Ephesians 6:10. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
POWER OF HIS MIGHT. Older, wiser, and experienced, he passes the word of authority from what he learned; First-hand, in the desert – in the cities – in the courts of the land. From those who pretend to be the real thing – those who thought they were the real thing; From judges and priests, from rabbis and teachers, he has learned – and now passes on …
“Be strong in the Lord.”
Strength supernatural; courage inspired by the One who met and conquered; Dangers unseen, battlefields unmarked by boundaries precise and clear; An enemy implacable, invisible, very powerful, uncontrollable – undaunted. Tactics flexible, strength available, power from Him who holds each one dear. “Be strong in the Lord.”
Power from Him who has all power is offered freely to each one of His own. Might that still waters, creates worlds with a word, maintains order in the universe: From His lips come words to give life or take it; by those words His grace is known. He offers, and waits for us to draw on the strength that comes from Him who is limitless. “The power of His might.”
Without partiality, without superficiality, without superfluity, without hypocrisy – Without selfishness, without purposelessness, without hopelessness, without carelessness, With joy in the soul, with courage in the warfare, with love in the heart, with grace in the lips – With eyes on the prize, with fearlessness in the mind, with trust in the God of our salvation – “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
“O God Almighty: the provision Thou hast supplied to meet the needs of Thy people, certainly is fully sufficient for every challenge that might arise. The strength of the Lord of lords and the power of the Sustainer of all things is all the assurance I need that all is well, even when it doesn’t seem that way momentarily. I thank Thee with a confident heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
The need for divine power and the need for the whole armor of God is because the devil is the "accuser." Satan (adversary) is limited in his power and ability, so he has an organized system of helpers to control the people of the world in whatever way he can. The devil is strong, but we are to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." Not only is the devil wily and subtle in his attacks against what should be the citadel of safety, the home. But he will engage in close combat as in wrestling. A stand must be taken against what appeals to those without salvation in our homes in the same way as it has to be made by attacks against us as believers. The organized world system is controlled by spiritual powers that are in opposition to God. Demons, fallen angels, are organized to make people discontented with what they have. Advertising is done in a way to make people feel they are being deprived of what they have a right to have, and is particularly directed toward young people. When they are discontented at home, family life is in danger.
Ephesians 6: 11. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
WILES. Artful deception from a mind so depraved, As to never stop trying to recapture the slave Who has known the great freedom that God freely gave, When the cross work was accomplished, our souls He then saved. Persuasive and subtle, not overt and brave; With determined attention to bring to the grave, The faithful who know the Father who gave; All that He had that each one may live.
Wiles are trickery that the devil will use; He has used it before that men’s souls they will lose. When such guile is used, each person will choose; Will he or she arm themselves with what has been proved? Or will they think that the danger is so close, Is not all that serious because it is making no noise. Snares of the devil have sometimes caught those; Who thought they were safe when at life’s final close.
But the armor is here to take on at once, And face the foe in all the tests that are tough. The armor is full, and you can fully trust; Every part that He gives when the going gets rough. When each piece is in place, the warrior must; Stand without fear, facing each enemy thrust. The armor will work; it comes from above; God has it here for each one to prove.
Wiles will come as long as we’re here; It is this armor of God that each soldier must wear. The work of persuasion, the devil will dare – To continue to press on us year after year. Stand with the armor God has given to you there; For you to put on and for all who do care. And you will find, beside you to share; Is the One who on Calvary won the battle right there.
“Heavenly Father, here in the place of the curse caused by man’s sin, we face the first enemy again and again. It seems like the battlefield is an unusual place to have peace within, but it is true. With the armor of God in place and the assurance of the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit, we can move into the arena and resist the devil with confidence in our God. How blessed is this special peace; Amen.”