Taking Our Stand (Part I)

August/30/2010 09:16 AM

Acts 4:25-26 “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant our father David (Psalm 2:2): ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’”

This verse is speaking to us for the very day we live in, even though it was written thousands of years ago! These verses of scripture come to mind as we viewed the leaders of the world making their speeches to the United Nations. There are leaders and nations who spew hatred and threats from their mouths for our God, His people, and what we stand for. They also hate the nation of Israel. They desire to destroy the apple of His eye.

The enemy and people who are ungodly are taking their stand. How much more should we be taking our stand in this evil day we live in? God said in Isaiah 7:9:

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

We can not be intimidated when ungodly people rage and plot against God or what we stand for. We mustn't be intimidated or relax our stance of faith whether it's a nation rising against our nation, or an ungodly person who opposes us.

Peter and John quoted this scripture from Psalms after they had been arrested, questioned, and released from prison for preaching in the name of Jesus, healing and performing miracles in that name. Around five thousand men had believed after hearing that message they preached. The leaders, who wanted to extinguish any talk of Jesus, commanded them to stop speaking in this name. After threats of punishment, Peter and John were released.

Peter and John continued to stand strong in their faith and didn't waiver. They not only continued to minister in the name of Jesus, but they prayed to God to enable them with even more boldness to speak His word! They asked God to stretch forth His hand through them to do signs and wonders. When the enemy comes against us, let it spur us to stand firm like Peter and John.

We are strong to stand because God Himself and His mighty power dwells in us! Remember what He said in Isaiah, that if we don't stand firm in our faith, we will not stand. When we are not standing, there are only two other options: sitting down or lying down!

There are times when an attack comes to our minds, physical bodies, family, or finances. We choose whether we will lie down and let the enemy run over us or whether we will stand firm in our faith! The word says that the devil is "like" a roaring lion. He wants us to think he is dangerous. He wants us to think he has conquered us by paralyzing us with the fear of his roar. But all he can do is roar if we take our stance of faith.

James 4:7 “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Don't let the "roar" cause you to buckle under, it's a smokescreen because his power has been stripped. Remember God's word and rely on His Holy Spirit to stand!

Cor. 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

We have a guarantee of victory in every situation and any attack. The only power Satan and his cohorts have over us is what we let him have. When we stand in the authority of God and use the tools He has provided for us, the enemy's schemes are destroyed and rendered powerless!

The big question is: how exactly do we stand firm in our faith? We take our stand by putting on all of our armor.

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor 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 then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”