Stand in victory

There are so many actions that can be described by the word. Likewise, the word sit or lay down can have various meanings as well. Let’s say that for the extent of this blog they will both refer to merely one meaning respectively. In the case I want to talk about I’m going to be referring to the form of standing that Paul was writing about in Ephesians 6:11-14, with sitting being the direct opposite. Verse 11 says to put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil. I think the Holy Spirit has given him some revelation on not only our intentions in spiritual warfare, but to Satan’s as well. If he exhorts us to armor up so that we may be able to stand then apparently that is his desire for us. That we may be able to stand. Stand in the sense of not backing down from adversity. Stand as not sitting idley by when injustice and evil rule the lives of the people around. Stand up to fight and not cowardly lay down in the presence of our enemies; but rather fulfill Psalm 23:5 and eat at the table that the Lord has prepared for us in the presence of our enemies.

Ephesians 6:13 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. Oh the depth of that statement! Paul did not expect the Ephesians to stand still in one place all day long. As a Christian, we have placed our feet firmly on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. We have built our houses on this solid rock which shall not be moved. As long as we are STANDING in the grace of God (Romans 5:2) it places a hedge around us that protects us (see Job 1:10) Satan can’t touch us unless we break the hedge (Ecclesiastes 10:8) or Satan petitions God to remove the hedge for us to be tempted. These are a few of the wiles of Satan. God does not allow us to be tempted above that which we can handle and always gives us an escape (2 Corinthians 10:13). Satan petitioned God for everything he held dear, all for the sake of having something he could accuse Job of. This man suffered these things so that we could see clearly into how the cunning serpent operates. His ultimate goal would be to destroy our relationships with God, by stealing and killing (John 10:10). He seeks to remove the only true righteousness man can receive, which is faith in God. However, through standing in the grace of God, we can withstand the evil of the day all for the sake of glorifying the Living God.

I felt like the Holy Spirit gave me a great example of this example earlier today, although it does go in a little different direction while still employing the purpose of standing. Picture it like this: 2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Think of the strongholds as a castle or a fort. These castles are the dark areas of our heart or the things we struggle with in our flesh. They are strongholds built and controlled by Satan. Have you ever noticed a wall or something that gets in the way of grasping something like God’s love for us? Maybe it’s something that’s an area of sin that you can’t get past. When we sin (fall short of what the law requires) Satan has legal right by God’s word to punish us. This is the truth about what goes that we can only see if the god of this world is no longer blinded our eyes ( 2 corinthians 4:4). All these strongholds we have inside can be formed over a lifetime or a bitter root that forms over night. But now, the arm of the LORD hath not waxed short (Isaiah 59:1). This debt that we continually owe for our sin has already been paid. We are immediately forgiven as is the joy of our Father to do when we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9). When we confess our sins God is faithful to cleanse us of all our unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. Every time Satan is accusing us to our Father, Jesus saves us. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for us 1 John 4:10. Which means he has the POWER to attone for our sins leaving us free! Jesus paid it all so all to him we owe. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God Romans 12:1-2.

Remember the game of king of the hill? Think about there being countless hills that you have to remain on top for 30 seconds to plant your flag or banner of victory on top. As long as your flag is there you control it. However, all the enemy has to do is uproot your flag and plant his by simply controlling the mountain. Sometimes we just need to stand above our territory and remain vigilant and sober and alert. We have to stand and be aware of the plans and actions of our enemy in our own land while we seek to be more than conquerors in new territory (Romans 8:37). Thankfully the Holy Spirit is in charge of us at this point. We simply have to heed his warnings and obey our Lord and his word. Quench not the Spirit 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

Standing is victory