Standing for Truth in a World That Opposes God

The Lord asks us to stand for Him. When people stand for their convictions, they usually pay for it. Rarely do people stand up for things, especially unpopular things, and not face persecution. Have we stood as God expects us to? Have we held firm in our convictions? Are we standing for truth in a world that opposes God?

Sometimes standing firm means refusing to compromise, even in small things. It may not be dramatic. It might look like quietly refusing to laugh at a crude joke, or not joining in when gossip starts. It could be politely declining to participate in something that would violate your conscience. These moments rarely make headlines, but they still matter to God. Small choices build the habit of faithfulness. If we can’t stand in the little things, how will we stand when the pressure truly comes? Faithful living is not about grand gestures—it’s about daily obedience.

Is Life Easy?

Sometimes we are so careful to not hurt anyone's feelings that we stay silent. Think about famous people you have heard of that have stood for their convictions - Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, Mother Teresa. Was life easy for these people? No, of course not. If life is easy for us maybe we are not standing for those convictions like we should. Daniel reminds us of three who stood for what's right and were thrown into a fiery furnace for it (Daniel 3:8-25). These men were miraculously saved, but this is not always the case. They found their strength to stand in God.

In 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6, Paul says our warfare is "mighty in God." Are we trying to find our strength to stand in ourselves or in God? Paul continues to say that every thought we have must be obedient to Christ.

Mighty Weapons

Paul says our weapons are not carnal, meaning not of the flesh. We oppose unbelief with the power of God's Holy Spirit in His word. The weapons God has given us pull down the strongholds, the arguments, that people who don't know Christ use to justify their disbelief. The Gospel is soul transforming.

Effective Proclamations

From the atheist who claims intellectual superiority because of their disbelief to the young kid in high school who just doesn't see Christianity as cool or relevant, we have the tools we need to proclaim Christ effectively. While some will never understand the gracious gift of God, to those who are being saved it is "the power of God" I Corinthians 1:18.

Taking Thoughts Captive

We are in a fight to "take every thought captive" for Christ. These beliefs and thoughts are the ideas that unbelievers have and they can be brought under the control of Christ. What are our weapons? Faith, truth, righteousness, love, proclaiming the Word of God, and prayer.

Standing for Truth in a World That Opposes God

We oppose unbelief by using our best weapon - the Gospel. We know our God is bigger than anything formed against Him. He gives us the power through his Holy Spirit to pull down thoughts and ideas in people that try to rise up and exalt themselves above the knowledge of God. In this world evil opposes God but standing for truth is not done alone. God is our strength because He stands with us.

Don't Use the Tools of the World

We can't oppose evil successfully with the tools of the world. We can't use our own "wisdom", we can't play their games and win. We can't seek approval from them. We can't fight with a worldly church and flashy programs that look like the secular world. If we fight with these tools we have lost the battle.

Stand

When we fight with our spiritual weapons we have to be willing to stand for God.

To do this though we must stand in the faith with courage.

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13

To do this though we must stand in one spirit and one mind. In Philippians 1:27, Paul tells us our conduct should "be worthy of the gospel of Christ." He says we should "strive together for the faith of the gospel." Our oneness will help us do this. To do this though we must stand in the freedom from condemnation that Christ has given us (Galatians 5:1). We must also stand perfectly and completely in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

Visible Convictions

We often underestimate how visible our convictions truly are. The world is watching, even when we don’t realize it. When we live with integrity, speak truth in love, and remain unshaken in our beliefs, people take notice. Some may mock or reject us, but others may quietly be drawn to the hope within us. Peter reminds us to always be ready to give an answer for that hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our steadfastness may be the very thing God uses to open someone’s heart to the Gospel. So we don’t stand just for our own sake. We stand because eternity is at stake!

It is Time!

It is time to pray!

It is time today to choose whom we will serve!

It is time to put oil in our lamps and be ready!

It is time to study to be approved!

It is time to know that the same power lives in us that raised Jesus from the dead!

It is time to STAND!

Listen to the Newsboys sing STAND

Stand With Courage