STAND

If Jesus said, “Stand firm & you will gain life” - what does that mean exactly? Stand firm how? Stand firm why? and what’s the benefit or purpose of it all?
We’re going to talk about that today.
We do see people taking stands on issues around us all the time, don’t we? - we have any Ron Paul fans in the house?

Here’s someone taking a stand-look at this on the screen

Ron Paul supporter cited 4 times in Minn.
An 18-year-old Republican's enthusiasm for presidential hopeful Ron Paul could cost him more than $550.
Cody Hauer has been cited four times in one week for displaying a 13-inch-by-40-inch "Ron Paul Revolution" decal in the rear window of his car. The problem is that such decals are illegal if they obstruct the driver's view.
"I support Ron Paul, the city police department doesn't," he said. "They gave me a DWR — driving while Republican."
Hauer said he'll argue in court that the law violates his First Amendment right to free speech.
"To be honest, I'm probably not going to win, but I'm going to go down fighting," he said.

any of you ever had your order messed up in the drive-thru of some fast food joint?

Iowa man charged with Taco Bell chalupa assault
A man who claimed he didn't get the taco he paid for has been charged with assault for allegedly pelting a Taco Bell clerk in the face with a chalupa.
Nancy Harrison told police she was working the drive-through Thursday night when Christopher Lame, 24, ordered some food.
He later came into the store, complaining he didn't get the taco he had ordered, police records say. Harrison said that when she asked for a receipt, he went back to his car and brought back the bag.
Harrison said she told him the store was closing, and as she turned away, a chalupa hit her in the face near her right eye.

Now if Jesus said, “Stand firm & you will gain life” I do not believe He was speaking of incidents like these.
So what is Christ asking us to stand firm for?

1. The reason for standing is freedom.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

God asked us to stand to solidify what has already been done.
Jesus Christ gave His life for us. He was innocently condemned to death, but He did it for all of us, all of humanity. He was beaten & bruised for all our mistakes, screw-ups, and sin.
Nailed to a cross for our redemption. Listen, He died for our freedom and He is asking us to take a stand! To stand up for what he has done not only in our lives, but the lives every person on the face of this planet. That’s why we stand for Christ.

We stand for freedom, what Christ has already done.
How do we stand for Christ?

2. The requirement for standing is fierceness.
fierceness = wild determination, unrestrained zeal (now, don’t throw a chalupa in anybody’s face) how? bible tells us,

Ephesians 6:14-18 “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 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. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

a. The Belt of Truth - this is our foundation, it’s our character, & our integrity
b. The Breastplate of Righteousness - 2 types of Righteousness:
1. Inputed or given, when you gave your life to Christ, became a Christ-follower you were given the Righteousness
of Christ.
2. Chosen - it’s choosing to change & allowing God to work. choosing righteousness of our foundation, the Truth. choosing not to sin - not entering into corruptible convo - the things we take in, TV, movies, or substances, we choose righteousness.

c. The Gospel of Peace - shoes = surefooted - live a life of stability in Christ - this is what we display for the world to see. are you living a life of stability? or is it so full of ups and downs people really ? who you are or what you’re all about - do people know what you’re all about? or is it up in the air? This gospel of peace is surefootedness (i think i just made up a word) People see the peace of God front and center in your life.
d. The shield of Faith - The shield that Paul had in mind here is not the small, round buckler, but the oblong, door-like shield, measuring 4' x 2 ', curved to the shape of the body and carried by the Greek and Roman soldiers. When joined together, these large shields formed a wall behind which a body of troops could hide themselves from the rain of the enemy's missiles.
These military shields were made of wood, covered on the out- side with thick leather, which not only deadened the shock of the missile, but protected the frame of the shield from the fire-tipped darts used in the artillery of the ancients.
So, faith is the shield of the Christian soldier, defending him from the fierce attacks of the foe from within and without. The shield of faith is able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. This shield cannot be pierced or destroyed by the fiercest fires of hatred or malice. The arrows of the evil one, though flaming with cruelty, & intent to harm are stopped by the shield and extinguished.
We are to stand in faith! Our faith in God that regardless of whatever is thrown our way, marriage troubles, job or work difficulties, children driving you crazy... whatever it is we are facing... no matter how big it is... God is bigger! and we have faith He is sovereign, He is in control and will lead us out of the mess. So we stand w/ the shield of faith.
e. The Helmet of Salvation - Why? b/c while standing the battle is in your mind. protect it!
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness.” Eph. 4:22-24 How do we do that?
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Col. 3:2
The battle is in your mind, so put on the mind of Christ.


f. The Sword of the Spirit - what is the sword of the spirit?
1. Word of God. v.17 “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”
Again, the word of God is our foundation. W/ the word we can battle all the temptations of life - that’s why it’s so important to get in the Word daily - build up your offense against the enemy - Jesus tempted in wilderness - what did He model, what did He do to attack or battle temptation? The Word of God. read Matt. 4:1-11 at 11 the devil left Him. The devil left b/c Jesus broke out the sword of the spirit. Now check this out, if Satan went after Jesus, will he come after you? That’s why we need to get in the word daily to stand against him.
2. Prayer v18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” - we are to pray daily as well. pray what? read again - about everything
We are to stand in fierceness, wild determination. b/c you will be tempted. You will come under attack. You will face challenging dilemmas. Will you stand?
The requirement for standing is fierceness. wild determination, unrestrained zeal - we have many ex. of men & women in scrip. standing for God - Daniel, Stephen, Esther, Joshua, Caleb, Jonathan.... and we have many ex. today - how many of you remember April 20th, 1999? That was the day of the Columbine H.S. tragedy - it was also the day that when faced with a life and death ? regarding her belief in God, Cassie Bernall said YES.
Stood fierce - does it get any fiercer than that?
She was a Christ-follower who walked the talk (vid)

Just like Rach, Shac, & Benny - As they faced death for their belief in God - they said YES and then said,

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Dan. 3:16-18

That’s standing fierce! that’s walking the walk - we are to stand fierce why, b/c of freedom. To solidify what Christ has already done.

3. The results of standing is fullness

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” Philippians 1:27-28

a. Jesus gets the credit - we cannot stand on our own - it is only by the power of God. that’s what we share.
b. Enemies are destroyed - the temptations, the attacks that come our way, when life is beating you up - STAND - and the enemy will leave. The strongholds, the bondage, the enormous pressures you feel b/c you you just can’t get over the hump, can’t kick it - listen, when we stand now God is taking the reigns & He holds the key to destroy what is dragging us down.
c. You get to see the power of God - you get to see the supernatural take place, right in front of your eyes. - how many of you have stories you could share w/ us of God turning around what appeared to be an impossible situation, what appeared to be a dead-end in life, that He turned for good.
d. Other Lives will be affected
You get the benefit of becoming a Christ-like example for others.
We have no idea the number of lives that can & will be changed when we stand for Christ. As others see us standing, the H.S. begins to work in their lives in a whole new realm, b/c you stood for the Truth. Just like Cassie Bernall, just like many others in scripture, just like someone you may know.

I want to introduce someone to you that I know.
Angie Chandler
stood for Christ and has witnessed the results of standing in her life.
Will you please welcome Angie....

What an amazing story! What portrait of beauty! A Portrait that God wants to paint in each of our lives.