Having Done All to Stand, Stand Firm
Sometimes all we can do or all we should do is to stand back and watch God work on our behalf!
“… put on the full armour 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 … stand firm …”
During King Jehoshaphat's reign, Judah came under attack from an alliance of enemy states, the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. When news got to Jehoshaphat that these three nations were on their way he immediately called all of Judah to prayer. The word of God came to Judah to saying, “Do not be afraid, or dismayed … the battle is not yours but God’s … stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf”.
So Jehoshaphat went out, all dressed up for battle with swords, shells, helmets, breastplates - the whole works, all ready to stand and watch! He also sent out people ahead of the army to praise God and thank Him for the victory. When Jehoshaphat’s army finally came across the enemy, they were in total disarray. One enemy was fighting the other, and then both turned on the third army.
Many times in our faith walk when we have done all we know to do in God, God expects us to ‘stand … stand firm’ so that He can deliver us.
Typically, our natural response is to do one of two things when faced with opposition. Firstly we’re tempted to retreat, or secondly, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands.
“… my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. ”
God says in Hebrews 10, that we’re not to shrink back or retreat from the position that He has placed us in. To ‘shrink back’ means a considered and planned retreat. An opposition can cause us to question our spiritual condition and God’s willingness or ability to deliver us. However, our spiritual condition is dependent entirely on what Christ did for us on the cross and in His resurrection, and God is always willing and able to deliver us. We’re not to be among those who devalue what God has done for them and instead plan a retreat when opposition arises.
Our other natural response can be to take on the opposition in our strength. Ephesians 5 has a list of fleshly works, and if we consider them carefully, they look a lot like us trying to do things in our strength.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: .. enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, … and things like these … that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Sometimes these ‘works’ can be done with good motives! Sadly, Christians are renowned for trying to manipulate people for ‘good’, self-righteous reasons. Other times we go out and jump ahead of God, trying to fulfil his purposes but with our human plans and in our limited strength.
However, once we have done all that He has instructed us to do, we are called to stand. God said in Ephesians, ‘put on the full armour of God and having done all we need to do to enable us to stand... stand firm!’
It’s worth noting that although Jehoshaphat’s army had stood and watched God’s deliverance, they didn't just stand there and do nothing. They also sang praises and worshipped God. Praise, worship and thanksgiving are a powerful thing to do when you are standing in faith for God’s deliverance.
This also lines up with what God told the Ephesians to do when they were standing. Ephesians 5:18 says, ‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.’ God wants us to continue in prayer while we are standing, praying in the spirit.
In meditating on these things, these words came to me:
‘Praying in the spirit will edify you; it will build you up. The Holy Spirit will strengthen you to stand. You will stand against opposition that you never thought able. If you will encourage and strengthen yourself in the Holy Spirit, He will build in you the spiritual might and capabilities that are already won for you. While standing your focus is not to be what is behind you. Your weaknesses and failings, for they are removed from God's sight. Your attention is not to be on the tests and trials that lay ahead, for the evil one will try and get you to put your eyes on him and his evil schemes. Instead, your mind is to stay on the things of God and what he has done for you and to build your self up in the spirit at all times praying in the Holy Spirit.”
Praise God, having done all to stand, the Holy Spirit will enable us to stand, and we will see the victory of God with our own eyes!
Written by Grant Peterson
