STAND FIRM

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Stand Firm

Specific Needs

Have you ever been in a situation where you kept asking God for his in discerning the right next steps in life or when you needed the wisdom of God for a specific question? I have been there over and over. Heck, I am there now. 

In most of these past situations, I was looking hard for the answer to by need as I came before the Lord over and over. In most of these past experiences I was desperate for the Lord to tell me to move one way or another, to take this church or that job, to take one path over another, but in almost every one of these past situations, the answer I received from the Lord was not at all what I was expecting. 

At this point in my life (as in this very morning) I find myself in another situation where I have a specific question for the Lord, and the reply I have received from the Holy Spirit leaves me scratching my head.  

Consistent Theme

The reply I have received from God to by inquiries has been supplied by no less than 10 great Christ following friends. Each of them has counseled me to turn to Ephesians chapter six, verses ten to twenty. At first, I thought that these people were simply providing a good passage to help me stand strong while in a time of uncertainty. Certainly, this passage is good for that. 

But when people who have no idea what I am working through send me this passage as a resource from God, then it behooves me to pay attention. 

Devotions

So, that is what I am going to be doing in the next few devotions. We are going to work through this message given by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus so that we can all learn from the message that God has given to you and I as we look into our own times of uncertainty. 

Let’s start by reading through the passage given below:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

18 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 Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

(Ephesians 6:10-20)

To Stand

The first point that jumps off the page when I read this message from the Apostle Paul is the purpose for all of action presented here. 

•  Why should we be strong?
•  Why put on the full armor of God?
•  Why pray in the Spirit?
•  Why pray for one another?
•  The answer is… To Stand!

Verse 13

Ephesians 6:13 says, “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.”

The Apostle is exhorting, challenging, begging the people of Jesus Christ to do all they can, in whatever way they need, with all their strength and power to stand firm in their faith, to stand firm in Jesus. “To stand,” is the goal. 

The world will try and knock you down. Satan will attack. The powers of this world will rage and strike out at you in hopes to cut you down. But you, child of God, are called by God, equipped by the Spirit, and encouraged by the true church of Jesus Christ to not give in, not fall flat, not collapse and give up. 

For the love of God, stand. 

Prayer

God I need this message in my heart and in my mind today. Help me to heed the call to invest in my strength, to be clothed with your power and strength so that I can keep standing firm in the name of Jesus!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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