INTRODUCTION

1. The Need to be strong is something all desire

2. The Challenge to be Strong is repeated again and again

a) Be strong and of good courage Joshua 1:6, 9

b) Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might Ephesians 6:10

 

ENLIGHTENED TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF GOD

1. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Church

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

18 the eyes of your [understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is

the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

according to the working of His mighty power… Ephesians 1:17-19

2. Elements of Note

a) To be given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation

b) To have eyes of understanding enlightened

i) To know the hope of our calling

i) To know the riches of the glory of our inheritance

ii) To know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe

iii) According to the working of His mighty power

3. Significance to us

a) There is exceeding great power we may have from the Lord

b) That Power of God was meant to work in us

 

FURTHER ENLIGHTENMENT OF GOD’S POWER

1. Paul’s Second prayer for the Ephesians Church

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [f]of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

2. Elements of Note

a) To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man

b) God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think

c) That Power of God is working in us

3. Significance to us

a) Prayer is necessary if we are to find strength

b) God will give to us inner man strength

c) He is able to do much more than we can imagine

 

SOME REASONS WE ARE NOT STRONG

1. Lack of full knowledge of our Salvation Blessings in the Lord

2. Lack of seeking Strength from the Lord in prayer

3. Lack of Faith to believe that we can be made strong

4. Reliance on our own human strength

5. Doubts and unbelief that we can ever be strong

6. Resignation to a weak Christian lifestyle

 

THE CHALLENGE TO BE STRONG

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,

against the rulers of [he darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

 

THE CONTEXT

1. Spiritual warfare

2. Mighty foes

3. We cannot battle victoriously without strength

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To be strong

a) To find strength

b) To be strong as a result

c) This strength is needed for spiritual battle

2. In the Lord

a) This is spiritual strength

b) This is inner man strength

3. In the power of His might

a) God would grant us His power

b) He can make us strong

c) We can enter into battle with the strength of the Lord