Why Stand?

WHY STAND?

Eph 6:1-24
Most of the time when this portion of scripture is read, the sermon is on the armour of God and each of it’s pieces
Today I want to focus on one thing in this passage, and that is Stand

Eph 6:11-14 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The admonition the command is to stand
Before the armour can be utilized there must be a willingness to stand
counting the cost and taking a stand anyway
there may be a time when God calls upon you to make a stand
There was a time in Israel’s history when God Looked for a man and could find none.
Ez 22:1-6 15-31
If this doesn’t describe the day and age we are living in I don’t know what does
Stand Stand for something Stand against something
Ocean waves coming in Stand against the waves
It is resisting Not yielding Holding your ground
This reminds me of a story in my bible
of some men who did some incredible things

2Sa 23:8-15 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory

You may not be called upon to wield a sword or a spear against men
but you may be called upon to stand your ground for what you believe
the principles upon which your faith relies
There were 3 Hebrew (I believe) young men at this time who withstood a King and his Kingdom
They weren’t looking for a fight they didn’t wield sword or spear
they didn’t slay anyone or anything
They just stood for what they believed They didn’t make an announcement no FB Twit
Here we are look at me
But when all bowed and they remained standing they just kinda stuck out
They were willing to face whatever the consequences would be

Da 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
they stood for what they believed not to bow or worship any graven image
imagine the conversations well meaning friends Come on just bow
look at those fools you look like idiots
What do you stand for What do you stand against
There was a man which stood against a mighty Nation, and even his own nation

Moses was not looking for this kind of Job, He was called upon by God to stand
Moses stood in the face of insurmountable odds
But he was following orders from the Lord
with God’s mighty hand to protect and to demonstrate his power
Moses was able to stand in the gap Against Pharaoh for his nation
we are facing a challenge for our nation right now
If you are a bible believing Christian you should have the bible as your guide
Look I know our only hope for this nation is the Lord
but I also know God uses men to accomplish his will

There was a man which stood against the world
2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Noah was not an old coot doing some crazy thing building a boat on dry ground
He was a man called upon to stand in the face of whole world against him
And when people came around, an ungodly wicked evil people he preached righteousness and judgement
he withstood the mocking ridicule accusation of insanity
your letting this God thing go to your head fanatical
There will come a time if it hasn’t happened already when you will be called upon to stand
It may not be for a nation, it may not be against a Kingdom, it may not be against the world
Eph 6 the battles were spiritual in nature
but it may be against family peers colleagues world system
What do you stand for Truth The Word
Gospel Jesus Christ Righteousness
What do you stand against Sin Temptation The wiles of the Devil

Christianity wants to blend in Don’t make waves Don’t offend
Don’t make them mad Don’t stir them up
We are happy with our little fellowship
I’m not urging any of you to go out and pick a fight with anybody or any thing
Just be a good Soldier for Jesus Christ and the battle will come to you
be willing when the time comes to stand up for what you believe
Temptations come Stand Resist Hold your ground
To be able to withstand in the evil day
when you have engaged in the battles tired and weary you have fought a good fight Stand
Sgt Mitchell Paige Fight On pg 56
Why Stand? Commanded to
Who knows// if by you standing Great victory in your family friends

1Co 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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. 14 Stand therefore