How to Withstand in the Evil Day!

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By Tim Taylor March 29, 2023 - ​Our hearts are grieved at the transgendered woman who just entered a Christian school and murdered six people.  Most of the major media’s responses betray their bias as they seek to persecute Christians, defend their twisted morals, shift blame to a gun, to use this incident to undermine God-given rights.  I could go on describing rising inflation, rising crime, increasing lawlessness, our enemies from other lands are buying up ours, they own our debt and so many other injustices and persecutions (ie. shooting near or orphanage and or threats against our ministers in India).  There are way to many to name.
 
It seems as if hell has been unleashed.  It has.  All it takes is a review of Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 18, 20 and 26 and you will find many of the characteristics described there, warnings, manifesting today.  It’s God’s judgment.  But, what you need to understand is that God’s judgment is actually love in action.  It is correction!  It is like when you get sick and want to throw up, it usually means you ingested something you ought not to. 

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2012 Sign that Marked my Message

We as a nation, though laws and policies have encouraged the population to commit acts the Bible describes as sin, iniquity and abominations.  We find several examples of evil kings in Chronicles and Kings who implemented policies that “made Israel sin.”  It is happening today wouldn’t you agree?
 
The Question is How do You Stand in the Evil Day?
Ephesians 6 gives us the answer.  Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
 
I am sure most of you are very familiar with the armor of God: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, loins girded with truth, feet prepared with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit.  That is how YOU STAND. 
 
But I want to focus on “withstand.”  It means to resist, but I want to highlight something really important.  
 
When Paul wrote Ephesians, he had witnessed the Praetorian Guard practicing.  Each soldier was responsible to become very skilled with each weapon in their arsenal.  They practiced regularly.  They had a personal responsibility to ensure they could withstand in the evil day.  But there is one more key element.  They learned to fight as a team.
 
Withstand – Who do you stand with?
Hence, it is really important to know who are you standing with?  Moses admonishes Israel to stand with God in Exodus 18:19 and in Numbers 1:5 God tells Moses the men he should stand with. 
 
So the question is, whom do you stand with?  As each issue arises, do you stand where God stands or do you find yourself standing in opposition to God and the Creator of the universe?  I absolutely marvel and those who attend church but align themselves with political parties or movements that espouse policies and or ideologies (ie. like abortion) that are in direct opposition to God’s word. 
 
This is indicative of their moral compass.  Ever how far removed their stance from God’s word will indicate how much of the world’s deviation has crept into their moral compass. The only way to correct this is with the truth: God’s word!
 
Whom are you standing with?  Are they courageous or are they cowards?  Do they hold their ground and advance or do they retreat? 
 
This is indicative of the amount of God’s love in their heart.  1 John 4:18 teaches us there is no fear in love, but rather, perfect love casts out fear.  Courage is motivated by the love for God and His word. 
 
The Assessment – the Valley of Decision!
Joel 2 speaks of a people that come forth in the Day of the LORD.  It is a courageous people whom a fire burns before them and a flame comes after them.  I believe that fire is indicative of the love for our heavenly Father in their heart and the flame that follows them is the anointing of Holy Spirit. Joel 3 speaks how all the nations are brought into a valley of decision.
 
The question is, where will you and I choose to stand?  Will we choose to stand with our LORD or no?  That determines who we stand with.  I pray we choose wisely in this day.
 

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