28. Be Strong in the Lord (1)

Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians

Knowing Your Privilege in Christ

 “Be Strong in the Lord (1)”

Ephesians 6:10-24 (KJV) 

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strongin the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² 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. 

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Standtherefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

¹⁹And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ²¹ But that ye also may know my affairs, andhow I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²² Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and thathe might comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace beto the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace bewith all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. 

OUTLINE

• Warfare Against Spiritual Darkness (v10-12)
• Wearing God’s Amour for Protection (v13-18)
• Well-Being of an Ambassador in Bonds (v19-24)

INTRODUCTION

The book closes with the final equipping of the saints for spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul candidly reveals to Christians that they are living in Satan’s world. They are to expect the devil to seek to create havoc to thwart their good work and walk with God. There will be spiritual attacks that the believer is expected to fend off. The Apostle shows us the wherewithal to wage a good spiritual warfare. He himself is in the thick of the battle, he was a prisoner in the dungeons of Roman bondage as he writes his letter. It is ironic, a man in bonds encouraging the freedmen. But this is what the grace of God will enable a man totally yielded to his God to do, to fight the good fight of faith.

Be strong in the Lord is the command of the Apostle Paul to his comrades in arms. Trust the power of God to help you as you uphold His Name. And he tells them to withstand the onslaught of the enemy, to stand, showing us how we can stand against the enemy.

After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, Joshua and the people of Israel were commanded by the Lord to arise and go over the Jordan to inherit the Promised Land of Canaan. They were encamped Shittim near the crossing of the Jordan River bordering the city of Jericho.

You recall 40 years prior to their commanded entry, 10 spies were sent to survey the land and the report was that it was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey but it was also a land populated by hostile giants. Out of fear, the people refused to enter the land and perished in the wilderness. It was a new generation that has arisen whom God will lead to inherit the Promised Land. Joshua, Moses’ minister will be their leader. 

You recall how the Lord said to Joshua many times to be strong and be of a good courage. The Lord knew the enemy will seemed formidable in the sight of his servant and had to fortify him against doubting God’s ability to do His will for Israel to inherit the land.

Joshua 1:2-9 (KJV) ² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, evento the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. ⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, soI will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous,that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it tothe right hand or tothe left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. ⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God iswith thee whithersoever thou goest.

What great assurance the Lord gave to Joshua so that His will be accomplished through Joshua courage and obedience.

The Apostle Paul at the close of his life encourage Timothy to be courageous to fulfill God’s calling for his life to preach the gospel, setting himself as an example. 

2 Timothy 1:6-10 (KJV) ⁶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called uswith an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

Again, he was in prison when he wrote 2 Timothy.

Three thoughts:

• Warfare Against Spiritual Darkness (v10-12)
• Wearing God’s Amour for Protection (v13-18)
• Well-Being of an Ambassador in Bonds (v19-24)

• Warfare Against Spiritual Darkness (v10-12)

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be(become) (Pre. Pass. Imper.) strongin the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

The verb “strong” is an imperative (command). It means “to become able to do something, to become able, to become capable”. Take hold of God’s power to help you gain victory over the enemy of your soul. The might of God’s power will be your strength in spiritual warfare. God shall fight for you. This was clearly illustrated in the Exodus when Israel fled Egypt and fear being overtaken by the furious pursuing Egyptian chariots.

Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV) ¹³ And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. ¹⁴ The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

What were the Israelites’ response when they realized the Egyptian army were closing in?

Exodus 14:10-12 (KJV) ¹⁰ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. ¹¹ And they said unto Moses, Because there wereno graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? ¹² Isnot this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had beenbetter for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 

How was God’s power demonstrated to deliver His people?

Exodus 14:19-31 (KJV) ¹⁹ And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: ²⁰ And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. ²¹ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go backby a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. ²²And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters werea wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. ²³ And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, evenall Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. ²⁴ And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, ²⁵ And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. ²⁶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. ²⁷And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. ²⁸ And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, andall the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. ²⁹ But the children of Israel walked upon dry landin the midst of the sea; and the waters werea wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. ³⁰ Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. ³¹ And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. 

¹¹ Put on (Aor. Imper. Mid) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able (Subj, Mid) to standagainst the wiles (scheming, craftiness) of the devil.

God’s armour is His provision for His people so that they may be able to stand against the scheming and craftiness of the devil. The Bible tells us that the devil is none other than Satan, Lucifer the fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12-15), the perfect, beautiful and anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28:12-18). He is called the dragon, the serpent, Satan and the Devil (Revelation 12:9). He is the chief adversary of God’s people. 

“Stand” is a key word in this section. He repeats it in verses 11, 13, and 14. Also, the word “withstand” which means “to resist”. It comes from a Greek compound word from the root, “to stand,” meaning literally to stand against. 

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers (authorities), against the rulers of the darkness of this world(world-rulers), against spiritual wickedness in high places.(heavenlies)

It is not flesh and blood, the battle is not just physical but against Satan and his demons, it is against these demonic powers that we wrestle. 

The word “principalities” means “beginning or chief” of rulers. 

The word “powers” means “authorities”, chief princes and men in society. 

It is further explained as the rulers of the powers of darknessof this world. It means a world-ruler. It described one holding power over the world; for devilish forces, spirit-beings who control parts of the world system world rulers.

 …against spiritual wickedness in high places.Of the lower heavens, the sky or air as the seat of evil spirits.

As one late pastor Criswell puts it well, Satan is “the one king-sovereign ruler over all of the demons of disease, and darkness, and despair, and ruin, and destruction. There are many demons, many unclean spirits, but there is one great prince and ruler over them all…He is king over all the fallen host of the dark and evil world, in heaven and in earth called Abaddon in Hebrew and in Greek Apollyon, it means ruin and destruction and death. (Revelation 9:11). He is also the sovereign ruler over fallen men who reject God.”

The Apostle Peter gives a similar warning concerning the devil at the close of his 1^stEpistle:

1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV) ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁹ Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

This is the imagery Criswell observed, “of a shepherd keeping watch over his flock by night. And in the night-time, comes a lion who prowls and stalks and circles the flock, seeking which one of them he will devour.” 

And so, the Christian realizes that with God’s permission, only with God’s permission, Satan can tempt the believer to follow him in the way of death. Just as Adam and Eve did when they hearkened to the voice of the Serpent. Satan also tempted Job who did not succumb to

the wiles of the devil to renounce his God. Satan wields great powers over men, their mind and heart and nature, controlling the winds and the fires to wreak havoc.

Job 1:13-22 (KJV) ¹³ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters wereeating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁴ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵ And the Sabeansfell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁶ While he wasyet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁷ While hewasyet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeansmade out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸ While he wasyet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters wereeating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁹ And, behold,there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

• Wearing God’s Amour for Protection (v13-18)

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We see that “Stand” is a key word used in verses 11, 13, and 14. Here, the word “withstand”. It means “to resist, to oppose” (6:13) comes from a Greek compound word from the root, “to stand,” meaning literally to stand against. 

It’s a military term for holding on to a position that is under attack. It implies the courage to hold your ground because of your allegiance to our Lord Jesus, the One true, King and Ruler, even when others may be fleeing from the battle because the enemy seems so strong. 

The verb requires that the believers themselves to do so individually and thus collectively. It means “to stand” for the Word of God, the doctrines of the Bible. The Word that gives life and direction to life.

As Jude exhorts the church inJude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort youthat ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

It means to not betray the trust that the Lord entrusted you when He saved you that you keep the ways of God.

Our church is organised after the biblical traditions of the Protestant Reformation as is published in our weekly newsletter today.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

The 16^thcentury Protestant Reformation was a movement raised by God to bring the deviant Medieval church back to the “old paths, where is the good way”. It was a movement back to the Bible. A movement back to the old faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). 

It was an awakening for the church to purpose in her heart that the Bible alone is the believers’ final authority for rule of faith and practice. The Bible alone is sufficient to govern the life of believers and the church. Until then, the church had forbid the lay people to read and study the Scripture on their own. Through the Reformation, the Scripture was translated to the vernacular language that people could understand.

In 1522, Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. In 1525, William Tyndale translated it into English for England. The man in the street, the ordinary ploughman, could now read and understand the Holy Scripture in his own language for the first time.

The Word of God, the foundation and basis of the Christian faith was now freely given to sinners and saints. It was a great moment in church history when the shackles of darkness were dispelled, the Light of Scripture shone through to illuminate the hearts of countless multitudes in Europe.

It was through the Reformation that the church, with the Bible in their hands, learned the right way of salvation. Salvation is by Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone, Sola Christus-Christ alone, Sola fide – Faith alone, Sola gratia – Grace alone, Soli Deo Gloria – Glory to God alone. 

It was through the Reformation that the preaching of God’s Word was revived, the old paths restored, the good way pointed out clearly and the people found rest in their souls. The singing of hymns became the means of congregation praise and worship. It was at that time that the German Reformer Martin Luther composed hymns and sang them in church. One such hymn is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”.  The spirit of the Reformation was well articulated in that hymn. 

The cause for the Reformation burned in the hearts of men and women who were raised of God to earnestly contend for the faith. Many were burned at the stake, standing up for the faith. It was a holy courage that the Spirit of God laid upon these Reformers, as Martin Luther expressed it so well – “the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever,” 

It was through the Reformation that the protestant covenant home was established.

Until then, the priests were sworn to life-time celibacy. None were allowed to marry. Reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and Zwingli, based on Scriptural principle, were married and set up Christian homes, reforming home life and marital relationships. They started family worship, catechism of the children, family prayers and domestic life.

The Reformation impacted the realm of secular life and work. It gives dignity to the believer in that there is no dichotomy between the secular work of the world and that of the church, giving honour to honest hard work that was to be called the Work Ethic of the Protestant. In all that we do, we do it to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). It was the spirit of excellence, discipline and diligence, of doing all things unto the Lord that gave rise to increased productivity and was a prelude to the Industrial Revolution to come. 

The 16^thcentury Reformation impacted not only life in the church but also the families, societies and nations as a result of the adherence to the Word of God. There is a need for a continuing Reformation today for indeed the church today has lapsed into a lukewarm state as a result material affluence. The protestant church today has indeed the form of the Reformation, but where is the power? If we have said in our hearts, and choose that “we will not walk therein,” in the old paths, the good way, it is no wonder that the church lacks power, abdicating her role as the pillar of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the salt and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). May we not fail the Lord in our generation!

In Luke 18:8b our Lord Jesus asked, … “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” He predicted that faith will be weak butthere will be a remnant who will not bow their knee to Baal. We want to acknowledge that our Lord has his 7000 faithful who has not bowed their knees to Baal as a word of encouragement and truth to the prophet Elijah.

To be continued…