“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. –Philippians 4:1. Since the fall, the enemy has continued to bombard us with lies and temptations, looking to devour us and lead us further away from the truth. As such, even Christians find it challenging to stand in the power of God.
Fortunately, we have all the tools to wage spiritual warfare against the enemy. Establishing and proclaiming truth is the first step to standing in the power of God. It starts with knowing God's Word and your authority in Jesus. It’s time to become a kingdom contender, not a pretender.
Here’s how…
Ephesians 6 Tells Us to Stand in the Power of God
“Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”–Ephesians 6:10 (emphasis added)
Since the fall, humanity has been in a constant spiritual battle. It's impossible to win this battle without God's intervention and power. In fact, finding strength in the Lord and His might is the only way to live a fully triumphant Christian life.
Notably, Paul uses the phrase “in the Lord” instead of “of the Lord” or “by the Lord.” This reiterates what Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
Being in the Lord means being positioned in God, and by accepting His will, you receive the power to conquer the enemy.
To stand in the power of God…
- Requires abiding in Jesus
To stand in the power of God…
To stand in the power of God…
- You give Jesus your weaknesses and receive His intent over your life
What Do We Stand Against?
To stand in the power of God, you must be able to identify what and who you are standing against so you can fight effectively. The Bible is clear that the enemy is behind all battles we face.
- “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”–Ephesians 6:12
We have been given authority over him and all the powers of darkness.
- “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”–Luke 10:19
We can't fight against these principalities and powers with flesh and blood. God's power is our greatest weapon in this warfare. The strength and might of God are available to us, but often we don't realize it because we don't know how to access it.
This can be scary if we’re not used to asking for help or knowing where God is in our lives. But there is hope. We can learn how to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and understand His plan for us to live in victory.
What Do We Stand For?
We know what and who we stand against. Now let’s look at what and who we stand for. Standing for something means we have a purpose for our existence. And Jeremiah 29:11 (below) tells us that God has a special purpose for each of us.
- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Stand for what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy.
- “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”–Philippians 4:8
The only way to stand for these things is to stand in the Word of God.
- Stand firm for God's Word and put on God's full armor, according to Ephesians 6:11-16.
- Stand in the power of God's Word, which is the only Word and truth that sets us apart, according to John 17:17.
- Stand on the foundation of the Word of God, knowing we belong to Him, according to 2 Timothy 2:19.
- Stand for and with others as fellow brethren, according to Romans 12:5 and Ecclesiastes 4:10.
- Stand in your authority in Christ by His Word, not allowing accusation to get you off course, according to 1 Peter 3:16–17.
We'll fall for anything if we fail to stand up for something, and that something must be the truth. God has called us into His purpose and plans (Ephesians 1:11). To stand in the power of God is the only way to endure hardships and have victory in spiritual warfare with grace. Standing in God’s power enables you to live a life full of purpose, peace, and promise.
God Gives You an Elevated Perspective
It's not always easy for Christians to know what's happening in the spiritual realm. Satan roams the spiritual realm causing havoc by setting numerous traps using sin as bait. He also uses other people in the physical realm to make sin look pleasurable, profitable, cool, fun, satisfying, and achievable.
Sadly, many Christians only realize much later that the steep price for these sins is death. The good news is God loves us deeply and delivers and redeems us.
God has given you the authority and power to resist, fight, and conquer temptations, just like Jesus Christ did. He teaches you to stand in the power of God. He doesn’t expect perfection as He teaches you, but rather empowers you to overcome over time.
Prayer gives you an elevated perspective.
- Prayer allows you to see beyond the physical realm the same way Elisha's servant was able to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha (2 Kings 6: 17).
- Prayer also enables you to stand in the power of God, elevating your perspective to see who He is, where He is in your situation, and the plan He has over your life.
Know the Chain of Command
God is the ultimate authority in all things. Jesus Christ is our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit is the power of God on earth today, guiding us through life's daily decisions and struggles. The Bible is the Word of God, giving us truth and wisdom about how to live according to God’s will and telling us His promises in all situations.
- “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.”–John 17:1-2
Because Jesus has authority, and His promises are true, you can stand in the power of God, knowing that all things, even those things that seem chaotic and difficult, work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). Like Elisha and his servant, when you stand in the power of God, angels guard and surround you.
Stand in the Power of God
There are three simple ways to stand in the power of God…
- Know who gives you the power.
We need strength to fight the enemy and his darkness. In our moments of weakness, God supplies us with spiritual strength to endure and conquer (Isaiah 40:29). God is your source of strength through Jesus Christ.
- Be wise about the warfare that is all around.
A war is raging in the spiritual realm between good and evil. You will discover the truth by searching the Word of God like the Bereans (Acts 17:11). By believing in Jesus Christ, you can rest in the truth and know you are made to be a victor (Colossians 1:13-14).
- Put on the armor so you can stand in the power of God.
The armor of God is our defense. It protects and equips us for every battle. The Bible is our compass and guide to fight and win all our battles (Ephesians 6:10–12).
Ready to Stand in the Power of God?
Discover more about how to stand in the power of God, be a victor, and be wise to the schemes of the enemy here. It’s time to unlock unshakeable faith and be confident in who you are in Jesus.
