Standing Around

Today’s Interruption is interactive. You do something first, and then read this devotion.

Go somewhere and lean against a wall. Please take a selfie of you standing against a wall and send it to me at edwards@fellowshipchristian.org.

Paul uses the word “stand” three times in his description of spiritual warfare in Ephesians chapter 6:

v. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
v. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
v. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Considering Paul is writing about spiritual warfare, why does he just tell us to stand around?

When you leaned against a wall. According to Isaac Newton’s third law of motion, lean against a wall and it pushes back. Yes, according to Newton the wall leans back equally to the force that you exerted. If it didn’t push back, you would knock it over. If it pushed back harder, the wall would fall on you.

In 1974, I read a book entitled, Sit,Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee. I remember often what Watchman Nee taught about standing.

For our part, we need not struggle to occupy ground that is already ours. In Christ we are conquerors—nay, “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). In Him, therefore, we stand. Thus, today we do not fight for victory; we fight from victory. We do not fight in order to win, but because in Christ we have already won. Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already given to them by their God.

Christ already has the victory – we just need to stand! I have also discovered that the Spirit within me provides the mass to resist. Back to Newton’s third law – the wall has to have enough mass to push back against your weight. If the wall is made of thin paper and you lean on it, you will go through it. If it is made of two feet of concrete – no matter how hard you push…

The wall just stands there.

In the “Interruptions” that I write, I remind you often that we fight a supernatural enemy dedicated to your destruction. With Christ in you, you have the power to just stand there. Your wall has plenty of mass bolstered by the Spirit.

I have been tempted often in 50 years of following Jesus. I was tempted to get high again after becoming a Christian. I have been tempted several times to be unfaithful to me wife. I have been tempted to quit as a pastor because of extreme discouragement. I have been tempted to steal money. The list goes on.

I would be exhausted if I had to fight all those battles. But I didn’t, I just stood there.

The lesson of “standing” is key for victory. Too often during difficulty we pray, we discuss, we bind the evil one, we worship, we listen to Bill Johnson or Andy Stanley. A lot of work.

It is easier to just stand.

It’s like walking into the arena for the fight of your life and upon entering, the crowd roars its approval, your enemy is dead on the floor, and you are given a victor’s crown. Paul writes in Romans 8 that we are already conquerors.

Jesus has defeated all our enemies. You just need to stand. Standing isn’t passive. In fact, having the substance to resist while everyone around you is falling, can be intimidating and costly.

I have learned three lessons for standing:

1. I claim victory by faith when I am struggling.I say, “My victory is assured by the blood of Jesus.”
2. I visualize victory in my mind. Faith allows you to call into existence what you dream. Right now, think what a problem and what victory would look like.
3. Ask others to pray for you. Have a prayer partner or two to share requests.

Now go lean against that wall again.

Consider your struggle and note that the wall isn’t moving. Say, “I claim my victory by the blood of Jesus.” Then visualize in your mind what victory should be and ask God to specifically bring about your dream. Finally, call someone and ask them to pray for you.

Stand!