Sit, Walk, Stand
I love the progression of
maturity in Ephesians. First we're seated with Christ, second we learn to walk
with Him, and finally we learn to stand in our inheritance. Normally we think
of having to attain or accomplish something to achieve our inheritance. We do
play an important role, but in the Kingdom that concept can be incomplete.
Focusing on our efforts or worthiness leaves us in the position of wondering
what we did wrong when things don't go our way. It's not always about us.
The Larger Battle
When we volunteer to be involved
in the Kingdom, we sign up for a battle that goes beyond our personal lives and
circumstances to the unseen realm of rulers, authorities, powers and
principalities. For example, most of us have crossed paths with a person under
the influence of a wrong spirit. You can provoke a wild reaction without doing
anything wrong. Just being a follower of Jesus will touch it off. In the same
way, your involvement in a Kingdom initiative will also draw a spiritual
reaction at a level that goes far beyond your personal friends or influence.
Delays, harassment, conflict, financial issues, problems... can all come as a
consequence of simply trying to live in your destiny via the desires of your
heart and God's heart. Our response to problems isn't necessarily a retreat or
a counter attack. It's to "stand" in the place God put us. We simply resist
enemy schemes and he will eventually flee as powerful angelic forces prevail in
expanding the Kingdom.
Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
devil's schemes. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have
done everything, to stand. Stand firm
then... Ephesians 6:10-14 NIV
My Story
I have lived nearly all my life
having going from 30 years of good paying jobs to investment income that was
even better. For the last few months, though, we've experienced financial lack.
The range of emotions has gone from praying through to a sense of victory, and
specific ideas to implement as a solution, to garden variety discouragement and
depression. It's particularly troublesome that wealth creation is at the core
of our message. After weeks of wrangling in my spirit, I sat down and asked the
Lord, "What should I do?" His immediate response was "having done all, stand."
He was telling me that it wasn't about my performance or solutions. It was
about the warfare, and my job is to "stand on the ground He's given me."
Standing doesn't mean I'm passive
with regard to taking wise initiatives to solve my dilemma. It means I'm not
getting discouraged and giving up on my destiny. God will make a way, and I am
redoubling my efforts to seek Him and find the open doors. God is delighted
with Kings being released. It's His idea!
The steps
of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. When he
falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds
his hand. I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous
forsaken Or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and
lends, And his descendants are a blessing. Ps
37:23-26 NASU
Storms and the day of evil are
seasons we all face. Here's how you can stand when your turn comes.
1.
Check
your armor - Make sure your spiritual foundation is secure and that the
enemy has no leverage to defeat you. Storms do come occasionally, and our house
has to be on the rock (Jesus). Do this without falling into condemnation or
blaming yourself for the existence of the warfare. It's not about you - stay
the course.
Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians
6:14-18 NIV
2.
Pray -
we can't use business principles to defeat spiritual forces. Character,
integrity, wisdom, and good friends hold us steady, and prayer in the Spirit
keeps us vigilant in support of the warfare, and knowing when we need to make a
move and what it is. "Fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb 12:2) describes this
prayer posture well.
And pray
in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With
this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 NIV
3.
Praise -
After I finished with whining, depression, fear, sleepless nights, and
introspection, I put my focus back on what God is doing in the Kingdom and what
my role is. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of
things not seen. Warfare doesn't change God's plan. It just rattles our cage a
little... sometimes a lot.
4.
I have a
dream. I believe in angels - My daughter, Heidi, finished college in March
so we celebrated by seeing a Broadway Show in Seattle entitled Mamma Mia. The
very last song is 'I have a dream.' At the end of a three hour play, the Lord
spoke to me again through this song. I do have a dream that is also on the
heart of God, and I believe in angels that watch over us and win battles in
heavenly places. Giving my life for that dream and that Lord is entirely
reasonable.
God is not only going to restore
our situation; what the enemy meant for evil, God is using to work something
good in my heart. This season of lack is precious in that regard, and I'm
thankful for it. I will restore others and Release Kings with new strength and
new authority.
John Garfield
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