Sermon: Are You Strong in the Lord?

#1826
Martin G. Collins
Given 05-Jul-25; 61 minutes 2025-07-05

If you were being interviewed and asked the question, what is your greatest strength or what are you strong in?—what would be your reply? Listen carefully to the following fictional interviews. (I think they are fictional.) Some of them may be actual ones, but these responses are not what you would expect and have a subtle touch of wit.

Interviewer: What is your biggest strength? Applicant: I'm incapable of understanding criticism. Interviewer: That sounds more like a weakness. Applicant: Oh, thank you.

Interviewer: So it says here that you consider your memory to be one of your greatest strengths. Applicant: Absolutely. Interviewer: Could you give me an example of that? Applicant: An example of what?

Interviewer: What, what would you say is your greatest weakness? Applicant: I think I'd say my listening skills are my greatest strength.

So you see how hard they are to get very quickly.

To be strong in something means to have a high level of skill, ability, knowledge in a particular area, and it implies a level of competence that stands out either through talent or experience or mastery. It can also refer to being confident, capable, and effective. For example, she is strong in mathematics, so she understands and performs well in solving complex math problems easily. He is strong in leadership. He demonstrates practical leadership skills such as decision-making, communication, and motivation.

If you are strong in something, you must have three things at the very least. Competence, you know that you know how to do it well. Confidence, meaning you can apply your strength without hesitation. And consistency, you perform well in that area repeatedly.

So when someone says they are strong in something, they are highlighting an area where they have above average competence or expertise.

In the Bible, the phrase "strong in" is used in a few specific contexts, typically to describe spiritual strength, faith, or moral character. It often conveys inner strength that comes from God or from being rooted in faith and obedience.

Please turn with me to Ephesians 6. Now the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are to be strong, and he also explains how we are to be strong. However, we must not confuse strength with the world's version of being strong. Their strength lies in their self-confidence, which is a weakening and a fading strength without a real foundation. Here in Ephesians 6, we are going to read verse 10, and you know this section of Scripture very well. It is the area of the spelling out of the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

How does Ephesians 6:10 relate to us in practice, in our day-to-day needs, in our constant warfare against Satan, the world, and our human nature? How can we be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might?

Paul does not tell us to do nothing. Quite the contrary, he tells us to exert ourselves with all our might, but that the power given to us to do so is God's, and from Him, and that we must increasingly learn how to rely upon that power. It is not that we do nothing, but He does everything; and not that we do everything and only ask for some help and encouragement. It is neither of these alternatives. It is a perfect blending of His power and our activity. It is our efforts in and through the power that He gives us.

Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand.

And so in order to withstand something evil, we must really be giving a lot of effort on our part, but it is God who actually empowers us.

Paul then proceeds to take these pieces of the armor one by one in order that we may know how to use them. And it is obvious that the armor is something that we have to wear and to use.

Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

So we cannot put on this armor and use it properly unless we pray along with it.

To withstand the attack of powerful evil sources, we must depend on God's strength through His Spirit and use every piece of armor because we cannot stand on our own against supernatural powers. We must rely on the strength of the Lord's own might, which He supplies primarily through prayer. You will see what I mean by that later on.

But it is so very often, if not most of the time, that it actually requires prayer in order to activate God's strength in us. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ comes because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord's side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided that in His Holy Spirit within us, and His armor surrounds us.

So Paul is advising everyone, all the saints within the church, to put on His armor individually and also as a unified family. We must be unified in our battle against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Let us examine several scriptures that demonstrate the unity of our activity and His power. Specific terms used in the Scriptures illustrate the seamless integration of these elements and how they work together effectively.

Let us turn over to Hebrews 2, verse 10. In this second chapter to the Hebrews, Paul explains that because Jesus was to be the captain of our salvation, He took to Himself human nature. God's children are of flesh and blood, and He likewise shared in the same.

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Here, Paul uses one of Jesus' great titles. He calls him the Captain, the Author, the Founder, or the Pioneer, depending on the translation from the Greek archegos. And the same word is used of Jesus in Acts 3:15; 5:31; and Hebrews 12:2.

At its simplest, it means head or leader. So a general is the leader of an army. It can also refer to the founder or originator, such as the founder of a city or a family. Additionally, it can be used to indicate source or origin, so a good governor is said to be the archegos of peace and a bad governor, the archegos of confusion.

One basic idea explains the word in all its uses. An archegos begins something so that others may enter into it. He starts a family that someday others may be born into. He founds a city, so others may someday dwell in it. Archegos blazes a trail for others to follow.

Now William Barclay in his commentary uses this analogy to illustrate the word archegos.

Suppose a ship is on the rocks and the only way to rescue is for someone to swim ashore with a line in order that, once the line is secured, others might follow. The one who is first to swim ashore will be the archegos of the safety of the others.

This is what Paul means when he says that Jesus is the archegos of our salvation. Jesus has blazed the trail to God for us to follow. How is He able to become the archegos of our salvation?

The Greek verb translated as "make perfect" in verse 10 is teleioun, which comes from the adjective teleios, is usually translated perfect, as most of you know. But in the New Testament, teleios carries a unique meaning. It is not related to abstract, metaphysical, or philosophical perfection. It is used, for example, of an animal which is unblemished and fit to be offered as a sacrifice. It is used as a scholar who is no longer at an elementary stage but mature, and it is used of a human being or an animal who is full grown. It is used of a Christian who is baptized.

Now the core meaning of teleios in the New Testament is that the thing or person described this way fulfills its intended purpose. Therefore, the verb teleioun means not so much to make perfect as to make fully adequate for the task for which it is intended. So Paul is saying that through suffering, Jesus was made fully able to be the Captain, the Author, the Pioneer of our salvation. Now why is this so important? It was through His sufferings that Jesus Christ was identified with human beings.

Paul quotes three Old Testament texts as forecasts of this identity with humanity. Psalm 22:22; Isaiah 8:17; and Isaiah 8:18. These three are found in Hebrews 2:12-13.

Hebrews 2:11-13 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here I am and the children whom God has given Me."

So if Jesus had come into the world in a form that would have allowed Him to never suffer, He would have been very different from human beings. He would neither be able to identify with us nor lead the way as Captain, Author, or Pioneer of our salvation.

Through His sufferings, Jesus Christ identified Himself with humanity. So through this identity, Christ sympathizes with human beings. He feels with us. It is almost impossible to understand another person's sorrows and sufferings unless we have been through them. We know the saying: You don't understand a person's sufferings (or something like that) unless you walk a mile in their moccasins." I think I butchered that, but it is something similar to that.

Individuals who lack experience with certain emotional or physical states often find it difficult to comprehend the depths of others' suffering or joy. For example, a person without a trace of nerves may not understand the torment caused by anxiousness or anxiety and nervousness. Similarly, someone who is physically fit might not grasp the exhaustion experienced by those who tire easily or the persistent pain endured by individuals in constant discomfort. Those who never suffer debilitating headaches may not appreciate the mental fog and distraction that accompany such pain. People who learn quickly might struggle to understand why others find certain tasks challenging or why some individuals require more time to grasp concepts. Additionally, individuals who have never experienced sorrow may find it hard to understand the profound pain associated with grief. And finally, those who have never loved may not comprehend the intense feelings of joy or loneliness that come or that can arise in a lover's heart, so to speak.

Now before we can show sympathy, we must experience the same things the other person has gone through, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ did and why He is, as in all things, the greatest in understanding of these things. Because Jesus sympathizes with us, He can help. He has experienced our sorrows and faced our temptations. As a result, He knows precisely what we need when He helps us and provides it.

Hebrews 2:14-18 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

So Jesus was not only ready to suffer, He did suffer, and having come as a man and in the likeness of sinful flesh, He was Himself subject to temptations, and the reason for this is given: "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He can aid those who are tempted."

Jesus, having experienced all this, having been made perfect through suffering, and having learned obedience from what He suffered, is now able to help us in the best way because He has gone through it as we have gone through the suffering. So He can support and empower us during temptation. We are engaged in this battle with Satan and Christ comes to help us because of what He has endured.

Please turn over to Romans 8, verse 26. Now His sufferings were part of His preparation for His work. He has been appointed to be a faithful High Priest, not only in representing us to God, but also in helping us here on earth. And so we are told that He aids us, but not that He does it all instead of us. We do not relinquish our role. We fight and He aids us—He comes to our aid. And Paul makes a similar statement here in,

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself [that is, Jesus] makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

So Paul tells us that Christ, the Holy Spirit, does not take the problem from us because we are sick, but Christ helps our infirmities, and He does not take it all from us. We do not hand it all over. We do not sit silently while Christ prays for us. No, He helps us. He comes to our aid. And it is important that we pray and ask for God's aid and we can do that all day long as we have need.

Please turn over to II Corinthians 12, verse 7. We are pictured as trying to carry a heavy log, and we are staggering beneath it, but Christ comes, takes up the other end, and together we carry it forward. He helps and provides most of the strength. We do not stop carrying. He carries the burden with us, comes to our aid, and gives us a helping hand. We find another example in II Corinthians 12 where Paul describes his experience in a vision.

II Corinthians 12:7-8 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

Paul tells us that he was given a thorn in the flesh so that he would not think more highly of himself than he ought, and he prayed three times asking God to take the burden away, but the reply he received was this,

II Corinthians 12:9 And He [the Lord] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I [Paul] will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

There are often times where we have to endure the suffering or endure the trial in order for us to learn a lesson, and for others around us to learn a lesson, for the church as a whole to learn a lesson. In other words, My grace, the grace that I will give you, He says, will be sufficient for you to do the work you must do, even though you still have severe pain.

So the thorn was not taken out of him. He still had to struggle with it, but he was given grace and that grace was sufficient. God's grace is the dynamic of salvation. Grace expresses more than gifts given by God. It is present in the forgiveness of sin, but far more than that, it is essential to our salvation.

Grace gives to the called of God whatever is necessary to enable us to succeed for God's purpose. Grace helps us in times of need and gives us the humility to serve others.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think more think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

I Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

God gives us grace so we may continue to fellowship with Him. It is an enabler for salvation to be possible. Grace's foundation and source are in God, and it is the most essential aspect of our spiritual and eternal salvation. Grace is a gift in that God's giving of it is entirely unearned and unmerited, but it is not simply a gift. Even though God's grace is the foundation for good works, the good works themselves do not and cannot earn us grace.

Christ's strength and our weaknesses come together. We must continue in our weaknesses, but His grace and strength are sufficient. God knows the best time to relieve us of those sufferings. The power of Christ rests upon us in this way, and we are enabled to continue, and this is how His grace is sufficient.

II Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We do not often think about when we are suffering or having a trial or are confused that it is for Christ's sake. Quite often we are so self-absorbed or so self-centered that we are looking at ourselves and the suffering when we need to realize that it is for Christ's sake and His purposes and what they are doing in our lives to bring us to a point where we can have eternal life. That sounds paradoxical, but it is true. "When I am weak, then I am strong," and that is in the Lord. So we still must go on in our weaknesses, doing all He calls us to do, but He enables us to continue our work.

Please turn to Philippians 2, verse 12. Philippians 2 is in many ways the key to this principle. It is a blending of the two aspects.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

So we must try to solve the challenges God allows and puts in our lives with conviction and resolve. Since fear and trembling are required, we must be careful and be prepared. Who is sufficient for these things? Who can do this? The answer is in the following verse.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

The two things come together and are not separate in the false way that many in cultural Christianity believe.

Let us look at other statements where Paul shares about himself and how he lived according to God's way of life.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So Paul shows both sides of this principle to reveal who is working. He uses this method of writing to make us think about these things and to save us from the spirit of error. He says, I have been crucified with Christ. What does that mean? When Paul says it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, it does not mean that Paul ceased doing things. He did not just hand it all over to Christ, he finished his life of struggle and work.

Paul continues, "in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." So we live this life regarding our faith in God because of what They have done for us and what They will do. So Paul shows that our relationship with God requires us and Christ to be involved. If we say we must do it all ourselves, we are wrong. Or if we say we do nothing and He does everything, we are equally wrong. And granted, all credit for our justification and sanctification and salvation goes to the Father and Christ. We live in the flesh and Christ lives in us, enabling us to live God's way of life in the flesh.

Now please go over two chapters to Philippians 4. In the latter part of his letter to the Philippians, Paul thanked them for the gift they sent to him while he was in prison.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

There is the key: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul says he can do all things, but he can do all things only through Christ who strengthens him. Christ is strengthening him, infusing power into him, but it is Paul who does all things. It is he who does both. It is he who knows both how to be demeaned and how to thrive.

Paul did not hand it all over and become a passive spectator, merely surviving. He was involved. In his whole life as you read it through his epistles, he is involved in every aspect. He was the one who was doing all these things, but the glory is that he could do all things through Christ. Christ did not do it all for him, but Christ strengthened him. The spiritual power was put into him and he was strengthened. The tasks were not taken out of his hands, but he was enabled to do them because he was being strengthened in this way.

Please turn over to Acts 18, verse 9. Look at some of Paul's experiences which illustrate this principle more objectively. Paul endured some very trying experiences and some are recorded in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 18:9-10 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city."

So He is telling him not to be afraid and that He is with him. He is confirming that, but He still is requiring Paul to do the things that could cause him harm. Paul was being threatened, but verses 9 and 10 record God's assurance of help and protection. This is how God's gift of strength works. Paul was made strong by the vision and guarantee given to him. He still had to continue preaching, but he was assured in this special way that he was not left to himself and that God would be with him to strengthen him.

There is a similar example in Acts 23 concerning a plot by the Jerusalem Jews against Paul. Paul told the council that his conscience was clear before God, for which the high priest Ananias wanted him slapped. Paul called Ananias a hypocrite for judging him and at the same time breaking Jewish law by illegally commanding him to be struck on the mouth. But Paul had not known at that time that Ananias was the high priest, otherwise he would have shown him more respect.

Then Paul realized that there were both Pharisees and Sadducees present, and knowing that one group believes in the resurrection of the dead, while the other did not, Paul shifted the focus away from himself and on to the issue of the hope of the resurrection. This caused such an uproar between the two factions that the commander feared Paul would be torn apart by them. So he had Paul forcibly removed from the inquisition and taken to the barracks.

Acts 23:11-13 But the following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

So Christ revealed Himself to Paul and spoke to him. As a result, he was filled with strength to continue his testimony, and with that assurance, he can do so. He must do it, and he will do it more confidently in the strength of this great power that he has been told he has.

There is also the very dramatic story in Acts 27 about the shipwreck of Paul and his companions on the way to Rome. Notice especially verses 23 and 25 as we go through this. The situation was becoming quite desperate and they had even thrown the ship's tackle overboard. Forward four chapters to Acts 27.

Acts 27:20-25 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."

How is he able to speak with such confidence? There they all were at their wit's end—the captain, the sailors, and everyone else—completely distraught and desperate, with shipwreck expected at any moment—the end, disaster, and loss of life. And with confidence, Paul said, "Take heart, men."

Now, the King James Version and many other Bible versions translate his words as "be of good cheer." The Amplified Version says, "Keep up your courage, men." What enabled him to overcome these circumstances in this way? They actively managed their responsibilities rather than allowing the ship to drift aimlessly. Paul was strengthened by the word he received, and he in turn empowered his fellow travelers by sharing this assurance with them. They had abandoned hope and were in despair, but Paul's words from God reassured them and enabled them to face the situation with renewed strength. And that should certainly improve and increase our faith in God's promise to us because He is giving the same promises to us that He gave to the apostles and all of those who have been God's people all the way since, 2,000 years or so.

Please turn over to II Timothy 4. Another example from Paul's experience is in his last epistle. In the second epistle to Timothy, Paul mentions his "first answer." He refers to his first defense at his trial. The legal procedure then was very similar to the way it is today. The case would be started and then there would be an adjournment, then another appearance and so on.

II Timothy 4:16-17 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

So here, despite human beings abandoning him, mostly out of fear, probably, he knew that the Lord was there standing beside him and strengthening him, and he had that assurance, and he lived by it. Notice the sequence of events, always in the same order. God strengthens us through His Spirit. He does not take the problem out of our hands, but Paul was heartened by knowing that, in his words, "The Lord stood with me and strengthened me."

Jesus Christ makes us powerful and mighty and strong and capable of fighting and wrestling. He does not take the action out of our hands. There are times where He does intervene without us knowing it and without us doing anything, but generally speaking, we are expected to pray to Him, ask Him to intervene on our behalf and intervene on the behalf of others who are suffering and having trials and are suffering disease.

Jesus in us by the indwelling of His Spirit is the way He strengthens us, and the indwelling of His Spirit is always there, and so He is always able and ready and willing to strengthen us.

I John 3:24 He who keeps His commandments abides in Him and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

II Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

So it is not enough to know what God wants us to do. We must also do it, and we must follow our beliefs with actions. One of the most significant words in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ describes the efforts of the saints when the enemy—the old dragon, the serpent, the Devil—attacks them.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him [that is, Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

"They overcame him." He was not overcome for them, and this is very significant. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. How do saints overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony? They put the apostle James's exhortation into practice. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." They do not just sit back and let Christ overcome Satan for them. Christ has overcome Satan, and we have to overcome him as well. He has already done it and so it is a sure thing for us to do as well because we have God's assurance if we keep His commandments and His way of life.

We hold on and we fight and we are enabled to conquer Satan, overcome him, and be more than conquerors over him. We are to resist him and he will flee from us as long as we do so in this right way. According to James, the right way is first, submit to God. "Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Next is, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Submit, resist, draw near.

We have to make sure that we maintain our personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. It is clear then that we are involved and our actions must continue and our efforts must increase, but Christ will enable us more and more.

Now here comes the practical questions. How does all this work out in practice and what exactly are we to do in actual practice? Well, we have gotten some indications through this message and we will be looking at more.

We must understand and apply God's assurances and relevant aspects. If we wrestle triumphantly against Satan and all his powers, the first essential is assurance of salvation. We have no hope in this conflict unless we know and trust God's power and might. He who doubts is unstable. If we are uncertain about our relationship to Him, we cannot stand and withstand in the fight against supernatural influences.

In other words, the crucial key to victory over Satan is our faith that God guarantees our triumph. This directly concerns our relationship to God the Father and Jesus Christ. We cannot have an intimate relationship with Him if we do not trust Him or have little confidence in Him. In other words, they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. We cannot give a good testimony about someone if we do not know where we stand concerning our relationship with them. It is only the one who is certain who can give a good testimony and who can act as a faithful witness.

God witnesses to the saints through His Spirit about His guarantee of salvation. And Paul wrote in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." So the saint's testimony in the book of Revelation is that the blood was on them, indicating they belonged to Christ and they possessed assurance of salvation. By God's promise, we are made strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Please turn over to Nehemiah 8, verse 9. We will see some examples of this in action. Now Ezra, the priest and scribe, encountered substantial challenges, including the task of rebuilding Jerusalem following its destruction, sack, and the exile of its inhabitants. And he was tasked with restoring the city amid widespread ruins and chaos. Confronted with formidable obstacles and adversaries, Ezra faced a significant mission to restore order and stability to Jerusalem. Ezra gave one of the most profound practical encouragements found anywhere in the Old Testament. He says, "the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:9-10 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the high priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

There is no limit to the number of examples by which discouragement can be illustrated and we all know this by experience. But we wake up one morning and find ourselves feeling miserable. Then we have an inkling of the type of day we think we will have and we have an ominous feeling that nothing is going to go right that day.

Morning prayer will ensure that the rest of the day aligns more with God's way of life, but if we have not prayed that morning, we will likely go through the day with an oppressive mental blanket over us. Sometimes it is a proverbial thick blanket, and other times it is a lighter Afghan or throw blanket over the mind. The day-to-day work we do will be complex and complete with problems. We will begin to wonder whether we are up to the challenge and whether we should go away for a while. The anxiety just keeps wearing us down.

We can all relate to that at some point in our life, maybe multiple times. But on the contrary, when we are happy, our work gives us no trouble. We just run through it. Everyone knows this experience. How can he face his work with joy? He cannot! He is already defeated when a man with domestic troubles leaves home after arguing or quarreling over problems.

But if he begins his day praying to strengthen his relationship with God and if everything is well and happy at home, most things are well at work. And this is obvious to everyone.

Ezra says, "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." There is nothing to compare with happiness. If we are happy and all is well, and we will go through our work easily, its challenges will be overcome.

Now the joy of the Lord puts strength and power into us. How is this possible? How is it possible for assurance to energize a person when the problem remains? We are humans, we are not machines. A person is a complex amalgam. We have the same nerves, the same muscles, and the same brain, and we are always the same throughout.

But that is not a complete description of a human being. There is a kind of electricity in a person as well, and we cannot measure it perfectly and are limited in our knowledge about it. But it is there. And suddenly when this electricity is generated, it charges everything and we are twice the person we were before. And from a strictly physical point of view, we are the same person, but in practice, we are not the same person at all. We are much stronger, everything is keyed up. We are energized, we are ready for everything, and we can do things that we could not have done when we were miserable and doubtful.

This is seen in all levels and types of sports, especially team sports such as football, baseball, and basketball. When a team loses heart, it loses the game, and this is one of the reasons schools and universities have pep rallies, to psych everybody out to excitement, including the players. They energize the fans and the players. Often this energizing effect can be maintained throughout most of the game, but in our spiritual battle, we need this energy for the rest of our lives. It needs to be permanent, whereas that energy that is drummed up in a pep rally is short-lived.

That is what the apostle Paul emphasizes in Ephesians 6:10, "My brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might." And what Ezra is saying in Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." We have to be spiritually energized when we work to make our calling and election sure. God's Spirit energizes us and we are filled with the strength we need.

Let us turn back over to Acts to chapter 20 this time. We must believe, trust, and understand that God has given us assurances or we are already defeated. The Holy Spirit gave the apostle Paul a powerful sense of compulsion to go quickly and directly to Jerusalem, even though he knew that imprisonment and afflictions awaited him there.

Acts 20:22-23 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

We see Paul here in a situation that could not be much worse. Satan and all his forces are opposed to him, using communities and individuals, Jews and Romans alike, to cause bonds and afflictions for the apostle. So God's Spirit was motivating him, compelling him to witness in every city as the Spirit moved him, and he knew persecution and affliction were awaiting him. But listen to what he says.

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me [You could say, bother me. Or I am not worried about it]; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

So Paul is not frightened or intimidated despite the warnings of trouble. His only complaint is against his friends who weep and plead with him not to go forward. All Paul wants to do is to finish his race with joy. He rejoiced in his ministry. His joy was in God. He rejoiced that he who had been a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious person was now an evangelist and an apostle of Christ.

His joy in this was so profound that even though he knew what was to come, he could still say none of these things move me. He is more than a conqueror. He has already overcome them. His joy in the ministry lifts him up above his difficult circumstances, allowing him to overcome and triumph.

All of this leads us to the conclusion that if we have any doubt or uncertainty regarding our salvation, it indicates that Satan has nearly succeeded in defeating us. It is essential to be confident and assured of our salvation. The inspired written Word of God consistently emphasizes this point, and much of its content is dedicated to teaching, which provides us with certainty and assurance.

So we need to understand who we are and what our identity is. I have mentioned this many times in sermons. This is the key to defeating the enemy. Simply put, we must realize that we are children of God. And just recognizing that alone is one of the most powerful sources of encouragement and happiness we can experience.

Here are two illustrations of this. One is in Ezra and the other in Nehemiah. So the first illustration shows Ezra requesting a specific number of people and supplies from the king to return to Jerusalem and begin the reconstruction work. Please turn with me to Ezra 8. Now they reached a critical point, and Ezra hesitated for a moment. He realized the difficulties and how the enemies were waiting for him and ready to attack. His first instinct was to send a message to the king of Babylon and ask for an escort of soldiers to accompany him, defend them, and protect them from the enemy's attack. But he suddenly thought to himself, "I can't do that." So instead of sending a message to the king to request an escort of soldiers, he calls for fasting and prayer for protection. And says, "I proclaimed a fast, for I was ashamed to request of the king and escort of soldiers." So why was he ashamed?

Ezra 8:21-23 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those who for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

So Ezra had been on the verge of sending a message asking for military escort, but suddenly he says, "I can't do that because of what I've already said to the king about the power of my God." So he had told the king that they were going on a dangerous trip. And the king replied, "Do you think that's wise?" To which Ezra replied, "It will be all right." And then the king said, "What if the enemies attack you?" To which Ezra countered, "All will be well." So Ezra had said to the pagan king, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him. We are children of God and our God is almighty."

But Ezra was human. And later, a temporary feeling of fear arose and Ezra almost gave in, but he says, "I can't ask for the soldiers. I'm one of God's people, and I have told the king so, and I've claimed great things in the name of God. Okay then, we don't ask for troops. We call for a fast instead, get back in contact with God, and then set out."

We can use this method in our lives on a daily basis, even multiple times during the day, where we realize that we were headed in the wrong direction and catch it very quickly. And our day will go much better.

That knowledge made Ezra strong. He was no longer a defeatist, and he went forward on his way triumphantly.

Now the second illustration involves Nehemiah. Nehemiah was also engaged in the same work as Ezra, as in Nehemiah 8. However, I would like you to turn to Nehemiah chapter 6. A critical moment came during the reconstruction work in Jerusalem, and they had started building the wall, but enemies were looking on and jeering at them, threatening to destroy it all. They had to work with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, and there was a constant watch day and night. The situation was very desperate. Then a supposed friend of Nehemiah came to him and tried to pressure him into taking some measures to protect himself since he was the leader.

Nehemiah 6:10-13 Afterward I [Nehemiah] came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you." And I [Nehemiah] said, "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!" Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach [that is, criticize or accuse] me.

What saves Nehemiah is that he knows who and what he is in God's eyes, and that he has protection. Should such a man as I flee? Is he just a great egotist, or is he guilty of overstating his worth? Not at all. He just knows who he is. He recognizes that fear is a sin. Fear shows a lack of love for God. It is a sign of faithlessness, and he is confident of salvation once he remembers who he is. That is, as soon as he recognizes the deceit to try to make him fearful, he steadies himself by remembering who he is.

You know, we can use this advice or this incident to apply in our own lives when we are dealing with the world. How many times have people in the world tried to convince us to do something that we really should not do, but it seems all right on the surface and we do not really think deeply about it. Be forewarned that it might be Satan causing that person to deceive us, or maybe that person is just a deceitful person, but we have to apply these things in our lives on a daily basis.

The advice he had gotten from Shemaiah is not characteristic of God or consistent with God's way. Nehemiah recognized this. He remembers who he is: He is God's servant. "Should such a man as I flee?" Should a servant of God be fearful and flee? The moment he recognized the vital fact that he was a man of God, it became clear to him that God had never sent this messenger at all. Instead, it was Tobiah and Sanballat, his enemies, who had used a trick and deception to hire a man to act as a traitor in order to defeat Nehemiah.

So Nehemiah gets his victory, loses his fear, and is more than a conqueror. Why? Simply on the knowledge that he is a man of God. That is the beginning of this "being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." In other words, he had a saving faith. This applies not just to the ministry because in a sense all of us who are baptized and have God's Holy Spirit are men of God or ladies of God, however you would like to word that.

Please turn with me to II Peter 1, verse 10 for a final scripture. As we realize and truly understand who we are and what we are, we are already on the way to certain victory over Satan, the world, and our human nature. If we are children of God, God has assured us of salvation. Faith is an act of belief involving knowing God exists and having a dynamic trust in His Word.

II Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now it is interesting that the word "make" in verse 10 is grammatically in the middle voice which suggests "to make for oneself." To bring this into reality, we must respond positively and actively to God's call. And the word "sure" in verse 10 as well confirms something like the legal terminology of validating a will. So it is something that is completely secure. Therefore, by growing in grace we become confident that we have been chosen by God.

Peter's emphasis is on our response. We must respond in faith to God's gracious working. Peter has already informed us of our response. Peter wrote in verse 5 that we should make every effort as God's elect. God is not looking for partial commitment. He is not hoping we will occasionally come to worship Him when we feel like it. It is not a request. We are commanded to appear before Him, and we are commanded to keep the Sabbath.

Peter's concern is that we take responsibility for staying deeply rooted in the same hope that Jesus Christ and the apostles had. It must continue throughout our lives, and the true test of our faith's authenticity is whether we are willing to make significant righteous life changes or dismiss the need to overcome sin as irrelevant to our calling.

Therefore, the wonderful truth that God has called us into His church to prepare us for eternal life is not merely a theoretical idea that requires no response other than intellectual agreement. Instead, the evidence that we have been called and chosen is shown by the fruit of the Spirit produced in our daily lives.

After every test, trial, crisis, emergency, suffering, and sorrow we must face in the future, may we be able to say, "The Lord stood with me and strengthened me" so that I could "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."

MGC/aws/drm