Ephesians 6:14-15
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
The focal point of the battle is how we stand strong in peace and trust God in the heat of the battle. The gospel of peace deeply affects how we deal with the circumstances of life. Rather than feeling victimized by events, the gospel of peace transforms the way we see and respond to the situations that we face. It allows us to look beyond any circumstance that confronts us to see the greater purpose of God in our life.
The peace that Jesus gives does not refer to the absence of conflict. It is not about “peaceful circumstances.” Rather, it is about a Spirit-empowered inner peace—a condition of heart and mind—that allows us to see and respond effectively to whatever event or situation we may be facing.
This is the peace that Paul speaks about in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace of God is not based on circumstances, so it doesn’t always make sense to the unsaved mind.
Paul says it is a peace that surpasses comprehension. It doesn’t seem reasonable that such peace could exist in the midst of the problems and troubles Christians go through. But this is divine, supernatural peace; it cannot be figured out on a human level.
And that is why Paul says in Ephesians that the gospel of peace is the essential foundation for spiritual warfare. If we are standing strong from a position of peace, we do not overreact when the enemy attacks. We stay calm, focused, alert, and aware. No matter what is happening, we stand firm and hold our point.
It is the biblical “Get Your Mind Right.” The quality of your inner response (condition of heart and mind) determines the quality of your outer response (action/behavior). If we see a situation through the lens of fear, anger, frustration, and complaining, we will react to the situation directed by the emotions of fear, anger, frustration, and complaining.
But if our mind/heart is in a condition of inner peace—calm, confident, focused—then we will see the same situation through an entirely different lens, and our response will be much more effective.
As I wrote yesterday, it is through the gospel of peace that the guilt of the past is forgiven, the challenges of the present are overcome, and our destiny in the future is eternally secured. It is through the gospel of peace that we live by vision, not by circumstance. The gospel of peace is the necessary foundation for victory in spiritual warfare.
Trust God, do the work, and stand strong in the gospel of peace.
Coram Deo
