Stand Firm or do not Stand at All

Theme

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." – Eph 6:11

 "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." – Eph 6:13

Why Stand Firm

1.      1 Corinthians 15:58
"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

2.     1 Corinthians 16:13
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

3.     "Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

4.    Philippians 4:1
"Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved."

5.     1 Peter 5:9
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

This is a mere sampling of scriptures, all of which you should review in your Bible for context, to remind and/or begin your Spirit mind towards Standing Firm and why. Remember, our LORD is the LIGHT of the world and as HIS dedicated followers we are to let our LIGHT shine in all that we do. Be the LIGHThouse for your neighborhood, work or school, community activities and not least for your family and friends.

How to Stand Firm

1.      Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”

2.     Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

3.     2 Thess 2:14-17 “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. ¹⁶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, ¹⁷ Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Being FAITHful is how we stand firm! Again, read and meditate over the sited scriptures in context.

Even from the Days of old in the Hebrew Scriptures [Old Testament]

1.      Joshua 23:6-7 “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;” Joshua 23:1 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.”

2.     Jeremiah 4:1-2 ““If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord. “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, ² and if in a truthful, just and righteous way  you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”

Examples Issues which test our Stand

There are six things the Lord hates,  seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷         haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹         a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. – Pro 6:16-19

“…“You shall not murder…You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor…” Ex 20:1-17

“²² “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely^[e] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. ²³ But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”—Ex 21:22-25

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” – Gen 9:6 àThis is discussing accidental abortion of a developing baby. Can you fathom a deliberate abortion?

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Cor 6:9-10

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” – Rev 22:14-15

Notice a recurring theme? This is merely a sampling of verses from the ‘Old/Hebrew’ Scriptures and the ‘New/Greek’ scriptures. The Christian must be conscientious about standing firm in honoring those things GOD hates and those things which will not be found in the Kingdom of GOD.

1.      Lies

2.     Wicked Schemes/Conflict

3.     Murder

When to Stand Firm?

At all times! GODly Principles have no expiration date nor any exemption. In fact, clearly Jesus’s apostles and followers chose to STAND FIRM right to the ‘supreme justices’ of their day.

Acts 5:27-39

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things,and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” ³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Call to action:

There are any number of issues facing the worldwide Christian Church. Remembering Jesus commissioned his apostles, disciples, followers at Matt 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The church has performed its commission, and to this day is still performing. There are Christians in most every nation. In some areas they are required to be truly as ‘cautious as a dove’ lest they be captured, tortured and murdered but the world over they are daily proving their faith by Standing Firm for GOD. Can we do less? Those of us who live in relative freedom? Do we share our Christian belief despite controversial topics that often may curry disrespect, disregard, even punitive responses?

James writes in the entire first chapter of his books words that follow this theme:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Please take a moment to pray and then read the first chapter of James. Of course, there are many such sayings written by Peter and Paul and truly reading those would be beneficial too in STANDING FIRM and all the more as we behold the day drawing near. 2 Tim 3; 2 Pet 3; Heb 10:25b

If you are having difficulties in standing firm please pray unceasing and in earnest for the strength, insight and wisdom needed to obey GOD as ruler rather than man. It may cost each of us our lives but can we expect less from those who murdered our LORD?  † 

 Bibles Designations

KJV – King James Version

NIV – New International Version

NWT – New World Translation

ASV -- American Standard Version

 DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

©Lightwritingmatters 2015