Standing for God

What do we stand for?

People will give many answers: Justice, freedom, liberty, people's rights, equality, fairness. However, if you ask a member of the military or a veteran, they will tell you that they stand for their commanding officer. ​

All members of the armed forces are training from the beginning to rise to their feet and stand to attention when anyone of higher rank enters the room. That is drilled into every recruit until it is done without thinking.

Joshua 5
v.13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
v.14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."

Let that mind be in us as we consider the Commander of the army of the Lord. Let us stand in awe of the Lord of hosts. Let us rise to honor the One who leads by example, who gave Himself in ultimate sacrifice for us, even before we were His.


How do we stand?

We stand by preparing before-hand. We spend time in conversation with God, soaking in the truth of the Word, letting the Spirit train us to hear His voice, to practice obedience in little things so that we will be prepared to be strong in faith when the battle is engaged, to know that we know that our trust in God is well-placed.

Ephesians 6
v.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 
v.15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.


Where do we stand?

We stand where we are placed. We stand shoulder to shoulder with others who are waging the war against spiritual wickedness, even as it is most often fought on our knees in intercession and in praise. Let us not be missing or AWOL.

Ezekiel 22:30 "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."

Philippians 3
v.20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
v.21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!


When do we stand?

We stand when the battle is engaged. We lift our weapons when the Spirit calls, when we see the enemy attempting to advance into the territory that bears God's name. We stand when a brother or sister calls for help, expresses a need, requests support. 

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Ephesians 6:13 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.


Why do we stand?

To be a witness to others around us, to lift up the standard for God's kingdom, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to show the steadfast keeping power of God.

Isaiah 62:10 Go out, go out through the gates; prepare a way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones! Raise a banner for the peoples. 

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
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Lord God, You are our Rock, our fortress, our defense, our rear-guard. We engage battle at Your direction, Lord, in the way and at the time You say. How can we have defeated the enemies which had previously subjugated us, except their Rock had abandoned them? Only in the promises You give us, Lord, do we find the strength to endure to the end, when we shall see with our eyes the salvation of our God!

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