"Standing Firm
'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. Stand therefore...' Ephesians 6:13,14
The weight of these words exhorts us to be a people firmly established, grounded in place, and holding our ground. True faith will always produce action, not anxiety; a steady pressing without pressure. It's liberating, not limiting (Psalm 78:41); It takes a stance of settled rest in the finished work of Jesus. Learning to respond in the heat of the battle requires:
1. A confidence I won't be injured (Romans 8:37)
2. Pursuing the enemy with an absence of panic or fatigue (Psalm 37:1-10)
3. You discerning that standing in place isn't always the easiest posture
4. A settled 'knowing rest' when the heat of the battle intensifies (Daniel 3:17,18)
5. You knowing Jesus (Hebrews 13:5)
Your immediate reaction may be to run in fear or discover the nearest escape hatch and make a quick exit, yet that only prolongs the inevitable. God has designed us to conquer, and avoiding the issue will only prolong the agony.
When faced with the natural responses to pressure, let the name of Jesus stir confidence. He has given His Name as the signature, badge, and security that guarantees the fulfillment of every promise God has ever made. Jesus said, 'I will not leave you comfortless [orphans]. I will come to you,' (John 24:8). He's committed to our protection and preservation by a work of the Holy Spirit.
Be assured that he is standing with you; the Lord will not ask us to vegetate or feed off some past experience, but [He] responds with a fresh answer for our immediate need. He has promised liberty if we will stand in faith, unshakeable in truth.
'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might,' (Ephesians 6:10). Be strong, be bold, and stand in JESUS' Name, knowing that you will not fall or crumble, but will rise to victory and promise. May God be glorified in us by Christ Jesus.
Standing Firm,
Pastor Ron"