Focus: Spiritual Strength

Text: Eph.6:10

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

The Apostle Paul has opened our eyes to see our POSITION in heaven and also our PLACE in the world, and finally in this last chapter of Ephesians, he is showing us our God-supplied PANOPLY against Satan and his cohorts. God equips us to win the battle against evil and the devil. We have a sitting position in heaven, a walking mandate for our faith-life in the world, and a standing or marching order for a sure victory against our common foe - Satan.

Now Paul is saying to us, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." The words for 'strong,' 'power' and 'might' in the Greek are 'dunamis,' 'kratos' and 'ischus.' They are words of power differently nuanced. 

We need power to live successfully and victoriously in this world, and we certainly need power to boldly and confidently put the devil where he truly belongs, which is under our feet.

Now why is Paul telling us to be strong in the Lord? I believe verse 11 discloses that to us. Paul says next, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph.6:11). The armor of God is for those who are strong in the Lord. The weak will not be able to wear the heavy armor of God. Strength of spirit and heart is needed to wear the armor of God. The armor is usually heavy, and the soldiers of Christ need power to wear it.

Every piece of armor has its own weight, and when put together the weight can be enormous. Let us see Goliath's armor as an example. The Scripture says that "he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him" (1Sam.17:5-7). 

Who wears such a great armor without adequate muscle? Those are protective armor, and they must be really heavy. Goliath has over the years gotten used to them. He has been exposed to art and science of warfare. He possesses the ability of mind and body to wear the armor. In the other hand is David, a very young man who is inexperienced in conventional warfare and ill-equipped to face his opponent - a giant of a man. David looks like an ant standing in front of Goliath the giant. So Saul decided to do something about it. We read, "And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him" (1Sam.17:38,39). David is not used to this kind of weapons. The Scripture says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. But our point here is that David lacks the training, experience and strength to wear the armor. It is certainly too heavy for him to bear. He can't move with it. He feels like a stranger in it. He feels like someone doomed to fail wearing such an armor. The armor is great and available, but David is not ready. He sees himself as a misfit inside of the armor of Saul. It is an outfit that doesn't fit, or to put it differently, he is unprepared for a prepared armor. He is well armed, but at the same time, he feels like a disarmed soldier.

We need divine strength to bear the weight of a divine armor. Carrying God's armor or power comes with a great responsibility. God's panoply is holy and heavy, and we need consecration to bear it. We must be willing and surrendered to be able to house God's power. Obededom was determined and dedicated to keep the Ark of God in his house for the space of three months, and he was mightily blessed for it. 

Consecration of one's whole being to God is the secret of power. The psalmist tells us that "the people shall be willing in the day of thy power…" (Ps.110:3). Let us heed the divine imperative to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Spiritual armor requires spiritual strength to wear it. We need God's armor to overcome the battles of life, and we need God's strength to wear God's armor. So be strong! Be armed! Be victorious!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter