Stand Therefore!

[Luke Hendrickson]

STAND THEREFORE !

[Eph 6:10-14 KJV] 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil. 12 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]. 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. 14 STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS;

It is never by our own strength and power that we are delivered and win the victory. It is because of what JESUS has already done for us. We must however do our part in receiving and putting on all the armour available to us in Christ JESUS.

We must learn to stand or take a stance against anything that is contrary to what the Bible says has been provided for us in Christ. We must take a firm stand with strong Biblical convictions that we will not give up no matter how much peer pressure is coming at us. If the Bible said it was sin then, it is still sin now. We must not compromise Biblical principles in order to be accepted by a liberal society, we must take a stance.

If we have believed that by His stripes we are healed and have taken a stance WE NEVER GIVE UP THAT STANCE WE STAND THEREFORE. If we believe that we have been made the righteousness of GOD in Christ JESUS and have taken a stance, WE NEVER GIVE UP THAT STANCE. The word stand is used three times in these previous verses the word withstand is used one time. The point should be clear, we must take a stand and never quit standing or give up our position on Biblical principles.

If the devil is going to have an in road into our lives it will be through deception and trickery or as the KJV says “wiles”. Notice it does not say “the power of the devil” it says “the wiles of the devil”. As Christians we have been given power over the devil in The Name of JESUS.

[Luk 10:19 KJV] 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The power JESUS has given to us supersedes all the power of the devil. We must understand this and take a stance on this promise. In order for the devil to have an in road he must get us to agree with his deception or “wiles”. He has to get us to believe a lie in some form to have access to us. When we believe the devil`s lies we have disregarded the belt of truth that we are to be girded with. Everything hinges off the first piece of armour listed, the belt of Truth. We must know the truth in order to recognize what is false. In order to know the truth that sets us free we must CONTINUE in The Word of GOD. [JOHN 8:31-32]

People are never our problem. Although there are many false teachers, they are not who we are fighting against in a physical way. We are fighting a spiritual battle against the wicked spirits influencing them. We must be very watchful about some new revelation that a lot of people may be excited about. If it does not line up with The Word of Truth we must take a stance and reject it. Sometimes it is not a new thing, sometimes it may be a tradition of men hundreds of years old. Regardless if it is new or old if it is contrary to the Bible we must take a stance and reject it. When we take any stance we must take that stance in Love even for our enemies. We cannot let any wind blow us in the wrong direction or straddle the fence in compromise.

[Eph 4:14-15 KJV] 14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:

Once again I say that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, we are fighting evil spirits. In Genesis we see prime examples of the devil`s deception. We definitely see it with Adam and Eve, and also with Cain their first born son. Cain`s problem was not with his brother Abel. The devil however was able to convince Cain that his own brother was the problem, in so much that Cain killed his brother Abel. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. The Bible does not record Abel doing anything wrong personally to Cain. Abel brought a blood sacrifice that was acceptable to GOD, Cain did not. Cain let jealously, pride, envy and hatred subdue him, have dominion over him then he committed the first murder. Cain was deceived, he was tricked by the “wiles of the devil”.

Let`s talk about having on the breastplate of righteousness; This is not speaking of our own righteousness. The Bible plainly says our righteousness is as filthy rags, and there none righteous no not one.

[Isa 64:6 KJV] 6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

[Rom 3:10 KJV] 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

We are NOT depending on our own righteousness we are depending on JESUS CHRIST making us righteous! We must take a stance against anyone that would call us unrighteous or say that we are still just old sinners. We must have on the breastplate of HIS righteousness. In a natural battle the breastplate covers the most vital organs including the heart and all the inward parts of the belly. If you want to be vulnerable to kill shots from the enemy, deny that JESUS has made you righteous and deny you have been given HIS breastplate of righteousness. If you are going into battle you better have own ALL of your armour.

[2Co 5:21 KJV] 21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [1Jo 1:9 KJV] 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Phl 3:9 KJV] 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [Rom 5:19 KJV] 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [Jas 5:16 KJV] 16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. [1Jo 2:29 KJV] 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. [1Jo 3:7, 12 KJV] 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ... 12 Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

If we insist on saying that we are STILL practicing sinners we have been tricked and are open for attacks.

[Pro 18:7-8, 10 KJV] 7 A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. ... 10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

We have all made mistakes in these areas, but there is Grace and forgiveness in Christ, LOVE TO ALL!