Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
“Do you see what it means to “stand”? We do not try to gain ground; we merely stand on the ground which the Lord Jesus has gained for us, and resolutely refuse to be moved from it. When our eyes are really opened to see Christ as our victorious Lord, then our praise flows forth freely and without restraint. Singing with melody in our hearts to the Lord, we give thanks for all things in His name (Ephesians 5:19–20).
Praise that is the outcome of effort has a labored and discordant note, but praise that wells up spontaneously from hearts at rest in Him has always a pure, sweet tone. The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Him and standing in Him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength for a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness, we are found standing with Him at last in triumphant possession of the field. “Unto him . . . be the glory . . . for ever” (Ephesians 3:21).”
Watchman Nee or Ni Tuosheng (1903-1972) in Sit, Walk, Stand (Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 1977) 49-50.
Today marks the last post from this Watchman Nee classic. Thanks again for sharing it Jud Savelle.
Why learn to sit and walk?
We do it so we can learn to stand. This marks the reason before every GTP trip we state our aims. And why, we arrive and pray Joshua 1:3 and Psalm 2:8 in every nation.
And why, at the completion of our trip we send a report. To show the ground we have claimed for Jesus that He has already won. We claim it by standing firm.
Pray for Trevor Lui (GTP President & CEO) and Paula Mendoza (GTP Chief Administration and Mobilization Officer), as they do work in USA with the Chinese and Spanish teams over the next two weeks.
Pray with me for them, having learned to sit, and walk, that they stand firm.
Imagine Chinese- and Spanish- speaking churches and ministries across USA following standards and getting ECFA-accredited to position them for flourishing.
My week will shift to time of solitude with God and Grace, our German Shorthair Pointer.
I am packing today for a week of pheasant hunting in North Dakota with my friend, John Roswech. Pray for a safe drive tomorrow and a good week of rest from work and an ice chest filled with birds.
I am not sure where I will turn the attention of my reading next. Will pray about that today and discern that direction tomorrow. With you.