“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18
In Paul’s conclusion in his letter to the believers in Ephesus, he writes the following concerning standing: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:14) It has been said that”… truth is not mine until it becomes me.” The application concerning truth to the life is often proved, whether it has become “us” or not, by the stand, or taking of a position of faith, with regard to it. Indeed, the measure of one’s understanding of the truth, and one’s belief in it, having made it one’s own by faith, is declared and proven by standing. Why?
When one comes to Christ, there is an infinite “mountain” of truth that has become true in the life of the believer, that new man in Christ. Even though man is limited to a certain amount of time on this earth, it is a remarkable reality that the truth that is in Christ can, and can be, revealed in and through the life, if one walks in communion with Christ. It is during this walk, every day, that the believer is faced with what is true of this new man in Christ, what he is to be and to do. It is true that, while we are in these bodies, we have very real limits, and capacities. But again, that which is impossible to man is possible to God, to Christ the power of God in us. Faith is the key to the revelation, the manifestation, of the blessed life of Christ in His beauty, holiness, power and love. Also, marvel of marvels, even though we know Christ so little, it is when one walks by the Spirit, and is filled with the Spirit, that we are filled with Christ, not a part of Him, but the “fulness” that is in Christ. Hence, the measure of the unveiling of His person and nature, though limited by our flesh, is certainly more than we could ever ask or think, for the Lord does not give partially in Christ, as we are complete in Him. Why then is the matter of standing so very important?
Faith is key to the appropriation of Christ, and this according to the truth. The enemy of our souls knows this, and is ever seeking to attack that faith, weaken it, resisting it causing fear and doubt. Scripture is very clear when in the letter to the Hebrews we read: “For without faith, it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is he rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6) God’s enemy, and the believer’s also, Satan, knows this, ever seeking to destroy or dilute it with some form of compromise. In the book of Ephesians, Paul begins by laying out before the believer, for the ages to come, the great bedrock truths of what is now true of the believer in Christ. The irrevocable, unchangeable, and ever powerful word of TRUTH is presented to the believer to see, grasp, and to believe. As every eternal truth leads to Christ, who is the Beginning and the Ending, the Redeemer and only Savior of all men, the call of God is to trust Him fully, appropriating Christ for every need according to that truth. When truth has been seen, grasped, and the position taken to believe God regardless of circumstances or opposition, either physical or spiritual, then the “fight” ensues, or the battle is engaged upon.
In 2 Samuel, we find the story of Shammah, one of David’s mighty men. In confronting the Philistines, Scripture tells us that he took a position in a field of lentils, when the people fled from the Philistines. “But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” (23:11,12)
Dear Father, Make us to stand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.