Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross!
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead
Till every foe is vanquished And Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey.
Forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not belong;
This day the noise of battle, the next, the victor’s song.
To Him that overcometh a crown of life shall be:
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.
It is this great hymn of the church that I’ve chosen to use for my introduction because it expresses the life of every true believer. In modern day Christianity, we need all believers to stand up for Jesus and against the enemy in these days of perilous times. The enemy is attacking us and causing many of us to give up and stop fighting. The enemy is tearing our families apart. The enemy is causing enormous terrorist attacks and it’s not just against our nation as a whole but more importantly against every believer. And while the battle is intensifying a many of our fellow Christian soldiers have gone awol from the army of Jesus.
Well, I want say that the battle will not stop. As we see in the text of the Ephesians letter that the battle is inevitable to be faced and will continue throughout our Christian journey.
• There’s a war going on for our attention of spiritual things and fleshly things.
• There’s a battle going within us to do good or evil.
• There is a battle going on against us that is invisible.
• There is a battle going on that we cannot contain or defeat with our own strength.
• There is a battle going that causes us to walk by faith, trusting that God will lead and guide and protect us to victory.
• There’s a war going on to move us from standing to sitting.
• There’s a war going on to take us out permanently.
• There’s a war going on for power and glory
Well, what do you do when in battle? Do I run to the battle? Do I run from the battle? You have the same questions I had when studying this text and other material on spiritual warfare. Paul says this is what in the midst of spiritual warfare, STAND.
- In verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 6 he says to us, “put on the armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the tricks, schemes, and methods of devil”.
- In verse 13 of Ephesians chapter 6 he says to us, “take up the whole armor of God, that you may able to withstand in the evil day”.
- And in the “c” clause of verse 13 he says, “and having done all, to stand. And in the “a” clause of verse 14 he says “stand”.
In 3 verses of chapter 6 emphasizes our ability to gain victory over the enemy by standing. Yes, we need to put on the whole armor of God. Yes, we need to understand spiritual warfare. Yes, we need to gird ourselves with the truth, we need the breastplate of righteousness, we need the gospel of peace, we need the shield of faith, and we need the helmet of salvation. But, you what we need more than anything else? Here it is, we need to stand. We can put on and clothe ourselves all day long with armor God provides but what good is it if we’re running from the battle instead of standing in the midst of the battle.
Now when studying this text, I noticed something very interesting about the believer and his or her role in the battle. Notice, we don’t see nowhere in the text where we’re encouraged, exhorted, or commanded to fight. Even in reading and studying the armor, you will notice to gird yourself with the truth, to put on the breastplate of righteousness, to shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, to take the shield of faith, and to take the helmet of salvation are all defensive pieces of armor. So then I asked myself and then this question, Is spiritual war for the Christian defensive more than offensive? The resounding answer to this question was an big fat one word answer, here it is, DEFENSIVE!
Now I don’t know about you but that’s a hard pill to swallow, to think that all I’m to do is put all of this stuff on but then do nothing with it. I’m not retaliate. I’m not to advance in the battle. I’m not to even fight the battle. Well then what do I do? Stand! I believe the biggest issue with many of us as it relates to the battle is not that we’re nor prepared for battle but that we’re too busy stooping instead of standing. Let me illustrate:
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When I was a little boy in elementary school. I had this one fellow by the name of John Seal (I’ll never forget is name), who for my entire schooling at Lindbergh Elementary School in Lynwood, Ca he would torment me everyday and to make it worse he was in my class each year. Now, to understand where I’m going with this story you need to know that at that time I was every bit of 90 pounds in school. I had a frail frame and I was very timid. I didn’t like a whole lot of conflict (and I still don’t). But this guy would pick on me everyday I went to school so much so that I would fake being sick just to keep from having to deal with this bully. One we were playing kick ball during recess, and it was my turn to kick the ball ( and as fate would have it John Seal was on the team). The ball was rolled and I put everything I could in that kick. I took off around the bases, first base, second base, short stop and that’s where I stopped because John Seal took his foot and tripped me before I could get to third base and then to home plate. I was so upset that begin crying. So I took the ball and throw it John Seal and hit him right in the face. He started at me and one the other students along with others held him from getting to me. The game was over and we went to class. But throughout the class I kept getting notes from telling me what he was going to do me after school. By this time the 90 pound timid scary cat was back in me so now I’m trembling in my shoes not what I was going to do but I know one thing I couldn’t run anymore or this chump was going to keep it. The bell rang and started to walk home with some of my friends. Well, John Seal kept his promise to want to get me after school and he met me at the corner. As I stood there and he began to talk, I all I could do was just stand there because of fear of what could happen, this guy was much bigger than me. And then noticed a change in his voice, action, and attitude so much so that he began to take a few steps backwards. And what had happened is my cousin who went to the same school but in different classes was approaching because of what was going on. Now, my cousin was much bigger than I was in school and John Seal saw him coming backed off and went home that day.
Now, I bring this up as an illustration because it helped me to understand how to respond in spiritual warfare. Because instead of running like I did so often in those days, I was prepared to stand my ground against John Seal no matter what. I didn’t have to fight John Seal because my cousin’s presence scared him off. And know what that’s how God works. When you decide to stand your ground against the enemy, God has away of coming and fighting your battles for you. Thank God for my cousin back then in a physical battle that I knew would be defeat. But I thank God now for a big brother in heaven who when I stand my ground comes and stands behind me to fend off the enemy. Thank God for Jesus.
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Now, let me turn the corner and say that if you’re going to be victorious in battle you must stand your ground. And I believe this text gives us four (4) practical principles to help us gain victory over the enemy.
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1. STAND AGAINST THE METHODS OF THE ENEMY - v. 11
Last week I attempted to help all of us understand spiritual warfare by looking at verses 10-12. It was in this sermon that we discussed how to respond to spiritual warfare first of all understanding your divine resources in spiritual warfare. Simply put, we cannot fight the war on our own strength and might but we needed to with the strength of God. Secondly, we discussed that to understand spiritual warfare required that understood our direct responsibility in spiritual warfare. It is in verse 11 that Paul commands the church members of Ephesus to put on the armor of God. And our putting on the armor is not just a one time event, no the Greek language implies that it’s to be continuous action meaning you must keep on putting on the armor daily. And thirdly, we discussed that to understand spiritual warfare required that we dissected the reason behind spiritual warfare, that was verse 12. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers that are more powerful than we are and we cannot see.
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Now verse 11 says that we are to stand against the wiles, tricks, schemes, and methods of the devil. We know that Satan and his friends out to get us but how will he do to attack us and how will he attack us? I have a book by Max Anders entitled “What You Need To Know About Spiritual Warfare”. And in his book he explains the primary method of attack for Satan is that of deception. How does he deceive us?
By lying to us about our sin - In John chapter 8 verses 13-47 Jesus is having an extended conversation with the Pharisees and the Jews. To the Pharisees he is defending who he is in verses 13-19. In these verses he’s letting them know that He bears witness of Himself and his witness is true for I know where I came from and where I’m going but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. He says to that, I am One who bears witness of My self, and the Father who sent bears witness of me and know neither Me nor My Father. He continues his conversation with them by telling them of his departure to leave them and where He is going they cannot go if they die in their sin. After speaking with the Pharisees he then begins to talk with the Jews in verse 31. It is there when he tells them, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, we are Abraham’s descendants and have never been in bondage, how can you say, you will be made free? Jesus answered them and said whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abide forever. Therefore if the son makes you free you are free indeed. By this time the Jews are upset with Jesus and in verse 39 of John chapter 8 they say to him, “Abraham is our father”. But Jesus says if Abraham is your father why do keep sinning like you do. Now looking to kill me, a man who has told you the truth ( And you know that’s the challenge of preaching, being able to preach even when faced death. Not just physical death but the death of character and integrity).
Jesus says, no you do the deeds of your father. The Jews doesn’t accept this truth very well. So they respond, we are not fornicators, we have one Father who is God. Jesus said well then if God is your father, you would love Me, for I proceed forth and came from God not for myself or by myself. My Father in heaven sent me. Any why don’t understand what I’m saying to you? He says, I know why because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. We see in this verse that Satan is the father of lies.
One of the primary ways Satan tries to get us is by lying to us about our sins. He wants to convince us that, it isn’t so bad to sin and it won’t hurt. He tries to assure us that no one will find out and that God will forgive us anyway. He tries his best to persuade us that what he is tempting us to do will actually satisfy us and then he zaps our spiritual convictions so that we don’t care. He exhausts and frazzles us so that we just want immediate relief and are willing to do whatever will give us that relief. He twists our thinking so that we can’t discern wrong from right anymore. He makes us feel like sinning is fun and without our lives will be boring. He tries to make think that we do no wrong and that we’re the most righteous, holy, and sanctified individual that we begin say to ourselves, I do no wrong. But 1st John chapter 1:
verse 6 - “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”.
Verse 8 says - “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”.
Verse 10 says - “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us”.
We can walk around with our heads held high if we want to as if we don’t sin but the truth of the matter is that “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God” that Romans 3:23.
Not only does Satan lie to us about our sin but he constantly reminds us of our sin. Have ever did something that you know was wrong? And you prayed to God for forgiveness and you know forgave but you still feel guilty, dirty, nasty, filthy, and ashamed of your sin. You start saying stuff like:
- What a failure I am, what disgusting piece of humanity, we cry.
- What a phony.
- What a pitiful excuse for a Christian.
- Who do I think I am, anyway?
- I should have known from the beginning that I couldn’t make it as a moral success.
- I was a fool to even try. The Christian life may work others it doesn’t work for me.
- I’m inherently flawed. I need to give it up. Stop trying to fake it and go back to the old life where I belong!
And Satan doesn’t remind us in our own conscience he will use others to remind us of our sin. And they will say stuff like:
- I remember when...
- And you said you were a Christian.
- What a stupid thing to do.
- Are you crazy for doing something like that. And here is the favorite line that follows, “I will never do that!” .
Although Satan tries to lie us about our sin, God promises forgiveness from the sin committed and the guilty stain. Because in 1 John chapter 1 verse 8 he helps John to write, “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Yes, I am a sinner. But I’m a sinner saved by grace. Satan can use anybody and anything to remind of my sinful ways but I stand knowing that God forgives me. And that’s we sing the great hymn of the church:
I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry and from the waters he lifted me now safe am I.
The chorus says, love lifted me, love lifted me. When nothing else could love lifted me.
Yes, I make mistakes and so do you. But stand your ground knowing that God is right there to carry you through.
Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win. Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue; look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Ask the Savior to help you, comfort strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.
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2. Remain Standing In All Situations - v. 13
Verse 13 says, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. The Greek language of the word “withstand” means to oppose and/or resist. The verbiage used here is that in a aorist tense meaning a continuous action. Which means that when Paul exhorts the church at Ephesus to withstand in the evil day, he is literally saying, take up the whole armor of God so that you can keep standing in the evil day. I believe one of the biggest defeats we face as believers is the defeat of stooping at standing time. Instead of standing, we sit down on God. Instead of standing we give up. And can I tell you that, that’s where Satan wants us to be. Defeated people in battle. But we need people you will stand like:
- David, who in 1 Samuel chapter 17 where the giant Goliath challenged the army of Israel. When the army should’ve been standing they stooped because of the stature of the giant. But this little puny, red head, freckled face, shepherd comes and says, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he will defy the army of God? When everyone else stooped David stood and fought the giant a slayed him with a sling shot and few pebbles.
- The Hebrew boys, who in Daniel chapter 3 would not bow down to the golden image created by Nebachadnezzar.
- Daniel, who in Daniel chapter 6 wouldn’t stop praying.
- Paul, who wouldn’t stop preaching even when faced opposition and death
We need people who will stand and keep on standing in all situations and circumstances. While doing Scriptural cross references, I found out that when to Bible speaks of evil days it speaks of:
- Difficult days - In Ecclesiastes 12:1 it is recorded, “remember now your Creator in the days of your youth. Before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”.
- Day of doom - In Amos 6:3 it is recorded, “Woe to you who put off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near;
- Time of temptation - In Luke chapter 8 verses 11-15 Jesus explains the parable of the sower. And in verse 13 he says, but the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have not root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Difficult days, day doom, and time of temptation, doesn’t that sound like life in a real since. There’s one thing we need to keep in mind, difficult days, days of doom, and times of temptation are inevitable. And if the truth be told all of us experience one of these days.
Difficult days where there is more bills than money.
Difficult days of broken promises
Difficult days of hearing heart breaking news of a loved one passing away
Difficult days of a husband abusing his wife physically and emotionally
Difficult days of murders taking place right in our backyards
Difficult days of going to work only to find you’ve been laid of work
Difficult days of not wanting to wake up in the morning because of what you have to face that day
Days of violence where you scared to drive the streets because of a possible car jack
Days of violence where our children are in danger every day
Days of violence when in the police are struggling to protect and serve
Days of violence like the attack on our nation on 9/11
Times of temptation when you try to do what is right but evil is always present
Times of temptation when you compromise your moral beliefs to keep man or woman you think you love
Time of temptation when we tell little white lies to get us out of trouble
Times of temptation to want to gamble with hopes of hitting it big rather than trusting in God to supply your need
These are evil days, days when we need believers across the country standing and not stooping. Before I move on let me say that it will not be easy to stand in days of temptation, doom, and difficulties. But, the text says to us in verse 13, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. The emphasis here is on “may be able to withstand”. The Greek language here expresses the idea of ability and capacity to accomplish something in deed, attitude, and thought. When speaking of spiritual warfare and Christian living in general the Bible speaks of our inability to handle the war and live according to God’s holy standards. And that’s why Paul makes it very clear in verse 10 the we should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Because difficult, doom, and evil days are hard for us hand on our own. Let me illustrate this and I’ll to my next point:
The son of Kevin Bacon has conversation with his dad about the movie dirty dancing and all the stunts that took place. The son asks, “Dad you know when you did all those gymnastic moves in the movie?” Kevin responds, “Yes, I know”. His son asks, “how did you do that?” His father responded, “It wasn’t me it was a gymnastic professional who did that?” His began to pick the movie apart with questions about his father’s ability. His would ask how did you do this and did you do that and in each instance his father would respond, “it wasn’t me it was somebody else”. At a certain the son ask the ultimate question, “what did you do?” His father responded “nothing!”
And you know that’s how the power of God works, his power steps in does those things we can’t do for ourselves. In those bad, difficult, stormy, rainy, evil, doom days, here’s my exhortation for you KEEP ON STANDING!!!!!
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3. Stand Ready to Fight - v. 13 - “having done all to stand, stand therefore”
Now, I already mentioned at the beginning of this sermon that we are not encouraged or exhorted to advance in warfare. In all the armor that Paul mentions it is defensive armor. See our standing ready to fight does not carry the same idea as we think. It carries the idea of holding your ground, standing firm, placed firmly, establish, set, confirm. As I study the Greek language meaning in this idea of standing, I asked how do we stand ready to fight? What is it that establishes, gives stability, and plants us to hold our ground? As continued to study I noticed that there is only two pieces of armor that we’re given in warfare, and that’s the Word of God and prayer. This was very interesting to me because what I found out is that only the can establish, plant, and set firm to be able hold your ground. As matter of fact Psalms on says:
Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand the way that sinners stand nor sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight in the law of the Lord and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted be the rivers of water that brings forth much in it’s season.
So here’s how we stand ready to fight:
a. Proclaim the Word of God - See it’s important for the Word of God to be preached consistently and uncompromised each week. When in spiritual warfare and the only weapon of offense we have is the Word of God. But I believe on of the biggest problems in the church is that the pulpit has lost it’s power. We use the pulpit for everything else but proclaiming the Word of God. We use the pulpit for political reasons. We use the pulpit for the bashing of members. We use the pulpit to re-tell the latest current events of the world. We use the pulpit to give of opinions and philosophies. We use the pulpit as a buffet. We compromise our convictions to stay in what we think will be good standing with members. We sweeten the taste of sermons so it will be easy for those who hear us to swallow. But, I can tell you what I found out. When person is sick he or she is not concerned about the taste of the medicine they just want to get better. And in the church, who might not like the medicine the doctor prescribes but you better take the aspirin. And before moving on let me say to you that it’s important for you pray for your pastor each week. Pray him during the week and on Sunday morning. Because when he’s studying there’s a war going on. When he’s trying to spend time with God there’s a war going on. When finishes preaching of Sunday and teaching on Sunday there’s a war going on. But I’m determined to PREACH THE WORD! Be ready in season and out of season. Exhort, rebuke, correct, with all longsuffering and teaching.
b. Practice a Godly Lifestyle - Max Anders says that we should, “Flee temptation, but fight spiritual opposition. Spiritual conflict take two forms: temptation and spiritual opposition. When we are tempted to sin, we are to flee. Second Timothy 2:22 says “flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart”. Too many of us are running to sin rather than running from sin. The more of Jesus we have and the more of us Jesus has the more we will be able to live according to God’s holy standards. So the fight is that of being able to flee and resist temptation. And then when we are confronted with spiritual opposition, we are to fight. The letter of James says in chapter 4 verse 7 that we should “resist the devil and he will flee”. Everyday life brings challenges, temptations, and challenges that we must stand and fight.
Do you want to run away from your financial obligations? Stand and fight
Is it too hard to improve family relationships? Stand and fight
Are you tired of trying to grow spiritually? Stand and fight
Is it tough being moral, ethical, and honest in the work place? Stand and fight
Are you tempted to toy with a relationship that isn’t Christ-centered? Flee
Are you tempted to watch that questionable television program? Flee
Are you tempted to put together a deal that isn’t totally honest? Flee
c. Depend on the power of God - The second offensive weapon of spiritual warfare is prayer. To pray is to invoke God’s presence and power on the situation. But to not is to try deal with the situation yourself. Paul says that we should pray in all things with perseverance, being watchful, and making supplication for all the saints. The problem with too many of us is that when it can’t hang in there long enough to pray. Not only that but we should not just pray for ourselves but we need to prayer for everyone else in the battle. If you studied the history of war and/or seen any movies or tapes, you will notice that when a army fights it’s not just one man fighting the war but many fighting the war. And the one way we can help and empower each other spiritual warfare is to pray for one another.
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4. Stand Victoriously
This last point is one of simplicity to explain because the original language implies that our ability to continue to stand before men is a testimony of God’s help. When we don’t give in to the attacks of the enemy there are others who sees and wonders how did they make it through all of that. The good news is that God knows how to give victory when learn to stand for him and with him.
