Stand

“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.” — Ephesians 6:13

Are you facing pressures that are attempting to inhibit your spiritual walk? Are you tempted to give up on the assignment the Lord has given you?

It is not uncommon for Biblical Entrepreneurs to face pressures that tempt them to give up or to question whether they should continue their business or the project they have under-taken.  Success is never achieved without external resistance.  Do not assume that just because your cause is righteous, everything and everyone will cooperate with you.  Actually, sometimes the more righteous your cause the greater the external pressures.

How then should you respond when those external pressures continue to beat on you like a bad tornado?  Stand.  Yes, just continue to resist them by standing firm and by focusing on your direction.    The assumption here is that you are being attacked and pressured, not just because of what you are doing, but because of the righteous stand you are taking.

Of course, should you face pressure when you do not have a righteous position, you will not be able to withstand those pressures because you do not have the strength of Christ on your side.  So then, how should you stand in midst of the pressures of business and ministry?

1. Rejoice in the Lord in midst of the pressure, because the joy of the Lord is your strength
2. Put on the whole armor of God – what is the armor?
   1. Truth
   2. Righteousness
   3. Peace
   4. Faith
   5. Salvation
   6. The Word of God
   7. Praying in the Spirit
   8. Know that you are in spiritual warfare
   9. Boldly preach the Gospel in midst of pressures

There will come a time of complete victory when you no longer feel resistance.  This is not because those pressures no longer exist, but rather it is due to the fact that you have been so impacted by past pressures and your spiritual maturity has become so great that you begin to view trials like the Apostle Paul.

Here is what Paul said about his trials:

  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  — Romans 8:18

 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” —  2 Corinthians 12:10

May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you the desires of your heart, not just to stand, but to overcome so that you may be able to share His goodness in your circle of influence in the marketplace.