Stand Up

Ephesians 6

“Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, You dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, Be never wanting there.” George Duffield

Spirit-filled Christians will reflect or manifest a Christlikeness at church, in the home, on the job, and in the community and world. If we do not learn to obey at home, we are not likely to be obedient on the job or in the army of the Lord on the great battlefield of this spiritually decaying world. Likewise, if we have not learned to take orders, we will not be too successful at giving orders, either as parents, as employers, or even impacting our community and world.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1–4 (ESV)

“The danger in the home is parents who are authoritarian but do not exercise loving spiritual authority. The danger on the job is the employee who is a clock-watcher and does not obey from the heart, and the “boss” who forgets that he is second in command and will one day give an account to the Lord.” Warren Wiersbe

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.” Ephesians 6:5–9 (ESV)

Most of what we know of slavery in America is condemned in the Bible: human beings were not to be kidnapped and sold (Exod 21:16); slaves were not to be abused (Exod 21:26–27); fugitive slaves were not to be returned to their masters (Deut 23:15–16).

In a Roman culture infused with an unrighteous institution of slavery, Paul writes to tell a church how to live with a heavenly perspective. We can apply Paul’s principles here to our own lives and workplaces. God wants to be an integral part of your and my daily work and work environment. For Christian employees and employers to access our heavenly blessings, we must bring a heavenly perspective to bear on the job and in our work and work ethic.

“To serve Christ in your job, obey your employer as long as he doesn’t ask you to disobey Christ. Whether or not the boss is around, God is always watching. And even if your boss doesn’t appreciate your efforts or is unfair, your work will never go unnoticed or be in vain. You work for an unseen employer who sees all and will reward you. If you’re the boss, you’re under divine authority too. Employees may be under you in position, but they are equal to you in value. They bear the image of God, so honor their dignity. And treat all your employees with equity, consistently applying righteous standards to them.” Dr. Tony Evans

The danger on the battlefield of our current culture and world is that we do not take the enemy seriously and therefore fail to put on all of the armor of God. By faith, we must put on the armor through prayer, which must be done at the beginning of every single day. We must stop being naive and never underestimate the strategy and strength of the devil, for he is seeking to devour us and discredit the power of Jesus our Savior and Lord.

“What we call spiritual warfare is the conflict in the spiritual realm that affects the physical realm. The daily problems we face here are rooted there. But, importantly, the resources we need to fight the battle are there too.” Dr. Tony Evans

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:10–17 (ESV)

The battles we as followers of Jesus face every day is rooted in the schemes of the devil, in his efforts to deceive us and to cause us doubt ourselves and God, which often leads to isolation and feelings of hopelessness. According to Dr. Tony Evans, “He is happy for us to picture him as a cartoon character wearing a red jumpsuit with horns and carrying a pitchfork so that we won’t take him seriously. Meanwhile, like an opposing football team, his demonic realm watches our game film. He knows your history, your weak spots, and your sin patterns. His goal is to keep you from experiencing God’s will for your life. You’re not his first assignment. He is good at what he does.”

You and I, have to fight the spiritual with the spiritual. Our human strength won’t work. Our only hope is to be strengthened by the Lord and to put on the full armor of God. Through the cross and resurrection of Christ, victory is already won. The devil has lost. The only power he has is the power we give him. We are to stand firm in Christ’s victory.

We must put on the full armor of God to battle against our adversary the Devil. “Reminding us of the might of our enemy, Paul urged us to use all the resources of God against him. These include the confidence of our right standing before God (“righteousness,” “salvation”), as well as the truth of God’s Word.” Dr. Harold Wilmington

Whatever specific roles the “evil rulers” or “powers of darkness” play in his army, Satan is powerful and resourceful. We are never told to attack the Devil, but we are told to withstand and resist him.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pet. 5:8–11 (ESV)

When tempted to do wrong, we should flee as Joseph did in Genesis 39. But when attacked by Satan for doing right, we must stand firm as Daniel’s friends did in Daniel 3.

“Someone has observed that as pilgrims we walk, as witnesses we talk, as contenders we run, but as fighters we stand.” Dr. Harold Wilmington

In the final verses of Ephesians 6, we learn that we possess one last powerful weapon: Prayer. Our spiritual warfare should always include prayer, for ourselves and for others. Paul asked for prayer for himself, that he might find the right words for witnessing. We too need much prayer and should always ask this of others who care deeply of our withstanding and mission. As we pray we must “stay alert” to our spiritual enemy as he is seeking to devour us.

Are you reflecting a Christlikeness at church, in the home, on the job, and in your community? Are you bringing a heavenly perspective to your job and in your work and work ethic? Are you daily putting on the armor of God? Are you standing firm in Christ’s victory by living a joy-fill and victorious life?
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Today, Stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone and arm yourself with the Gospel armor and prayer.

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