How to Stand

How to Stand

In 1 Thes 3:8 Paul wrote, “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord”.  There are a few things in life and in the ministry that compel a man to keep on preaching and ministering the word of God.  Of course, the first is Jesus Christ.  Paul said, “for to me to live is Christ”, Phil 1:21.  Another is the salvation of souls.  And, in this passage, a third reason is that “ye stand fast in the Lord”.

It is frustrating to lead people to the Lord who never amount to anything for the Lord.  They don’t know how to stand.  Their lack of growth and faithfulness beg the question, “What’s the use of all of this if they aren’t going to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord”?  It’s like watering and fertilizing a tree that never produces fruit, and doesn’t even grow, Lk 13:7.

But when you stand fast in the Lord, now there is an incentive for the preacher to keep preaching and ministering the word to you.  Not only are you saved and going to heaven but you are growing and changing and bearing fruit for the Lord.  This is why Paul said, “now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord”.

Today we’re going to discuss a few verses about how to stand.

Stand fast in the Lord, 1 Thes 3:8.  See also Phil 4:1.  To stand fast is to maintain one’s position.  The idea is that you gain a position like an advancing army and then you hold your ground.  You don’t give up the ground you’ve fought to gain.  When a person begins to slip, we say he’s backslidden.  He’s losing ground.  1 Cor 15:58, “be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”.

Stand in the armor of God, Eph 6:10-14.  “That ye may be able to stand”.  “That ye may be able to withstand”.  “Having done all, to stand”.  “Stand, therefore”.  This is how to stand in warfare.

The armor of God is tried and true.  It has stood the test of the devil, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places.  So, when you put on the whole armor of God, and stand in it, you can withstand the attacks.

Stand in awe, and sin not, Ps 4:4.  Not only must we stand against the outside attacks of our spiritual adversaries, but we must also stand against our own sin.  Awe is “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime” (Merriam Webster).  This definition describes the sense of the fear of the Lord.  Prov 3:7, “fear the Lord, and depart from evil”.

Stand in the gap, Ezek 22:29-31.  In Israel, God was looking for a man who would stand in the gap before him for the land.  There was a gap between God and the the land that had resulted from their departure from God.  Similarly, there is a gap between God and our country.  God is not looking for a man to condemn the government and to criticize the public officials, like so many are doing today.  He’s looking for a man to stand in the gap and to pray for those in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.  We don’t need another critic, but we could surely use another intercessor.  Stand in the gap.

Stand fast in one spirit, Phil 1:27.  These prior points in the sermon have been about your stand in the Lord as an individual.  This final point is about all of us who are standing in the Lord, standing “fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”.  You need to be together with other believers in a local church and the members of the local church need you to stand together with them.  This is how to stand as a church.

Conclusion: If you are not standing in the Lord today, you need to begin now by getting saved and taking your stand with the Lord.  He has given you his armor to fight off every spiritual adversary in the universe.  All who stand in his armor always withstand.  Also, stand in awe of him and turn away from your sin.  You strengthen your ability to stand.  And remember that the best way to stand for our country is to stand in the gap between our country and God.  And finally, stand with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  The devil has been attacking the power of the body of Christ by attacking her unity.  These few verses show you how to stand.