In recent weeks I have been learning to “Stand”  again, due to my diseases, it is very difficult for me to stand. I am unstable on my feet, my balance is not good, and easy for me to fall without warning at times. I need to learn to stand …again! My home care physical therapist has me doing some exercises to try strenghten the muscles I have left. One of the exercises I started off and  could “stand” for two minutes at a time, recently  working up to six minutes .

I have a walker {Zimmer frame} just in front of me so if I need to hold on I can and inches behind me is a comfortable chair in case I lose my balance I can fall back in. You would think standing for two minutes would be easy, and for those who can it is! For those who have learned to stand over the years it is. But when your starting again its not so easy- and two minutes can seem like two hours, as I try strengthen my muscles and keep my balance, in order to learn to STAND without wavering. It’s a learning curve.

Paul in Ephesians 6:11- writes to the followers of Christ and tells them of their need to “stand,” he’s not speaking physically but as an illustration using the physical realm to speak of the spiritual realm to “stand,” be stable.  And it has to do with dealing with life in the spiritual realm.

Paul puts it this way, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”-{Ephesians 6:11-14}

The Enemies Methods

Note the phrase “STAND FIRM,” and in verse 11 it is in the realm of spiritual warfare, notably “the Schemes of the devil.” The word “schemes” -“methodeia”- which is the root word of our English word “Method,”- “a predictable {preset} method used in organized evil doing {well crafted trickery}“-{Helps lexicon }.

The devil is not some cartoon character in a red suit with two horns and a tail, but the Bible speaks of him as a real evil being who hates God and those whom He has created namely people like… me and ….you!

Note in the verses he has schemes, preset methods, organized evil, according to verse 11. The foe is real, he infiltrates all walks of life, with lies, ideologies, despair, hopelessness, promoting pride, self-exaltation, false religions. Jesus said of the devil, ” the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. “-{John 10:10}. Jesus says that satan is a thief, liar, murderer, that is his “method” to lie to us, steal from us what God would have for us in regards truth, and seek to kill us. Jesus says in Matthew 13:19 -“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. ” When people hear the Word of God- the Gospel- the evil one comes to snatch away the Word from the hearer through distractions, the cares of this world. Distract the mind, indeed offer a “substitute” to the person. Like the wealthy barn builder in Luke 12:40- whom Jesus speaks of who was so concerned with all he had and building another barn to store all his stuff, that Jesus calls him a “fool, “as his mind and heart was so fixed on the earthly he gave no attention to where he would spend eternity. Jesus said “this night your soul will be provided.” The “fool” gives so attention to his own soul!

Paul said in Philippians 3:18-19 said “…For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.” Their mind is fixed on temporal things.

The evil one appeals to people to focus on the here and now to the neglect of their own soul and indeed “the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.-{1 Corinthians 1:18}. “…among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”-{2 Corinthians 4:4}

Paul in Ephesians 6;12 lists that is not people who are the enemy but the enemy behind them namely…”..the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

HOW TO  “STAND FIRM” – How can the follower of Christ “STAND FIRM”.

1.- “STAND FIRM” IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE AN ENEMY.

2.- “STAND FIRM” IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE POWER YOU HAVE! Verse 11 and verse 13 Paul twice says ” The full armor of God…” you have the power, he says “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

“SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE” in other words you have the ability to “RESIST ON THE EVIL DAY.” There are days that are evil… pure evil, when your mind is attacked, when the evil one uses others, but God has given you the ABILITY TO STAND in the Victory of the RESURRECTED LORD JESUS CHRIST…. using His TRUTH- THE WORD OF GOD.

3.- “STAND FIRM” ON THE WORD OF GOD.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5-“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, ”

Jesus did in Matthew 4 when three times when tempted by the devil said “IT IS WRITTEN…IT IS WRITTTEN…IT IS WRITTEN”, In 1 John 2:14  we read that the spiritua;;y young men in the faith overcome the evil one, by knowing and APPLYING the Word of God.

So Paul tells them to “stand firm…” We do so by Knowing we have an enemy, but Christ has defeated Him and He is our Power. We “Stand firm,” by knowing the Truth of what God says in his Word And living a righteous life. It’s not enough to know truth but to apply it to your own life… and you will spiritually “stand…” as you understand you are in a battle, evil days, against a wicked foe, but one who is defeated by the life, death, resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ. Understand He is your Power. Know and Apply the Truth, and the more you do the more you will “stand firm.”

We don’t always get it right do we, but thank God when we fail or sin, His blood continually cleanses us from all unrighteousness and we can get up again and “stand firm” and where we have been deceived, believed a lie, we can be thankful His Word and Spirit lead and guide us in the way that is right for His Sake. As I am learning to “stand” again in the physical realm, and building up my strength to try do so, so in the spiritual realm we too are learning to “stand firm” and the difference? I am not sure my body, my legs are strong enough for me but in the Spiritual realm we have all the power we need to do so as Ephesians 6:11-13 says so.

I’m learning to stand again in the physical realm and also learningto “stand firm “ in the spiritual realm, by His grace.

“STAND FIRM” not in your own strength but in the power of the LORD…. knowing truth and applying it in living right, according to God’s Word.

ASSIGNMENT; Take time and read each Bible reference mentioned to allow the Holy Spirit speak to you and strengthen your faith and also so you may help others.

“STAND FIRM…” Because you can 🙂

Hope this will encourage you.

God bless,

Aidan.