Stand

I was thinking this morning about Ephesians 6:10-18. This familiar passage on the armor of God is a “go to” when talking about spiritual battles. 

But this morning, I was struck by the obvious. 

We often think of these verses in terms of preparing for battle—and, more specifically, preparing to fight. Indeed, verse 12 tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Emphasis mine). 

But if we look at the passage, the word that actually appears multiple times isn’t “fight” but “stand.” (Emphasis below is mine)

Verse 11 reads, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Verse 13: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Verse 14: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

The word translated “stand” in all three of these verses is histemi, which simply means, “stand.” But it also carries the meaning of “to make firm,” “establish,” or “to cause a person or thing to keep his or its place.”

And the word translated “withstand” in verse 13 is anthistemi, which means “to stand against,” “i.e. oppose.”

We are in a battle—there’s no escaping that if we follow Christ. But let’s remember the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. 

The armor God provides is not so we can go win the battle on our own, but so we can “stand against the wiles of the devil,” “withstand in the evil day,” and finally, “having done all, to stand.”

And as we stand, He fights for us.