What Does it Mean to be Strong in The Lord? Ephesians 6:10
What does it mean to be strong in the Lord – Ephesians 6:10? How do we lean on the Lord, and not our own understanding? First, I want you to notice something. This verse is not calling you to be strong in YOURSELF. It’s His strength. But the question is……how do we do that?
Many people look for some special feeling. They think they’re supposed to “feel” strong. And when they don’t ‘feel’ strong they think somehow they fail to access the strength of God. This causes doubt in the believer.
I think many Christians think they can control the outcome of a problem if only they are strong enough. And then, when the problem doesn’t go away, they assume maybe they just weren’t strong enough. They wrongly think if they can access God’s strength that the situation will be controllable. No so.
The truth is this strength is not a feeling. Further, being strong in the Lord doesn’t give you some special control over life’s problems.
So what is this strength, and how do we access it in our lives? This strength comes from your willingness to give up control over the outcome of the situation. We gain strength by trusting God no matter what happens. So maybe we don’t get that job. Maybe we don’t get healed. We draw strength from Him in any and all circumstances. Good or bad. It’s all about surrendering our rights to be in control and finding joy as we lean on God no matter what the outcome.
Paul gave a good example of what being strong in the Lord looks like in Philippians 4:13 when he said ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me‘. Of course, this verse has been totally twisted by people saying it means you can do anything if you just have enough faith- and thereby pretty much control every situation (in a sense). But we get the real context of what Paul is saying by reading the preceding verses. Paul is describing what it means to be ‘strong in the Lord’. He talks about having little (or a lot). He talks about being hungry (or being well-fed). He talks about suffering need (and having abundance). His point is, he draws his strength by trusting God in ANY and ALL circumstances (Phil 4:12) whether good or bad.
So, the next time you seek to ‘be strong in the Lord’, simply begin by praying and asking God for what’s on your heart. Don’t hold back. God wants to hear from you. And no, he is not judging you as selfish, so let Him hear your full heart’s desires. But be willing to surrender your right to control the outcome. Say (and mean it) to God ‘I will trust you even if your answer is no’. When you do that you will have a peace that surpasses all human understanding. You will in fact be ‘strong in the Lord’. I guarantee it.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
