It was Rick Joyner who repeated these words; I had heard them before, perhaps from him, I don’t know.  These come to mind this morning as I read Scripture, so my thought is to reflect upon them for awhile. 

Stand up.

What triggered my thinking, and hence this journal entry, are the words of Paul in Ephesians chapter 6.  While there are more, I cite these first.  

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (6:11-14).

The picture, obviously, is of a person engaged in a mighty battle; but not with men, mind you, but with powerful, Satanic beings arrayed against you.  While some believers might be inclined to cower in fear, even run from the struggle, Paul urges us to take our stand against them, fully adorned with the armor of God–without which we would not be wanting to face such a formidable foe.  

Now I understand that some would take this fight as one against his own person, and that is so; but given what has gone down in history, and is happening now as I write, it is a far greater battle raging for the souls of men.  And that, I think, is what Paul references here.  It is the dark hosts of heaven whose evil schemes are intended to not only keep me from God, but destroy those who are in Christ.  Which is where we come in.  In this war for the control of humanity, in which we are prime targets–we who hold the keys to the kingdom of liberty and salvation for us, we are told to stand.   

And not stationary, mind you.  Whereas our armor is primarily protective in nature, yet we wield the most powerful weapon of all:  the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.  Failure to wield it, and wielding it, use it, is in large part why we find ourselves under such a siege.  So it is, we are not only to stand, as it were stationary, but stand in the face of the battle of ages, fighting the good fight.  

So it is we are to stand in the struggle–and it is a struggle. Christian are naive to think otherwise.  

In all this we are to stand in faith.  Paul writes in Romans 11:20, speaking in reference t the Jews, “Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear.”

As Christians, the only footing we have is faith. Faith is the singular link between God and men.  It is the only thing that pleases God–faith, and all that springs from it.  It is so vital that Paul writes in another place, “Whatsoever that is not of faith is sin.”  I tell you the truth, no man shall have a chance against the Satanic onslaught against him if he is not standing firm in his faith.  In fact, we become easy prey when we let up on it.  Paul, listing the various pieces of armor, cites the shield of faith.  I know of a certainty that when it is let down, or forgotten altogether, the fiery darts come, they hit you, and they are extremely painful, even deadly.  To stand we must be in faith, and this continually.  

We are to stand in grace.  

Paul writes, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

It is said here that we do stand in grace; by grace we have been saved, through faith; we have peace with God through Christ, who has introduced us to this wonderful place.  Honestly, we could not stand any other way.  If we think otherwise, we will most certainly fall.  We stand by faith in the grace of God.  The place of safety, our refuge. 

Look up.

So we are to stand up. Next, we are to look up.  

Paul, in Colossians 3:1-2,

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  

Of course, these things that are on earth are temporary, they will all pass away.  Even our bodies, they will grow old, deteriorate, and eventually die.  But the things above, the things unseen, they are eternal.  

It is written of Moses that he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible (see Hebrews 11).  How, pray tell, do you see what can’t be seen?  The eyes of faith.  

In another place we are instructed to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12).  

And yet in another we hear Paul saying that the mind is set on the flesh is death, whereas the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.  

All throughout Scripture we are enjoined to be looking heavenward.  So it is that in addition to standing up, we are to look up.  

Be happy.  

“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:25-28).

Contrary to common thought, Christianity is not a cake walk.  Prior to saying these things our Lord said, “you will be hated by all because of My name.”  Our hope is not in this life; Jesus gives us hope, yes; but “hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees?”  Hopes are easily dashed in this life.  In all of it however, we have reason to rejoice.  

Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I say, rejoice.”  Happiness is a hallmark of the Christian.  I say this in faith, believing in God, as I seem to be the least happy of all that I know.  And why I do not know.  Yet I write this because it is true whether or not I conform to it.  I do in my mind.  I do in my heart.  Yet my demeanor is much lacking.  

It is written that if “in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most to be pitied” (cf., 1 Corinthians 15).  We mislead people if we tell them that all will be peachy-keen if they accept Christ.  No, it is likely that things may not go so well.  Whereas before Christ you had one enemy, a good one, the best one:  God; now, you have that array of evil beings in the heavenly places set against you–and most times in the form of human beings!  

Which is why we can be happy, as because God is for us, who can be against us?  The armies of Satan are a joke compared to the One who is in us.  And we have the brightest of futures, eternal and in the heavens!  At home in the presence of God forever.  The God who is our exceeding joy is the One with whom we get to be for ages upon ages with no end.  What petty things our afflictions are in this life! Why should they let us down?  

Repeatedly, David’s refrain in the Psalms is, “Praise the Lord!”  “Let those who seek the Lord be glad!” Over and over and over he writes such things.  

So it is that we can be happy.  We must be happy.  In truth, we are happy–I am happy.  

Stand up–get off your duff and not only stand up, but engage the battle.  

Look up–it is God who is not only for you, but is He who fights your battles.  With your eyes on Him, yours is life and peace.  

Be happy–you have every reason to rejoice, and not one to be sad.  

These three are God’s prescription for those of us who, in our day, not only see our way of life being threatened, but whose responsibility it is to further the kingdom of God–His righteousness, His peace, and His joy.  It is our job to stand up for truth and justice, exposing the deeds of darkness, all the while rejoicing while we do it.