Take a Stand
Today’s Verse:
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. ~Ephesians 6:13
When the pressures of life are upon you, do you let them affect your decision-making, or do you take a stand? Taking a stand means you are loyal to your convictions. A conviction is a belief that you hold so strongly that you would die for it. It is different from a preference. With a preference, different pressures can affect our decision-making to the point where we can change our position. This morning, I want to urge you to take a stand for the Lord.
Let’s take a stand for godly practices.
We live in a day and age when you cannot tell the difference between a genuine Christian and an unsaved person. Godly practices are how we live out our Christianity. Christians should be unashamed to give thanks for their meals in public. Christians should abstain from all fleshly behavior. This includes the temptation towards immoral practices, such as dancing, smoking, taking illegal drugs, and drinking alcoholic beverages. This means we should be faithful in church attendance, reading our Bible, and praying every day. We need believers who will take a stand for godly practices.
Let’s take a stand for gospel preaching.
This is the bold proclamation that Christ died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and invites every sinner to be saved. There needs to be more gospel preaching and not less. We should not allow the vocal outcries of an untoward generation to intimidate us from preaching the gospel. This includes going house to house and person to person with the gospel. This includes telling the people whom we are closest to of their need to be saved. Gospel preaching is the hope of this nation and the world. Gospel preaching pushes the devil into his corner. Gospel preaching makes a new creature out of a sinful wretch. Gospel preaching salvages marriages that are on the rocks. We need believers who take a stand for gospel preaching.
Let’s take a stand against a grievous predator.
Satan is like "a roaring lion... seeking whom he may devour...." His lies entrap men and women in darkness and blind them to the truth. We must take a stand for the truth and not allow the lies of the devil to be accepted. We must take a stand against the devil’s corruption in our public school system, the passage of unbiblical laws, and the subtle brainwashing of the media. Paul speaks about the spiritual war that we are in and the degrees of spiritual enemies that we face. The devil has his representatives everywhere to fight against us. We must take a stand and let these enemies know that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Don’t be a pushover Christian! Take a stand against the grievous predator, and take back the ground that he has stolen.
It takes much courage and boldness to stand for the Lord. God has promised us that He is on our side to help us. His power is capable of overcoming the pressures that we face. Let’s not run and hide. Let’s stand!
Have a courageous God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 28-29