DailyRhema

Daily Rhema is a teaching ministry for Christians, centered on the finished work of Christ. It posts inspiring teachings and testimonies on weekdays. These short and systematic messages are suitable for personal devotion or Bible Study.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

15.23 STAND – Why STAND and why not ATTACK?

The theme of Ephesians is SIT, WALK & STAND. So where is the fighting? Where is the attacking? A lot of Christians talk about fighting with the devil, engaging in offensive warfare with the devil. Where is all this fighting in the book of Ephesians? Well STAND has nothing to do with attacking. This is how it works:

Jesus fought with the devil on the cross. The devil bruised Jesus’ heel but Jesus bruised the devil’s head (Gen 3:15). So Jesus won. Jesus was the conqueror. We showed Col 2:13-15 yesterday. It says that Jesus triumphed over the enemy.

Then Jesus went to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. We started our journey in Jesus’ victory. We SAT down in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We started by SITTING. Jesus was the conqueror but we are more than conquerors. Jesus fought for the victory but we received the spoils of victory through Jesus. We did not have to fight.

This is the order. Jesus fought. Jesus won. Jesus sat. We SIT in victory. We WALK in victory. We STAND in victory.

So if we live in victory, what is there to fight? It is called the FIGHT OF FAITH. Why the fight of faith? Because Satan who is defeated likes you to think that he is still in charge (through deception). Or since he cannot defeat you, he makes you defeat yourself (through accusations & temptations). If the lion is toothless, he can at least try to frighten you with his roar, or he could try to gum you to death.

So what do we do? We must know and believe that we are victorious in Christ (SIT). We resist Satan and remind him that we are standing on victory (STAND). We do not fight FOR victory. We fight in faith FROM victory.

So then, spiritual warfare is all in the mind. Satan makes you doubt. You make a choice to believe. You pull down every argument that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We align our thoughts with the finished work of Christ.

(2 Cor 10:4-5)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ


So to STAND means that in the face of contrary wind, in the sound of the storm from the devil, we stay the course of faith, and we continue in the direction of Christ. That is standing firm against the enemy of faith.

Note: The next Grace Fellowship is on Thursday, 12th March 7.45. Please contact Jeffrey Teo at (65) 81119307 if you would like to join us for an exciting time in Word & Spirit – as we discover more of the finished work of Jesus.