Young Adults' Group

Be Strong In The Lord

by Pastor Mark
September 15, 2016

Facing the challenges of another year of ministry

As we enter into our 44th year of ministry as a church, we have to recognise that there will be challenges to be faced. This was something Pastor Charles urgently raised at our anniversary celebration. He spoke of how that no weapons formed against Israel will prosper and that this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. (Isa 54:17)

There will be those who will go against the people of the Lord with all kinds of weapons and that we need to be ready to battle against them. Spiritual challenges will be encountered. It is going to be difficult dealing with them. We need to learn to be strong in facing these challenges in life and ministry.

The challenge to be strong in the Lord

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Eph 6:10)

The Apostle Paul gave the challenge for us to be strong. The word “be strong” in Greek is “endunamousthe” which means “to be empowered.” It is written in the present imperative and it is passive in voice. We would tend to think that “be strong” is something that is written in the active voice (I am strong) or middle voice (I am strong from within myself). What does the passive voice suggest? It suggests that…

1. We are recipients of the power
2. We look to the source of the power which is the Lord
3. We are strong in the Lord and not in ourselves. We are strong because we draw strength from the Lord’s power. Let us seek to be strong in the Lord.

Applying the power of the Lord in spiritual warfare

The challenge is given that we should put on the armour of God and to stand against the wiles of the evil one. (Eph 6:11) There are indeed spiritual battles to be fought and we need to be empowered. Let us appreciate the different kinds of power that God has.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Eph 6:10)

Firstly, there is power called “dunamis” (strong). It is the divine power that is from God. It is a reference to the full and complete power of God.

Secondly, there is “kratei” (power). This is the creative power of God. This is the power that was used to create the world. From “dunamis”, we will get “kratei”.

From “kratei”, we get the specific power of God called “ischus” (might). This is the strength that is finally manifested in our life. From “dunamis”, there comes “kratei” and from “kratei” comes “ischus”. Truly, I stand in awe of the kind of power that can specially empower our life.

Let us appreciate the different kinds of power that comes from the Lord. Let us be challenged to receive the power to overcome the challenges of life and ministry. Let us seek to be strong that we may be able to stand against the work of the evil one. Let us truly be strong in the power of the Lord in the year ahead.

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