Claim the Strength of the Lord
|
Key Verse: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Selected Scripture: |
THE LIFE OF A CHILD OF God, though full of blessings and joy, also has much in the way of difficulty, tests and trials. We cannot be successful in this rugged way in our own strength alone. To think that we can would mean certain failure. We can be just as certain, however, that with the strength of the Lord and “the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10), we can come off victorious in our Christian warfare. This is the focus of the Key Verse. We have the mightiest being in the universe—God himself—who desires to work on our behalf. How can we not take advantage of his infinite power and wisdom? It is there for the asking to those who submit themselves humbly to the will of God.
We are reminded in the Selected Scripture that, in addition to the fact that God is our strength, there are other powers, represented chiefly in the Devil himself, that would have us utterly fail. These two opposing parties (God and Satan) and their influences are the sources of much conflict and many battles within the heart, mind, words and actions of every child of God. Truly Paul says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”—vs. 12
The battle armor that God has chosen for us to wear in this conflict is not that of a typical soldier. Though Paul mentions such things as armor for the loins and the feet, a breastplate, a shield, a helmet and a sword (vss. 14-17), he makes it clear that these are only symbolic of a much more effective spiritual armor. This spiritual armor is mostly defensive, and consists of loins girded with truth, a breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, a shield of faith, and a helmet of salvation. These five spiritual “weapons” are powerful in the battles of life against the world, the flesh, and the Devil, because they have their source in God and have been proven effective in their use by Jesus and the Apostles.
The only offensive weapon Paul mentions is a sword— a spiritual sword. He further identifies it as “the Word of God.” (vs. 17) So powerful is this sword, God’s Word, that in another place Paul says, “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Heb. 4:12
With the six pieces of spiritual armor that God has given us, we are well equipped to “withstand in the evil day.” (Eph. 6:13) But prayer must be made unto God for his assistance in battle as well. As the Apostle says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (vs. 18) Prayer is all-important because it helps to keep operative all the armor. Without prayer we lose communication with our Heavenly Father and our Captain, Jesus Christ. With it, we can have the confidence that Paul expressed as he approached every experience of life. With the armor and prayer, Paul was able to say: “That I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel.”—vs. 19