And having done everything (you have found the strength in Yeshua
to do) ... STAND ! - Ephesians 6:13
Suffering terribly from a disease giving him diarreha, his condition caused him to sit up even more more straight in the saddle.
At 6 foot, 2 inches George Washington was already physically "head and shoulders" above most others in the mid-1700s. Now, in the French and Indian War, in a difficult battle near modern-day Pittsburgh, atop his white horse Washington was an even clearer target than ever before. It is said that two horses were shot out from under him and FOUR bullet holes were found in his coat.
Yet with God's help he stood his ground, stood up tall on his horse, and bravely led his men in battle.
How many war movies have you watched where the newbie to the front lines is told "just keep your head DOWN" !!!
It is CRUCIAL to follow Holy Spirit's leading in any given moment, especially in active battle with the enemy of our souls. Yehovah's Spirit MIGHT give you specific instructions how to keep hidden, how to move about not-noticed, how to keep your head down to accomplish HIS purposes.
But one course of action that many times HE directs is the OPPOSITE of "conventional" (worldly) wisdom.
STAND !!!
In Exodus 14:13 Moses tells The Children of Israel "Stand and see the salvation Yehovah will accomplish for you today!"
In 2 Chronicles 20 - the Jewish people find that a number of nations have put together a huge army to attack them. After seeking Yehovah in prayer (everything they could do), Yehovah speaks through His prophet,
"Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s... You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, STAND and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf... (then) The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, STOOD UP to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice."
The warning sign (at the top) has some GREAT advice - "MIND YOUR HEAD" !!!
YESHUA is The Captain and The Lord of Hosts. HE is The Head of The-Called-Out-Ones.
If you have been called out by Yeshua, seperated from the company of those that choose to stay in the darkness ... guess what - you are going to STAND out. You just shouldn't be able to help it! Having Yeshua's light in you, in the midst of the darkness, means spiritually you are "marked" ... if you don't hide your light from Yeshua under a bushel, if you don't let Satan blow it out ... then you STAND out ... even without saying or doing anything ... just by STANDING with Yeshua and "minding" (keeping in mind) HIM as your head ... The One who in wisdom "directs your path - Prov. 3:5-6" !
Every time... every place you STAND with the strength Yeshua gives you, and are not pushed back by the torrential currents of evil streaming through humankind today, you give someone hope. You may never meet them or speak to them but if they see you STANDING, and not being overcome by the evil that has gathered such power in our day... you give them the idea that it IS possible to be free from the evil torrents, that it IS possible THROUGH YESHUA to NOT be swept away in powerful currents of despair and lies and darkness.
PRAY - YESHUA, IF ANYONE STOOD OUT IT WAS YOU ... TEACHING "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES," DECLARING THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, SPEAKING JUDGMENT ON RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES NOT CARING FOR "THE SHEEP" AS THEY SHOULD HAVE ... DYING ALONE ON A CROSS ... RISING FROM THE GRAVE ... ASCENDING TO THE FATHER !!!
SO, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT IF I'M IN YOU, YOU HAVE ROLE FOR ME TO "STAND OUT" AS WELL.
PLEASE GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE EVIL CURRENTS TRYING TO DRAG ME AWAY FROM YOU. PLEASE CAUSE MY STANDING IN YOU TO GIVE HOPE TO OTHERS WHO ARE BEING POUNDED BY TSUNAMIS OF EVIL CRUSHING PEOPLE TODAY.
PLEASE HELP ME TO TRUST YOU ***WITH*** MY HEAD BY TRUSTING YOU ***AS*** MY HEAD!
AND PLEASE HELP PEOPLE SEE THAT THE POWER YOU GIVE AND THE KINGDOM YOU DESIRE TO ESTABLISH IS A KINGDOM OF PERFECT, HOLY LOVE ... SO WHEN I STAND UP AS A "SOLDIER OF THE CROSS" PEOPLE SEE YOUR UNSELFISH LOVE IN ME.
PLEASE DO THIS FOR THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME YESHUA SO THAT YOU ARE EXALTED AND ALL PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO YOU! AMEN !!!
A Fitting Song as a PostScript
A pastor, in concert with other pastors and believers, was seeing God move powerfully in mid-1800s Philadelphia. Towards the end of his life he preached to 5000 people and saw 1000 of them turn to Jesus. An untimely accident brought him to the moment he would pass from this earth and those around him asked if he had a message from those continuing the Gospel work in that day's move of God. He said, "Let us all stand up for Jesus."
One of the other pastors was so moved by those words than he then wrote four stanzas about standing up for Jesus. Some will know this hymn, others not ... either way ... let these words move you to "mind your Head" and stand up for HIM and HIM alone.
- Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
- Ye soldiers of the Cross;
- Lift high His royal banner,
- It must not suffer loss.
- From vict'ry unto vict'ry
- His army He shall lead,
- Till ev'ry foe is vanquished
- And Christ is Lord indeed.
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- Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
- The trumpet call obey,
- Forth to the mighty conflict
- In this His glorious day.
- Ye that are men now serve Him
- Against unnumbered foes:
- Let courage rise with danger,
- And strength to strength oppose.
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- Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
- Stand in His strength alone;
- The arm of flesh will fail you
- Ye dare not trust your own
- Put on the Gospel armour,
- Each piece put on with pray'r;
- Where duty calls or danger
- Be never wanting there!
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- Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
- The strife will not be long;
- This day the noise of battle,
- The next the victor's song.
- To him that overcometh
- A crown of life shall be;
- He with the King of Glory
- Shall reign eternally
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