On July 21st, 1861, very early in the days of the American Civil War, poorly trained and yet overconfident raw Yankee troops marched boldly toward the Confederate Army which was camped at Bull Run, about 30 miles southwest of Washington. The arrogant Union soldiers acted as if they were heading to a sporting event to face a strictly underdog opponent. Now, because it was so close to Washington, and thinking what a cakewalk this would be for the Union troops. Congressmen, high society ladies, and many spectators gathered on nearby hills to watch the skirmish. They brought picnic baskets and blankets to better enjoy their afternoon entertainment. But what they observed was not at all what they expected. The Confederate soldiers, led by Thomas J. Jackson, stood their ground. Their commander, General Jackson, inspired them by standing tall on his horse in harm's way the whole time, giving him the name thereafter, Stonewall Jackson. Confederates held out long enough for reinforcements of men and supplies to arrive from the South. That resolve and strengthened forces threw the Union Army into a panic. They seemed to forget that the Union Army still had more men and supplies than the South did. The spectators on the hills who had come to watch their team's certain victory were flabbergasted, as you can well imagine, when they saw the Union Army runaway, screaming, breaking ranks, bumping into one another like keystone cops in their efforts of fleeing for their lives. There were some printed words by a journalist who was there on the hill watching the skirmish, and here is what he had written. We called to them. We tried to tell them that there was no danger. We called them to stop, implored them to stand. We denounced them in the most offensive terms. But all in vain. A cruel, crazy, mad, hopeless panic possessed them. I think this tidbit from American history serves as a perfect example for what our passage in Ephesians today tries to keep you and I from doing. Running away in panic from spiritual battle. Now we know we are prone to behave like the Union Army in the first battle of Bull Run. Our battle often gets ugly. Disappointing circumstances strike us unexpectedly. We lose something of tremendous value. Failure looks like a very strong possibility, and we know others are watching. Suddenly, we panic. We take our eyes off of the truth of our overwhelming circumstances. Possible loss looms heavy on our horizon. And we do everything we can to avoid the temporary pain and that's all that matters. Avoid it. Now we are in Ephesians chapter six, a chapter that is famously known for its verses about spiritual warfare. We have already seen how strong and formidable our enemy is. and that we are at war against powerful demonic forces in the world and in the heavens. Last week, we looked at the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness as some of the tools that we need to keep on ourselves to be victorious. Today we are going to see what we need to put on so that fear and panic will not overwhelm us emotionally and make us turn our backs and flee like a Union soldier at bull run. God, knowing that we have a tendency for this, has given us a critical tool for stopping a mad, hopeless panic in the heat of our battle. Now, some Christians may not think that they really need this protection. Do you remember Peter on Jesus's final night with his disciples? Lord, I won't desert you. Others might, but not me. I will die for you. But Peter, in the heat of battle, denied Jesus three times. Peter thought that he had enough strength in himself. He didn't. And neither do you and I. Moses is another example of allowing panic to change his resolute obedience to God. Moses became inflamed with wrath because the Israelites kept rebelling and wanting to return to Egypt. At one point, Moses became so infuriated with them that he acted very foolishly, slamming his rod against the rock, which God did not instruct him to do. And he tried to share glory with God and said, you watch what we me and God, will do, bang, and he bangs the rod against the rock. You can read about this incident in Numbers chapter 20 and see how it provoked God to exclude Moses from entering the promised land. Yeah, he lost it, he panicked. Let me give some more modern examples. Now here's the reason why. I want to further establish our great need for this piece of armor that we come to today. It is so vital that we dial in to this great means that is available to every believer in our spiritual battles. The testimony of many well-known believers have at one time behaved like a Union soldier at the First Battle of Bull Run. C.S. Lewis, a name that I'm sure many of you are familiar with, as he authored the Chronicles of Narnia, And he is a prominent Christian apologist which has helped a lot of people in the battle that they have faced in spiritual battles. Well, he faced significant discouragement after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman. Lewis grappled with a deep grief and he questioned the goodness of God in the face of suffering. He expressed his struggles very candidly in his book titled A Grief Observed. This is where he documented his feelings of despair and loss, reflecting on how even a strong faith can be shaken by personal tragedy. Mother Teresa, known for her selfless service to the poor, revealed in her later years a struggle with doubt and feelings of abandonment by God. In her private writings, which were published after her death, She expressed periods of profound darkness and spiritual desolation. Despite her unwavering commitment to serve others, she battled with the silence of God, which led her to question the very faith that she had dedicated her life to. Martin Luther. A key figure in the Protestant Reformation, he faced immense discouragement during his quest for reform. He dealt with feelings of despair and doubt about his own salvation and the state of the church. His struggle with faith is famously depicted in his doctrine of justification by faith, which was partly born out of his own experiences with spiritual anxiety. Luther's challenges ultimately led him to greater theological insights that transformed Christianity. as did these other examples that I've cited. If you were a believer around the 1970s, the name David Wilkerson may be familiar to you. David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge and the author of The Cross and the Switchblade, experienced deep discouragement during his ministry. especially during times when his efforts seemed to yield very little fruit. He faced opposition and skepticism from both his community and the broader church. His perseverance in faith, even amidst these trials, inspired many. And he often spoke about how discouragement strengthened his reliance on God. My final example is this one, Billy Graham. One of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century, he also encountered moments of doubt. Early in his ministry, he experienced a crisis of faith while studying the Bible and wrestling with the concept of inspiration. This struggle led him to a pivotal moment of surrender where he chose to trust in God's word despite his uncertainties. Graham often recounted this experience as formative in his faith journey and ministry. Now this is just a small sampling of the warriors of the Christian faith who have faced panic issues in their spiritual warfare. The fact that we admire each of these Christian leaders ought to motivate us to pray for all the Christian leaders who have been having a strong spiritual impact on our lives. They have their own stories, you can be sure of it. Standing firm is something you and I need to prepare for. If we don't prepare ourselves, if we think that panic could never happen to us, we're extremely vulnerable. A Christian's sense of inner peace can be disrupted by so many factors, many of which are influenced by both external circumstances as well as internal struggles. Let me just give you a few common disturbances which someone listening to me right now might even be facing. Number one, doubt and uncertainty. Doubts about faith, God's promises, personal worthiness. These can lead to anxiety and unrest. Questions about the validity of beliefs or experiences can create a sense of disconnection from God and disrupt inner peace. Number two, grief and loss. The experience of loss, whether through death, separation, or other significant changes, can profoundly affect emotional well-being. Grief can cloud one's ability to feel God's peace, prompting feelings of sadness, anger, confusion. Fear and anxiety would be number three. Concerns about the future, about health, finances, or personal safety can create a pervasive sense of unrest. Fear of the unknown can overshadow faith and lead to feelings of hopelessness. Guilt and shame, past mistakes or perceived failures can weigh heavily on a person's conscience. Guilt and shame can hinder the ability to feel forgiven or accepted, disrupting a Christian's inner peace. Number five, conflicts and relationships. Past mistakes and guilt and shame, The ability to feel forgiven and accepted. Well, these conflicts in relationships, maybe it would look more like a strained relationship, whether within families or friendships or congregations, can lead to emotional turmoil. Conflict often distances individuals from a sense of community and support, affecting emotional stability. Number six, distractions and busyness. The demands of modern life, work, family obligations, social commitments, these can lead to a chaotic lifestyle. An overloaded schedule can prevent individuals from quiet reflection, communion with God, disrupting peace. Now that is a big one. Number seven, the spiritual warfare itself. Many Christians believe the reality of spiritual warfare, viewing doubts, temptations, and discouragement as attacks from negative spiritual forces. The struggle against sin and spiritual challenges can create inner turmoil. Number eight, cultural pressures. Living in a society that often conflicts with Christian values can lead to feelings of isolation or compromise. Critics of faith and moral standards can cause anxiety and conflict when navigating personal beliefs in our very pluralistic culture. Number nine, health issues. Physical problems, chronic pain, mental health challenges can significantly impact emotional well-being. Health challenges can lead to despair and a sense of being disconnected from God's care. Number 10, lack of spiritual disciplines, neglecting spiritual practices such as prayer, scripture reading, and worship. These I can guarantee will diminish a connection with God. Now, without these practices, individuals may feel spiritually dry and disconnected, affecting their peace. And lastly, I could go on and on, but here's just a final one, number 11. Comparison and envy. Feeling inadequate or envious when comparing ourself with others. Whether in terms of spiritual growth, material possessions, or life circumstances, that can create inner conflict and discontent. So these disturbances highlight just how fragile inner peace amid the complexities of life can be that every believer faces. Christian, you are at war. Horrific challenges are inevitable. But God has a provision for us in our next piece of spiritual armor. Let's look at it now. Ephesians 6, 15. It reads this way. and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of what? Peace. The gospel of peace. Now the first thing that I want to make very clear about this verse is very, very important. You need to hear this. Many people make a wrong assumption and I think misunderstand the main point that Paul is actually making here. Listen, this verse does not speak of spreading the gospel Not directly, anyway. Yeah, you heard me right. Paul does not mention shoes that enable us to carry the gospel to other people. These shoes are not made for making us mobile, but immobile. They are for keeping us stationary, immovable. The primary use for these shoes is to make us stand and keep fighting instead of falling down and giving up. You see these verses in Ephesians chapter six, verses 10 through 16, show the Christian standing, not advancing. Our verse today is more about the believer's stability and sure-footedness from the gospel because of the peace it gives him or her to stand in battle. Now perhaps a case can be made that the spread of the gospel is also what Paul had in mind, but I believe it is more of an indirect sense of that. As others see, we are able to stand in the battle. I see Paul's primary emphasis is to keep us standing in situations where we might otherwise panic. Now shoes make an excellent metaphor for the means of standing strong. The image Paul has in mind comes from the Roman soldier's war boot known as the caliga, or half boot, which the legionnaire regularly wore on duty. It was an open-toed leather boot with heavily nailed studded sole, which was tied to the ankles and shins with straps. Now, these shoes were not for running. For example, either fleeing or pursuing an enemy. I remember the first time I wore football cleats and walked on solid ground. Man, it's easy to slip. They're meant for soft ground and dirt and other things like that. And these shoes were not for running either. First century historian Josephus has a bit of writing where he tells of a centurion who because he was running after his enemies while wearing the caliga, these shoes thickly studded with sharp nails, he slipped and he fell on his back on the stove payment and he was easily cut down by the enemy. So their function was like today's cleated football shoe. They gave the foot traction and prevented sliding. Much ancient battle was hand to hand, foot to foot, just like on the football scrimmage line. So these boots gave the Roman soldier an advantage over ill-equipped foes. Their readiness from our text here pictures us being ready with our khaliga firmly planted so that we cannot be moved off the mark. Thus established the enemy is not gonna be able to knock us down, not be able to push us back. Now the spiritual lesson here is perfectly clear. It is the gospel of peace. The peace that comes to us in and through the gospel and makes us immovable in battle. The scriptures present two aspects of this peace. First, it is peace with God. Romans 5.1 says, therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Life apart from Christ has no deep peace. All people are aware of this cosmic discomfort to some degree. For some, it manifests itself in a general sense of feeling alienated from what? I can't really tell what, but I just feel alienated. Lack of purpose and all. With others, it's a raging awareness that their life is not right. Some pursue peace with a passive desperation, longing for it to somehow come. They might go wild in pursuit of it, hoping that it'll come through money or sex or accumulation of knowledge or religious exploration, but all they will ever find through those things is temporary relief. Peace is like a ever-receding mirage. But when a person finds peace with God through Christ, It is inexpressibly wonderful. Knowing that our sins are forgiven and forgotten through Jesus Christ is the greatest knowledge any person can have. Can you think of anything better than to know you were in right standing with God? Solid awareness that you're on right terms with God is joyfully uplifting. Now this is the point. When our feet are, as the King James puts it, shod, covered with this peace, we can stand firm against the greatest assaults of the enemy. I am right with God. God is on my side. Each and every assault the enemy puts against us can be overcome with a strong conviction that God really is for us and good can come out of this situation. Now, I said there were two elements to this peace. One is peace with God. Second, in addition to having peace with God, there comes the peace of God. In the upper room on the final night of his earthly life, Jesus told his disciples, and indeed everyone who follows him, peace i leave with you my peace i give to you john 14 27 so he gives us his personal peace It was the peace he knew when he was fast asleep in the boat amidst the storm, when all these well-seasoned sailors in their professional opinion came to him screaming, we are perishing. And he slept calmly. That's the peace he gives to us. It's the peace which so unnerved the fearful pilot when he was interrogating Christ. He couldn't understand why Christ had such peace. John 19. It's from God. He's able to rise above the difficulties here on earth. The word behind this is shalom. You've heard of that Jewish term, haven't you? Completeness, soundness, welfare. It means well-being. So we can paraphrase Jesus' words, peace and well-being I leave with you. My peace, my well-being, I give to you. Now if this is so, we need to reopen the lines of communication if we sense that. I don't really have this peace right now. If we sense that we are going through any kind of struggle in the heat of our battle and we are tempted to turn and run in our panic, we need that peace that he offers to each and every one of us. Paul put it this way in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7. Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When we're tempted to flee, our encouragement is, Go to the Lord. He says he will give it to us. Ask for it. Okay, I want now to bring up another application that I believe the gospel of peace has for every believer. Maybe you haven't thought of this, but I think just a little bit of deep thinking about this peace of God that we are to shod our feet with here would also include this. Listen, putting on the readiness of the gospel of peace also means, I believe with all my heart, that we must be ready to destroy all things in God's church which do not make for peace. We should shod our feet with the gospel of peace. And when we do, we are ready to kill things that destroy or threaten to destroy the unity and peace of God in his church, among his family. If you thought the first application of these shoes was challenging, this one might be even more so. Few Christians pay attention to the second application that I am speaking of now. When you hear gossip, when you hear someone slandering another believer, whether or not you think it might be true, do you immediately put it to rest? Have you ever rebuked a tale bearer? Whenever you hear someone talking badly about a brother or sister in Christ, and you are neither part of the problem or its solution. If your feet are shod with the gospel of peace, you will take immediate action to put it to rest. Gossip and slander are threats to peace among God's people. And we need to take action to stop it. Don't buy into this baloney that says, well, I was only telling you so you could pray. That's so phony. Confront the gossiper. Call it out. Stop it right there. Let me give you something you could say. This is effective, folks. If we would all learn to do this. Say to him or her, have you directly spoken to so and so about this? Do you think they would approve of you informing me about it in this way? This seems like harmful gossip that has the potential of upsetting the peace of God among his people. We need to shod our feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Put to death slander and gossip. These divide. They bring non-peace. Because we have peace with God, Romans 5.1, that comes from the gospel, we need not fear the attacks of Satan or men. We must be at peace with God and with each other. if we are going to defeat the evil one with all of his schemes. All right, I'm gonna close with this verse and then let's pray. Here is our final verse. What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions, you adulterous people. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says, he yearns jealously over the spirit that he is made to dwell in us, but he gives more peace, more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.