Sit, Walk, and Stand

I have always loved the Book of Ephesians.  I think that was the first book of the Bible ever to "come alive" to me when I first read it.  But many years later, when I read Watchman Nee's Sit, Walk, and Stand,  I finally began to understand the Book as a whole, rather than just a compilation of beautiful ideas.  When we step back from the individual words and sentences to view the pattern outlined in Ephesians, we discover the pattern of the Christian life -- and once we see the pattern, we can begin to trace it in every book of the Bible. 

The first three chapters of Ephesians can be grouped under Nee's title "SIT."  Unless we have experienced what St. Peter calls "being delivered out of darkness into his glorious kingdom," we may not truly appreciate the depth of these chapters.  However, if we think of the Israelites enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, and knowing nothing but that way of life until the arrival of Moses to deliver them, we can get some glimpse of the spiritual darkness out of which we ourselves are delivered.

If we think of nations such as North Korea, of ISIS, of the brutal dictatorships of Sadam Hussein and Idi Amin, for example, we can see in front of our eyes what spiritual darkness looks like.  If we think of abused children, abandoned wives, Ponzi schemes, and other forms of evil, we can see and agonize over the kinds of darkness that men must endure from those who love the darkness rather than the light (see John 1).

But God in His love and mercy has delivered us out of darkness and "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).  The first 3 chapters tell us what God has done for us, not as a reward for good behavior, but before we could even think or choose the good:  He chose us; He lavished on us...with all wisdom and understanding; He made known to us....He called us....He gave us hope....He expressed His kindness to us in Jesus Christ....He strengthened us with power through His holy Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.

Because of the "lavish richness" which God has already poured out on us, because of what He has given us before we knew enough to choose, Paul urges us in Chapters 4,5, and part of 6 to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received."  This is the "WALK" section of the letter.  In these chapters, we are given concrete and specific instructions of what it means to "walk" as children of God:  Be humble and gentle...be patient...put off falsehood and speak truthfully...in your anger, do not sin...do not grieve the Holy Spirit....get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger....be kind and compassionate to one another. 

These directives are given to us as ways to allow the Light of Christ to shine through the Body of Christ on earth.  Because He is Light, we are to "walk in the Light" we have been given through Him.  But sometimes, all we can do is not enough to overcome the works of darkness all around us.  We are still living in a world that will not allow the Light of Christ to overcome its evil.  When we have done all that we can do, when we have reached the limits of our own power to withstand "...the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms," we are urged to STAND.  We are to put on the armor of God and to "be strong in His mighty power." 

As the Israelites STOOD at the edge of the Red Sea, pursued without mercy by Pharoah and his army, they had done all they could do ---BUT GOD..... had another plan.  He opened the sea before them, and they crossed over dry-shod.  When we stand before the powers of evil, of sickness, of oppression, of things over which we have no control, there is still one thing more we can do:  we can put on the mighty armor of God --- the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

If we begin to think of the Christian life in these terms: Sit, Walk, and Stand, we have an entirely different and manageable perspective.  We cannot minister to others until we have received the outpoured blessings of God's ministry to us -- but once we have received all abundance from God, who "gives generously, without finding fault," we are strengthened to walk in the fullness we have received, and finally, to stand against the evil powers of this present age.