451. Spiritual Warfare. Being Strong In The Lord’s Strength. [Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 2.]

(Eph 6:10) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

“Be strong” = [endunamoo]. “Mighty” = [kratos]. “Power” = [ischus].

Paul had a habit of using different power words together in the same verse as we will see below. Many of those verses show that He is able to impart His strength to His followers as they look to Him for strength.

1. GOD WANTS TO EMPOWER US TO LIVE FOR HIM. (Eph 6:10) “Finally, be strong in the Lord.”

“Finally” [loipoi] may have the sense of the “remainder.” It could be “This is the last thing I’m writing to you now.” Or “For the remainder [of your lives].”

“Be strong.” The word [endunamoo], can mean to empower, to increase in strength. To endue or be endued.

The emphasis is on what God can do in our lives to enable us to serve Him. It is not making ourselves strong. It is be strong “in the Lord”, ie in His strength.

The word for “be strong” is used in the following ways.

· Acts 9:22. of Paul as a new convert being strengthened for ministry, “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

· Rom 4:20, of Abraham being empowered by faith to believe God’s promise of a child. “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”

·      Phil 4:13, Paul says he can do (ischuo also used in this verse for “power/strength”) all things through Christ who “keeps on” strengthening him,  “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”·
1 Tim 1:12, where Paul thanks God, ”who has given me strength” meaning for his ministry, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.”·
2 Tim 2:1, Paul commands Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. “·
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.”·
In Heb 11:34, a similar word [dunamoo] is used where the people of faith were strengthened,  “quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

THE STRENGTH WE NEED TO LIVE FOR GOD, IS HIS STRENGTH IN US. [Ephesians 6:10 continued]. “and in his mighty power.”

A. “In His mighty (kratos) power (ischus)”. (RSV in the strength of His might). (Amplified Bible, “that strength which His boundless might provides”). JB Phillips, “In the power of His boundless resource.”

·      He is powerful. His word is powerful.(kratos words in the New Testament are underlined below and are translated as power, strength, might and dominion.)·
Luke 1:51, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.”·
Acts 19:20, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.·
Eph. 1:19, ”and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.”·
1 Tim. 6:16, “who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.·
Heb. 2:14, “ so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power [kratos] of death–that is, the devil.”·
1 Pet 4:11… do it with the strength (ischus) God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.  Also (1 Pet 5:11)  “To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”·
Jude 1:25  “to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”·
Rev 1:6  “and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”·
Rev. 5:13 – “Might“ in Rev 5:13  ‘And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”’

He is powerful in us.

In Ephesians 1:19-23, Paul uses almost all the Greek power words to convey the greatness of Jesus. The Greek words are next to the English words below.

Eph 1:19, “and what is the immeasurable greatness [megathos] of his power [dunamis] for us who believe, according to the working [energeia] of his great [kratos] power [ischus] 20 God put this power [dunamis] to work [energeia] in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule [arche] and authority [exousia] and power [dunamis] and dominion [kuriotetos], and above [huperanō = far above] every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet (hupotassō = make subject) and has made him the head (kephalē) over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness [plērōma] of him who fills [plēroō] all in all.”

· In Col 1:11 Paul wrote, “being strengthened with all power, (both noun and verb of dunamis) according to his glorious might [kratos], for all endurance and patience with joy.”Paul recognised Jesus as the ultimate authority figure in the whole universe. Yet He is able to share His power with His human followers to enable them to live for Him. Paul wrote in 2 Cor 12:9 about how he had asked the Lord to remove some difficulties he was facing, but the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power[dunamis] is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power [dunamis] of Christ may rest upon me.’He added, that his strength lay in admitting his human weakness, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:10.

B]. Might. Ischus. (In the strength of His “might.”) Used of ability, force, strength.

Used of our need to love God with all our strength. · (Mark 12:30) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Also Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27,

Used of His power in us.· (Eph 1:19) “and his incomparably great power (dunamis) for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty (kratos) strength [ischus].”Used of His over-ruling power in the world

· (2 Th 1:9) “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.”

· (2 Pet 2:11) “yet even angels, although they are stronger [ischus] and more powerful (dunamis), do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.”

· (Rev 5:12) “In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power (dunamis) and wealth and wisdom and strength [ischus] and honour and glory and praise!”

· (Rev 7:12) saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power (dunamis) and strength [ischus] be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

· (Rev 18:2) ‘With a mighty [ischyros] voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great. [megale]”’

God has used powerful words in describing what has happened to us in Christ and who we are in Christ.

Have we realised how great is His power in us and how great it can be through us?

We need to have the same kind of commitment to God that Mary had when the angel told her she was going to bear a son even though she was a virgin. Luke 1:38 ‘Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”’ It means allowing the Lord to have access to our lives so that He can do in us and through us what He desires in His strength!

Blog No.451. Spiritual Warfare. Being Strong In The Lord’s Strength. [Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 2.] Posted on Tuesday 20 December 2022.