How To Stand Your Ground. Part [16] 12/08/2023 (Evening thought)

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

For instance, if some young man in the church or at the job is harassing you, by trying to cozy up to you against your will and against your conscience, there are two ways to stand your ground by saying no. The first way is to say a gentle stop, even while you may be smiling and grinning from ear to ear. Guess what, he will never stop, for he will rightly conclude that if he were to push the envelope a little further, you might buckle under pressure.

In fact, the dude will most likely interpret that type of gentle, loving “stop” in that loving, sensual voice to be an actual invitation to continue his forays into your private space. And he absolutely will. This is the kind of gentle “Stop” Aaron had used with the multitude and they continued to push him over the brink. But if you were to say a very firm no, with your eyes bulging in anger, disgust, and righteous indignation, he will get the message loud and clear, and before long he will put his tail between his legs, and go his merry way.

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 595] Men who are doing God's work and who have Christ abiding in their hearts will not lower the standard of morality, but will ever seek to elevate it. They will not find pleasure in the flattery of women or in being petted by them. Let men, both single and married, say: “Hands off! I will never give the least occasion that my good should be evil spoken of. My good name is capital of far more value to me than gold or silver. Let me preserve it untarnished.

Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

How To Stand Your Ground. Part [15] 12/07/2023 (Morning thought)

Exodus 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.

In Aaron’s case, he went a step further in the pursuit of favoritism, by announcing that there would be a feast to the Lord on the following day. The people had not asked for this, but Aaron, seeing the favor with which the newly formed idol was received, he went a step further and made the announcement for the following day. Thus, by not standing his ground initially, he opened the door to a slippery slope, and the great observer that satan is, made the most of the situation, to the detriment of many thousands.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 317] A religion that permits men, while observing the rites of worship, to devote themselves to selfish or sensual gratification, is as pleasing to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel. And there are still pliant Aarons, who, while holding positions of authority in the church, will yield to the desires of the unconsecrated, and thus encourage them in sin.

The question we have to answer for ourselves, in lieu of what we have studied, is “How can I stand my ground, when my turn comes? First, we will need the presence and power of Christ in the heart in order for us to do so. Persons might have the will, but the motive power to stand firm is from God alone. Having said that, the Christian will have some definite things to do, so as to cooperate with The Holy Ghost in standing firm.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!