The Battle Plan Part 3
The Shield and the Boots.
Continuing with being prepared for battle, we move on to the shield and the boots.
Once the breastplate has been fitted into position, the soldier puts on his strong army boots or caligae. Josephus described them as "shoes thickly studded with sharp nails" (War VI.1.8) so as to ensure a good grip. The military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies’ being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.
After putting on the belt and breastplate a soldier would put on these heavily studded boots. These would give him better traction during the march and the battle. Sounds kind of odd to put this piece in for Christian battle. However one verse comes to mind. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News" (Isaiah 53:7) ISA 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Last week we started to look at the spiritual battles we all seem to deal with on a daily basis. We are all in the midst of some kind of war with the enemy. Some of us do not even realize the magnitude of the battle.
One of the first things we must know if we are going to be successful in our campaign is we must know our opponent. We need to know where to aim our weapons and from whom and what to defend ourselves from. We have troops who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan who are in the line of fire. They are all trained in how to defend themselves and how to subdue the enemy. Each of the soldiers went to basic training before they were sent on to the battle field. During basic training the soldiers were taught discipline and how to unconditionally follow orders along with how to work as a team. These things are very important for the successful completion of the mission on which they were sent to do along with their very survival.
Today in the second of four messages we are going to look at the equipment we have to fight and defend ourselves with. Soldiers are taught what equipment is available for them and how to use that equipment to its maximum potential.
The boots or shoes are another sign of readiness. It is a readiness to go out and bring the Gospel to the entire world. It can mean preparedness; for the term is applied to a ship’s tackling. Part of the Christian soldier’s equipment is his readiness to go out at any moment to announce the Good News to others. In reference to Isaiah 52:7 it may also mean foundation. Either way, we must have it on in order to win the battle. It is the firm footing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to battle against the forces of evil in heavenly realms.
Anytime we speak of the feet we are speaking of the believers walk= His Life as witnessed by others and before God. Speaking of those who live the faith life we are said to be followers of the steps of Abraham. (Ro 4:12) 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Someday what a stream of ants stretching between their anthill and a food source. Some will be going to pick up their load, others will be returning to deposit their prize in the recesses of the anthill. The whole process will be very organized, very precise Then ask yourself, “Why are these ants so organized in their task?” The reason is that ants are good followers, each dependent on the ant in front of him to lead him to the food supply. Because each ant follows the other, there is a straight line between the anthill and the food, no wasted energy, no unnecessary detours. This is the way the church should be. Each Christian following Christ as He leads to eternal life.
The feet need to be grounded, secured to a firm foundation. Each foot following in the footprints of Jesus Christ. Each time we take a step, we step where Jesus had stepped. By standing firmly on God’s word there will be no wasted energy, no detours, fixing our eyes forward on Jesus we cannot stray from the food supply (God’s Word) and Home (Heaven).
Living Upstate NY, we were subjected to some very heavy snowfalls. Matt and I would go for walks in the snow. He used to yell to me to take smaller steps, there he was behind me stepping where I had step. He said, “this way I don’t get my boots stuck in the snow.”
New Version of Footprints.
1st set of prints are Jesus walking straight and another set walking all over the place yet nearby. That is when we resisted following Jesus.
2nd set shows two sets now closely walking. That is when we drew closer to Jesus
3rd set is only one set of footprints that is when decided to follow Jesus completely.
4th set is footprints going in all different directions; Jesus said “that is when we danced.”
Are we following in the footsteps of Jesus? Are we ready to bring the good news? Get ready feet, we need to walk.
Next comes the Shield.
The Shield is movable, the shield is to protect and defend. A Roman soldier couldn’t practically protect his entire body with armament (eyes, legs, forearms, etc.) Shield did protect...in any direction it was pointed. For years the standard in armor was a metal shield (Arrows bounced off) So the enemy came up with better arrows. (Cane hollow shaft, filled with combustible liquid, lit on the end. Shatter on impact, sending the "ancient napalm" everywhere. The liquid would get down in the cracks of the man’s armor and cook him alive!) Shields that stood against fiery darts were 4x2 ½, made of leather, wood, steel, water soaked . . . quench the arrows, suck them up.
After the siege of Dyrachium, Sceva counted over 220 darts that stuck into his shield. Paul told the Ephesian believer that their faith deflected the devils destructive darts. Faith is the protection we need against the Devil’s attacks. Faith helps build stronger homes, expose lies and helps us stand in the midst of the battle. It is faith in action and faith as a protector that is the shield. With such faith we can extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy.
Fire needs three elements in order to burn or destroy. It needs Heat, Air, and Fuel. The shield extinguishes the darts because faith takes away the fuel or the heat or the air of the devil’s empty promises and lies.
Now comes in the part from the ants. As we walk together, we also help shield one another, warn each other to danger around us. The Roman soldiers would march together and when the arrows of the enemy flew, the shields went up not only protecting the soldier holding the shield but protecting those around him. So it is with us, our faith held up together forms a formidable barrier, protecting one another from the attacks of the devil. This is why we need to fellowship, this is why we need each other.
Next week we continue with the armor, let us go out and practice with what we have.
