Scripture:
Ephesians 6:13:
“…and having done all, to stand.”
Theme:
Just Stand
Introduction:
- The scripture is taken from the New Testament book of Ephesians, the letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. The letter is not written to any specific issues with the church itself. However, it addresses the need for a general Christian understanding and application of sound doctrine.
- This section of the 6the chapter addresses the manner at which the Christian is to engage in and endure spiritual warfare.
- The scripture is actually an excerpt from the entire verse which begins by admonishing the Christian to “put on the whole armor of God” so that they can “withstand the wiles of the devil”. Then, “and having done all”. How many times in your life have you reached an “and having done all”?
- The Greek word for “stand” used in the New Testament is istemi, a prolonged form of a primary stao. This word means “to stand” in the sense of:
- continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared
- to be of a steadfast mind
- of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver
This is nothing profound or perditious…JUST STAND! When all else is done, not when all else fails, but when all else is done, and you still haven’t seen the end of the journey…STAND!
- Continue in the safety of God’s love and protection in anticipation of Jesus coming back.
- Keep your mind stayed on Jesus and your joint-heir relationship with Jesus to God
- No matter what comes or may come, stay focused and don’t waiver!
- Stand by faith — 2Corinthians 1:24, “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” – It is our faith that “props” us when we stand through the joy, strength, power, hope and peace of our purpose in standing for God.
- Stand in grace — 1Peter 5:12, “…testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” – It is God’s grace that gives us the opportunity to stand. We must appreciate the opportunity. We are not doing God a favor. God is blessing us by allowing us to stand for Him.
Body:
Ten points of emphasis on the way that the Bible teaches us to STAND:
- Stand against – Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
- Stand upon – Habakkuk 2:1, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.”
- Stand by – Zechariah 4:14, “Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
- Stand before – Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:”
- Stand together – Isaiah 50:8, “He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.”
- Stand up – Psalm 94:16, “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”
- Stand in – Matthew 24:15, ”When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,”
- Stand on – Revelation 15:2, “And I saw…them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”
- Stand still – Exodus 14:13, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day…”
- Stand fast – Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
BUT DO NOT:
- Stand in the way – Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Conclusion:
“and having done all, to stand.”
When you have…
Done all that you can do
Said all that you can say
Paid all that you can pay
Given all that you can give
Cried all the tears that you can cry
Prayed every prayer you know to pray
JUST STAND.
David characterizes it best in his simile in Psalm 1:3:
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
PLANTED – The Christian should be as the tree…planted…STAND
- Roots deep in Jesus the Christ
- Trunk steadfast & unmovable
- Branches reaching far beyond the trunk yet having the same substance as the trunk. Touching and impacting all those around it.
BRINGING FORTH – The Christian should be productive. Just because you are standing does not mean that you can’t BRING FORTH…not in your time but in God’s time.
SHALL NOT WITHER – The labor of the Christian is not in vain. It will stand as the Christian stands. The power of the Christian’s witness shall not wither, just like the leaves of a healthy tree in its season.
SHALL PROSPER – The Christian who is PLANTED, BRINGS FORTH, and DOESN’T WITHER will always prosper in whatever they do. In God there is prosperity for those who endure…not as the world giveth, but as God giveth to mankind. As it says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
So,
- Don’t run…STAND
- Don’t sit…STAND
- Don’t quit…STAND
- Don’t fret…STAND
- Don’t give up…STAND
- Don’t give in…STAND
- Don’t worry…STAND
- Hold on…STAND
- Hold out…STAND
After you’ve done all you can…
JUST STAND!!!
#11
