If you are a Christian, you have been called to be a soldier of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:3-4), and as a soldier, you are commanded to put on the full armor of God.  In this post, I am going to concentrate on one specific element of that armor.  In Ephesians 6:15 you are told that you are supposed to have your feet shod with the gospel.  To be shod means to have your shoes nailed on.

Many people that go soul-winning do so only at certain times.  They put their shoes on for soul-winning day, but then take them off.  Our shoes are not to come off, that is why they are to be ‘shod.’  You should always be ready (2 Timothy 4:2) to share the gospel.  You should always be looking for lost souls.  Most Christians are only flip-flop soul-winners.  They slip their shoes on and then right back off again.

Are You A Barefoot Soldier?  If so, being barefoot will affect you in numerous ways:

• When barefoot walking will be painful
• Having bare feet will slow you down, causing you to walk gingerly
• When barefooted, your feet will be susceptible to injury
• While barefoot, you won’t be able to carry anything heavy
• If barefoot, you will only be able to think about yourself

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 against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. - Ephesians 6:10-20

It hurts to walk when you are barefooted

The first thing that you will notice about the barefoot soldier is that it hurts when you walk

 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. - Ezekiel 36:27

When you come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus, you will learn that there is a way that you should walk (carry yourself).  We know that we are not saved by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9,  Titus 3:5); however, once you have your sins forgiven, the Lord does expect you to do good works:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. - Titus 3:8

Walking should be natural

Walking should be as natural and necessary as breathing.  Most babies learn to walk by the time that they are 12 months old, but some Christians that have been saved for years, still have a hard time walking in the Spirit, and this is because they are not soul-winners.  The things in the Christian life that we should be able to do without even thinking about them become hard to do.

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; - Colossians 1:10-11

The Apostle Paul gives us a short list of what it means to walk in the Spirit, in the above passage:

• Be fruitful in every good work
• Increase in knowledge (by reading your Bible)
• Be patient (especially through trials)
• Be vigorous in long-suffering (concerning others)
• Be joyful through it all

If a person is not an active soul-winner, the simple act of walking becomes difficult and painful.

• Reading your Bible becomes hard to do
• Praying becomes hard to do
• Church attendance grows less critical to you

A soul-winner does not have a hard time studying their Bible.  They need to find verses to help them answer someone’s questions or to support a new convert in their growth.  A soul-winner does not find it hard to pray; they will find themselves closer to the Lord as they concentrate on the things that are important to Him.   A soul-winner wouldn’t want to miss a church service and miss the opportunity to learn how they can be more useful as a soul-winner, or to miss on the week that someone that they have been ministering to decides to attend.

When a Christian is a barefoot soldier, it is hard to even walk and do the simple routines of the Christian life.

Moving fast is difficult when you are barefooted

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. - Philippians 1:20

Boldness Lost

 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. - Acts 4:13

Easily Offended

The next thing that you will learn about the barefoot soldier is that they will be susceptible to injury.  Harm will come to your toes without the proper footwear.  How many times has someone in the church had their feelings hurt because the preacher or someone else stepped on their toes?  They get offended:

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. - Psalms 119:165

When you step on a soul-winners toes, it does not bother them, because they realize that it is not all about them.  The soul-winner realizes that there is a cause (1 Samuel 17:29).  It is about Jesus Christ, and it is about lost souls.

The mission is more significant than your feelings.  There are souls at stake.  When you don’t have your shoes on, you can only think of yourself.

Every Christian is at their worst when they are thinking about themselves, and every Christian is at their best when they are thinking about others.

A barefoot soldier can’t carry anything heavy

The last thing that we will discuss here is that the barefoot soldier won’t be able to bear anything heavy:

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. - Philippians 2:4

A barefoot soldier cannot even carry their weight, let alone the burden of anyone else.  A barefoot soldier can’t move another wounded soldier out of harm’s way.  They won’t be able to pick up someone else and help them; because they will be too busy thinking about themselves.

Shod your feet with the gospel

Those are just a few of the things that can happen to you if you go around barefoot.

Have you thrown a shoe?

Let me caution you from thinking that this may not apply to you.  Over time, even when you shod a horse, the shoe becomes worn down, and eventually, the horse will “throw a shoe.”  The horse doesn’t mean to throw the shoe;  it is not a willful or intentional act, it just happens.    Perhaps the horse has been walking a rough road, and the abrasiveness of that road has worn the shoe down until it finally has had enough and the shoe falls off.

A Christian can throw a shoe as well; there are things in life that can cause a shoe to be thrown off.  When that happens, get yourself re-shod and get back to soul-winning.

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.