7 Days Of Preparing For Great Exploitsናሙና

Day 2: Stand Firm!

"... and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then …" (Ephesians 6:13b - 14a).

I think it is very interesting that Paul gets to the end of Ephesians and issues a warning to the church at Ephesus. He warns them not only to stand, but to stand firm, having on the full armor of God. 

I think this is important because, in the rest of Ephesians, he talked about spiritual wisdom, grace through faith, spiritual gifts, Christ's relationship with the church, the relationship between a man and a woman, relationships between parents and children. That's a huge variety of topics, covering nearly every area of life! 

But then, Paul gets to the very end and says, "FINALLY."

The word "finally" means "in conclusion," or, as one scholar has said, "If you don’t remember anything else I have said, remember this." And Paul writes, "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might" … and, after everything else, "Stand firm."

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul is saying that lots of things are going to try and keep you from your purpose. There will always be opposition to your mission. However, after all the dust has settled, you have to stand firm!  

There will always be spiritual warfare in our lives. 

Nevertheless, if you are going to do great and mighty exploits, you WILL be forced to stand firm in what you know to be the truth. I love the quote of John Maxwell that says:

"I want to make a difference,

with people who are making a difference,

doing something that makes a difference,

at a time when it makes a difference."

If you are going to make a difference and do great and mighty exploits, you are going to have to resist the opposition.

Resolve right now that you will refuse to back down from this day forward. Resolve to become a difference-maker, so that others’ lives will be changed forever. 

It is easy to back down, give up, throw in the towel, conform to other people's expectations, and compromise. However, to do great exploits for God:

• You have to be like David standing up to Goliath. 
• You have to be like Esther, who was determined to go before the king and said, "If I die, I die."
• You will even need to be like Abraham, who left his country and his father's house, not knowing where he was headed — but in search of a land about which God said, "I will show you."

Standing firm is what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did when they told King Nebuchadnezzar, "The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

You are going to do great exploits. Keep standing, and keep standing firm. You are not alone!