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.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Paul the apostle, warned the Christians at Ephesus about the reality of spiritual warfare. He then admonished them as follows: 'Therefore 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. Clearly, it is important to be able to stand one's ground, and then, to stand, but the pertinent questions are: Where and how do we stand?
The first chapter of the book of Psalms pronounces blessedness on the person who does not stand in the way of sinners. Simply put, happy is the one who takes his stand with Christ. Christ stands for righteousness, therefore failure to align with Christ means standing with sinners or standing for unrighteousness. Elijah perceived that he was the only prophet of the Lord that was left and so he challenged 450 prophets of Baal to a contest at Mount Carmel.
Elijah did not take his stand with the crusaders of idolatry though they were many. He stood with God, implying that he stood for righteousness. Consequently, he was able to prove to the people including those champions of Baal that the Almighty is God.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In the final chapter of his letter to God's people in Philippi, Paul says: Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my Victor‘s crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends (Phil.4:1). He encouraged these Christians to take a stand with Christ and to stand firmly in Him. To those in Corinth, he says: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing m0ve you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
This also suggests the idea of standing firmly in Christ. These passages emphasize how we are to stand in Christ (i.e. firmly). When Thomas asked the Lord how the disciples could know the way. He simply replied: 'I am the way, the truth and the life... !' If Christ is the way, then, we need to stand with Him, we need to stand in Him and we need to stand for Him. We will never be misguided as long as we remain (abide) in Him.
Stuart Townend and Keith Getty truly write: In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song ....... No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand. Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
