In the Strength of God

​Ephesians 6:10 ~ “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
 
Much is made of the spiritual war that surrounds believers across the world. Every Christian, no matter how much the environment around them is seemingly peaceful, there are still enemies about. As Paul discoursed on the Christian life in the previous chapters of Ephesians, there must come the awareness to all believers that the life God commands us to live is contrary to the desires of the world. Which brings us into the conflicts that occur. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” As the battles come and we face those “fiery trials,” let us always stand in the strength of God.
 
As we consider our text for today, we start with needed to have the right focus. This is drawn off the first word of our text, “Finally.” Literally, this word means “henceforth” or “going on from here.” Paul, having illuminated the believer’s life in all the chapters that came before our text today, the apostle now brings the believer to the right focus. It is of primary necessity that you understand what you’re walking into. Our LORD reminds us in John 16:4, “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” If your intent is to live out the Christian life according to God’s word, then you need to know that there will be those who stand in opposition to you. Paul says as much in 2 Timothy 3:12-13, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Do you desire to live a godly life in Christ? Then you must understand that you are walking forward into spiritual combat.
 
As we continue in our text today, let us next have the right faculty. We read the next portion of the text that commands, “be strong in the Lord.” This is a command, dear Christian. We are not given a suggestion here, nor are we merely encouraged to be strong in the LORD. We are commanded to be so. And yet how is a believer to obey this command? For we are powerless in ourselves, without any faculty of strength, to accomplish the work of Christ or live out the life of faith that we are commanded to live. We must be empowered by Christ, through His Spirit, to have the strength to stand. Our LORD Jesus tells us in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Let us remain near to our LORD through His word, applying His commands to our life and trusting that He will strengthen us as we follow Him in faithful obedience. Paul expounds on his own situation us in 2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.” Beloved, the LORD will stand by you as well. As you are walking in faithfulness and obedience to Him, you will find His strength holding you up.
 
We finish with this thought from the text: we must have the right fortitude. Our text for today concludes with this, “and in the strength of his might.” We are to walk in the vigor of Christ, leaning on His might and trusting in His ability. Our endurance will require it. Dear Christian, you will have need of the fortitude of the Almighty to continue along the road ahead. There are steps to take and it will require that God continually give you the stamina to press on. Habakkuk 3:19 states, “God, the LORD, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.” Like climbing a mountain, the higher you go the more difficult the way. But the only way to get to the top is to press on. Paul makes this great declaration in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This does not mean that no matter what Paul wants to do, he can do it. But, rather, that Paul was certain that no matter what the LORD would send the apostle into, that God Almighty would be his strength in the midst of it.
 
You and I can, as we follow and are faithful to Christ, discover His strength working through us. We read in Colossians 1:11, “…being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” This can and should be the experience of every Christian.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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