Shoes of Peace: Philip is prepared to share the Good News
We are getting Battle Ready by putting on all of God’s armor (Eph. 6:11). This includes the-
Belt of truth
Breastplate (body armor) of righteousness
Shoes of peace (Good News)
Shield of faith
Helmet of salvation
Sword of the Spirit
We’ve learned so far that we put on the belt of truth by getting into God’s Word and letting it transform the way we think. Meditating on it and hiding it in our hearts helps us stand firm in the battle.
Then, we saw that we put on the breastplate of righteousness when we commit our hearts to God, obeying His word by living righteously and fleeing sin. This helped Job stand firm when the battle raged on and on around him.
This week, we’ll check out the third piece of armor:
Ephesians 6:15 | For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
These shoes of peace are a readiness to share the Good News, or the Gospel. We put on these shoes when we are ready with the message of peace. This message of peace is explained in Romans 5. It says that we were God’s enemies, but through His Son, God gives us the ability to be considered His friend – fully right in His sight.
Romans 5:10-11 | For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Being ready with the Good News is important because as we saw a few weeks ago, Satan is working to hinder the Gospel. If we aren’t prepared, we might miss an opportunity to share Jesus, fumbling over what to say, if we should speak, or even blind to the fact that the Gospel is needed.
In Acts 8, a spiritual battle is happening that has physical ramifications. Stephen was just stoned for his faith, and then-
Acts 8:1b-3 | A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
The enemy was at work to hinder the spread of the Gospel, but God’s people were prepared–
Acts 8:4-5 | But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.
Philip starts in Samaria, sharing the Good News to the Samaritans, who you might remember, were waiting for the Messiah (John 4:25). Philip is ready with the Good News for the Samaritans, the message that the Messiah was Jesus. “Great joy” comes to the city (Acts 8:8)-
Acts 8:13 | But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
After this, the Lord tells Philip to -
Acts 8:26b | “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Once there, Philip sees an Ethiopian man riding in a carriage reading aloud from the book of Isaiah (Acts 8:28).
Acts 8:29 | The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
At this moment, many of us would have a whirlwind of doubts – a spiritual battle in our minds about obedience. What if the man doesn’t want to be bothered? What if he’s dangerous? What am I supposed to say? What if he doesn’t listen?
But Philip is prepared, wearing the Shoes of Peace. He’s able to sprint into action (literally!).
Acts 8:30 | Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man asks how he can understand unless someone explains it and he invites Philip to get in his chariot with him.
Here again, if we were Philip, we might have found ourselves battling - how will I get back? If I end up in Ethiopia, how will I afford to get home? What if I go wherever this chariot is going and God had something else for me here? What if I get in the chariot and I can’t explain things to this guy? I’ll look like a fool!
But Philip gets in the chariot and Acts explains-
Acts 8:32-35 | The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
Praise God that Philip was ready with the Gospel of peace! Philip gets to baptize the Ethiopian (8:36) after he puts his faith in Christ. As the man takes the message of the Gospel home to Ethiopia, God takes Philip somewhere else -
Acts 8:39-40 | When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.
The Lord essentially teleports Philip to another city, one much closer to where Saul was wreaking havoc. Again, Philip could have struggled with speaking up, staying safe, or getting rest. But instead, from Azotus to Ceaesarea, a stretch of about 63 miles, Philip is ready with the message of the Good News for everyone he encounters.
In just Acts 8, Philip walked from Jerusalem to Samaria and then Samaria to Gaza. He then ran to catch the chariot, soaked his feet while baptizing the Ethiopian, and then landed in Azotus. He traveled vast distances, all the while, wearing the shoes of peace – ready with the message of Good News. On ancient roads and in ancient footwear, Philip’s feet would have been pretty gross, but he was wearing the right footwear for the job. According to Romans, Philip’s feet were beautiful–
Romans 10:13-15 | For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Philip was the first to carry the message of Jesus to many people – a messenger of the Good News. Like Philip, we are instructed to be prepared with the message of peace - the Good News of Jesus. Putting on the shoes of peace means we are always ready with the Gospel, even in seasons of battle. Because, like Philip, we’ve been sent as God’s messengers-
Mark 16:15 | And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”
Are you wearing the shoes of peace? Are you ready each day, without notice, to share the hope you have because of Jesus? If not, it's time to armor up. Because in the time of battle, being prepared with the Shoes of Peace is what lets you stand firm instead of shrinking back in silence. Put on the Shoes of Peace!
Why is a soldier’s footwear important?
What are the Shoes of Peace all about? Why are they an important part of the armor God has for His followers?
How do we know Philip was ready with the message of peace?
What struggles might Philip have faced as he presented the Gospel to different kinds of people in all different parts of the country?
What struggles have you faced or do you worry you’ll face when the opportunity to share the Good News arises?