you know how dangerous if you run barefooted? OK, Pastor have a video for you to watch.

Waah, how dangerous if you don’t wear fitted shoes, not mentioning it is tremendously dangerous a soldier in the battle field without good shoes on his feet.  It is really very important to have a pair of shoes fitting to your feet! Well, in case I want to play basketball, which shoes should I wear? Yeah, this pair is basketball shoes. If I go running, likely, I will choose this pair – it will help me run fast with good cushion. OK, then how about in the battle, do soldiers need special shoes? Yes, they do. See the slide: this is the American army’s boots. And the ancient roman soldiers wore this kind of shoes. They are for protection and for standing firm and running fast. Now in the spiritual battle with Satan, do we need a special pair of shoes? Yes, then what is it? – the Bible told us we need a pair of shoes made up of Jesus’ gospel, which brings salvation and peace to us.  The shoes of the gospel may not be so good looking like Nike’s, or American army’s boots, however, it is powerful, strong and durable. Romans 1:16a says: “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel is very powerful. The gospel brings us the salvation.  When we have the salvation in Jesus, we are very sure that we have become the children of God, and we have the eternal life, then in our heart we have assurance of peace from God, and we are not afraid of Satan’s challenge against our relation with God, just like Satan did to Adam and Eve.

The shoes of the gospel we wear help us three things: 1. Protection, 2. Standing firm, 3. Running fast.

1. Protection: Satan may spread sharp items on the road, such as worries, fear, being sad, panic, however, if we have received the gospel, we will be sure we are God’s children, we then have peace from our Heavenly Father, we know He loves us, cares for us. As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  So, we should not worry or panic, as we are well protected in God’s love when we have the gospel of Jesus.
2. Standing firm: For those who don’t receive the gospel, they will be easily fall when Satan makes a slippery tricks to them (show video). When we have peace from God, we feel secured, we have peace and hope for the eternal life, our steps will be firm and stable and will not go slippery and fall in terms of Satan’s tricks. Just like the Bible in Colossians 1:23b says, “do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”
3. Running fast: When we have the gospel, we can run very fast to share gospel to others.  As the Bible says; “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” (Isaiah 52:7).  We know the gospel is so good and powerful, and we are excited to share the gospel to others. The gospel is very powerful, as long as we are willing to follow the push of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to share gospel to others and bring them to Jesus. 

So when we put on the shoes of the gospel, we will be protected, and can stand firm and run fast.  However, do you know how to put on the shoes to your feet?  Do you know how to tell others about the gospel? Remember gospel is all about Jesus, so tell your friends about Jesus, it is the gospel.

Let your friend know God loves us and wants to give us eternal life, however, people sin against God, as Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So He sent His one and only son Jesus to the world and died on the cross for our sins, and washed away all our sins.  Well, Jesus died on the cross just a short time. The Lord Jesus was raised on the third day.  He has overcome the death, and assured us that whoever believes in Him, his sins will be washed away and become the children of God and he will have a new life in Jesus.

Is it simple? Don’t be ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God.  Let’s review the verse Romans 1:16a, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”

Boys and girls, before closing let’s review the whole parts of the full armor of God: they are 1. The belt of the truth, 2. The breastplate of righteousness, 3. the shoes of the gospel of peace, 4. The shield of faith, 5. The helmet of salvation, and 6. The sword of the Spirit – which is the word of God. Good job!