Key Verse: Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Studies show that sitting for prolonged periods of time is extremely unhealthy. Consistent, prolonged sitting increases the risk of heart problems, cancer, and many mental health problems. Some people argue that sitting is not a natural human position, and that we were made to either stand up, or lie down. I believe that many of us are spiritually defeated and spiritually unhealthy because we have been sitting when we should be standing. Paul reminds us of the spiritual warfare we find ourselves in here in these verses in Ephesians 6. Oftentimes we spend so much time looking at the the armor of God we miss one of the most repeated words in this section. Paul uses the word ‘stand’ three times in this section. In a passage all about fighting and warfare it makes sense that Paul would talk about the importance of standing. In a fight you are always at a disadvantage if you are sitting and your opponent is standing. Here the point is that if you are sitting you are not prepared for battle. Your armor is not on, your weapons are not ready for warfare. Our job as Christians is not necessarily to defeat the devil. Our job is to withstand his attacks. Christ has already won the victory. We are fighting against an enemy who has already been mortally wounded. His complete end is near. He is throwing is last attacks at the people of God. If we are sitting down in lukewarmness, in sin, in the pleasures of this world, or the busyness of life, his attacks will hit us and we will face spiritual defeat and spiritual disease. We must stand! How do we spiritually stand? In V.10, Paul tells us that we must be strong in the the Lord and the power of His might! We stand not in our strength, but in the power of God. This means we stand against the enemy through our faith in God. As we stand in faith and trust the Lord, we put on spiritual armor that protects us from the enemies attacks. We acquire this armor by getting more intimate with Jesus each day through Bible reading and prayer. Only when we stand in God’s might, and His armor can we live the true victorious life. Are you standing and experience victory? Or are you sitting and experiencing defeat!? Stand in the might of God today!!
