STAND, PRAYING

By Jay Pearson

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25

The subject of my sharing is Stand, Praying. My method of Bible study has led me in a definite direction lately. Before I would wander a lot and never quite sure of my directed path nor how to get there. Now my method is to pray, question, and expect. I pray for clarity in what I feel Lord is leading me to study. Then I question what I see. Lastly I expect the Lord to show me what he wants me to see and also dispelling my own vision and agenda. It works for me.

One of these recent study journeys led me to Ephesians 6:10-18. There are many teaching emphasizing what to WEAR as we stand in this section of scripture, but not necessarily what to DO as we stand, although they are equally important. This sharing addresses more of the HOW, WHY, and DOING of the stand rather than what to wear.

Let’s check them out beginning in Ephesians 6:10. Here in verse 10 we have the directive or command.

Ephesians 6:10:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  

To be strong in the Lord will require the whole armor of God to resist the apposing force against us with the Lord’s strength and not our own, allowing his mighty power, God, to sustain us. Now in verse 11 we have the how to perform the directive or command.

Ephesians 6:11:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The HOW is made clear here in verse 11. The armor will enable you. Next in verse 12 we are given the reason the armor is needed, the WHY.

Ephesians 6:12:
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.

We wrestle to resist and stand firm. We’ve all seen a wrestling match live or on media. The real contest not the exhibition mania chair bashing and leg stomping, but wrestling. Pushing against the opponent to topple him and take control of him for the pin. These opponents we wrestle against are seeking to topple us and take control of our lives.

Our purpose for being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, beyond obedience to the Lord’s directive, is to “stand against the wiles of the devil.” Stand against the opponent’s push. God doesn’t ask you to push back, but to resist the devil’s push. In the Lord we are unmovable, standing on a firm foundation.

We are told to resist and not to yield this territory (James 4:7), and to give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Ephesians 6:13 reemphasizes and establishes with certainty our directive.

Ephesians 6:13:
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.

In Ephesians 6:14-17 we are given the specific armor in which we are to stand with, spiritual armor. Primarily the armor is defensive – even the sword of the Spirit. Jesus used the sword in this defensive way in Matthew 4:4,7 and 10. He answered; “It is written” to resist the devil, and in Matthew 4:11, “the devil left him.” When Jesus spoke, he always used the sword of the spirit. He is the Word in the flesh.

The sword of the spirit is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. It is used offensively in Revelations 19:11-16. I believe here in Ephesians 6:17 it is used defensively. (That’s only my take. Ask the Lord for yourself.)

Jesus already defeated the devil. The devil is bluffing. STAND.

Our Christian Duty

Surely there is a duty for us to perform as we stand in obedience to our Lord and savior. The dictionary defines “duty” as a social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force. John D Rockefeller Jr. was quoted as saying: “We must instill a sense of duty in our children, every right implies a responsibility, every opportunity an obligation, every possession a duty.”

In today’s society many want their rights without responsibility. They want opportunity without obligation. They want possessions without the duty.

Now let’s consider our duty to God as we stand with a responsibility, with an obligation, and with commitment to the Holy Spirit within us. We are told what to do as we stand, just as sure as we are told the how and why to stand. We find this answer in verse 18.

Ephesians 6:18:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, standing and praying. All the abilities to perform the obedience of these directives have been given to us free of charge in and of Jesus Christ.

Mark 11:25:
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

STAND, PRAYING.

Amen

 

 

---

Presented in Baton Rouge on 16 October 2013