Remain Standing by Rose McCormick Brandon

At fourteen, my pastor’s wife asked if I would like to receive Jesus as my Savior. “Yes,” I said, not understanding what she meant but knowing it was exactly what I needed. She didn’t ask if I wanted to enlist for battle. If she had told me what Paul told Timothy – that I was called to wage war (I Tim. 1:18), I might have said, “No thanks, fighting’s not my thing. I’m only interested in peace, love and joy.”

Spiritual warfare makes us uncomfortable. We want to put it in the spiritual gift category. Let those who are called and gifted for warfare take it on. Who are these called and gifted ones? Could they be me? 

“Before His return there will be a hard battle so it is good to prepare ourselves. Every Christian is called to take his place in the army of Jesus and to wrestle as a fellow-conqueror with Him.” Corrie ten Boom(1)

When we signed on as Jesus-followers, we signed up for battle. Christianity is not a spectator sport. There are no celebrities in God’s kingdom, only servants. Servants do dirty work – washing feet, embracing sinners, and yes, the dread of all dreads, standing against the forces of evil. Jesus left us with the tools for warfare and we must pick them up and put them on. 

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:10-13

Stand! The Greek verb stand carries the idea of holding ground. God isn’t sending us to conquer. He has already conquered. The battle against Satan is won. Our calling is to hold. In an offensive battle, troops fight to gain control. In a defensive mode, troops guard what is already theirs. We are guards, watchmen.

Through the cross, Jesus stormed Hell itself and gained complete and eternal victory over Satan. By His resurrection, the Father declared his Son victorious over the entire realm of hell and darkness. Satan was defeated once and for all. The Church, Christ’s body, stands in victory. In Christ, we are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37).

“Today, we do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. We do not fight in order to win, but because in Christ, we have already won. Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already given to them by their God.” Watchmen Nee (2)

Trust in Christ’s finished work. Stand on His Word. Remain faithful to Him. Praise Him for the battle He has already fought and won on our behalf. In a spiritual battle, praise is an indispensable weapon.

“Before we put on our clothes, let us put on our weapons (Eph. 6:10-18), for we are stepping out into a land of enemies and a world of dangers; let us put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of love, and the shield of faith, and stand armed and vigilant as the dangers of the last days gather around us.” A. B. Simpson(3)

 Prayer: Lord Jesus I praise you that we have the victory over Satan and his entire works of darkness because you have gone ahead of us and already defeated him. 

1 Corrie ten Boom, Marching Orders for the Final Battle, Christian Literature Crusade.
2 Watchmen Nee, Sit, Walk, Stand, Tyndale House Pubishers, Inc., Wheaton, Ill. 
3 A. B. Simpson, Days of Heaven Upon Earth, Christian Alliance Pub. Co.