“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” 

Introduction 

Welcome back to our study called, “The Apostle Paul’s Strategy to Winning Life’s Battles.”  There are times in life when we face severe temptations and even when life’s problems seem to knock us down.  Bad things do happen to good people.  The question then becomes, “how are we to respond?”  Paul’s primary directive is found in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”   

Thankfully, he teaches us how to be strong in the Lord.  He instructed us with Victory Action #1 Put on the Armor of God, Victory Action #2 Stand Firm, and Victory Action #3 Live in Truth.  Today, we will consider Victory Action #4 Live in Righteousness. 

Living by the World’s Rules 

You can be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power by standing firm with truth and righteousness as you face life’s battles.  Our enemy, the devil, wants us to respond to temptation and life’s problems by playing by the world’s rules.  The world’s rules declare that you must protect yourself above all others, that your desired outcome takes priority, and that the ends justify the means.  If someone hurts you then you are justified to do whatever it takes to get your revenge and to hurt them more.   

If you choose to respond to the temptations and trials of life in the way that the world demands then you must consider the following results.  First, if you play by the world’s rules then you lower yourself to the world’s level.  You are not acting in a manner to glorify God but instead are seeing to regain your pride by hurting the one who hurt you.  This is not the way of the Lord.  Second, if you play by the world’s rules then you will find yourself trapped in a hole and you will never be able to get out by yourself.  You will find yourself in a downward spiral of revenge and deceit and will be unable to recover.  Third, if you play by the world’s rules then you will never be able to lead others out of their problems or even provide them with a hope of rescue.  You will be just as lost as they are.  Finally, if you play by the world’s rules then you are no better than the one who hurt you.  You become a part of the problem instead of being part of the solution. 

Living By God’s Rules 

You can stand firm in the middle of life’s most discouraging storms by living in righteousness.  This means that you draw a line in the sand and declare as Joshua did in Joshua 24:15  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  You can take control of your thought life and choose to respond to life’s problems in a manner that honors the Lord.  This is called self-control.  II Timothy1:7 tells us, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”  The book of Galatians lists one item of the fruit of the Spirit as “self control.”  

Here are thoughts that you must consider when you want to encounter life’s problems by playing by God’s rules.  First, believe that God is in control of your life and situation.  Romans 8:28 teaches us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  God is in control and will work all things for your good if you follow Him!  Second, God will fight your battle for you and He will balance the scales of justice.  Romans 12:19 reads, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”  Third, be righteous!  This means that you will do the right action, for the right reasons, for the right outcome, and in the right way.  This will equip you to stand firm. There is no weapon the evil one can use against you if you stand firm in righteous. 

Psalm 37 

The Old Testament describes how you can stand firm in righteousness as states in Psalm 37.  We will consider briefly Psalm 37:1-9.  It states,  

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.  

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.  

I encourage you to pray these verses daily as you go through life’s trials.  Focus on what you are told to do and determine in your heart to act in this way.  In doing so, you will stand firm in righteousness.  First, the Psalm tells us, “do not fret.”   This means that we are not to worry, to be anxious, or to be envious of those who do evil.  Second, we are told to “trust in the Lord and do good.”  You must make the decision to trust in the Lord completely and to act like Jesus at all times.  Third, you must “commit your way to the Lord.”  You must determine that you will follow Jesus completely and that you will not turn back.  You will not compromise your faith and you will do what God’s Word, the Bible, tells you to do.  Fourth, you must “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”  God is fighting for you.  He will balance the scales of justice.  But, He works according to His timing for He knows everything.  Anxiety and worry do not come from the Lord.  You can reject those feelings and instead have peace that God will bring victory into your life.  Finally, we are told to “refrain from anger and turn from wrath.”  Getting angry makes your problems worst.   Instead, walk away from your anger and allow God to move on your behalf. 

If you follow the Lord as described in the beginning verses of Psalm 37 then God “will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” I pray that you will choose this day to serve the Lord in righteousness.  If you stand firm in righteousness then you are on the path to winning life’s battles. 

Conclusion 

Victory Action #4 in the Apostle Paul’s Strategy to Winning Life’s Battles is to Live In Righteousness.  Determine in your heart today that you will follow the Lord.  Remove people from your life who turn you away from the Lord.  Add people to your life who encourage you to stand firm in righteous.  The Lord is on your side! 

Prayer 

Dear Lord, please help me to live in righteousness in the midst of life’s battles.  I believe in you and in your Word, the Bible.  I put my life in your hands.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

For You to Consider 

1. Discuss why it is not to your advantage to respond to life’s problems by playing by the world’s rules.
2. Why it is important to deal with life’s problems by responding in a manner that honors God?
3. What can you do to obey the command in Psalm 37 not to fret (to be angry or anxious)?
4. Which of the commands in Psalm 37 will be easy for your to obey and which will be difficult for you to obey?
5. What will be the outcome of you standing firm in righteousness as you encounter temptation and life’s problems?