Pr Joshua Yong

How have you been coping through this season of time? Many of you may have been affected in different ways. Some may be experiencing uncertainties surrounding their business or jobs; some may have already lost their jobs. Working from home has also not been easy, and we can understand why – when work becomes home and home becomes work, the line between one’s working hours and family time is blurred. Many of us have also been feeling the effects of not being able to gather in church for worship and fellowship. How are we to endure these things and more which try our faith? These spiritual struggles must be confronted spiritually and this means we need to turn to God’s Word.

The Apostle Paul knew that the Christians were much acquainted with spiritual struggles. He knew how their struggles could weaken them in body and in spirit. Therefore he wrote, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10). How can a child of God be strong in the face of manifold trials and temptations?

1)  The Source of our Strength (v.10)

When the Bible exhorts us to “be strong,” it is not telling us to find this source of strength from within ourselves. We cannot be our source of strength. We know how limited our strength is and how weak our resolve is. If we are the source of our strength, then surely we can expect failures. 

The phrase “be strong” is one word in Greek, and it is written in a way to express how an external force strengthens a person. The phrase, “be strong” also means “to become able,” or “to be endued with power.” This tells us that this strengthening is not something that we can do ourselves, but that someone else is strengthening us which then causes us to be endued with power.

The one who strengthens us and his nature is identified for us in the rest of this verse. We are to be strengthened “in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Earlier verses in the book of Ephesians describe the nature of God’s power. In Ephesians 1:18-19, Apostle Paul prayed for the saints that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened that they may know, “…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” Our Omnipotent God never conceals His power and many of His mighty works. Yet Paul chose the resurrection of Christ as the prime example of God’s great power. God the Father raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. This same power that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the grave is also the same power that strengthens us in all our spiritual struggles.

However, there is a pre-requisite to it. We need to recognise our inability to overcome our spiritual struggles. We need the Lord’s help, or else we will sink. Pray and ask the Lord to empower us, for this is the only way we can be granted this divine strength.  

2)  The Manifestation of Strength (v.11)

Even as we are granted God’s divine strength, it is our responsibility and duty to put on the whole armour of God. Not only has God promised us His divine strength, He has also given to us all the necessary tools and equipment to be victorious in the spiritual warfare that we fight. The Greek word for the phrase “whole armour” is where we get the English word “panoply”. It describes a complete set of armour made up of different components. Even if only one part is missing, the whole set is considered useless. That is why the Bible lists the different parts of this complete set of armour (v.14-17).  

Thus with God’s divine strength and the complete armour, we will be able to “withstand in the evil day.” The word “stand” is different from the word “withstand” in verse 13.

The word “withstand” means to stand against or to resist, and the word “stand” means to be firm and stable, standing steadfast where we are.

The spiritual strength which believers manifest is not the spectacular feats which men of physical strength like to boast of and demonstrate. Rather, this strength enables believers to be able to stand firm and not waver even in the face of a fierce and powerful spiritual enemy.

3)  The Need to be Strong (v.12)

Why does the Apostle Paul exhort us to be strong in the Lord, where we are empowered with divine power, that is not of our own? Paul explains the reason: the battle that we are fighting is not physical but spiritual. If it were merely physical, then we may find that physical rest, good food, or endurance training would suffice. But these things are only able to strengthen us physically, not spiritually. We need to have spiritual strength, for the battle we fight is spiritual.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “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.”

Paul says that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. This tells us that the enemies we face and the battles we fight are spiritual. Even when we face physical struggles we must see that there is a spiritual dimension to them.

The enemies that we face are not only spiritual but also powerful and possess great influence and authority. The word “principalities” describes “chiefs” indicating a figure of authority who initiates things. The word “powers” refers to a delegated influence and it indicates someone who commands. The word “rulers” describes a “world ruler” but this world ruler is one who rules over the darkness of this age. This tells us that these rulers use their authority for wickedness and sin. The Bible summarizes these enemies as “spiritual wickedness in high places,” again emphasizing the authority these enemies possess, and the spiritual nature of this warfare.

Though the enemies we face may seem very powerful and beyond what we can deal with, God has given us all that we need to be able to withstand and to stand.

Conclusion

Even as we may be facing many uncertainties and struggles now, let us turn to the Lord and find in Him our strength. Let us not fall prey to the various temptations the devil would hurl at us, but being strengthened and being fully equipped with God’s armour, may we remain steadfast and unmovable in faith.