LEARNING TO STAND IN THE EVIL DAY
by W. G. Guy
Ephesians 6:13 – Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Why do we, who are the true believers and servants of God, experience trials, tribulations and sufferings? There is a reason and a purpose; our struggles equip us to stand against the opposition that we will see in the evil day. This primarily speaks of conditions that we will experience in the very last days before the return of Christ when we will be in intense spiritual warfare.
Isaiah 59:19b – ….When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
That “standard” is the Word of God and then name of Jesus, who is all authority in heaven and on earth.
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
This spiritual warfare that will come in the very last days when the devil (dragon) sees that his days are numbered and he fights against the truth and the light of Christ in us.
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon (devil/Satan) was wroth with the woman (Israel), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (true Christians).
These tribulation experiences are to equip us to endure, to stand, and be the light in this world of darkness.
John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
These forms of tribulation equip us to endure, be strong in Christ, and help us to call unsaved people out of the end-time darkness and into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 4:12-13 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
These trails are likened to the sufferings of Christ as we stand on, and for, His righteousness against the evil that is in this world and that comes from our enemy – Satan.
Ephesians 6:10-13 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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.
It is normal for any fighting force, or army, to be constantly training for warfare: thus they do simulations of actual battle. It appears that the Lord, in His mercy and grace, has allowed His called ones to experience various forms of warfare. This deals with spiritual wickedness and personal affliction in order for us to learn how to fight back and stand strong against our enemy who opposes us in many varied forms and persecutions.
1 Timothy 2:12-13 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Thus we experience trials of our faith, that test our faithfulness, and that promote our confidence in Him and in His Word that build us up in spiritual strength as we learn to employ the weapons of our spiritual warfare.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
Scripture tells us what these trials and tribulations accomplish in us; which is a hope that endures unto the end.
Romans 5:3-4 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Hebrews 3:6 – but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 6:11 – And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Experiencing such trials and tribulations is not a form of punishment from our Lord, but an exercise in standing and fighting for the faith that is freely given to us. The gift of life is free, but living it out in this vile and wicked world will cost you. This is the fight of faith that we all must fight and gain the victory which our Lord has freely given to us, IF we hold fast to what He has promised.
Colossians 1:22-23 - …..to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,….
So then:
James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
These trials, the testing and proving of our faith, are the means of the Lord equipping us to be His warriors in this spiritual battle of which He has given us the victory: which is to make us perfect and complete in HIM!
1 Peter 5:8-10 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Romans 8:16-18 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Overcoming this vile and wicked world is not an easy task, it is a fight that lasts our entire physical life on this planet until He comes. However, we must know and experience that He is our victory in this battle. You cannot be and overcomer unless you have had something to overcome. You cannot be more than a conqueror unless you have had something to conquer.
Romans 8:36-38 – As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Jesus is not only our LORD, He is also our example to follow. Will you be a faithful soldier and fight for Him. Remember, He is the one that stands with and for you in this spiritual battle.
1 Peter 2:21 – For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps
Know you know why we have these battles and that He is the power and authority that carries us to victory, even unto the end.
