Spiritual decay begins with spiritual accommodation. In other words, when you refuse to stand against certain things, you begin to deteriorate spiritually.
Most things in the physical world begin to deteriorate when they start to succumb to surrounding elements – paints fade, precious metals corrode due to oxidation, etc. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, when one begins to succumb to pressures of surrounding elements, one begins to lose his spiritual integrity, and deterioration, like metal oxidation, gradually sets in.
An examination of Ephesians 6:10-18 – the scripture that reveals the constant behind-the-scene warfare in which the believer is engaged – reveals that the word “stand” is used 4 times within 4 verses. “Stand” is repeatedly used with the preposition “against” and once in “withstand”. Why is that? It is to highlight the importance of the believer maintaining a “standing” position so as not to succumb to the spiritual forces that continually attempt to encroach and gain ground on him. Just give up a foot, and, bam, an undetectable spiritual oxidation begins. Many bible readers are family with Prophet Ezekiel’s valley-of-dry-bone vision in Ezekiel 37. It should be noticed that after the miraculous resurrection and restoration of the corpses, the prophet records, “and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10). Again, why mention “stand”? Like the previous scripture, it reveals that “standing” is the optimal posture in the spiritual realm. It was that “standing” posture that the now-decayed individuals were in before spiritual deterioration began in their lives – which proceeded until they died, decayed, and eventually became “very dry” bones. After their resurrection, they were restored to that “standing” position.
Both the repeated use of the word “stand” in Ephesians 6 and the restoration of the dry bones to the “standing” position serve to indicate the need for constant renewal of strength and revival in order to continually maintain a spiritual “standing” posture. Based on Ephesians 6, for the believer to maintain spiritual integrity and resist succumbing to environment elements in the spirit realm, he must remain ever standing – “standing against,” and “withstanding”. Stated another way: when a believer refuses to stand his ground against certain things, he’s invariably standing down and giving up spiritual grounds – he’s already on a spiritual decline.
So, as a believer, what things are you refusing to stand your ground on? In other words, what are you standing down on? Is some encroachment already in progress in some areas in your spiritual life? Might you have been giving up some spiritual grounds? If yes, then you are on a spiritual decline!
Many believers have stood down in certain areas of their lives. Many have stood down in their choices of entertainments, in their dressing and appearance, in their relationships, and their ethics and moral standing, in sexual purity, in their spiritual fervency, passion, and devotion, in their regard for and keeping to the doctrines of the bible. They have come to dismiss biblical doctrines as “dogma” and idiosyncrasies that are non-essential. Some even label those that adhere to sound and timeless biblical doctrines as “traditionalists” and “legalists” who foster divisions in the body of Christ and make it difficult for many to embrace Christianity. Dismissing bible doctrine as “tradition” and “legalism” may sound appealing and “freeing” until you read scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 11:2, which reads: “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.” Did you notice the word “tradition” in that verse? Those are Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthian church. It is dangerous when children of God allow themselves to be deceived by dumbed-down, milk toast gospel. There are biblical traditions that must not be given up.
Many churches have stood down and given up doctrinal grounds. Unbeknown to many Christians, expressions such as, “those things don’t matter;” “those are non-essentials,” are indicators of spiritual “standing down” and ceding of doctrinal grounds. A great many churches have become the modern-day church of Pergamos. The NT church of Pergamos held on to the “name” and the “faith” of Jesus (Rev. 2:12-13); but they stood down on doctrine, and Jesus counted it against them (verse 14-15). In other words, while it was a church that firmly believed in the name and faith of Jesus, when it came to certain doctrines, it was an “accommodating”, “seeker-friendly” church. It was a church that ceded certain doctrinal grounds. What doctrinal grounds has your church given up? Is your church becoming more “accommodating”; more “progressive”? Is your church doing away with what are labeled “legalistic” or “archaic” doctrines?
Consider 1 Timothy 4:16: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” Again, that is Apostle Paul’s instruction to the young pastor, Timothy. In his writing to Timothy and Titus, who were both young pastors and proteges of his, Apostle Paul uses the word “doctrine” at least 15 times – that’s just to those two individuals alone, excluding his other writings. So, yes, keeping spiritual instructions and maintaining doctrinal grounds are both biblical injunctions for men of God, as well as for the churched of God.
When you, as a believer, give up biblical and doctrinal grounds, you are gradually on the decline. In most cases, it may not be apparent to you; and in fact, it may even feel “liberating”. But don’t be mistaking, the liberating feeling is the excitement of the flesh as you are succumbing to the surrounding elements, and being “oxidized”, losing your spiritual luster and integrity (purity). A great many believers are in need of spiritual restoration and revival as they are almost totally “oxidized” by worldly elements, which is the unavoidable result of standing down spiritually.
In the spiritual realm, the only recommended winning posture is “standing.” You cannot sit down, recline, or lie down at any time. Any posture besides “standing” leaves you vulnerable spiritually. Where have you stood down in your personal walk with Christ? What spiritual grounds have you been giving up? Get up and take your stand against those seemingly innocuous encroachments into your spiritual space. Refuse to succumb to environmental elements. Stand, or else, you will give up more grounds and decline!