R.H. Hitchcock
Sugar Land, Texas
January 2000
StandToday
Eph 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may beable to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, butagainst principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darknessof this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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, tostand.
(KJV)
As sons of God, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of Hismight. We cannot be strong in ourselves; we must be strong in the Lord. Howdoes one be strong in the Lord? By being strong in His Word and by beingstrong in operating the manifestations of holy spirit.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood. When do we do this wrestling?Today. Today is the day to be strong in the Lord. Because we are wrestlingagainst principalities and powers, we take unto us the whole armour of Godthat we may be able to withstand in the evil day.
When is this "evil day?" Is this a future apocalyptic event? Is thisthe real Y2K? No, actually the "evil day" is today, this very day that youare living.
We stand today. We stand each day. Each day you live is called "today",by the way. By standing today, it assures for the believer a great tomorrow.Claiming our sonship rights as sons of God and claiming the promises of Godtoday makes sure a bright tomorrow. You never can do anything else abouttomorrow except to be strong in the Lord today.
Eph 5:15-16
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days areevil.
(KJV)
We are to walk circumspectly. The word circumspectly means accurately.We place our feet on the Word of God today and we make today the day we standon God's Word. We redeem the time, because today is all that you have ofyour life to live. Why? Because the days are evil. Now that's a "bummer",I know, but it wasn't exactly God's plan to have the day evil. That was aconsequence of Adam's sin, and we all know who became the god of this world.That of course is why the days are evil. Because the days are evil, we needto be strong in the Lord and we need to walk accurately today and we needto redeem the time today. Ephesians 6 told us we should withstand in theevil day and that is today. When we put all our days together, then we cansay, "having done all, to stand."
2 Cor 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though ouroutward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for amoment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight ofglory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen,but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal;but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(KJV)
The renewed mind walk should be happening today. You can't renew yourmind tomorrow (yet). We may have affliction today, but we also have theopportunity to believe God's Word today! Which one is greater, the afflictionor the believing of God's Word? The things seen today are temporary, butthe spiritual matters of life are eternal. Do today what makes for a brighttomorrow.
Phil 1:5-6
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the firstday until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he whichhath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JesusChrist:
(KJV)
All believers have a beginning in the gospel. Paul did. Do you recallyour first fellowship? I'm certain you may. Do you remember the first timeyou manifested holy spirit? Sure you do. What about Paul's first day? Hegot knocked off his high horse! He kind of woke up! He got led away blind.Paul had a beginning in the Word, just like all of us had a beginning (althoughhis may have been a little more eventful). Paul (then known as Saul) immediatelybegan to stand on God's Word. He began preaching the same Word of God thathe once sought to destroy and began to stand on God's Word and to be strongin the Lord.
Paul continued in his walk, day by day, endeavoring to remain faithfulto God's Word, and look at the fruit that he produced in his life- the revelationof the Mystery and the 7 Church Epistles which you and I are now reading.That did not happen the first day he stood on God's Word. It's a walk, it'sa growth, and it is accomplished by standing on God's Word each day.
Col 1:3-12
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our LordJesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world;and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heardof it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant,who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in theSpirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heardit, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled withthe knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritualunderstanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto allpleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledgeof God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to hisglorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering withjoyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath madeus meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(KJV)
From the first day in the Word, and each day in the Word, God Wills forus to be filled with a knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritualunderstanding. See, the Word always has to come first in the believer's walkif they are going to become strong in the Lord. That's the first priorityin standing today on God's Word.
After we receive a knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and understanding,then we can begin to walk worthy unto all pleasing and then we can becomefruitful in every good work. A wonderful Godly pattern of growing in Christis set forth here:
1. Receive - filled with a knowledge of His will in all wisdom andunderstanding
2. Retain- that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
3. Release- being fruitful in every good work
The result of the pattern of receiving God's Word, walking God's Wordand being fruitful in God's Word is "increasing in the knowledge of God."The word "increase" means growth. Each day we receive, retain and releaseGod's Word and we grow in our maturity and application of God's Word. Toreceive, retain and release God's Word is to stand on God's Word today andto grow in our walk with God.
Matt 6:11
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
(KJV)
When do you need to eat? Today, I'll assume. You get hungry today don'tyou? We have to take care of today if we want to have a bright tomorrow.The only day to stand on God's Word is going to be called "today."
Matt 6:31-34
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shallwe eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we beclothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all thesethings.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and hisrighteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: forthe morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto theday is the evil thereof.
(KJV)
In this passage, "take...thought" means to "be anxious, to be dividedin mind." We might say "uptight" or "stressed" or "worried". Do not be anxiousabout tomorrow. Take care of today!
It is so simple: seek ye first the kingdom of God today, and God takescare of tomorrow. Stand on God's Word today and you will be standing on God'sWord tomorrow. Take care of your life today, and you will have a great tomorrow.Take care of your relationships today, and tomorrow your relationships willbe fine. This is life's pattern and God wants us to know.
"Sufficient unto to the day is the evil thereof." It is always a challengeto stand on God's Word. Today is the evil day in which the god of this worldrules the earth. We can't change that and we can't exactly leave the earthand move to a different planet with a different landlord. But we are setapart from this world by the new birth and by the Word of God. We are notof this world and we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.So maybe we get "hit" today. So what? We just take a stand on God's Wordand God delivers us.
Luke 12:16-23
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, Theground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shallI do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull downmy barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and mygoods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast muchgoods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and bemerry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this nightthy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, whichthou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I sayunto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for thebody, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is morethan raiment.
(KJV)
Interesting parable isn't it? There are many men of the world that liveexactly like that. They think they've got it made. They don't need God. Theyhave everything and everything is just perfect for them. But, they neverreally know about tomorrow, do they? This parable preceeds the teaching thatwe just read in Matthew about not being anxious about tomorrow. Take a standtoday on God's Word and it will make for a bright tomorrow.
Phil 4:6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing byprayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made knownunto God.
(KJV)
"Be careful" is the same word as "take thought" in the other passagesthat we've read. Many people pray as a last resort; we pray as a first priority.We are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! We are standingon God's Word today by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Going toGod in every thing by prayer and supplication has to be included in the listof being strong in the Lord.
Phil 4:12-13
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know howto abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be fulland to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ whichstrengtheneth me.
(KJV)
You do not always know what this life is going to bring to you. Paul wasa tremendous believer, and although he made mistakes, he was a faithful manin God's Word. Why was he at times abased? Because it's the evil day. Itwasn't Paul's fault. But he knew how to stand on God's Word whether he wasabased or whether he abounded. He just stood on God's Word and God workedeverything out. God's Grace was sufficient for Paul, and God's Grace issufficient for all of His children. Paul stood because he knew and he believedthat "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." That ISbeing strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Back to Matthew 6:
Matt 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought foryour life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body thanraiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not,neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeththem. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubitunto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Considerthe lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do theyspin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon inall his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of thefield, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he notmuch more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shallwe eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we beclothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all thesethings.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and hisrighteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: forthe morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto theday is the evil thereof.
(KJV)
Stand on God's Word today, and tomorrow will take care of itself. We onlyhave one life to live and to give. Life only happens a day at a time. It'sa new year, it's a new century, it's a new millennium. But it's still justtoday. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might today. Havingdone all, stand today on God's Word.
Luke 12:25
25 And which of you with taking thought can addto his stature one cubit?
(KJV)
There are many things in life that you just cannot change. You can'tchange your height. You can't change your past. You can't change what theworld brings you at times. You can't change traditions and institutions.Take care of the thing that you can take care of and that's standing on God'sWord today. Do not worry about the things over which you have absolutelyno control. Take care of the thing that you have absolute control over, andthat's you and your relationship with God today.
Rom 8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things? If Godbe for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but deliveredhim up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us allthings?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God'select? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ thatdied, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killedall the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerorsthrough him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor thingsto come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesusour Lord.
(KJV)
Today we are the sons of God. Today we have the ability of the new birth.Today we are righteous, justified, sanctified and redeemed. Today Jesus Christis seated at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us. Today nothingcan separate us from the love of Christ. Today we are more than conquerorsthrough him that loved us.
There is a day coming, and we do not know when, that this life will beover. There will be a Gathering Together, the dead in Christ shall rise,and we shall all be changed. This mortal shall put on immortality and soshall be ever be with the Lord. Until then, we stand together on God's Wordtoday, and having done all, we stand.