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“Be Strong in the Lord”

Ephesians 6:10

It is true that the saints of God are to be humble, self-denying, submissive, and patient. But we are not to be effeminate, timid, or cowardly. Believers are to show firmness of mind, resolution, courage, strength, and fortitude in all things. — “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Believers, above all men, must be men. — “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). The fortitude Paul here calls us to practice is confident faith in God our Savior. It is a strength that enables a person to stand collected and undisturbed in the time of difficulty and danger, keeping him from both rashness and cowardliness. Those who live by faith must be strong and courageous concerning those things which are obviously the will of God. Let the child of God be convinced of the will of God, and he will be strong in submitting to it, strong in obeying it, and strong in performing it.

If you and I would obey our God, we must be strong, courageous, resolute, determined, and unshaken. I am not talking about strength we can muster. I’m talking about strength that only God can give. It is his strength. And it is to be had only by faith in Christ, faith that he alone gives and sustains. Yet, it is our responsibility to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” We must never rely upon the resources of nature, but upon the power of his might, the vigor of life derived from his omnipotence and grace.

When our duty is set before us, we must undertake it in the strength of his grace with courage and determination for the honor of God, depending upon him who is our Strength. If God has called us to a work, he will carry us through it. But we must be strong, courageous, lest we be turned aside from God’s revealed will. We must face opposition, even danger, with confident courage and strength. We must meet every difficulty “strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” William Gurnall rightly observed, “It requires more prowess and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully, than to command an army of men, to be a Christian than a captain.”

Above all men and, if need be, against all men, you and I who are God’s must be strong, courageous, resolute, determined, and unshaken in the face of adversity. When Satan and the forces of hell come against the very weakest of God’s saints, they can do no harm. We are protected with the walls of salvation. All the fury of hell cannot break through the Bulwark of Zion (Isaiah 11:9; 65:25; Acts 28:6).

Satan is always in a rage wherever the gospel is preached, for the preaching of the gospel is the battering ram of heaven that destroys the gates of hell. When a man preaches the gospel, Satan will raise up opposition to him. But the gospel shall prevail. One angel goes out to preach and another angel flies back with the report of victory. — “Babylon is fallen, is fallen!” It was by the gospel that the apostles turned the world upside-down. And by the gospel, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of God’s dear Son.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s