‭Ephesians 6:10-14: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”.  NKJV

OBSERVATION:  Am I taking a stand?  Is my life positioned as a witness for Jesus Christ?  Is my light shining brightly or is it hidden under a bushel basket out of fear of reprisal?  When I take a stand, when I have to withstand, will I find myself still able to stand?

I am struggling to understand what it means to take a stand in today’s culture.  How do I balance the call to love with the call to stand fast in the truth?  I certainly don’t want to be one of those who are standing on the street corner yelling to everyone who passes by – “Repent or go to Hell!”  Yet, is it the same mistake to simply hide in my silence as the world passes by?

In Paul’s teaching on our spiritual armor, I am usually focused on contemplating each individual piece of armor.  Yet, this time when I read it I was struck by how many times in the opening verses Paul calls us to stand.

• Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
• Stand therefore…

The Greek word translated to stand and withstand comes from the root word histemi.  It can mean to take a stand or to be caused to stand.  Paul is telling us that we need to take a stand against the crafty and deceitful plans of the enemy.  It is our spiritual armor that will equip us and cause us to be able to stand in the evil day.  We are to stand and take a stand.  One is a call to defense and one is a call to offense.  We are not called to hide in a bunker.   We are God’s infantry and we have been placed on the front lines.

Our armor is not of this world.  It is not by our cunning or persuasion that we win the battle we face.  It is in the power of the Holy Spirit and with the weapons of faith that we engage in this battle.  Paul calls us to stand, reminds us of our spiritual armor that causes us to stand and withstand, and affirms that if we take on the full armor of God we will stay standing!

While my thoughts are not on the individual pieces of the armor, it is good to give a summary listing of them.

• Truth
• Righteousness (Christ’s righteousness)
• The Gospel
• Faith
• Assurance of salvation
• The Word of God
• Prayer (in and by the Spirit)

I think of David when he went to fight Goliath.  Saul gave him a complete set of physical armor.  David put these on but could not move in them.  It was not the armor God desired for the battle David was about to face.  David’s battle against Goliath was won in the Spirit.  It was not his shepherd’s slingshot that won the day.  It was David’s faith and trust in God.  Our call, our victory, our ability to withstand and stand in this evil day is the same.

When I was a small boy I had a Bozo the Clown punching bag.  When I hit it, it would bounce backward and then bounce back up to a full upright position.  It did not matter how hard I hit it and how many times it bounced back and forth.  It would always come back to a full-standing position.  I need to be like this punching bag.  Many times I feel like a punching bag.  Yet, if I take up the full armor of God I will…

• Stand,
• Be able to withstand,
• Be made to stand,
• And continue to stand!

Lord, help me to stand in Your great grace!  Help me to put on the full armor You have given to me through the Holy Spirit and STAND!

In Jesus’ Name!