"Practice" Standing Firm in the Faith

Meaning of Standing Firm

Importance of "Practicing" to Stand Firm

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."
--- Ephesians 6:11 NASB

Resist him [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
--- 1 Peter 5:9

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
--- 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,"
--- Philippians 1:27

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
--- 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Standing firm in the faith" means to remain steadfast and unwavering in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, even when facing trials of persecution or threats of death.
We cannot be swayed by doubt or external pressures to compromise our faith.

To stand firm in the last days will require unshakable faith and will require us to set our face immoveable, like flint.
"But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." --- Isaiah 50:7

Standing firm encourages resilience even in the face of adversity, allowing us to navigate difficult situations and remain true to our beliefs, even when facing hardship or opposition.
Standing firm means no compromise.

1 Corinthians 15:58

And it's not just about believing, but also about actively living out our faith through our actions and choices, demonstrating our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
It revolves around our testimony of Christ in which we are always ready to give an account.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,.." --- 1 Peter 3:15 NIV

It means remaining true to the teachings and principles of the Bible while resisting influences that contradict scripture.

To stand firm in faith, cultivate a strong relationship with God through consistent prayer, Bible study, and acts of service, while also resisting negative influences and seeking guidance from your faith community.

These spiritual disciplines are the foundation stones of standing firm:

Prayer: Our daily habit of regular and focused prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength in all areas of your life.
Bible Study: Immerse yourself in scripture, learning about God's character and will for your life.
Acts of Service: Serve others, demonstrating your faith through actions and compassion.
Worship: Participate in worship services and engage in personal acts of praise and adoration.

Attributes needed to Stand Firm in the Lord:
Deep Faith and trust in the Lord through abiding in Christ (John 15:4)
Courage and strength (Joshua 1:9)
Love and compassion even for our enemies (Matthew 5:44)
Resilience to endure and persevere (James 1:12)
Discernment and wisdom to resist false teachings (1 John 4:1)
Active commitment to be a light on a hill (Matthew 5:14)
Resist temptations of the world (Matthew 26:41)
Focused on our blessed hope (Titus 2:13)
Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)
Daily putting on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-13)

Should We "Practice" Standing Firm?
Jesus said,..
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
--- Matthew 7:24-25 NIV

To prepare to face the last days, it is important to "practice" standing firm in the faith. By practicing, we will not be caught off-gard when we are confronted with a decision to obey or disobey the Lord. We need to prepare ourselves to make the right decision to follow Jesus at all costs.
When confronting a faith challenge, we do not want our reply to be a deer-in-the-headlight, saying-nothing response. Saying nothing is usally a denial of Christ.

How to Begin the Practice of Standing Firm

Standing firm should be intentional and carefully thought out before facing the need to stand strong.

✦ Be willful and deliberate.

✦ Contemplate how you would react to any compromise of your faith.

✦ Mentally let go of material possessions and worldly concerns.

✦ Begin to change your world view to be eternity rather than the physical world around you. Live as if you are immortal because in Christ, you are. (Psalm 56:11)

✦ Continually focus on the Lord and the things of God and Not the world and the things of the world.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." [1977 NASB] --- Philippians 4:8 NASB

✦ Accept uncertainty.

✦ Embrace each day with purpose and intention.

✦ Hold tight to the promises of God to anchor your faith in Christ.

✦ Meditate and memorize scripture: Scripture not only builds us up but also becomes an answer to those who challenge our faith. Find a Bible verse that speaks into your life. Memorize it and hold it close to your heart. Ask the Lord to give you a verse to take with you into the battle of the end times.

✦ Pray for Courage, Strength, and Endurance.
(Joshua 1:9, Judges 7:6) (Luke 21:36) (Revelation 3:10)

✦ Prepare your heart to refuse to be shaken by circumstances and doubts or fear that come your way.

✦ Remember that the Lord will give you what to say at the right time:
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
--- Matthew 10:19-20

✦ Begin to shift any focus away from "self" and toward "others." Begin to look outward instead of inward. Look through glass instead of in a mirror.

✦ Begin to live each day with "reckless abandon and fervent zeal" for the Lord.

✦ Prepare mentally for persecution.

✦ Purpose in your heart not to defile yourself by participating in the Mystery Babylon or Antichrist world system.
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."
--- Daniel 1:8 NKJV

✦ Decide NOW not to participate in the Mystery Babylon system:
If you don't go in, you will not have to "come out of her" as Jesus commands in Revelation 18:4 NASB.

✦ Memorize this verse:
"For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s." --- Romans 14:8

✦ Meditate on these verses:
"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" --- Psalm 118:6
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" --- Romans 8:31

✦ Don't run from the end times; embrace it for the supernatural time that it is. God is in Control!

Understand that as the end times progress the world around us will begin to crumble. We know that war, famines, pestilence, chaos, and more are coming. Cling to the Lord.
The end times are all about choosing to follow Jesus or follow the Antichrist.
Practicing to stand firm in the faith will help us make the right choice.

Practicing standing firm will help us remember who really is in control. "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you." --- 2 Chronicles 20:17

And remember, standing firm is only possible through God’s strength. Trust in His strength, for scripture says,
"It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
--- Deuteronomy 31:8

Standing firm in your faith isn't about never facing difficulty, it is about choosing to believe the promises of God, no matter the circumstances.

Remember all those in the Bible who stood firm in their faith: Daniel in the lion's den, the Apostle Paul, and Moses.
All these had difficult circumstances but they also trusted the Lord their God.