Stand (Teaching Version)

Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

My topic this morning is, “Stand”. <PRAY>

Introduction

I’m grateful to have this opportunity so early in the new year to speak God’s Word into your lives. This year promises to be unique; a year of conflict & conquest. And while I know we’re more than happy to say good bye to 2023, can we take a moment to thank God for what He accomplished in us & through us- individually- last year?

Last year, you faced greater challenges than ever before. Everything went up- and not just the cost of groceries, but stress, pain and frustration; but also your prayer life, patience with people & intimacy with God. God used it- all of it- to launch us into the deep, to grow up and grow closer to Him. God began the process of pruning- a cutting back that is necessary for healthy growth. For your faith and purpose to live, something else had to die.

For me, 2023 will always be the year that cancer died and I didn’t. And I’m not the only one! Many of you have been fighting against cancerous situations- the enemy took something that was healthy & good and twisted it…it became an abnormal growth that threaten to take out health area of your life: your testimony, your ministry- even your very existence. But today we can declare, “With His stripes, healing has come to every area of my life. With His stripes, I am healed!”

Our faith was tested last year. May I remind you of the purpose of a test? The Lord revealed something interesting to me in Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us”. God is not trying to determine how strong your faith is- He already knows. The test is for you to find out just how strong you really are in Him- just how much weight you can handle.

The word “Weight (ὄγκον)” in Greek is literally translated, “bulk, mass”. It is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a person or an obstacle in general, most especially in reaching one’s goal. In the text, the racer who puts away everything which may slow him/her down, as it would cause unnecessary stress and difficulty in getting to the finish line- and not just making it in, but the goal is to get the trophy. Some of us are carrying too much weight:

You’re carrying too many relationships that only withdraw and never deposit {elab. we all have some, the issue is that some of you have too many};

You’re carrying your past and letting it define who you are today and what you will be tomorrow;

You’re carrying the carnal blessings you’ve been given and allowing them to block the Blesser.

Please note that not every weight is sinful- this is why Paul separate the two things, saying, “lay aside every weight (general) and every sin (specific) which hinders you”. How much you carry can be the difference between a blessing and a burden (i.e. food is good; too much is gluttony). Take some stuff out of that carry on- you won’t use it on this trip anyway, so avoid By His grace you’ll still get to your destination, but with greater difficulty, because you chose to carry more that you needed. Selah! [define the word]

The larger point is this: Our obstacles have weight to them. Yes, in some case we can move around it, or leap over it. But true victory is when you realize you have the strength to pick it up and lay it down where it belongs! Take it off, and move it out of the way! Tell your sin, “you will no longer impede me- through Christ I take hold of my authority- I am putting you in your place. You were a stumbling block, instead I make you my step stool. All things work together- you meant it for my evil, but God used it for my good! Take hold of your authority- lay it aside!

Main Text

Paul’s words to the Hebrews are echoed in his exhortation to the church in Galatia. He elaborates on his statement in verse one of this chapter just a few verses later, to explain what he means by, “For freedom Christ has set us free”, he says in Galatians 5:13–14 “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” He tells the church- local and universal, then and now- you were called to be free- and in that freedom you can choose to serve your flesh, or to serve one another in love, quoting Lev 19:18. This is not a random selection; Paul is a learned man, especially as it relates to Levitical laws. He would know that this commandment is in the middle of what I call the “I am the Lord” section of Leviticus, where God strengthens each command by reminding them- each and every time- who He is…who is giving them these commands in the first place. So it is no light thing that Paul essentially says, “everything that God has told you to do- the whole law- is satisfied when you do this one thing- love others the way you SHOULD love yourself. Time won’t permit me to dig too deep into that, but suffice it to say that central to our ability to love ourselves is to remember- not just who we are, but WHOSE we are. We are Imago Dei- made in the image of God as stated in Genesis- even if that image has be broken, defiled and rejected, it does not change its original state and purpose. Paul speak to the church the way Moses spoke to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:19“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,”

Paul is reminding us that we must choose- choose to be free, and choose to hold onto our reborn identity. Freedom is the God given right to choose.

But what will you do, after you have made your choice? Will you remain committed? Will you stand?

The word Paul uses here is 1 of 10 Greek words that are translated as “stand” or “stand firm” in the NT. Of 136 combined occurrences of these 10 words, histēmi (ἵστημι) is used 95 times stēkō (στήκω) is used only 9 times. Why does that matter? I believe it shows that Paul is being very specific in his vebage.

In the sense that Paul is conveying here, Standing is an ongoing effort to honor a prior commitment. To stand is to remain rooted, despite the elements which may try to move you. In other words, keep standing, no matter what comes next. Listen, I’m trying to prepare you for the next 11 months! I began this message by saying, “This year promises to be unique; a year of conflict & conquest.” God is fufilling His promises, but it will not go unchallenged. Israel didn’t walk into a vacant plot of land when they crossed the Jordan- there were people living there, and they weren’t giving up the land without a fight. The Lord is enlarging our territory- the question you should be asking is, who lives there now? What demonic power are we dethroning today? But before you cross over to take possession, you’d better steel your resolve- make up in your mind that I will stand- I will not bow to the pressure, I will not go back on my word- souls are at stake!

The question that must be answered is HOW do we stand?

Stand on the only firm foundation. Some of you have struggled in your Faith because it was built upon the wrong things. Your foundation is week. You must know God for yourself- not through a proxy. As rich as the Word of God is in this house, you had better be reading and praying for yourself. You cannot be spoon-fed anymore. Don’t you call a minister in this house before you call upon the Lord Himself- because that’s exactly what we are going to do! We lead you where He leads us- we can’t walk for you or carry you. I’ll simplify it futher: you must pray and study the Word. Full stop. Some of you are confused right now because you are barely reading the Bible and you’re in the last chapter of Dionetics; you read the Secret, but won’t read the secret revealed in God’s Word!

Matthew 7:24–26 ““Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”

2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His...”

1 Corinthians 10:4 “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”

Help me make this declaration, “This house will stand, because it stands on THE Rock- Christ Jesus!”

Stand in the gap. Intercession is a crucial element in our Christian walk, and it will be indispensible this year. Pray without anyone asking you to do it; pray before your children get in trouble; pray for those who are with you all the time and for those that you never see- and let your intercession be intentional. When an issue does arise in the house- when one of us is in need of a miracle, a breakthrough, this year there will be no “proportionate response” {ELAB>}. No- this year we will respond with overwhelming force- you mess with my health, and I’m headed straight to the ICU and declaring the Lord’s healing over EVERYONE; mess with a child, and I’m bringing Jesus to the entire school!

Stand up for the Truth. Be prepared to defend the Gospel, be bold & unashamed Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..” Defend His Gospel, and the Lord will defend you!

Stand aside and let God move. Please understand that you cannot stand in your own power and authority. Zechariah 4:6 “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies.”

Conclusion

If you’ve made up in your mind that you will STAND this year like never before, then help me publicly make these three declarations in conclusion of this message:

I will stand in my home- for my children, for my marriage, for my church family

I will stand for the Lord within the culture- I will not bow or back down the challenge comes. Jesus stood for me, I will stand for Him

I will stand in the freedom of Christ- yes, I will face temptation...I will make mistakes...yes, I feel like giving up- but I will let nothing convince me to return to Egypt. I remember what those chains felt like!

Whom the Son sets free is free indeed- all debts were paid, I owe you nothing, and I owe Him everything! Come what may, when you see me- it whatever condition you find me- you’ll find me STANDING!

*****PRAY- CALL THOSE IN NEED TO THE ALTAR*****