Faith# 9

     Today we’re going to continue on the subject of faith. The title of today’s message is called “Keep standing.” Last weak we ended the teaching on the “Full Cycle of Faith.” In short that teaching said that faith has eyes, it sees something. It sees the end result, the promises of God. Faith also has a mouth, it going to say something. It says the same thing that the promises of God says. 3rd, faith has action. It’s going to respond as though you know the Word of God to be true.

     I. Now there have been times that People have come up to me and said, “I’ve done all that.”

              A. “I’ve meditated on the Word of God and I know that I am healed according to God’s own Word.”

                        1. They say that they only confess the Word of God concerning (or over their) this situation.

                        2. And they say they act as though they were healed.

                                a. But there’s only 1 problem, there’re still sick.

                                b. They ask, “What do I do now?”

              B. Faith does have vision, it does speak and it does act, but it also stands.

                        1. Turn with me to EPH 6:10-17.

                                a. When you have seen the image in your heart, confessed the Word of God, and you’re acting accordingly, but things haven’t changed, you need to put on the Armor of God and stand.

                        2. Go back to EPH 6:13-14 again.

                                a. The NIV says it this way, (Ephesians 6:13-14) “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”

                                          i. (V13) says, “So put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand.”

                                          ii. Then he goes on to say, “When you have done everything to stand, stand, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” (KJV)

                                b. In other words he says, “So put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand, when you have done everything to stand, stand having on the armor of God.”

                        3. Now you don’t just put on the armor of God by saying it or even act like you are putting on a helmet or a breastplate.

                                a. Those things make for a good reminder for us to put on the armor, but they are just symbols.

                        4. What is the armor of God?

                                a. The 1st 1 mentioned is found in (V 14) “Having your loins girt about with truth.” belt of truth buckled around your waist (NIV)

                                          i. In other words, have and know the truth of God’s Word.

                                b. 2nd he says, “Having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

                                          i. We need to be living a holy live. Matt 6:33 “Seek 1st the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

                                          ii. If we’re not in rightstanding with God, we may be overcome with the attacks of the enemy.

                                                   a. Now don’t feel that if you’re not seeing victory yet, that it must be because you’re not living right.

                                                   b. That is 1 possibility, but if you’ve confessed your sins to God and you’re not practicing any known sins, you’re probably not out of fellowship with God. (That’s not the problem.... keep standing)

                                          iii. So the 2nd piece of armor was, “Having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

                                c. 3rd was found in (EPH 6:15) “Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

                                          i. The word “Preparation” means “the act of preparing, the condition of a person being prepared, preparedness, or readiness.”

                                          ii. The NIV translation of (Ephesians 6:15) Says, “With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

                                                   a. We’re instructed to be ready.

                                                   b. We need to be prepared, because the attacks are coming.

                                                             i. Paul said that it’s the Gospel of Peace or the Word of God that is going to make us ready. Not just knowing the truth of God’s word, but be prepared with the Word of God. Are you filled with the Word of God so that if the enemy comes by surprise, you are ready.

                                d. 4th he says, in (Eph 6:16) “Above all, taking the shield of faith.”

                                          i. We’re talking about ‘How to stand,’ and he says “ABOVE ALL taking the shield of faith.”

                                          ii. If you don’t have the faith that is needed, you will not be able to stand.

                                                   a. Every little fiery dart that the enemy shoots at you will cause you to run.

                                          iii. We need the shield of faith so that we can stand firm and not run.

                                e. 5th he says in (Eph 6:17) “Take the helmet of salvation.”

                                          i. Not only do we have to know that we are saved, but we also have to know who we are in Christ.

                                          ii. The authority that we have because we are in Christ.

                                f. 6th he says (Eph 6:17) “The SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.”

                                          i. We have to know the Word of God, confess the Word of God, and know how to use the Word of God against the Devil.

                        (7th)        g. Then he goes on to add 1 more thing, but he doesn’t associate it with any part of the armor.

                                          i. (Eph 6:18) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”

                                          ii. Prayer is your communication with God.

                                          iii. It’s vital for you to continue to stand.

              C. According to the NIV translation in (EPH 6:14), he tells us to stand firm with the armor of God on.

     II. When those times of trouble come, you need to remember that God hears you.

              A. You must keep standing on His Word, regardless of the circumstances.

                        1. PSA 20:1-2; 5-8

                                a. When everything around you indicates that you can’t possibly win, STAND.

                                b. In the life of faith, that is no room for compromise.

                                          i. If you say, “I’ll try this, but if it doesn’t work, I can always use plan B.”

                                         ii. You will always end up using plan B.

                                c. When you say, “I’ll try,” you’re not sure that God will come through. You’re dropping the shield of faith, and letting the Devil hit you with his fiery darts.

                               i. You can’t try, you have to do it. You have to stand firm on the Word of God.

                        2. Look at what Paul said in 1COR 15:1-2.

                                a. Stand on the Word of God that you have heard and received.

                        3. Look at 1COR 16:13

                                a. The NIV says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

                                          i. When the enemy comes with one of his attacks, be men or woman of courage, be strong, and STAND FIRM.

                                          ii. Strong men are like the Apostle Paul who said, in (Romans 4:21) “I am fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (2 Cor 5:7) “I walk by faith and not by sight.” Paul said, “I know in whom I believed.”

                                b. Paul was strong and he could stand firm.

                                          i. And you can be just as sure as Paul, just as strong, and you can stand as firm as he did.

                                c. In (Psalm 89:34) God said, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”

                                          i. God is not a liar.

                                          ii. If He said it, He will bring it to pass.

                                          iii. You can rest in that simple fact and be assured that He will do exactly what He says in His Word.

              B. Look at 2 COR 1:23-24.

                        1. Stand in faith.

              C. PHIL 4:1

                        1. “Stand fast” means “Stand firm or to keep on standing.”

                        2. It says just about the same thing in (GAL 5:1) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

                                a. Stand fast and stand firm. Stand firm no matter what.

     III. How long do you have to stand?

              A. Until we win.

                        1. When you’ve done all that you know what to do to stand, keep on standing.

              B. Many times’ people don’t know how to stand because the world has programmed them to be quitters.

                        1. The world says, “When things start getting tough, QUIT.”

                                a. Some Christians still do that.

                                          i. Weather it in the spiritual realm, from an attack of the enemy, to receiving God’s promises or in the natural realm from the work place to the institution of marriage.

                                          ii. The world says, “When things start getting rough, Give up.”

                                        b. But the Bible says, “When things start getting tough, STAND.”

              C. Look at HEB 10:35.

                        1. “Confidence” means “Faith and blodness.”

                                a. Don’t cast away your faith and blodness.

                        2. Many of the greatest blessings come after you’ve had to stand firm for the longest time.

                                a. When Satan continues to send those attacks, when he continually tries to stop you, it’s because God has something big in store for you.

              D. When you’ve done all to stand, keep standing.

                        1. “But how long do I stand?”

                                a. Until you see the victory in the natural realm, and then you stand to keep it.

                        2. Turn to HEB 10:23.

                                  a.      “Hope” is an expectation of good. (Strong’s)

                                b. The phrase “without wavering” means “firm, unmoved” (Strong)

                                c. “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith (hope NKJV), standing firm, unmoved.”

                                          i. Your faith will come through, you will see the victory, but keep standing.

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WOLCC SUN AM 12/4/94 &wolcc Sunday 10/23/05