by David Brenneman
"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." Philippians 1:27-28.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17.
Dr. David Jeremiah Notes on Philippians 1:27: Paul issues the challenge to stand fast in many other letters (Philippians 4:1; 1 Corinthians.16:13; Galatians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). The image refers to the way Roman soldiers would lock their shields together, plant their feet, and present a solid, unified wall of resolution against the enemy.
Last night I was reading in Philippians and saw this note on 1:27. Then had the wondrous image in my mind of soldiers planted at the line they were holding, standing firm in their spot. The first row down on one knee, shield planted firm. A second standing above and behind the first with his shield overlapping the first's shield. Then imagining row upon row side by side in this manner. Where there might be a crack in the wall of interlocked shields is where the sword would go through. With this arrangement nothing could get through them. Arrows would bounce off of them because they couldn't land on any.
Then my mind replaced the average gear these Roman soldiers wore with the whole armor of God. What a sight!
My Dear Reader this is what we're to be doing in the Lord. This is what our relationships with each other in Christ is supposed to look like. That's what I believe that the Spirit was showing me last night.
A lone soldier with his shield still had vulnerabilities. Soldiers who worked together were much. stronger together than apart.
This is why we need to keep each other lifted up in prayer. This is why we need to be with each other in meeting with each other. To be a part of each other's lives in Christ.
Look at how the Lord arranged the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. There was organization to the way they set out. To how they went through living.
The extremely sad part is they were still perpetual complainers.
Grumbling and whining about their circumstances even though the Lord was with them, supernaturally keeping their clothes from wearing out. Their sandals from wearing out.
They had the Lord Jesus there with them and missed out on that unique blessing.
We too can miss out on the unique blessings of being with others in Christ. We can choose to let past hurts keep us from being with others in Christ. We can let even those within the Church who've hurt us keep us from the righteous life that God desires for us.
We are going to have difficult people to deal with in this world. Within the Church and out in the world. Nobody is immune to that.
The instructions from the Word of God are to continue praying without ceasing. To continue in the love of Christ no matter who does what towards us or others.
We are Ambassadors for Christ everywhere we go and in everything we do.
It's a sad sad moment when we run across people essentially being part-time Christians. Living a life one way at church and another under various circumstances.
When we do recognize such behavior begin at once to pray for such people. Letting nothing taint our own position before the Lord. We get shown such things in order to help bring these people back into the life in Christ that they need to be living.
Now imagine our wall of soldiers in the whole armor of God randomly getting up n going their own way, taking off parts of it. Dropping their swords. How well will that line be defended? How long do you think it would be held?
We're still here, going through what we go through as His workmanship, to grow in Christ. To help each other in their journey with Jesus. To cause the light of Jesus Christ to shine. To be obedient in all that we do in Christ, what they're to be doing in Christ.
We need each other.
We cannot live the life in Christ without each other.
The whole armor of God is never to be removed.
Our lives are always supposed to reflect Christ to ourselves and all others.
If what we're doing and saying is reflecting bad on our life in Christ, why are we doing it, saying it, thinking it?
Will our Father in Heaven ever be glorified if we're not doing, saying, thinking as we are supposed to be in Christ Jesus?
Suit up, standing firm in Christ.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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