Standing firm with the preparation of the gospel of peace

                                                             

                                           

The Bible lets us know we have an enemy – the devil – but that we have the power of God to defeat him.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand [stand firm] against the wiles [all strategies] of the devil." - Ephesians 6:10-11 KJV

"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." - Ephesians 6:12 KJV

Our battle is not physical; it is spiritual.

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

In order to stand firm in our battles, we must first of all believe and obey the gospel. (Mark 16:15-16). We believe that God (our Heavenly Father) manifested Himself in flesh and dwelt among humanity, that He died for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose victoriously. This is the gospel of peace. (1Corinthians 15:1-4).

By His gospel, God made peace between us through the blood of His cross.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself… And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled…" - Colossians 1:20-23 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

 The Bible says we need to have the PREPARATION of the gospel of peace.

We are reconciled with God when we repent of our sins, we apply the blood He shed for us for remission of our sins through baptism in His name Jesus, and we receive the gift of His Spirit (speaking in tongues as His Spirit gives the utterance) so that we may walk a holy life. This is how we have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. This is how we STAND in our spiritual battles.