Couragious ManHood - Stand Firm in the Faith
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Stand Firm
Stand Firm
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 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 firm.
To Stand firm we must start with realizing what it takes to stand firm. Yes, this passage points to the “whole or full armor of God” and the Apostle Paul is exactly right. But to look at what it means to stand firm in the faith, I feel like it’s imperative to first look at what it might look like to falter in our faith.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Another way to look at the word “lean” is to rest. Where does your heart rest, in your own common sense, or in the fear of the Lord. Listen to what Author Chip Dodd says about fear.
Chip Dodd, The Voice of the Heart Chapter 7 Fear
Fear brings us strength. It is the feeling that allows us to experience risk, trust, dependency, collaboration, and, ultimately, wisdom because it helps us realize our need for help.
This statement may sound contrary to everything you've ever heard about fear. For many of us, fear equals weakness or we see it as an influence that makes us act in doubt and distrust in relationship, which makes us hid our fear. In our fear of fear, we continually demand guarantees and are overly controlling in any risk we take.
But if we admit our fear, it can produce remarkable benefits. We discover that fear can be about assertion and prevention. If in the face of fear, we can recognize our need for help, we find great opportunity.
Fear can motivate you to reach out for help, risk your heart with your need, and trust others for assistance. Fear can help you depend upon others for their skill and willingness, and can help you collaborate with others for mutual gain. If you express fear truthfully, you can gain wisdom through the experience.
Unfortunately, too man of us answer fear by silencing its voice. We run from risk, eliminate trust, hide our dependency, and become fretful and controlling about collaboration. Fear offers the opportunity to trust God and others with our need for help, or it entices us to stay stuck in distrust and self will.
Acknowledging our fear offers new relational experiences and initiates the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is essential to full life and it begins by listening to fear. Wisdom develops from a keen understanding of human nature coupled with a deeply experienced awareness of spiritual truth.
verse 7 says Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
What keeps us from standing firm is times in our lives when we want to fear man rather than fear God. When we want to rest in our own common sense or “street smarts” that helps us survive and manipulate. Survival keeps us enslaved to self-reliance and keeps us away from admitting need or deficiency. We aren’t enough in and over ourselves. It also causes us to avoid true intimacy. In to me you see. When we acknowledge that we aren’t enough, that we have need, we learn not to trust in ourselves but in the Lord. We learn that His ways are best and not mine. We learn through the journey that He can be trusted and he will make my paths straight if I will just allow the fear of the Lord to convince me that his way is best. As verse 8 says, “it will be healing to y our flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
To Persevere
To Persevere
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ever notice that the words learn and lean are one letter off? One letter stands between resting and pressing in to what God has for you. Discipline is learning. God disciplines those that he loves. So, we can either embrace that discipline or we can reject it and just rest in our own understanding.
Belt of truth
Breastplate of righteousness
Shoes
Shield of faith
Helmet
Sword of salvation
Prayer
What Paul/God is saying is that each of these is imperative to stand firm. But why is it that God wants us to stand firm? Why not charge into battle kicking butt?
In the book of Exodus 14 we see the Israelites camping by the Red Sea and Pharos army shows up ready to run them down and run them through. Look at Exodus 14.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.
Finally, when the Lord tells the Israelites to move forward, other translations say to brake camp, its because he is calling them to pull up the tent stakes where they’ve been camped out and step out in faith. I guarantee you that there was some fear involved, but to step out in faith you have to fear the Lord. We see this same promise in 2 Chronicles 20 where King Jehosaphat is faced with a mighty army made up of three kingdoms. it’s only when They have admitted the truth of their situation
12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
and in the midst of the King’s Praise, thanksgiving and worship, God told him this.
15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
Keep One’s Standing
Keep One’s Standing
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.