Be Strong, Stand Firm, Resist

What are you experiencing in life: Victory or defeat? Success or failure? Our life is the result of our choices. 2Cor. 3:18 says we are going from glory to glory. That happens as I understand my identity in Christ. Eph. 4:27 (PPB) warns “Neither is Gill to give place to the devil.”  If I give him an open door, you can be sure he will use it. The good news is in 1John 4:4 “Greater is He who is in Gill than he who is in the world.”

 Spiritual warfare is not what you see from Hollywood. No one is going to fall on the floor, roll their eyes back and drool on the carpet. This battle is in our mind. The only thing big about a demon is his mouth. Religion doesn’t stand a chance against the spirit of darkness. We are not just playing a game; our destiny in God will not just be handed to us. It’s time to get aggressive.

 Eph. 6:10-13 (PPB): “Finally, Gill is to be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Gill is to put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For Gill’s wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, Gill should put on the whole armor of God, that he may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.” It is our choice to: Be strong, stand firm, resist.

 We are in a spiritual battle. It’s not about what I wear on the outside. Does short hair or long hair matter? If I wear a suit or sweats? Tattoos or not? No! What matters is my relationship to Jesus. Acts 19 tells the story of the sons of Sceva. Seven men try to cast out a demon by saying, “In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The problem was they had no relationship with Paul or Jesus, it was just a formula. The result was that the demon possessed man jumped on them and all seven left bloodied and naked. It can’t be something you read out of a book. 2Tim. 3:5 says some hold to a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. According to Eph. 6:10, I must be strong in the Lord, not strong in myself. I should not be devil conscious but rather God conscious. I don’t go looking for a fight, but I must recognize that life is a struggle, it is combat. It is up to me to: Be strong, stand firm, resist.

 Give your life to Jesus and you’ll never have problems? Eph. 6:13 admonishes us to resist on the evil day. There will be times of refreshing and seasons of conflict. Not every day but there are days. We need the right stuff on the inside. If I don’t take a stand, I lose by default. I am a threat to the enemy if I am in Christ. He will oppose me. Matt. 7:13 warns there is an easy way but it leads to destruction but God calls us to the narrow gate, the difficult way. Welcome to life.

 1Peter 5:8-9 (PPB): “Gill must be sober, self-controlled and watchful. Gill’s adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Gill must withstand him steadfast in his faith, knowing that his brothers and sisters who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.” Why does a lion roar? To paralyze with fear, to intimidate. If you are just playing a game, there is a target on your back. We must be fixed and focused.

 I have authority in Christ. I won’t back down from a defeated foe. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus warns that the devil comes to steal the seed. Our choice to win is: Be strong, stand firm, resist. 1John 5:18 promises that the Devil can’t touch us if we are in Christ. Col. 1:13 tells us we have been translated into the kingdom of His Son. It is time to enforce the victory Christ already won. Standing takes preparation and knowing who I am and whose I am.

 We are considering a repositioning cruise. This occurs when the cruise company recognizes that their ship is not in the right position for the maximum benefit. Evaluate your position and then reposition.

 Understand positioning:

1. Christ’s position. Rom. 5 shows us that our spiritual man is connected either to Adam or Jesus.  If I am connected to Jesus, I have strength, power, and authority. Are you barely getting by? It is time for mind renewal, understanding Christ’s position and our place in Christ.
2. Devil’s position. He is stripped of his power.  He has influence only if I give him an open door. Heb. 2:14 says, “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Jesus put him out of job, he is unemployed. We hire him back by our words, by our choices. Give him his pink slip, send him packing.
3. My position in Christ. John 15:5 (PPB): “I (Jesus) am the vine. Gill is a branch. If Gill remains in Me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from Me, Gill can do nothing.” Stay joined to the vine. 2Cor. 5:17 (PPB) “Therefore if Gill is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” I am not a “sinner saved by grace”. Yes, I was a sinner, but now in Christ I am a new creation. Rom. 5:17 promises that I reign in life through Christ. My authority comes because of my position in Christ. Again, in Christ: Be strong, stand firm, resist.

 Israel was delivered out of Egypt by great signs and miracles. But when they came up to the border of the Promised Land, they forgot all that God had done and then fear and disobedience kept them from stepping into their authority. The result: they wandered in the desert for 40 years until God could raise up a generation that would be obedient. How often we wander around experiencing the same defeat over and over? Get dressed right. Finally: Be strong, stand firm, resist.

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Tags: Armor of God, My position in Christ, Spiritual warfare

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