Still Standing

Introduction
In the old Looney Toons cartoons, Wile E. Coyote was constantly trying to capture the
speedy Road Runner in the hopes of getting a free lunch. He would employ all types of
traps and weapons, from fake tunnels painted on brick walls to the always unreliable
Acme bombs, in the attempt to catch the speedy bird for dinner. Unfortunately for the
coyote, his schemes always backfired, causing him to be on the receiving end,
bandaged and broken. It was good for a laugh.
The traps the devil sets for us are no laughing matter, however. These schemes that
are meant to deceive us, and the “bombs” that go off in our lives, cause real pain and
real damage and leave real scars, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. If we are to
be “still standing” after facing these assaults and come out of the constant battles intact,
we must know how to fight, who were fighting against, and be protected in the fight.
God shows us all of this in these passages from the letter to the church in Ephesus
written by the Apostle Paul sometime around the year 60 A.D. This “self-defense
manual in spiritual warfare” is just as relevant now as it was then.
Scripture Passage: Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV
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.
Know How to Fight
Be strong in the Lord ‘s mighty power.
From the Greek word “endunamoó” (Strong’s 1743) meaning to be “empowered”, we
are to get our “dynamite power” from the Lord. We are not to fight this battle, against

this enemy, alone, in our own strength. As the Israelites faced Pharoah’s army, with
their backs against the Red Sea, Moses told them, “The Lord will fight for you; you need
only to be still.” Exodus 14:14. He reminds them again later that, “The Lord your God is
the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Exodus 20:4. We shouldn’t for a minute think that God isn’t still keeping this promise for
us today.
Put on the full armor of God
The full, or complete set of, armor, from the Greek word “panoplia” (Strong’s 3833) is
required to fight this battle. Any less, and you are leaving yourself exposed to the “wiles
of the devil” (from the NKJV). Wile E. Coyote would have been well fed had the Road
Runner used less than his full speed. Or consider a football team playing without pads,
or not having players at key positions. They wouldn’t stand a chance!
Know Who We’re Fighting Against
It’s not against flesh and blood
It is not people we battle against. In all of the issues and evil we are presently
witnessing on a global basis, from abortion to transgenderism, from economic chaos to
the breakdown of national borders, whether the fight is more corporately based or
affects us individually, it is not people who are the ultimate enemy. We do not battle
against a political party or an ideology. From the Greek word “kosmokratór” (Strong’s
2888), we are in a battle against Satan, who represents the “powers of this dark world.”
To set our sights on anything less than the mastermind is to be distracted and,
therefore, less effective. Consider these quotes from the book “The Art of War” by Sun
Tzu:
“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
“If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.” 
We must be focused on the real enemy in this fight!
Be Protected in the Fight
The full armor is needed when evil comes
While the day of evil may refer to the end-times and the seven-year period of tribulation,
a more common view is this means any day or time when a believer faces adversity or
trials. Regardless of which interpretation is more correct, as we’ve learned already,
when tough times come, we need the complete armor of God to be able to stand our
ground, which, from the Greek word “antistenai” (Strong’s 436) means to resist, oppose,

or stand against. And, after we have given absolutely everything in this fight, to still be
standing. Now we’ll see what the armor God gave us for this fight looks like.
The belt of Truth
Just like a belt is the centerpiece of your clothing (and, frankly, keeps you from looking
like a fool with your pants on the ground), holding to the Truth of God’s Word is
essential for the proper perspective and keeping us centered when facing trials. We are
told to be “girded about”, which comes from the Greek word “perizónnumi” (Strongs
4024), the idea being that the truth is to be securely fastened to us. Or think of the
girders used to make a tall building steady and able to withstand terrible winds. And
truth is not relative! The very definition of truth does not leave that as an option. Jesus
says of Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” (John 14:6 NKJV), and when He stood before Pontius Pilate, he
declared, “In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37 NIV)
To say that truth is under attack is a gross understatement. It’s like saying “water is
wet”. When truth is cast aside for convenience, when feelings trump reason and actual
science, you get the cultural mess we’re in now. A word of caution as we engage in this
battle, though. Don’t be so focused on exposing lies that you fail to share the Truth.
Don’t get so caught up in pushing back the darkness that you forget to shine the Light.
Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV) and
it was said of Him in John 1:5 (NIV) “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.” If you share the Truth, the lies will be exposed. If you shine the
Light, the darkness will flee.
The breastplate of righteousness
You don’t go into battle without protecting the vital organs, especially your heart. That’s
what the breastplate is for. In a spiritual sense, it’s a covering that you enjoy when you
remain under the authority of Christ by walking with Him as you strive for living
righteously. Jesus made this promise in John 15:9-10, “As the Father loved Me, I also
have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My
love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” God’s love
never leaves you, but straying into the ways of world and, by default, into the jurisdiction
of the devil, you leave your heart exposed and your spiritual authority compromised.
We can trample the “powers of the enemy” (Luke 10:19), but only if we stay in Christ.
He tells us in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and
I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Keep that breastplate on,
your heart protected, and your authority intact!
Feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace

Do you have the correct footwear for battle? Will the grip of your shoes allow you to
stand your ground, or help you run where the Lord is calling? Or are they falling apart,
not protecting your tootsies, and have you slipping and sliding all over the place? Has
anxiety about what has or may transpire left you beat down? When you have the peace
of Christ, you are ready for whatever may come. In Colossians 3:15 (NKJV), the
Apostle Paul writes “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were
called in one body; and be thankful.” He writes again in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) to “not
be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is only
possible because Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) leaves His peace with us. He
tells us in John 14:27 (NIV), “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The shield of faith
This verse implies that you will face arrows. In fact, the Greek word is “belos” (Strong’s
956) which can also mean dart, javelin, or missile. You will face flaming missiles, and
not the kind that blow up in your enemy’s face. What the shield of faith affords you,
however, is the ability to extinguish, suppress, or thwart (“sbennumi” – Strong’s 4570)
the effectiveness of these missiles. You might take a direct hit, but faith protects you
from lasting (i.e., eternal) harm. See these examples from Hebrews 11, the chapter
referred to as the “wall of faith”:
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and
Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered
kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of
lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose
weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed
foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others
who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better
resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They
were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.
They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—
the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in
caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of
them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us
so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
The helmet of salvation

If you can’t think, you can’t fight. If you can’t fight, you can’t stand. Protect your
thinking center, your brain, by knowing who you are in Christ. When you fully
understand what God has done for you, through the Blood of His Son, Jesus, everything
falls into its proper perspective. You can think clearly, and fight more effectively, when
you carry the knowledge and the confidence that you are a redeemed child of God into
battle. Take these words to heart and protect your mind!
John 3:16 (NIV) - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)- God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 2:8 - 9(NIV) - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are
healed.
Romans 8:1 (NIV) - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus.
The Sword of the Spirit
We have been given one offensive weapon for the battles we face, and that weapon is
the word of God, which the writer of Hebrews calls a “two-edged sword”. But don’t think
that just because you have it in your possession that it’s going to do you any good.
Your enemy, the devil, was once the highest order of Angel; he was in God’s throne
room and was referred to as “Lucifer”, the angel of light. He knows the Bible. He also
knows how to twist and pervert it. If you think for a minute that you can wield this sword
in the midst of the constant battles of trials and temptations without really knowing it,
you are sadly mistaken. Like any weapon, you have to practice with it, and your training
ground is to read it deeply and often. In Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) we read that “This Book of
the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that
you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your
way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Meditate is taken from the
Hebrew word “hagah” (Strong’s 1897), which means to moan, utter, speak, growl, or
muse. It can be compared to a cow chewing its cud.
Don’t just “do devotions”, as if checking off a to-do list, but spend time “chewing on” a
passage from Scripture so that it becomes imprinted on your heart and mind. God even
had Moses tell the Israelites, “And these words which I command you today shall be in

your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when
you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise
up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between
your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
(Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NKJV) Knowing the Bible intimately means that, when you really
need a specific passage of Scripture for whatever occasion or circumstance may arise,
you’ll have it readily available. It also means that you won’t use the word inerrantly
(incorrectly). 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) admonishes us to “Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing [handling]
the word of truth.”
Pray and pray often
All the armor and the best offensive weapon available will do you no good if you’re not
in constant contact with your Field Commander. A primary strategy in battle is to cut off
communication. If we are going to be still standing after this fight, we must be praying
often and for each other. And no request is too miniscule or unimportant. Note the part
about “all kinds of prayers and requests?” God wants to hear from us, and we need to
talk to Him and listen for our “marching orders”. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 were told to
pray continually or without ceasing. Keep those lines of communication open! And
when combined with the whole armor we find this promise from James 5:16 (NIV) to be
true: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
What “Still Standing” Might Look Like
Ephesians 6:13 NIV - 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.
We are in a war. That fact cannot be over-emphasized. Life on this Earh is a lot like
trying to have a picnic in a battlefield, and we act surprised when a mortar shell lands on
our blanket. We ask why bad things happen, when we probably should ask how is that
good things happen. Psalm 31:19 (NIV) says about God, “How abundant are the good
things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.” That’s definitely one answer to that question!
Are you still standing? Maybe you don’t think so, so here are a few things to think
about.
First, failure is not final! If you’re not a Christian and think that maybe you’ve messed
up one too many times to qualify for redemption, please know that this could not be
further from the truth! Keep these three passages in mind:

 Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
 Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
 Romans 10:9-10 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with
your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you
profess your faith and are saved.
There are no qualifications for salvation outside of giving your heart to Jesus Christ.
For the person who’s already a Christian and feeling like you’ve let the Lord down,
consider the accounts of our “heroes of faith” as found in Scripture. If your Christian
walk looks more like a Slip-n-Slide than an escalator, you’re in good company!
Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Samson, David, Elijah, Jesus’ disciples, the Apostle Paul, and
many, many others all had plenty of baggage, to say the least, yet God used them in
powerful ways to advance His Kingdom. Many of them had moments of defeat after
times of victory. Just because you’ve fallen down, doesn’t mean you have to stay there.
A famous man once said, I believe it was Mr. Miyagi, “Quarterback who never throw
interception never throw pass.” Just kidding. I made this up. But it’s true. Mistakes
and missteps are part of living, and the Blood of Jesus covers it all!
Second, keep on keeping on! The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV), “Not
that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to
take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is
behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” In other words, don’t look
back, look forward. Christ is the finish line, and He’s just up ahead!
Third, use your story for Christ’s glory! Your testimony on the other side of trials is one
that no one else could give. Whatever the problem, be it pain or prison, remember that
we’re promised in Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “that all things work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Are you still standing? Really, it’s all up to you to determine that. Do you feel bruised
and bloodied, but are still holding firm to the Word of God? Then, my friend, you are still
standing! Just proclaim it, and let the enemy know what’s what!
To the one who keeps battling addiction, but is trusting that God will lead him to a clean
life once and for all . . . I’m still standing!
To the father who really messed up his family with a series of bad decisions, but calls on
Jesus every day to bring restoration . . . I’m still standing!

To the woman who fought for her marriage for years despite feeling hopeless, trusting
that God would bring it back to life . . . I’m still standing.
To the one who suffered unspeakable loss and just wants to know why, but is choosing
to keep trusting God . . . I’m still standing!
To all those who put the armor on every day, keep taking the hits, but continue to push
the line forward, proclaim with a loud voice, because of Jesus Christ:
I’M STILL STANDING!