THE BELIEVER STANDS!

EPHESIANS 6:14-15: “Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.”

OBSERVATION: What does a believer do when angry people storm the streets protesting the very values that they hold dear? What does a believer do when the world mocks and positions itself in anger against the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross? What does a believer do when they are marginalized in a culture that applauds evil and scorns good?

THE BELIEVER STANDS!

This may seem like a passive response to the craziness we see happening all around us. While others are flooding the streets, burning cars, and waving angry signs while shouting with virulence, is the believer to do the same? Are we to match the world’s anger with our own? While this is the natural human response that we are tempted to adopt, it is not the proper response for a believer. What does the believer do?

THE BELIEVER STANDS!

Listen to Paul’s opening words as he writes to the Ephesian Christians about the battle they are facing and God’s call to them in responding to this battle.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.”Ephesians 6:11-13

Paul calls the believer in Christ to put on the full armor of God. Like David, facing Goliath, we cannot put on the clanky and rusty armor of the world. Our battle is not to be fought with torches and acts of violence. These are not a part of God’s armor. Our enemies are not the people we see standing in opposition to the truth of God’s Word. Our enemies are the spiritual forces behind these acts of anger and violence that oppose God’s Word.

If we do not put on the whole armor of God we will be tempted to respond with the clanky armor of our old nature. Yet, we cannot win a battle against the enemy of our souls with anger and violence. When tempted to do this we play right into his hand and become the very thing we stand against. Paul does not call us to charge ahead with a sword in hand. Paul calls us to put on the whole armor of God – and take a stand!

THE BELIEVER STANDS!

Paul uses these words, “…so that you can stand,”“…to take your stand,”“Stand therefore…”When one has already become victorious they do not charge ahead to fight. Rather, one who is victorious takes a stand! They stand upon the mountain of victory and rest. The battle is over. The victory is won. There is no need to be pulled into the fray.

THE VICTOR STANDS!

Jesus Christ has won the battle against the principalities and powers in heavenly places. When He died on the Cross, he descended into Hades and proclaimed victory to the captives who were in Abraham’s bosom waiting for the promise of Messiah. When He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven He sat on the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus’ victory is our victory. We don’t enter into this victory through striving. We enter into His victory through faith!

“Because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5

THE BELIEVER BELIEVES AND TAKES A STAND!

How do we take this stand in faith? We stand on God’s truth. We stand in faith. We stand ready to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We stand in the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. We stand ready to give an answer to everyone who calls into question our hope in Christ. We stand in the victory or the Cross. We stand in the assurance of salvation. We stand positioned to pray – “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We stand ready to suffer for righteousness.

THE BELIEVER STANDS IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST!

It is love, perfect love, that won the victory on the Cross of Calvary! Jesus overcame the enemy without a struggle, resting in the assurance of His Father’s will and truth. It was the power of His obedience, the surrender of His love, that overcame all the principalities and powers that focused their hatred and anger against Him. When He hung on the cross Jesus took a stand in love when He cried, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”

Love always conquers hate. Truth always dispels falsehood. Light always overcomes darkness. While the world rages on the army of God stands firm in the love of Christ. The believer stands in the strength of Christ and never in the strength of their actions or power. The battle is the Lord’s and the Cross proclaims that the victory has been won. The believer enters into this victory and leads others to Christ,

AS THE BELIEVER TAKES A STAND IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS LOVE!

Lord, grant me the grace to put on the full armor of God and to take my stand. May I stand in faith, in love, and Your truth. May I stand and proclaim the Good News of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to resist the pull to put on my old clunky armor and fight in my strength. Give me the grace to take on Your Full Armor and having done so – TO STAND!

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” I Corinthians 16:13-14

In Jesus’ Name!