Part 5
(Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV) 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 wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Brief History of the church at Ephesus:
- Founded by Paul where he stayed for three years raising up elders to lead the church.
- After Paul’s departure, Timothy was sent to pastor the church.
- The Apostle John was a member there and because of his assignment, brought Mary, the mother of Jesus there.
- It was the largest church in existence at the time
- Great men and women such as Peter, Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla came and ministered there.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
The word “finally” in the Greek language lets us know there might have been a problem in this early church. The word “finally” in the Greek language means the familiar saying, “If you don’t get anything else out of what I am saying to you, get this…”
Why would he have said this?
The believers in this church were not unlike a lot of believers today. They had gathered a vast amount of doctrinal knowledge, information and facts, yet they were still defeated in their lives.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
“Brethren” – Greek: adelphos Means: “You and I are brothers! We came out of the same womb of humanity. We have the same feelings; we have similar emotions; and we deal with the same problems of life…”
Paul was identifying with these believers and their personal struggles and their victories. In Greek culture, to call someone “brother” like this was a high honor. It was saying, “Like me, you are still in the fight and are giving it your best shot. Therefore, I am personally proud to be affiliated with people like you.”
- It isn’t how well we fight that really counts in life. What really counts is that we keep on fighting.
This “never give up” kind of attitude will eventually produce victory for us every time.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
“Strong” – Greek: en-dunamis – Means: being infused with and excessive doses of dynamic inner strength and ability
- We are specifically designed by God to be receptacles of His divine power.
Why was he so emphatic about this? Because he knew that we need to receive this power before our fight commences.
- Without the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit operating in us, none of us can ever be a match against Satan’s schemes and devices.
Satan is intelligent, keen, brilliant, canny, cunning, quick, brainy and shrewd. He is strong, capable, influencing, and determined. He is a wise strategist, orderly planning and arranging systematic assaults against humanity. He is the epitome of an opportunist, knowing when to strike with his destructive power.
When the Holy Spirit’s supernatural strength is released within us, we are empowered to deal victoriously with this archenemy of the faith.
- This is superhuman power for a superhuman task!
In Greek culture, this word “endunamoo” would have been used in Greek writings for someone like Hercules who demonstrated superhuman strength.
- Our only hope of reinforcing Jesus’ victory and demonstrating Satan’s defeat is by receiving the help of the special, supernatural power.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
This phrase in the Greek is showing us the “locative” sense and means that this special power can only be found in one place: in the Lord.
We are perpetually, endlessly, and infinitely “locked up” in the Person of Jesus Christ. He has become our realm of existence and habitation. This power can only be obtained through a personal relationship with Jesus.
Because we are “locked up” in the Lord and this power is “locked up” in the Lord, that means we are never far away from a fresh surge of superhuman power into our own human spirits.
- A new release of God’s power within us is as accessible as our very next breath of air!
To experience God’s ever-available, ever-accessible power, you must open your heart to it and ask that it be released in your life. By faith, you must reach out to embrace this special divine power, for because of your position “in the Lord,” you are surrounded by it right now. At this precise moment, you are immersed in God’s supernatural power. It is yours for the asking.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Power – Greek: “Kratos” – Demonstrated power
- The kind of power that God used when He raised Jesus from the dead is the very same, exact, identical power that is at work in us.
This was an eruptive power, a demonstrated power, and outwardly visible power. It was the strongest kind of power known to God or man. The only being in the universe that possesses this kind of power is God. Man does not possess this power – unless it has been given to him by God!
To understand this power, you must go back and look at the power that God released when He raised Jesus from the dead.
This power is so mighty and overwhelming, the mighty Roman soldiers assigned to guard Jesus tomb fainted and crumbled underneath it.
Matthew 28:2-4 NKJV And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. (4) And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
It also caused the graves of others to be opened and raised others from the dead.
Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; (53) and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
This same power is what Paul prayed we would get a revelation of in his prayers for the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:19-20 NKJV …that you may know…what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (20) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
God does not give us “kratos” power so we can sit idly by and do nothing in life. This power comes to enable us to accomplish some type of super-human task.
This power in us seeks to demonstrate itself.
Paul knew that he had to address the issue of power before ever discussing warfare with unseen forces or the armor of God.
Why? Because without this power operating in us our spiritual lives, we can’t engage in battle with the enemy. We cannot stand against the deeds of darkness in our own strength – it’s an impossibility.
Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Might – Greek: “ischous” – conveys the picture of an extremely strong man such as a body builder, a man who is able; a man who is mighty; or a man with great muscular abilities.
Paul applies this picture to God – not to himself.
- Is there anyone more powerful than God?
- Is there anyone more able than God?
- Is there any force in the universe equal to the muscular ability of God?
With God’s outstretched arm:
- He flung the universe into being
- Egypt’s rebellion against God was crushed and the children of Israel were set free
- The Red Sea was split in two while the children of Israel passed through and then crashed down on the Egyptians
- The wicked powers of the heavenlies were forcibly shoved aside and, although it was physically and medically impossible, Jesus was conceived and miraculously born from a virgin’s womb.
- His power surged in to the caverns of hell itself and ripped Jesus out of the pangs of death, stripping principalities and powers naked and making a public display of the embarrassing defeat.
- On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came rushing in and filled the disciples with awesome power, supernaturally empowering them to preach the Word with signs and wonders.
- One day He will return and split the eastern sky and come to earth, defeat the great armies of the earth, set up His Kingdom and rule and reign forever
This is the same might arm of God that is working throughout the earth. Where is His powerful, able, mighty muscular ability working today? In you and me!
- With this power at our disposal, the devil is no match for us.
We are well able to overcome his strategies with the armor God has provided.