Standing Firm

Standing Firm
by Don Vess
 
Last week I spoke about shutting the door on the devil. Devil, Diabalos: means The Penetrator. Devil is a “job description of our enemy Satan (Satanos: Grk- accuser, deceiver) for that is what he does. 1 Pet. 5:8 says, “he goes about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” That someone could be you, if you open your mind to him and believe his lies or fall for his deceptive schemes.

The #1 scheme the devil uses is perhaps “unforgiveness” that is why Jesus says we must forgive in order to be forgiven. Matt. 6:14-15 NLT- “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Also Eph. 4:32 NLT … be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, JUST AS GOD THROUGH CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN YOU.

The following verse in 1 Peter 5 is verse 9 and tells how to handle the devil- Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
 
One of the greatest Old Testament examples of someone who stood firm in the battle is found in 2 Sam. 23:8-10 NASB- These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Joshebasshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of the eight hundred slain by him at one time; 9 after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. 10 He arose (He STOOD UP!) and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung (stuck to) the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day: and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.
 
We are living in a time when many are giving up on their faith. Or they are leaving churches and moving to another when there is a trial or things aren’t going to their liking. There are many examples of people just giving up out of a sense of fear or doubt has crept in as the devil has penetrated their thought process and planted seeds of doubt and confusion in the mind causing them to shrink back in fear.
 
Peter tells the believers in his letter to “resist the devil STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH!”
Since the Word of God is Sword of the Spirit, we need to use it and hold on to it firmly, just as Eleazar did, until it is stuck in our spirit, and we use it until we win our battles.
 
Paul told the church at Ephesus: Eph 6:10-18 NLT- A final word: BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to STAND FIRM AGAINST ALL THE STRATEGIES OF THE DEVIL. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle YOU WILL STILL BE STANDING FIRM. 14 STAND YOUR GROUND, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil. (Where is the devil aiming?- He’s aiming at YOUR SOUL- Your (Grk). Psuche- Latin: psyche). He wants to get into your head as it is the control center of your body! So, you must know your position in Christ---17 Put on Salvation as your helmet, and take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD.
 
Col. 1:1-23 Amp- And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, 22 yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 [and He will do this] IF you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.
 
We have to have a MADE-UP mind that we are going to STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH!
We are living in the time that Paul wrote to Timothy about in 2 Tim. 3 NASB- But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come…

We are living in the last days. Things are getting more and more difficult, especially for Christians! The world has always hated those who truly stand for Christ but now the world is steadily becoming more and more hostile to anyone who stands for Christ. Christians are being persecuted all over the world and that persecution is only going to intensify. We must prepare to STAND! The writer of Hebrews wrote, Heb. 12:25-29 TPT- Make sure that you never refuse to listen to God when He speaks! For the God who spoke on earth from Sinai is the same God who now speaks from heaven. Those who heard Him speak His living Word on earth found nowhere to hide, so what chance is there for us to escape if we turn our backs on God and refuse to hear His warnings as He speaks from heaven? 28 The earth was rocked at the sound of His voice from the mountain, but now He has promised, “Once and for all I will not only shake the systems of the world, but also the unseen powers of the heavenly realm!” 27 Now this phrase, “once for all” clearly indicates the removal of things that are shaking, that is, the old order, so only what is unshakeable will remain. 28 Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom, we should be extremely thankful and offer to God the purest worship that delights His heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe. 29 For our God is a holy, devouring fire!”  
 
There is currently a “Holy Shaking” going on in the Kosmos: World’s System, or “Order of the universe, or present order of things.”

Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 what will happen upon Christs return. He then goes on in Chapter 5 to say—1 Thess. 5:1-11 NLT- 5 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep, and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

It is so much easier to stand together than to attempt to stand alone. We need the encouragement and strength of our fellow believers to help us. Ecc 4:9-12 NLT- Two are better off than one, for they can help each other to succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close to each other can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
David and Eleazar were great examples of this passage. They stood together, back-to-back in a field and killed over 1000 Philistine enemies and achieved a major victory as they STOOD FIRM and didn’t give up. That is what it takes to gain victory sometimes in our lives. Stand Firm and Stand Together!

Confession: I am a blood-bought believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has conquered the power of the enemy. Therefore, I will not yield to the devil nor fall prey to his devices. I will stand my ground and defeat him at every turn by the power of the Word of blood and by the word of God. I will keep my armor on and my mind alert at all times. I will stand together with my fellow believers as I draw support from them and receive their support during times of struggle. I will walk in the Spirit and not yield to my flesh as I stay submitted to God. have a made-up mind and have set my sights on reaching the goals that God has set for me that will lead me into my God-given destiny! Amen!