Empowered for Battle: Strength in Spiritual Warfare

Now we are engaged at the moment in considering that first statement in verse 10 in this sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and we are considering how this can be done how this is to be interpreted in actual practice. [00:00:48]

The fundamental contention is that according to the teaching of the New Testament, in the new birth we are all given power we are given life from God we are made partakers of the divine nature and in that gift various power the seed of eternal life in us all is power it's the analogy of course of a newborn babe. [00:01:38]

There is clear teaching here that there is additional power that can become available to us power that we can call upon particularly in times of unusual stress and unusual difficulty in other words we are always to be strong always to be vigorous as we are living the normal Christian life. [00:03:30]

There are times and seasons in the Christian life the Apostle talked sure about the evil day course life is always evil but there are some days that are worse than others there are evil days there are times and occasions when the fight is particularly hot when the enemy makes an unusual attack upon us. [00:04:00]

The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and is safe and they gave you other examples and illustrations of this same thing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk, said Peter and John to that impotent men at the beautiful gate of the temple. [00:04:43]

There are times when that is the only thing that you and I as it where can do confronted by the enemy and realizing our own weakness we can threaten with this name that is ever victorious this name that is above every other name the name at which every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things on earth. [00:06:37]

Over and above the strength and the power which they have received in general from the Lord at these times they have been a well in a very unusual way of his nearness of his presence supporting them succumbing them and indeed delivering them now I want to look at this because it is one of the most wonderful aspects of the whole of Christian truth. [00:08:07]

The promise is as thy days so shall thy strength be now that was the promise of God you see to his ancient people to the church in the Old Testament they were traveling on their journey they had not yet arrived in the promised land and they were confronted by enemies without end within and all the problems that are described there. [00:12:16]

The promise is look if ever you find yourself in such a position you will discover that you are being given this extra grace and power whatever it is you've gotta go through you will be enabled to do so doesn't matter what comes it's a universal promise as thy days so shall thy strength be. [00:13:34]

The anointing always leads to power that is the particular that is that particular aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit the Spirit is the seal is the earnest of our inheritance yes but there is an anointing aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian believer and this is the way in which he is enable to do various things. [00:18:27]

This is something that is offered to all his people it is something to which they've testified throughout the centuries they've been aware of something most unusual they've been lifted up above them settled scriptures they've never heard of seemed to come to them and they know exactly how to apply them and they've given this insight and understanding. [00:23:37]

In these unusual times of difficulty he himself makes his presence known to us you don't see him but you know that he is there this is more than the strength he gives this is more than the grace that he gives he comes himself you're aware that he's by your side if he surrounding you don't forget the teaching about the angels. [00:43:20]