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The Source of Our StrengthLet us start, then, with the first—"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Here is a great order issued by this mighty captain, the Apostle Paul-an order for the day. Here is a word sent out to the Christian army gathered together, with the enemy there in position facing it. Here is the word that comes from this great leader who himself had had long experience in warfare personally, and who, as he reminds us so often, had the care of all the churches upon him, and had seen at first hand the machinations of the evil one against God's people. Here then is a great order for the day—"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Hold on to this, do not forget it. In the heat and the thick of the battle later on in the day, whatever happens, never forget, never lose sight of, this great guiding and controlling principle. But what does it mean, and how are we to do it? It is a resounding phrase. To read it, to repeat it, is not enough. "Put on the Gospel Armor." But what does it mean in practice? Let us investigate the matter. Christianity is not a form of psychology. You do not just walk along the road saying, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might," using it as some kind of incantation, or auto-suggestion, repeating the phrases to yourself. That is not Christianity at all! It is true of the cults, of course; it is the psychological method. You repeat the phrases such as, "Every day, and in every way, I am getting better and better." You persuade yourself, and you think less and less about your health, and you therefore begin to feel better. Up to a point it works, but only up to a point. But in any case, as I say, it is not the Christian message. So often we are in danger of abusing the Scriptures in this way. We use them as mere phrases in that manner, or lightheartedly we sing our hymns, and we feel better for the time being. But the question is, How do we stand up to temptations when we are on the street outside, and what are we like at home? When you turn Scripture into a drug, into something which gives you a temporary relief without your knowing why or how, the effect does not last. It gives a temporary feeling of exhilaration, but fails you when you are in the struggle and in the heat of the battle. What, then, is the true application of the Apostle's precept? The first thing to realize is the need to be strong because of the power of the enemy. Never underestimate that power. The Bible always calls us to face the enemy and to realize that he is, as Peter says, "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." We are told that the archangel Michael dared not speak lightly or loosely to him, and when he debated with him concerning the body of Moses he did not bring any "railing accusation" against him. All the archangel ventured to say was, "The Lord rebuke thee" (Jude 9). The enemy is terribly powerful and full of wiles and of subtlety and of guile; he can even "transform himself into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11: 14). Another reason, and a very practical one from the human side, is that if you are to be able to stand, and withstand in the evil day, you need this strength. "The evil day!" Though the Christian life in one sense is always the same kind of life, there are variations; there are evil days, some days are worse than others; they are exceptionally bad. In general at the present time we are living in a very "evil" day. It is evil in every respect. I am not only thinking of international tensions; it is an evil day because evil and sin are so powerfully organized, so deeply entrenched; it is an evil day because of the confusion in the Church herself which sometimes seems to deny not only the whole of the Gospel but even belief in the being of God Himself. It is not easy to be a Christian at a time like this when you have men in positions of high authority in the Church talking about "meeting atheists in heaven!" Christians are being confused by these things, particularly, perhaps, young Christians. The devil is unusually busy and active, creating this uncertainty about the essentials of the faith and producing this utter confusion—"What is the Gospel? What is not the Gospel?" Undoubtedly we live in a very evil day; and if we are to withstand at such a time as this, there is only one way; and it is the way the Apostle teaches us here. We need this power, and the whole armor of God; and then we shall be able to stand. Thank God that this is so. Though the confusion is terrible, those who believe the truth still can stand. Do not be disheartened, do not be discouraged, do not be misled, do not be put off. You may be standing alone, perhaps, but you can still be enabled to stand though the days are so cruelly evil and vile and foul. But there are other reasons that should encourage us all to seek this strength and this power. Why should I be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might"? I answer: I wish to be strong in order to avoid personal failure; for I know that, when I do fail and fall into sin, I become miserable and unhappy. This is true of all Christians. So, to save yourself from the misery that is the inevitable consequence of any failure in the Christian life, "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." But I will give you a much higher reason than the fear of personal failure. "Be strong" because you are who you are, because you are what you are. We are individuals in this matter of salvation but we are not isolated units. We are members severally of the body of Christ; we belong to Him, to God's family. Remember this always, that the Lord Jesus Christ is "not ashamed to call us brethren" (Heb. 2:11). Remember also that "God is not ashamed to be called (your) God" (Heb. 11:16). The Name of God is upon us, the Name of Christ is upon us. Why should I be strong? Well, for His sake even more than for my own sake. In a sense this is an alarming thought, and yet it is one of the most glorious truths we can ever realize about ourselves-that the reputation, as it were, of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is in our hands, and any failure in us brings the great and holy Name into disrepute. We are not isolated individuals, we are one in this great and mighty army. The world knows how to respond to these appeals, does it not? It is not only that we may live a happier life that I am calling attention to this text. Let us abandon this purely subjective approach, let us learn to look at things from the standpoint of the Church of the living God, this great army with banners; let us think of Him who is the Captain and Leader of our salvation. And let us remember that we belong to Him, and that anything that happens to us inevitably involves Him also. So, finally, I put the matter thus. There is no better way of giving a proof of the truth of the Gospel than that we should "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might," than that we should triumph and prevail. To live aright is difficult, and when we see someone who is succeeding, someone who can stand against the enticements and the insinuations of evil, someone who is not carried away off his feet by the popular thing, someone who stands steadfastly for truth and for everything that is worthy, we are greatly encouraged. It undoubtedly has a great effect on those who are looking on. We are all being watched at the present time. The world is most unhappy, men and women do not know what to do, they do not know where to turn. When they see someone who seems to be calm and steadfast, someone who is not utterly bewildered at a time like this, someone who seems to have an insight into it all, and who can see beyond it all, they look and they say, "What is this? What is that person's secret?" And so you become an evangelist by just standing and being "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." You are not carried away by the flood, you do not do things because everyone else is doing them, you have principles of your own, and you are ready to stand for them and to suffer for them. That has often been the means, under God's blessing, of awakening others and convicting them of sin, and causing them to begin to inquire after God. In our daily lives, whatever our earthly calling, we all live in some kind of circle; we are surrounded by people who are blinded by the devil and carried along in evil ways by him at his will (2 Tim. 2:26). You never know when the mere fact that you are just "standing" may arrest attention and open a door of opportunity for the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. There, then, are some reasons and preliminary considerations why we must "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." |
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