Be Strong in the Lord

“Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10

Background:

Paul spent this entire letter to the Church at Ephesus providing foundational teaching on each of these subjects:

• Election/Predestination/Adoption/Redemption/Seal of the Spirit/ Grace & Faith vs. Works/Mystery of Christ/ God’s eternal plan/ The 7 One’s/ Ministry gifts of the Spirit to the Church/ A Renewed mind and New Man/Grieving the Holy Spirit/ Continually being filled with the Holy Spirit/ Husbands & Wives.

But then he comes to Chapter 6, covering life in the home with children/parents and servant/master relationships…and gets to verse 10 and says: “FINALLY…” This word in Greek is “tou loipon” which means “I have saved the very MOST IMPORTANT thing for last, so if you don’t remember ANYTHING else, don’t forget this!”

• How could anything else be more important to a Believer than what he has spent the last 5 chapters teaching them? Granted, all of the above topics ARE important to all Believers, but at the moment, Paul felt that the Ephesian Church needed to be taught spiritual warfare and the importance of the spiritual armor from God.

• Look at the last bit of Chapter 4, “don’t give place to the devil; steal no more; let no corrupt speech come out of your mouth; don’t grieve the Holy Spirit; drop all bitterness and anger; stop fornication, adultery  and idolatry; don’t be drunk with wine”…do these sound like victorious people? Are they overcoming the devil? Sounds a lot like today doesn’t it? But THIS church was different. It had Paul, Timothy, the Apostle John, and Mary the mother of Jesus until her death was a member here. With such a famous group of early leaders of the Church, you would think they would be further along in spiritual matters. But they’d been focusing on the intellectual and doctrinal positions of the Church…important, yes, but all this while being deficient in defending against the attacks of the devil.

• “Brothers”…Paul uses Greek “aldelphos” meaning ‘two people born from the same womb.’ But it’s even much deeper. (Alexander the Great: ‘comrades/brotherhood in battle.’) This is a military term as well as a familial term…think soldiers who’ve trained and fought side by side in war, they share an inseparable bond in this life.

• “Be strong in the Lord” Paul’s use of the Present Passive Intensive denotes this as NOT as suggestion, but as a COMMAND! Be strong in the Lord! Strong is the Greek word ‘endunamoo’ which is two compound words ‘en/in’ and ‘dunamis’ explosive power/strength/ability…meaning being infused with explosive strength and ability, it is a direct-deposit of power INTO some receptacle or vessel. Since we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, His power is deposited within us as Believers.
• “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1 Another mention by the Apostle Paul to young Timothy, to remind him of the benefits/tokens that are found in the Grace of God through a right relationship with Jesus.
• This strength (endunamoo) comes ONLY from God, and Paul knew that we could not defeat the devil by our own strength. He is too cunning, quick and shrewd, and he is an opportunist…he knows when to attack us with his destructive power and devices. 
• We cannot match his intelligence, because at our very BEST…we are so deficient compared to the enemy. He lost his position in Heaven…not his intelligence.
• “in the Lord” is in the ‘locative tense.’ Paul was using this tense to show us that this power and strength is ‘locked-up ONLY in Jesus’ and NOT in reading books, or anything else. It comes from Him. Jesus isn’t our resource…He is the SOURCE of our strength.
• “and in the power…” Greek ‘kratos’ which is a force, strength, might with great power/ DOMINION. Used 12 times in NT. Also in Ephesians 1:19 “…And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

     *Exceeding(hyperballe) *greatness(megathos) *Power(dunamus) *Working(energeia) *mighty(ischys)

     *power(kratos)

• “of His might.” Gk.’ischys’ meaning ‘ability, force, strength, might.

      “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with         

      the ability that God supplies.” 1 Peter 4:11

In Deut.31-Joshua 12:24, God told Joshua (7) times to “be strong and of a good courage.” 

Where did Joshua’s strength come from? GOD-> Moses-> Joshua

Deut. 31:14 was the oral charge, but no hands??

Deut. 34:9…yes, there was the laying on of hands by Moses!

Why did God think Joshua was going to need this strength?

• Joshua and his men would face and defeat giants/Nephillim
• Joshua would end up defeating (31) kings/kingdoms Joshua 12:24

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

• “Put on” Greek word ‘enduo’ meaning to put on a new set of clothes. ( Look at Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10, Romans 13:14, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• “The whole armor of God” Greek ‘panoplia’ full armor, complete set

The Roman soldier that Paul is referencing, would have (7) pieces of armor:

           The belt/girdle; breastplate; helmet; shoes/greaves; shield; sword; lance.

• This is an imperative command of Paul to the Church, not a suggestion! He knows that every Believer needs this protection from the Lord…because of the looming darkness we live within.

• How do we put ON the whole armor of God? We have the armor of God by virtue of our relationship with God!! However, it is dependent on our WALK/FELLOWSHIP with Him. Our persistent, ongoing fellowship with the Father is our guarantee that we’re connected to and fully-clothed with the whole armor of God.
• “That you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Greek ‘histemi’ stand still, immovable, stand firm/strong. 

Greek ‘pros’ against/by…’eye to eye.’

Greek ‘methodeia’ scheme, to lie in wait, cunning, deceit/crafty…all about timing.