"Stand For Jesus" -2

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein you stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1 & 2) There are a couple of words in the New Testament that are used for the word 'stand', the one above is the most used. It is the word 'histemi', and when used as a verb, means to cause to stand. That is a certain way that we are to be standing for Jesus, wherein we are caused to stand because of the salvation which we have received. However, there is another aspect of this that is commonly over looked, and it is the fact that we are not just caused to stand, but we have been placed where we stand! Oh ya!!! It does not get much easier than that! If we find ourselves not standing in the place where we were meant to be standing, then there is only One thing to do: ask the Lord to place you back where you belong, and then stay there! In the verse above, Paul also speaks about 'keep in memory', which is also very similar to the concept of staying where you are placed; because the word that is used is the word 'katecho', which means hold fast or retain. If you were to ask me what matters the most about being Saved, I would have to say, It is that I am sure of where I am going; with that I am most assured! This is also the point which Paul is making in the verse above, when he states, 'unless ye have believed in vain'; because that word vain that Paul uses here means without purpose, which means that our faith is based upon an outcome! Do you see where this is going?! "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should by holy and without blame before Him in Love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved: in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in One all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." (Ephesians 1:3-10)