Stand Firm, Therefore

Stand firm; therefore, (Ephesians 6:14) is a statement that we need to have at the top of our vocabulary. We need to turn this scripture into a daily affirmation: I am standing firm on the truth of God’s Word and holding my ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around my waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart). It’s been an interesting week for some of us, and it’s about to get more interesting. It’s time to stand on what we know to be truth (Remember, there are no versions of the truth).

What are we standing on?

1. The Word of God ~ Scripture is described as a solid foundation for life and faith. Believers are called to stand on God’s promises and truths:

• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

2. Faith ~ Standing firm in faith is a recurring theme, especially in the face of challenges:

• “Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men (and women) and be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
• “For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

3. The Armor of God ~ Believers are told to “stand” while wearing the full armor of God to resist spiritual attacks:

• “Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
• “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart).” (Ephesians 6:14)

4. Grace ~ God’s grace provides strength to stand:

• “Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].” (Romans 5:2)

5. The Gospel ~ Standing on the truth of the Gospel is essential for living a life of purpose and sharing the good news:

• “Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith].” (1 Corinthians 15:1)

6. Righteousness ~Standing firm in righteousness aligns believers with God’s will:

• “The righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.” (Psalm 112:6)

7. The Rock (Christ Himself) ~ Jesus is often referred to as the cornerstone or the rock on which believers build their lives:

•  “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22)

As I have repeatedly stated, Warfare is inevitable; we must learn strategies with which to fight. We are not fighting a natural war; we are warring against the supernatural. Pick up your weapons and stand firm; therefore.