Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Walking With God

Be Strong - Part 1 of 3

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2018-06-20

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver introduces a series on spiritual strength from Ephesians 6:10, emphasizing that true strength is found in the Lord and His power, not in human ability. He contrasts physical decline with the potential for increasing spiritual strength in old age, and stresses that obedience to God's Word is indivisibly linked to spiritual strength. The sermon highlights the believer's warfare against spiritual forces of darkness, the necessity of putting on the whole armor of God, and the assurance of victory through Christ, who has already defeated all principalities and powers.

[John Weaver] Looking at Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10 the scripture says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. One simple verse Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might I want to begin today a brief series on the subject be strong Have you ever experienced a desire to be strong that really and truly is a facetious question because everyone basically wants to be strong, especially every young man and who desires to be strong. If not, he certainly desires to be muscle-bound, so to speak. And strength training is very popular today, and it really doesn't matter who you are, male or female, or how old you are, a lot of people still engage in what we know as strength training. regardless of how old an individual is they still desire strength as well. One of the confessions if not one of the complaints of the elderly is that they have no strength and can no longer do on a regular basis that which they used to do.

[John Weaver] A good example is Barzillai. You remember when Absalom had rebelled against David and David had to leave Jerusalem? Barzillai supported David and his men. And so when David was returning to Jerusalem he invited Barzillai to come back and be sustained by the king. And so Barzillai answered him in 2 Samuel chapter 19 verses 34 and 35 and he said this, and Barzillai said to the king, how long have I to live that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day four score, that is 80 years old, And can I discern between good and evil?

[John Weaver] Can my servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should my servant be yet a burden unto my Lord the King? is saying, look I'm slipping, I'm 80 years of age, I can't really discern like I used to. I can't taste. I can't smell. I can't hear. And all I would be is just simply a burden and I don't want to go there and be that burden. Well Moses himself said in Psalm 90 and verse 10, the days of our years are threescore and ten, 70, And if by reason of strength they beforescore years, that's 80, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

[John Weaver] So he said, once you make it past 70, And if you do make it to 80 you are going downhill so to speak. Well we understand that. One of the factors of old age is that we lose our strength in a physical sense. But that does not mean that we have to lose our spiritual strength. There is a vast difference. And the truth of the matter is the older we get in the Lord the more spiritual strength we should have.

[John Weaver] It was David who made this prayer in Psalm 71 in verse 18. He said, Now also, O Lord, when I am old and gray-headed, listen, O God, forsake me not until I have showed this generation thy strength and thy power to everyone that is to come. So he said, I'm old and gray-headed, but God, don't forsake me until I have showed your power and your strength to this generation. We also have to remember in Psalm 92 verses 13 and 14, the Bible says, they that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age.

[John Weaver] They shall be fat and flourishing. So there's a vast difference now between physical strength and spiritual strength. And being older does not necessarily relate to weakness in every area, neither does it involve impotency and powerlessness in every area. While we cannot do some of the things that we used to be able to do, at least now through wisdom and knowledge we can get a lot of that accomplished without the strength of youth.

[John Weaver] it is just that simple. And I forget exactly how it goes but it says, the treachery of old age will always outdo the strength and exuberance of youth. And that is about the truth. Usually an older person can figure things out and work things out even though they cannot do what they used to do. It is interesting that there are numerous commands in the Bible to be strong, especially in the Old Testament. I'm going to show you just two of those before we get started.

[John Weaver] But here is what I want you to learn, and here is what I want you to see right now. Spiritual strength according to the Bible is connected indivisibly with obedience. I want you to look. Hold Ephesians chapter 6 we are certainly coming back there. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 11 at verses 8 and 9. Deuteronomy 11 8 and 9. From there we'll go to Joshua chapter 1. Note if you would please Deuteronomy 11 beginning there with verse 8, real strength is related to obedience. Deuteronomy 11 verse 8 God says, Therefore shall you keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land whether you go to possess it. Note if you would, Watch carefully, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to give unto them and to their seed a land that floweth with milk and honey." So He says, that you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

[John Weaver] Why? That you may be strong, and that you may prolong your days.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 1 and notice if you would please what God tells Joshua beginning there with verse 5. Notice if you would please how strength is still connected with obedience. Joshua chapter 1, notice if you would please verse 5. God tells Joshua, there shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

[John Weaver] Now watch, be strong and of a good courage. For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swear to their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, then shalt thou have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong, and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest." Interestingly in this short passage three times God commanded Joshua to be strong. Now it is impossible to be strong in the Lord without obedience.

[John Weaver] There is a verse in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 16 the Bible says this, and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them and mercy upon the Israel of God. Now if you want to know who the Israel of God is, it is those that walk according to this rule. And those that walk according to this rule have peace. Now the word rule is a very interesting word. The Greek word is the word kynon from where we get our English word cannon, not c-a-n-n-o-n that's the kind that shoots. But it's c-a-n-o-n we talk about the cannon of Scripture, or the Old Testament cannon, or the New Testament cannon. And the word kynon literally means a measuring stick, or a measuring rod, or a rule. Now listen to what he said, and as many as walk according to this rule, be upon them, and mercy upon the Israel of God." So the Word of God then is our rule, it is our standard, it is our measuring stick, it is our measuring rod for obedience.

[John Weaver] And obviously very clearly we must walk in accordance with this measuring stick and this measuring rod. Now the command to be strong occurs only three times in the New Testament. amazing. Many times in the Old Testament, but it only occurs three times in the New Testament. And notice I said command because each time you see this it is in the imperative mode which means it is a command. Anytime you see an imperative it is a command.

[John Weaver] I could look at Lorraine and I could ask and say, Lorraine would you please get me a glass of water? That's the question I'm asking her. But if I looked at her and I said, Lorraine get up and get me a glass of water. That's a command.

[John Weaver] Now Steve wouldn't like that and she probably wouldn't either. But that's the difference between a question and a command. A command is when God just issues it and says, this is what you do. No ifs, ands, and buts. just that simple.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at the three times, we've already looked at one, I'll just quote it, Ephesians 6. But if you will turn in your Bibles first to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16, then we are going to go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And as we go to 2 Timothy I will quote Ephesians 6 again because that is the three times that we are commanded in the New Testament to be strong. So, notice if you would in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13 notice what the Bible says,"'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, Be strong. And then of course Ephesians 6 and verse 10, finally, my brethren be strong in the Lord in the power of His might. And then in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1 Paul says, Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. So three times we are commanded to be strong. Now if you will turn back in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13, I want you to note this, that all the terms in this verse are military terms.

[John Weaver] You are also going to find that all the terms in Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18 are military terms as well. That is they relate to war and to the military.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm not going to really delve into 2 Corinthians 16 and verse 13. going to remind you of a few things. And the reason I'm not going to expound this verse completely and thoroughly is because I've already done so. If you would read or listen to Captain Jonathan Davis in a combat mentality you will find this verse expounded and explained. So, let me just remind you of certain things. First of all, look if you would 2 Corinthians 16 verse 13 says, watch ye. First Corinthians, I'm sorry, First Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13. Yeah, First Corinthians because in my Bible I see Second Corinthians. First Corinthians 16 verse 13, watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Now here is the interesting thing, Quit you like men. The word men here is a very special word.

[John Weaver] It is andridzomai in the Greek. Now the word men and man occurs many times in the Bible, but usually it's from anthropos or a nair. This is what is known as a hypoxlegomenon, which means it is a word that occurs only once in the Bible. And here you have, andridzomai, and this word literally means to make a man, to make brave, or to show oneself like a man, and to show oneself as brave. So when he says, watch you stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, he's talking about courageous, brave, bold individuals. So it's a special word.

[John Weaver] Secondly, the command here to be strong signifies that we are not to give in to weakness. We are not to give in to despair or discouragement. We are not to faint. We are to maintain our courage. We are to maintain our strength and sustain and help one another because we understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the captain of our salvation and He is the victor. is why the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 3 Paul said, thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. So as soldiers are not to give in, give up, give out, but to endure cheerfully, likewise God says that is exactly what we are going to be doing. Now, look at verse 13 again, He says, watch ye, which is a military term. Stand fast, which is a military term. Quit you like men, which is a military term. Be strong, which is a military term. Notice if you would, verse 13 commands us to be strong. The only thing that is missing is how are we be strong."

[John Weaver] And what does it mean to be strong? Well 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13 is a wonderful verse, but it does not tell us those things. However, Ephesians chapter 6 and 2 Timothy chapter 2 fulfill that requirement where God tells us exactly what it means to be strong. And I propose to look at these passages. We certainly need strength, especially spiritual strength. We cannot discharge our duties, face our foes, or accomplish our task in our own strength. Because the truth of the matter is this, folks, we really don't have any strength. We may think that we do, but we certainly do not. The Bible 1 John, not 1 John but 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 9 says this, He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. For by strength shall no man prevail. So we really and truly do not have any strength of our own. stop and think about what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5 where He said, without me you can do what?

[John Weaver] Nothing. Obviously that means that we don't have the strength to do anything. But notice this, the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 and verse 13 said this, I can do all things through Christ who has strengthened me. So while we are impotent in and of ourselves, we have the all-powerful God at our disposal.

[John Weaver] Now, let me put it to you like this. The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are. That is the beginning. Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh. And he besought the Lord three times for that thorn to be removed. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9 Paul said that God said to him, my grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness. And then Paul added this, therefore will a glory come in my weakness and in my infirmities. Why?

[John Weaver] That the power of Christ may rest upon me. So Paul is saying that when I realize how helpless and powerless I am, then God is ready to use me. As long as we think we can, we cannot. As long as we think we're able, we are unable. When we reach the conclusion and reach the truth that we are helpless and powerless and unable in and of ourselves, then we are ready to be used by God.

[John Weaver] Now let me explain something to you about the book of Ephesians. It only has six chapters in it. You say, but I can count, I understand that. Well it is perfectly divided as well. The first three chapters deal with doctrine. The last three chapters deal with duty. Okay? So, that tells you this, that our duties are based upon doctrine. So, you should always have doctrine to back up what you do, and why you do it. When you look in Ephesians chapter 6, beginning of verse 10, this is the last part of the practical aspect of the book of Ephesians. And although Paul now has told us about our duties, he is now telling us how we must perform those duties. And those duties are not to be performed in our strength, but in the power of God. Because he tells us that we are to recognize the fact that we are weakness personified.

[John Weaver] We have mighty enemies we have powerful foes. And the Apostle is telling us if we are going to face them and if we are going to defeat them it must be in the power of God. So if you look in Ephesians 6 and verse 10 he says this, finally my brethren, that is he is bringing his argument to a conclusion, He's teaching you how to perform your duties. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

[John Weaver] So let me say this again. First of all, we need to acknowledge our own weakness, our own impotency, our own powerlessness. But at the same time, we must also confess and acknowledge the power of God and that God is omnipotent. He has all power. That's why the Bible in Psalm 62 in verse 11 says this, For God has spoken once, yea, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God. So the Apostle is teaching us that if we're going to stand and fight We must stand and fight in the power of God Because we have no power in and of ourselves Now the interesting thing is this When we stand and when we fight We must use the means that God has ordained But at the same time We must trust Him and look to Him to make those means effectual. If He does not bless the means, the means are useless in and of themselves. For instance, if I were to take a verse out of Proverbs 23, where the scripture says, Beat thy child with a rod.

[John Weaver] If thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with a rod, and thou shalt save his soul from hell.

[John Weaver] Now, Salvation actually comes through beating someone with the rod one of the greatest Examples of evangelism is to grab a rod and go out on the street and just start beating the devil out of everybody Obviously, that's not what the Bible means Every child that has been whipped does not go to heaven. I What God is saying is you must use the means, that is discipline, that He has commanded, but you must trust in Him and look to Him to bless those means and make them effectual. And what He is saying is those who use the means and trust in Him, eventually that child will in all probability be converted because His discipline will work for His good and not for His ill. So, we have to reach the place where we understand that although we use means we must seek God's blessing upon those means to make them effectual as well.

[John Weaver] You remember the passage in 1 Samuel chapter 17 where David was going to face Goliath. And he went to Saul and he said, don't let your heart trouble you I'll go out and I'll fight this man. And Saul said, you're but a youth. And this man has been a warrior from his youth." Well, he said, I'll take care of it. And Saul dressed David in his own armor.

[John Weaver] You know, I've tried to picture that in my mind. You remember what the Bible says about King Saul? That he was head and shoulders above everyone else. He was a big man. And David at this time was probably about 15 or 16 years old. And can you imagine this skinny little youth with all this armor on? And you know what David told Saul? I can't go in these. I haven't proved them. But I've proved this sling. And I've proved God and I know that he works and I know my sling works. That's all I need. So David took Goliath down with a sling was the means, but it was God who directed that rock and empowered David to sling that stone straight. So you have to have the means and you have to have the power of God as well.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look, if you would, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10 he says,"'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God and that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." He said put on the whole armor of God. Now the word whole armor here is panoplia in the Greek. We talk about the panoply of God. It just simply means the armor of God. And so this full complete armor is revealed from 13 on down through verse 18. Obviously, we cannot use partial armor, we have to have the whole armor. In fact, if you would note in verse 13, he says, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God. So in verse 11, it's put on the armor of God, verse 13, it is wherefore taken to you the whole armor of God. In verse 11, put on is an imperative which is a command. In verse 13, wherefore taken to you is an imperative which is a command.

[John Weaver] So God commands us to put on the whole armor of God. Now, He explains why we need this whole armor of God in verse 12. Look in verse 12, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." So Paul is not telling us that our battle is not against man. Certainly it is against man in one sense of the word. But what Paul is telling us is this, the real battle against those powers that are beyond and behind wicked men. It's those powers that support them. If this was just simply a flesh and blood battle it would be easy in one sense of the word. But it's not a flesh and blood battle. Flesh and blood just happens to be what we see. It's what we cannot see. that is the real motivating cause behind the enemy. And Paul identifies these enemies as principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to give you what Albert Barnes said on this verse because to me, it explains it so plainly so simply, so easily. I want you to listen because he shows us exactly what we're facing. He wrote, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. The rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance and sin with which the earth abounds, darkness. Darkness is the emblem of ignorance, misery and sin And no description could be more accurate than that of representing these malignant spirits as ruling over a dark world. The earth, dark and wretched and ignorant and sinful, is just such a dominion as they would choose or as they would cause. And the degradation and woe of the heathen world are just such as foul and malignant spirits would delight in.

[John Weaver] It is a wide and powerful empire. Listen to this. It has been consolidated through the ages. It is sustained by all authority of law, by all the omnipotence of the perverted religious principle, by all the reverence for antiquity, by all the power of selfish, corrupt, and base passions. No empire has ever been so extended or has continued so long as that empire of darkness, and nothing on earth is so difficult to destroy.

[John Weaver] Yet the apostle says that it was on that kingdom that we are to make war. Against that, the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set up, and that was to be overcome by the spiritual weapons which he specifies. When he speaks of the Christian warfare here, he refers to the contest with the powers of this dark kingdom. He regards each and every Christian as a soldier to wage war on it in whatever way he could and wherever he could attack it. The contest, therefore, was not primarily with men or with the internal corrupt propensities of the soul. It was with this vast and dark kingdom that has been set up over mankind. I do not regard this passage, therefore, as having a primary reference to the struggle which a Christian maintains with his own corrupt propensities. It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Yet in maintaining the warfare, the struggle will be with such portions of that kingdom as we come in contact with and will actually relate."

[John Weaver] And then he gives five things, five areas in which this kingdom of darkness actually relates. Listen carefully. Number one, to our own sinful propensities which are part of the kingdom of darkness. So he said it doesn't relate primarily to that, but it does include it. Number two, with the evil passions of others, their pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge, which are also part of that kingdom. Number three, with the evil customs, laws, opinions, employments, and pleasures of the world, which are also a part of that dark kingdom. Fourthly, with error, superstition, false doctrine, which are also a part of that Kingdom. And fifthly, with the wickedness of the heathen world, the sins of the benighted nations, also a part of that Kingdom. Whenever we come in contact with evil, whether in our own hearts or elsewhere, there we are to make war. Isn't that interesting? There we are to make war.

[John Weaver] I want to point something out. Go back to verse 12 in Ephesians chapter 6. He says, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. I mentioned earlier warfare was just simply with flesh and blood that would be very simple and very easy. But now we are talking about principalities. We are talking about powers. We are talking about things we can't see. Wow! But let me show you something. I want you to turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2 and then we'll go back to Ephesians 1. But look in Colossians 2 This is part of the work of Jesus Christ. Note, if you would, please, Colossians 2 and verse 15. Here's what Jesus Christ has done. And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Having spoiled, literally, having disarmed them He made an example of them and was elevated far above them.

[John Weaver] So while we are thinking about principalities and powers, we have to understand that they are already defeated enemies. And if you will turn back to Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1, look if you would please at verses 20 and 21 because here we are talking about the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1 verse 20, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

[John Weaver] Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come. So Jesus Christ has defeated and has exposed and disarmed every principality, every power, every dominion. And when he arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, he was elevated above and over all of these principalities and powers. So we have to acknowledge that while they are still strong, they're also defeated because Jesus Christ defeated them.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to Ephesians chapter six. I want you to understand that it is only in Jesus Christ then that we have victory.

[John Weaver] Now, if you were to ask me, how do we fight the battle? What equipment do we use? My answer is going to be, those questions are answered in verses 13 down through 18, which we will probably look at more next week. Want you to look at verse 13 again? He says again wherefore taken to you the whole armor of God Notice if you would taken you the whole armor of God Alice take this please taken to you the whole armor of God note if you would please Put it on That you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand in Now, of course, he repeats from verse 11, put on the whole armor of God.

[John Weaver] And I've told you that both of these are imperatives. But here's what I want you to see in verse 13. He tells us to take in ourselves a whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day. The word withstand literally means to resist, to oppose, to counter, So if James threw a left hook at me, I can block with this hand and counter with this. That's what the word means to resist. It means to fight. It means to oppose. So he tells us in verse 13 that we need to take the whole armor of God that we may be able to fight and to oppose in the evil day. Now, let me deal with the word able. Look at it. He said, wherefore taking the whole armor of God that you may be able. The word here for able is the word dunamai, which comes from dunamis. It is where we get our English word dynamite. It means to have the ability, to have the power, to have the strength.

[John Weaver] So he said we have to take in ourselves the whole armor of God that we may be able, that we may have the dynamite of God, the power of God. You remember what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1 in verse 16? He said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to everyone that believeth. And the word power is the word dunamis, dynamite. It is the dynamite of God. So he tells us we have to have this armor in order that we would be able stand." Okay? Now watch this. Boy, I like this next verse, or this next part. Watch it if you would please. He said, wherefore taking you to the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. Let me deal with evil first. When you get to the Greek text there are two Greek words for evil. The first one is kakos, K-A-K-O-S.

[John Weaver] And it just simply means that which is evil, more really and truly that which is bad, that which is worthless, that which is faulty. I mean it's just a word for something that is bad. But the second word is Pane Ross. And the word Pane Ross indicates something that is positively evil, wicked, and vile. Let me show you. It is translated in our Bibles 51 times as wicked 10 times as the wicked one six times As well as well as the wicked one and two times as evil things so it's just translated as wicked 10 times wicked one six times and then also evil things two times But any time you see the word Ponti Ross it refers to that which is inherently sinful, wicked, and evil in and of itself.

[John Weaver] You remember that passage in Luke chapter 11 where the disciples came to our Lord and said, teach us to pray. He said, okay. you pray say, Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

[John Weaver] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." The word evil is Pane Ross. When you put a death in an article, how Pane Ross? It refers to the evil one. So when you read that prayer is asking not only for deliverance from the evil one it is asking for deliverance from that which is positively wicked vile corrupt and contrary to God ah When you go back to verse 13 wherefore taking you the whole armor of God that you may be able have the power to withstand that is to fight and oppose in the wicked vile Day, it's not just something bad. It's something exceedingly wicked. Oh You talking about living in wicked days We are now watch this if you would please he says in verse 13, we're for taking you the whole armor of God and that you may be able to fight, resist, oppose, counter in the wicked vile day and having done all to stand. Stanai is the Greek word for stand. It means to stand as a victor in the contest.

[John Weaver] So here Steve and I, we've agreed to fight each other. We're not mad at each other. We just want to fight so we get our ring on and our ring made we get our boxing gloves on everybody's invited to come and watch and We start boxing And I come up with a right hook and I just knock him out Or he comes up with a haymaker and knocks me

[John Weaver] out doesn't matter One of us goes to the floor What does the victor do? He stands He stands. That's exactly what this word means. Look at verse 13 again now, watch this carefully. Wherefore taking you the whole armor of God, why? That you may have the power and the ability to fight and counter in the wicked day and having done all to stand victoriously. Stand as the victor, having your foe defeated, having your foe destroyed. You are the one who is the winner and the victor. Wow. And it doesn't matter how many the foes are. It doesn't matter how numerous they are. It doesn't matter how powerful they are. God says if we stand in his whole armor and we fight, we will end up standing victoriously over our defeated foes.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to read something to you. And I want you to listen very carefully. If you have never read Pilgrim's Progress, I would encourage you to read it. If you've read it, but it's been a long time ago, please read it again. I remember the very first time I ever read Pilgrim's Progress. I even remember where I was. I remember what time it was when I finished it. I was preaching in Birmingham, Alabama and I was staying in the basement of a private home and I finished reading that book at midnight.

[John Weaver] And when Christian got over that river and got into the Celestial City I was just overcome with emotion and I started shouting. And I woke the people up that were upstairs. It is a tremendous book. You should read it to your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren. It is just It is the book that is second only to the Bible in sales. More people have bought Pilgrim's Progress than any other book outside of the Bible. Doesn't mean they read it, but they bought it. Unhappily, a lot of people do not read what they buy, but you should read it. But I just want to read this one section where Christian meets Apollyon, the devil, Satan. I want you to listen carefully. But now in this valley of humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it.

[John Weaver] For he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming with a field to meet him. His name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armor for his back. therefore thought to turn the back to him might give him the greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts. Therefore he resolved to venture to stand his ground, for thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way is to stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him.

[John Weaver] Now the monster was hideous to behold. He was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride. He had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly came forth fire and smoke, and his mouth was the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question him. Apollyon, whence come you, and whither are you bound? Christian, I am come from the city of destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the city of Zion. Apollyon.

[John Weaver] By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects. For all that country is mine, and I am the prince and the god of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I had hope that thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground. Christian, I was born indeed in your dominion, but your service was hard.

[John Weaver] And your wages, such as a man could not live on, for the wages of sin is death. Therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other considered persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself. Apollyon, there is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I yet lose thee. But since thou complainest of my service and wages, be content, go back. What our country will afford, I do hereby promise to give thee." But I've let myself to another even to the king of princes. How can I with fairness go back? Apollyon thou has done in this according the proverb changed a bad for worse But it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves to be servants after a while to give him the slip And return to me again do thou so also and all shall be well Christian I've given him my faith

[John Weaver] and sworn my allegiance to him. How then can I go back from this and not be hanged as a traitor? Apollyon found it's the same to me and yet I'm willing to pass by all if now that will turn and go back again Christian what I promised he was in my non age. I And besides, I count the prince under whose banner now I stand is able to absolve me.

[John Weaver] Yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee. And besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country better than thine, and therefore leave off to persuade me further. I am his servant, and I will follow him. Apollyon, Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me in my ways.

[John Weaver] How many of them have been put to shameful deaths? And besides, thou countest his service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from that place where he is to deliver any that served him out of their hands. But as for me, How many times is all the world very well knows that I have delivered either by power or fraud? Those that have faithfully served me from him and his though taken by them and so will I deliver thee Christian His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try their love, for they will cleave to him to the end. And as for the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their account.

[John Weaver] For for present deliverance they do not much expect it, for they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it when their prince comes with his and the glory of his angels. Apollyon. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and how dost thou expect to receive wages of him? Christian, wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him? Now listen, Apollyon, thou didst fain at first setting out, when thou wast almost choked in the gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy prince had taken it off. Thou did sinfully sleep and lose thy choice thing thou was also almost Persuaded to go back at the sight of the Lions and when thou talkest of thy journey And what thou has heard and seen thou art inwardly desirous of vain glory and all that thou sayest or doest Christian All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out. But the prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive.

[John Weaver] But besides, these infirmities possess me in thy country. Therefore I suck them in, and I've groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my prince, Apollyon. Then Apollyon broke into a grievous rage, saying, I am the enemy to this prince. I hate this person, his laws, and people. I am come out on purpose to withstand thee. Christian Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the king's highway, the way of holiness. Therefore, take heed of yourself. Apollyon then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way and said I'm void of fear in this matter prepare thyself to die for I swear by my Infernal den that thou shalt go no further here while I spill my soul And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast. But Christian had a shield in his hand with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that. Then did Christian draw, for he thought it was time to besmirch himself. And Apollyon as fast mated him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by the which notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it.

[John Weaver] Apollyon wounded him in the head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give back a little. Apollyon, therefore, followed his work of Maine, and Christian again took courage and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above a half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent. For you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and weaker. Then Apollyon, aspiring his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall, and with that Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now, and with that he almost pressed him to death. So the Christian began to despair of life.

[John Weaver] but as God would have it. While Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a fool into this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword and caught it, saying, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy. When I fall, I shall rise again. And with that, he gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian, perceiving that, mated him again, saying, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped away, that Christian, for a season, saw him no more. In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen it and heard it as I did. What yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the fight. He spake like a dragon and on the other side what sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look. Till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword.

[John Weaver] Then indeed he did smile and look upward. But it was a dreadful sight that I ever saw. more unequal match can hardly be Christian must fight an angel you see the valiant man by handling sword and shield does make him go a dragon quit the field so when the battle was over Christian said I will hear give thanks to him that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion to him that did help me against Apollyon now you're talking about a fight Here is a picture of a spiritual fight that we cannot ignore. Here is a man that conquered in the name of Christ, through the power of Christ, although he was severely wounded, and although he was severely discouraged. And yet through faith he caught the sword again and plunged it into the heart of Apollyon. The point I'm trying to make right now is this.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able, that you may have the power, that you may have the strength to fight in the wicked day, and having done all, stand victoriously. We have to learn that we have no strength of our own. We have to learn that all of our strength is in our God. That He is omnipotent. This is the confidence that we have.

[John Weaver] This is what is to encourage us and to keep us going. This is the beginning of spiritual strength when we see how helpless we are and how glorious and how powerful He really is. When we understand if we use the means that God has ordained and He blesses those means and makes them effectual we cannot fail. We will always be left standing victorious on the battlefield because His victory is our victory.

[John Weaver] He's already defeated our enemies and we just stand in Him. Success in the Christian life, I do not care where you are in your Christian life, but success in the Christian life depends upon the power of God and not in your strength. The same God that preserves us gives us grace to persevere. The same God that calls us enables us to come to him. The same God that commands us to pray gives us a praying heart. The same God that commands us to study gives us the desire to study.

[John Weaver] Everything that we have is in him and through him and for him. So the question has to be asked. What equipment do we need What is our armor? And how will we fight? And my answer is. You will have to be here next week at the same time in the same channel to find out exactly what God commands. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and kindness.

[John Weaver] Help us to love thee, Lord. Help us to fight. Help us to have on the armor of God. Help us to stand strong in the power of God, giving honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great victor, who has already given us deliverance. Help us to praise thee and honor thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. ♪ ♪ ♪ you

Be Strong - Part 1 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	4eRmCyrzWNs
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-06-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 175: Be Strong — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	68

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Universal Desire for Strength

Weaver opens by noting that everyone desires strength, especially physical strength, but physical strength declines with age, as illustrated by Barzillai and Moses.

Looking at Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10, the scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

One simple verse:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

I want to begin today a brief series on the subject, "Be Strong." Have you ever experienced a desire to be strong? That really and truly is a facetious question, because everyone basically wants to be strong, especially every young man. And who desires to be strong? If not, he certainly desires to be muscle-bound, so to speak. And strength training is very popular today, and it really doesn't matter who you are, male or female, or how old you are; a lot of people still engage in what we know as strength training. Regardless of how old an individual is, they still desire strength as well. One of the confessions, if not one of the complaints, of the elderly is that they have no strength and can no longer do on a regular basis that which they used to do.

A good example is Barzillai. You remember when Absalom had rebelled against David and David had to leave Jerusalem? Barzillai supported David and his men. And so when David was returning to Jerusalem, he invited Barzillai to come back and be sustained by the king. And so Barzillai answered him in 2 Samuel chapter 19, verses 34 and 35, and he said this:

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 19:34-35

"And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore, that is 80 years old, and can I discern between good and evil?" "Can my servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should my servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?"

He is saying, "Look, I'm slipping. I'm 80 years of age. I can't really discern like I used to. I can't taste. I can't smell. I can't hear. And all I would be is just simply a burden, and I don't want to go there and be that burden." Well, Moses himself said in Psalm 90 and verse 10, "The days of our years are threescore and ten, 70, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, that's 80, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

So he said, once you make it past 70, and if you do make it to 80, you are going downhill, so to speak. Well, we understand that. One of the factors of old age is that we lose our strength in a physical sense. But that does not mean that we have to lose our spiritual strength. There is a vast difference. And the truth of the matter is, the older we get in the Lord, the more spiritual strength we should have.

Spiritual Strength vs. Physical Strength

While physical strength wanes, spiritual strength can increase with age; David and Psalm 92 show that the righteous can flourish and bear fruit in old age.

It was David who made this prayer in Psalm 71 in verse 18. He said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 71:18

"Now also, O Lord, when I am old and grayheaded, listen, O God, forsake me not until I have showed this generation thy strength and thy power to everyone that is to come."

So he said, "I'm old and grayheaded, but God, don't forsake me until I have showed your power and your strength to this generation." We also have to remember in Psalm 92, verses 13 and 14, the Bible says, "They that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age." "They shall be fat and flourishing." So there's a vast difference now between physical strength and spiritual strength. And being older does not necessarily relate to weakness in every area, neither does it involve impotency and powerlessness in every area. While we cannot do some of the things that we used to be able to do, at least now through wisdom and knowledge we can get a lot of that accomplished without the strength of youth.

Strength Connected to Obedience

Using Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9, Weaver demonstrates that biblical strength is tied to keeping God's commandments; obedience is the pathway to being strong.

But here is what I want you to learn, and here is what I want you to see right now. Spiritual strength, according to the Bible, is connected indivisibly with obedience. I want you to look. Hold Ephesians chapter 6; we are certainly coming back there. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 11 at verses 8 and 9. Deuteronomy 11:8 and 9. From there we'll go to Joshua chapter 1. Note, if you would please, Deuteronomy 11, beginning there with verse 8: real strength is related to obedience. Deuteronomy 11 verse 8, God says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"Therefore shall you keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land whither you go to possess it."

Note, if you would, watch carefully,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to give unto them and to their seed a land that floweth with milk and honey."

So He says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"that you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day."

Why? "That you may be strong, and that you may prolong your days." Now, if you will look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 1, and notice, if you would please, what God tells Joshua beginning there with verse 5. Notice, if you would please, how strength is still connected with obedience. Joshua chapter 1, notice, if you would please, verse 5. God tells Joshua,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5-9

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Now watch, "Be strong and of a good courage. For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swear to their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, then shalt thou have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong, and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest." Interestingly, in this short passage, three times God commanded Joshua to be strong. Now, it is impossible to be strong in the Lord without obedience.

The New Testament Commands to Be Strong

Only three New Testament passages command believers to be strong: 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, and 2 Timothy 2:1; all use military terminology.

I could look at Lorraine and I could ask and say, "Lorraine, would you please get me a glass of water?" That's the question I'm asking her. But if I looked at her and I said, "Lorraine, get up and get me a glass of water," that's a command. Now, Steve wouldn't like that, and she probably wouldn't either. But that's the difference between a question and a command. A command is when God just issues it and says, "This is what you do." No ifs, ands, and buts. Just that simple.

Now, I want you to look at the three times. We've already looked at one; I'll just quote it, Ephesians 6. But if you will turn in your Bibles first to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16, then we are going to go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And as we go to 2 Timothy, I will quote Ephesians 6 again, because that is the three times that we are commanded in the New Testament to be strong. So, notice if you would in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13, notice what the Bible says:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

And then of course Ephesians 6 and verse 10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might." And then in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, Paul says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." So three times we are commanded to be strong. Now, if you will turn back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13, I want you to note this: that all the terms in this verse are military terms.

You are also going to find that all the terms in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10-18, are military terms as well. That is, they relate to war and to the military.

Acknowledging Our Weakness and God's Power

Spiritual strength begins with recognizing our own helplessness; Paul's thorn in the flesh teaches that God's strength is perfected in our weakness.

Now, let me put it to you like this. The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are. That is the beginning. Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh. And he besought the Lord three times for that thorn to be removed. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9, Paul said that God said to him, "My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness." And then Paul added this, "Therefore will I glory in my weakness and in my infirmities." Why?

"That the power of Christ may rest upon me." So Paul is saying that when I realize how helpless and powerless I am, then God is ready to use me. As long as we think we can, we cannot. As long as we think we're able, we are unable. When we reach the conclusion and reach the truth that we are helpless and powerless and unable in and of ourselves, then we are ready to be used by God.

The Nature of Our Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness; Albert Barnes' commentary expands on this cosmic conflict.

So God commands us to put on the whole armor of God. Now, He explains why we need this whole armor of God in verse 12. Look in verse 12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." So Paul is not telling us that our battle is not against man. Certainly it is against man in one sense of the word. But what Paul is telling us is this: the real battle is against those powers that are beyond and behind wicked men. It's those powers that support them. If this was just simply a flesh and blood battle, it would be easy in one sense of the word. But it's not a flesh and blood battle. Flesh and blood just happens to be what we see. It's what we cannot see that is the real motivating cause behind the enemy. And Paul identifies these enemies as principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Now, I want to give you what Albert Barnes said on this verse because to me, it explains it so plainly, so simply, so easily. I want you to listen because he shows us exactly what we're facing. He wrote: "Against the rulers of the darkness of this world. The rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance and sin with which the earth abounds, darkness. Darkness is the emblem of ignorance, misery, and sin. And no description could be more accurate than that of representing these malignant spirits as ruling over a dark world. The earth, dark and wretched and ignorant and sinful, is just such a dominion as they would choose or as they would cause. And the degradation and woe of the heathen world are just such as foul and malignant spirits would delight in."

"It is a wide and powerful empire. Listen to this. It has been consolidated through the ages. It is sustained by all authority of law, by all the omnipotence of the perverted religious principle, by all the reverence for antiquity, by all the power of selfish, corrupt, and base passions. No empire has ever been so extended or has continued so long as that empire of darkness, and nothing on earth is so difficult to destroy." "Yet the apostle says that it was on that kingdom that we are to make war. Against that, the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set up, and that was to be overcome by the spiritual weapons which he specifies. When he speaks of the Christian warfare here, he refers to the contest with the powers of this dark kingdom. He regards each and every Christian as a soldier to wage war on it in whatever way he could and wherever he could attack it. The contest, therefore, was not primarily with men or with the internal corrupt propensities of the soul. It was with this vast and dark kingdom that has been set up over mankind. I do not regard this passage, therefore, as having a primary reference to the struggle which a Christian maintains with his own corrupt propensities. It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Yet in maintaining the warfare, the struggle will be with such portions of that kingdom as we come in contact with and will actually relate."

And then he gives five things, five areas in which this kingdom of darkness actually relates. Listen carefully. Number one, to our own sinful propensities, which are part of the kingdom of darkness. So he said it doesn't relate primarily to that, but it does include it. Number two, with the evil passions of others, their pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge, which are also part of that kingdom. Number three, with the evil customs, laws, opinions, employments, and pleasures of the world, which are also a part of that dark kingdom. Fourthly, with error, superstition, false doctrine, which are also a part of that kingdom. And fifthly, with the wickedness of the heathen world, the sins of the benighted nations, also a part of that kingdom. Whenever we come in contact with evil, whether in our own hearts or elsewhere, there we are to make war. Isn't that interesting? There we are to make war.

I want to point something out. Go back to verse 12 in Ephesians chapter 6. He says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." I mentioned earlier, if warfare was just simply with flesh and blood, that would be very simple and very easy. But now we are talking about principalities. We are talking about powers. We are talking about things we can't see. Wow! But let me show you something. I want you to turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2, and then we'll go back to Ephesians 1. But look in Colossians 2. This is part of the work of Jesus Christ. Note, if you would, please, Colossians 2 and verse 15. Here's what Jesus Christ has done: "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Having spoiled, literally, having disarmed them, He made an example of them and was elevated far above them.

Christ's Victory Over Principalities and Powers

Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 show that Jesus has already disarmed and triumphed over all spiritual powers; our victory is in Him.

So while we are thinking about principalities and powers, we have to understand that they are already defeated enemies. And if you will turn back to Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1, look if you would please at verses 20 and 21, because here we are talking about the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1 verse 20:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:20-21

"Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." "Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come."

So Jesus Christ has defeated and has exposed and disarmed every principality, every power, every dominion. And when he arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, he was elevated above and over all of these principalities and powers. So we have to acknowledge that while they are still strong, they're also defeated because Jesus Christ defeated them.

Now, I want you to go back to Ephesians chapter six. I want you to understand that it is only in Jesus Christ then that we have victory.

The Whole Armor of God and Standing Victorious

Ephesians 6:13 commands believers to take up the full armor of God to withstand in the evil day and stand as victors; the Greek word 'histemi' means to stand as a conqueror.

And I've told you that both of these are imperatives. But here's what I want you to see in verse 13. He tells us to take unto ourselves the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day. The word "withstand" literally means to resist, to oppose, to counter. So if James threw a left hook at me, I can block with this hand and counter with this. That's what the word means: to resist. It means to fight. It means to oppose. So he tells us in verse 13 that we need to take the whole armor of God that we may be able to fight and to oppose in the evil day. Now, let me deal with the word "able." Look at it. He said, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able." The word here for "able" is the word "dunamai," which comes from "dunamis." It is where we get our English word "dynamite." It means to have the ability, to have the power, to have the strength.

So he said we have to take unto ourselves the whole armor of God that we may be able, that we may have the dynamite of God, the power of God. You remember what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1 in verse 16? He said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to everyone that believeth."

And the word "power" is the word "dunamis," dynamite. It is the dynamite of God. So he tells us we have to have this armor in order that we would be able to stand. Okay? Now watch this. Boy, I like this next verse, or this next part. Watch it, if you would please. He said, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day." Let me deal with "evil" first. When you get to the Greek text, there are two Greek words for evil. The first one is "kakos," K-A-K-O-S.

And it just simply means that which is evil, more really and truly that which is bad, that which is worthless, that which is faulty. I mean, it's just a word for something that is bad. But the second word is "poneros." And the word "poneros" indicates something that is positively evil, wicked, and vile. Let me show you. It is translated in our Bibles 51 times as "wicked," 10 times as "the wicked one," six times as well as "the wicked one," and two times as "evil things." So it's just translated as "wicked" 51 times, "wicked one" 10 times, and then also "evil things" two times. But any time you see the word "poneros," it refers to that which is inherently sinful, wicked, and evil in and of itself. You remember that passage in Luke chapter 11 where the disciples came to our Lord and said, "Teach us to pray." He said, "Okay. When you pray, say, 'Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.'"

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." The word "evil" is "poneros." When you put a definite article, "ho poneros," it refers to the evil one. So when you read that prayer, it is asking not only for deliverance from the evil one, it is asking for deliverance from that which is positively wicked, vile, corrupt, and contrary to God. Ah! When you go back to verse 13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able, have the power, to withstand, that is to fight and oppose, in the wicked, vile day." It's not just something bad. It's something exceedingly wicked. Oh, you talking about living in wicked days? We are. Now watch this, if you would please. He says in verse 13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to fight, resist, oppose, counter in the wicked, vile day, and having done all, to stand." "Histemi" is the Greek word for "stand." It means to stand as a victor in the contest.

So here Steve and I, we've agreed to fight each other. We're not mad at each other. We just want to fight, so we get our ring on and our ring made, we get our boxing gloves on, everybody's invited to come and watch, and we start boxing. And I come up with a right hook and I just knock him out. Or he comes up with a haymaker and knocks me out. Doesn't matter. One of us goes to the floor. What does the victor do? He stands. He stands. That's exactly what this word means.

Look at verse 13 again now, watch this carefully. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God," why? "That you may have the power and the ability to fight and counter in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand victoriously." Stand as the victor, having your foe defeated, having your foe destroyed. You are the one who is the winner and the victor. Wow. And it doesn't matter how many the foes are. It doesn't matter how numerous they are. It doesn't matter how powerful they are. God says if we stand in his whole armor and we fight, we will end up standing victoriously over our defeated foes.

Illustration from Pilgrim's Progress

Weaver reads the account of Christian's battle with Apollyon to illustrate spiritual warfare, perseverance, and victory through Christ's power.

And when Christian got over that river and got into the Celestial City, I was just overcome with emotion and I started shouting. And I woke the people up that were upstairs. It is a tremendous book. You should read it to your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren. It is just—it is the book that is second only to the Bible in sales. More people have bought Pilgrim's Progress than any other book outside of the Bible. Doesn't mean they read it, but they bought it. Unhappily, a lot of people do not read what they buy, but you should read it. But I just want to read this one section where Christian meets Apollyon, the devil, Satan. I want you to listen carefully. "But now in this valley of humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it."

"For he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming with a field to meet him. His name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armor for his back. Therefore thought to turn the back to him might give him the greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts. Therefore he resolved to venture to stand his ground, for thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way is to stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him."

"Now the monster was hideous to behold. He was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride. He had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly came forth fire and smoke, and his mouth was the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question him. Apollyon: 'Whence come you, and whither are you bound?' Christian: 'I am come from the city of destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the city of Zion.' Apollyon:" "'By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects. For all that country is mine, and I am the prince and the god of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I had hope that thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground.' Christian: 'I was born indeed in your dominion, but your service was hard.'"

"'And your wages, such as a man could not live on, for the wages of sin is death. Therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other considered persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself.' Apollyon: 'There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I yet lose thee. But since thou complainest of my service and wages, be content, go back. What our country will afford, I do hereby promise to give thee.' 'But I've let myself to another, even to the king of princes. How can I with fairness go back?' Apollyon: 'Thou has done in this according the proverb, changed a bad for worse. But it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves to be servants after a while to give him the slip and return to me again. Do thou so also, and all shall be well.' Christian: 'I've given him my faith'"

"'and sworn my allegiance to him. How then can I go back from this and not be hanged as a traitor?' Apollyon: 'Thou didst the same to me, and yet I'm willing to pass by all if now that will turn and go back again.' Christian: 'What I promised thee was in my nonage. And besides, I count the prince under whose banner now I stand is able to absolve me.'" "'Yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee. And besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country better than thine, and therefore leave off to persuade me further. I am his servant, and I will follow him.' Apollyon: 'Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me in my ways.'"

"'How many of them have been put to shameful deaths? And besides, thou countest his service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from that place where he is to deliver any that served him out of their hands. But as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that have faithfully served me from him and his, though taken by them, and so will I deliver thee.' Christian: 'His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try their love, for they will cleave to him to the end. And as for the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their account.'" "'For for present deliverance they do not much expect it, for they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it when their prince comes with his and the glory of his angels.' Apollyon: 'Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and how dost thou expect to receive wages of him?' Christian: 'Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him?' Now listen, Apollyon: 'Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost choked in the gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy prince had taken it off. Thou did sinfully sleep and lose thy choice thing. Thou was also almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. And when thou talkest of thy journey and what thou has heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous of vain glory in all that thou sayest or doest.' Christian: 'All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out. But the prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive.'"

"'But besides, these infirmities possess me in thy country. Therefore I suck them in, and I've groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my prince.' Apollyon: Then Apollyon broke into a grievous rage, saying, 'I am the enemy to this prince. I hate this person, his laws, and people. I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.' Christian: 'Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the king's highway, the way of holiness. Therefore, take heed of yourself.' Apollyon: Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way and said, 'I'm void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die, for I swear by my infernal den that thou shalt go no further here while I spill my soul.' And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast. But Christian had a shield in his hand with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that. Then did Christian draw, for he thought it was time to bestir himself. And Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it,"

"Apollyon wounded him in the head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give back a little. Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian again took courage and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above a half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent. For you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and weaker. Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall, and with that Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, 'I am sure of thee now,' and with that he almost pressed him to death. So the Christian began to despair of life."

"But as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword and caught it, saying, 'Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy. When I fall, I shall rise again.' And with that, he gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian, perceiving that, made at him again, saying, 'Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.' And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped away, that Christian, for a season, saw him no more. In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen it and heard it as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the fight. He spake like a dragon, and on the other side what sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword."

"Then indeed he did smile and look upward. But it was a dreadful sight that I ever saw. A more unequal match can hardly be: Christian must fight an angel. You see the valiant man by handling sword and shield does make him go; a dragon quit the field. So when the battle was over, Christian said, 'I will here give thanks to him that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, to him that did help me against Apollyon.'" Now you're talking about a fight. Here is a picture of a spiritual fight that we cannot ignore. Here is a man that conquered in the name of Christ, through the power of Christ, although he was severely wounded, and although he was severely discouraged. And yet through faith he caught the sword again and plunged it into the heart of Apollyon. The point I'm trying to make right now is this.

Conclusion: Dependence on God for All Strength

Success in the Christian life depends entirely on God's power; He provides the means and the grace to persevere, and we must trust Him to make those means effectual.

"Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able, that you may have the power, that you may have the strength to fight in the wicked day, and having done all, stand victoriously." We have to learn that we have no strength of our own. We have to learn that all of our strength is in our God. That He is omnipotent. This is the confidence that we have. This is what is to encourage us and to keep us going. This is the beginning of spiritual strength: when we see how helpless we are and how glorious and how powerful He really is. When we understand if we use the means that God has ordained and He blesses those means and makes them effectual, we cannot fail. We will always be left standing victorious on the battlefield because His victory is our victory.

He's already defeated our enemies and we just stand in Him. Success in the Christian life—I do not care where you are in your Christian life—but success in the Christian life depends upon the power of God and not in your strength. The same God that preserves us gives us grace to persevere. The same God that calls us enables us to come to him. The same God that commands us to pray gives us a praying heart. The same God that commands us to study gives us the desire to study. Everything that we have is in him and through him and for him. So the question has to be asked: What equipment do we need? What is our armor? And how will we fight? And my answer is: You will have to be here next week at the same time in the same channel to find out exactly what God commands. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and kindness.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Spiritual Strength vs. Physical Strength

Summary: Physical strength declines with age, but spiritual strength can and should increase as believers grow older in the Lord.

Evidence: Weaver contrasts Barzillai's physical decline at 80 with David's prayer in Psalm 71:18 to show God's strength in old age, and cites Psalm 92:13-14 about flourishing in old age.

Obedience as the Foundation of Strength

Summary: True spiritual strength is inseparably linked to obedience to God's commandments; keeping God's Word is the path to being strong.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9 are cited to show that God commands obedience 'that you may be strong'; Joshua is told three times to be strong in connection with obeying the law.

Human Weakness and Divine Power

Summary: Believers must acknowledge their own powerlessness; God's strength is made perfect in weakness, and only when we recognize our helplessness are we ready to be used by God.

Evidence: Weaver references John 15:5 ('without me you can do nothing'), Philippians 4:13, and 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul glories in weakness so that Christ's power may rest on him.

Spiritual Warfare Against Dark Powers

Summary: The Christian's battle is not against human opponents but against a highly organized kingdom of spiritual darkness; this warfare requires God's armor and power.

Evidence: Ephesians 6:12 is expounded with Albert Barnes' commentary describing the empire of darkness and the five areas of conflict, including internal sin and external evil systems.

Christ's Victory as the Basis for Our Victory

Summary: Jesus Christ has already defeated and disarmed all principalities and powers; believers stand in His victory and are more than conquerors through Him.

Evidence: Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited to show Christ's triumph and exaltation above all powers; the Pilgrim's Progress illustration ends with Christian quoting Romans 8:37.

The Necessity of the Whole Armor of God

Summary: To withstand in the evil day and stand victorious, believers must put on the full armor of God; partial armor is insufficient for the spiritual battle.

Evidence: Ephesians 6:11 and 6:13 are both imperatives commanding believers to take up the 'panoplia' (whole armor) of God; the armor is detailed in verses 14-18.

Key Arguments

Strength is Commanded, Not Optional

Summary: The command to 'be strong' appears as an imperative in the New Testament, indicating it is a divine order, not a suggestion.

Evidence: Weaver explains the imperative mood in Greek and lists the three NT commands: 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, and 2 Timothy 2:1.

Obedience Precedes Strength

Summary: One cannot be strong in the Lord without obedience; the Word of God is the 'canon' or measuring stick for obedience, and walking by it brings peace and strength.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9 are used to show the direct link; Galatians 6:16 is cited with the Greek word 'kanon' meaning rule or standard.

Self-Sufficiency is a Barrier to God's Power

Summary: As long as we think we are able, we are unable; spiritual strength begins when we realize our complete helplessness and depend on God's omnipotence.

Evidence: Paul's thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:9) and the statement 'when I am weak, then am I strong' are used to argue that God's power is perfected in acknowledged weakness.

The Battle is Spiritual, Not Physical

Summary: The real enemy is not flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of darkness; therefore, natural strength is useless, and spiritual weapons are required.

Evidence: Ephesians 6:12 is analyzed with the Greek terms for principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness; Barnes' commentary expands on the nature of this dark kingdom.

Victory is Assured in Christ

Summary: Because Christ has already defeated all spiritual enemies, believers who put on God's armor and fight in His power will ultimately stand victorious.

Evidence: Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited; the Greek word 'histemi' in Ephesians 6:13 is explained as standing as a victor over defeated foes.

Means Must Be Accompanied by Divine Blessing

Summary: God ordains means (like the armor of God), but those means are effectual only when He blesses them; we must trust Him to empower our use of His provisions.

Evidence: The example of David and Goliath is used: David used a sling (means) but trusted God to direct the stone; Proverbs 23:13-14 on child discipline is similarly explained.

Scripture References

Ephesians 6:10

Context: The foundational verse for the series: 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.'

2 Samuel 19:34-35

Context: Barzillai's confession of physical decline at age 80, used to illustrate the loss of physical strength in old age.

Psalm 90:10

Context: Moses' statement that the days of our years are seventy, or eighty by reason of strength, yet their strength is labor and sorrow.

Psalm 71:18

Context: David's prayer to declare God's strength to the next generation even when old and grayheaded.

Psalm 92:13-14

Context: The righteous shall flourish and bring forth fruit in old age, showing spiritual vitality does not diminish with age.

Deuteronomy 11:8-9

Context: God commands Israel to keep all His commandments that they may be strong and prolong their days in the land.

Joshua 1:5-9

Context: God commands Joshua three times to be strong and courageous, linking strength to meditating on and obeying the law.

Galatians 6:16

Context: Peace and mercy are upon those who walk according to this rule (kanon), the measuring stick of God's Word.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Context: One of the three NT commands to be strong; uses military terms: watch, stand fast, quit you like men, be strong.

2 Timothy 2:1

Context: Paul commands Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Samuel 2:9

Context: By strength shall no man prevail; human strength is insufficient for spiritual victory.

John 15:5

Context: Without Christ we can do nothing, emphasizing total dependence on Him for spiritual strength.

Philippians 4:13

Context: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; our ability comes from His enabling power.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Context: God's grace is sufficient; His strength is made perfect in weakness, so Paul glories in his infirmities.

Psalm 62:11

Context: Power belongs to God; He is the source of all strength.

Proverbs 23:13-14

Context: Used as an example of means (discipline) that must be blessed by God to be effectual for salvation.

1 Samuel 17

Context: David's victory over Goliath illustrates using means (sling) while trusting God to empower and direct.

Colossians 2:15

Context: Christ spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly and triumphing over them.

Ephesians 1:20-21

Context: Christ is seated far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, both in this age and the age to come.

Romans 1:16

Context: The gospel is the power (dunamis) of God unto salvation; the same dynamite power is available for spiritual warfare.

Historical References

Barzillai the Gileadite

Context: An 80-year-old man who supported David during Absalom's rebellion; his physical decline is used to illustrate the loss of strength in old age.

Albert Barnes' Commentary on Ephesians 6:12

Context: Weaver quotes Barnes' description of the rulers of the darkness of this world and the five areas of conflict in spiritual warfare.

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Context: The battle between Christian and Apollyon is read at length to illustrate spiritual warfare, perseverance, and victory through Christ.

Important Quotes

Spiritual strength, according to the Bible, is connected indivisibly with obedience.

Significance: This is the central thesis linking the Old Testament commands to be strong with the necessity of obeying God's Word.

The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are.

Significance: Summarizes the counterintuitive principle that strength comes through acknowledging weakness, a key argument of the sermon.

As long as we think we can, we cannot. As long as we think we're able, we are unable. When we reach the conclusion and reach the truth that we are helpless and powerless and unable in and of ourselves, then we are ready to be used by God.

Significance: A forceful statement of the necessity of total dependence on God for spiritual effectiveness.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Significance: The key verse defining the nature of the Christian's spiritual warfare, directly quoted from Ephesians 6:12.

Success in the Christian life depends upon the power of God and not in your strength.

Significance: A concise summary of the sermon's main point: all spiritual success comes from God's power, not human effort.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical connection between obedience and strength challenge the way we typically think about spiritual growth?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that strength is indivisibly connected to obedience, using Deuteronomy 11 and Joshua 1.

In what areas of your life do you tend to rely on your own strength rather than acknowledging your weakness and depending on God's power?

Context: The sermon stresses that spiritual strength begins with recognizing our helplessness, citing 2 Corinthians 12:9.

How does understanding that our battle is against spiritual forces of darkness change the way we approach conflicts and challenges in daily life?

Context: Ephesians 6:12 is expounded to show the real enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness.

What does it mean practically to 'put on the whole armor of God' in your personal walk with Christ?

Context: The command in Ephesians 6:11 and 6:13 is emphasized as an imperative for every believer.

How can the truth that Christ has already defeated all principalities and powers give you confidence in spiritual battles?

Context: Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited to show Christ's victory over all spiritual enemies.

In what ways can older believers demonstrate increasing spiritual strength, even as physical strength declines?

Context: Weaver contrasts physical decline with the potential for spiritual flourishing in old age, using Psalm 92:13-14.

How does the illustration of Christian's battle with Apollyon in Pilgrim's Progress help you understand the nature of spiritual warfare and perseverance?

Context: The lengthy reading from Bunyan's allegory illustrates the reality of spiritual combat and victory through Christ.

Applications

Acknowledge Personal Weakness

Summary: Begin each day by confessing your own powerlessness and total dependence on God's strength for every task and trial.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are.'

Pursue Obedience as the Path to Strength

Summary: Make obedience to God's Word a priority, knowing that spiritual strength is directly linked to walking according to His commandments.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9 are used to show that keeping God's commands is the condition for being strong.

Put on the Whole Armor of God Daily

Summary: Intentionally take up each piece of God's armor through prayer and faith, recognizing that partial armor leaves you vulnerable.

Evidence: Ephesians 6:11 and 6:13 are imperatives; Weaver emphasizes the need for the 'panoplia' or full armor.

Engage in Spiritual Warfare with Confidence

Summary: Face spiritual battles boldly, knowing that Christ has already defeated the enemy and that you stand in His victory.

Evidence: Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited; the Pilgrim's Progress illustration ends with Christian's victory through Christ.

Trust God to Bless the Means He Ordains

Summary: Use the spiritual disciplines (prayer, Scripture, fellowship) but rely on God to make them effectual, as David trusted God with his sling.

Evidence: The example of David and Goliath shows that means are necessary but only God gives the victory.

Persevere in Old Age with Spiritual Vigor

Summary: Older believers should actively seek to grow in spiritual strength and fruitfulness, declaring God's power to the next generation.

Evidence: Psalm 71:18 and Psalm 92:13-14 are used to encourage that spiritual strength can increase with age.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:59:16Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:41:01Z

Clean Transcript

Be Strong - Part 1 of 3

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Looking at Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10, the scripture says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." One simple verse: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I want to begin today a brief series on the subject, "Be Strong." Have you ever experienced a desire to be strong? That really and truly is a facetious question, because everyone basically wants to be strong, especially every young man. And who desires to be strong? If not, he certainly desires to be muscle-bound, so to speak. And strength training is very popular today, and it really doesn't matter who you are, male or female, or how old you are; a lot of people still engage in what we know as strength training. Regardless of how old an individual is, they still desire strength as well. One of the confessions, if not one of the complaints, of the elderly is that they have no strength and can no longer do on a regular basis that which they used to do.
#1 | 0:13 to 1:24 | cleaned
A good example is Barzillai. You remember when Absalom had rebelled against David and David had to leave Jerusalem? Barzillai supported David and his men. And so when David was returning to Jerusalem, he invited Barzillai to come back and be sustained by the king. And so Barzillai answered him in 2 Samuel chapter 19, verses 34 and 35, and he said this: "And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore, that is 80 years old, and can I discern between good and evil?"
#2 | 1:24 to 2:07 | cleaned
"Can my servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should my servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?" He is saying, "Look, I'm slipping. I'm 80 years of age. I can't really discern like I used to. I can't taste. I can't smell. I can't hear. And all I would be is just simply a burden, and I don't want to go there and be that burden." Well, Moses himself said in Psalm 90 and verse 10, "The days of our years are threescore and ten, 70, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, that's 80, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
#3 | 2:08 to 2:53 | cleaned
So he said, once you make it past 70, and if you do make it to 80, you are going downhill, so to speak. Well, we understand that. One of the factors of old age is that we lose our strength in a physical sense. But that does not mean that we have to lose our spiritual strength. There is a vast difference. And the truth of the matter is, the older we get in the Lord, the more spiritual strength we should have.
#4 | 2:55 to 3:26 | cleaned
It was David who made this prayer in Psalm 71 in verse 18. He said, "Now also, O Lord, when I am old and grayheaded, listen, O God, forsake me not until I have showed this generation thy strength and thy power to everyone that is to come." So he said, "I'm old and grayheaded, but God, don't forsake me until I have showed your power and your strength to this generation." We also have to remember in Psalm 92, verses 13 and 14, the Bible says, "They that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age."
#5 | 3:27 to 4:08 | cleaned
"They shall be fat and flourishing." So there's a vast difference now between physical strength and spiritual strength. And being older does not necessarily relate to weakness in every area, neither does it involve impotency and powerlessness in every area. While we cannot do some of the things that we used to be able to do, at least now through wisdom and knowledge we can get a lot of that accomplished without the strength of youth.
#6 | 4:10 to 4:40 | cleaned
It is just that simple. And I forget exactly how it goes, but it says, "The treachery of old age will always outdo the strength and exuberance of youth." And that is about the truth. Usually an older person can figure things out and work things out even though they cannot do what they used to do. It is interesting that there are numerous commands in the Bible to be strong, especially in the Old Testament. I'm going to show you just two of those before we get started.
#7 | 4:41 to 5:11 | cleaned
But here is what I want you to learn, and here is what I want you to see right now. Spiritual strength, according to the Bible, is connected indivisibly with obedience. I want you to look. Hold Ephesians chapter 6; we are certainly coming back there. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 11 at verses 8 and 9. Deuteronomy 11:8 and 9. From there we'll go to Joshua chapter 1. Note, if you would please, Deuteronomy 11, beginning there with verse 8: real strength is related to obedience. Deuteronomy 11 verse 8, God says, "Therefore shall you keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land whither you go to possess it." Note, if you would, watch carefully, "and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to give unto them and to their seed a land that floweth with milk and honey." So He says, "that you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day."
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Why? "That you may be strong, and that you may prolong your days."
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Now, if you will look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 1, and notice, if you would please, what God tells Joshua beginning there with verse 5. Notice, if you would please, how strength is still connected with obedience. Joshua chapter 1, notice, if you would please, verse 5. God tells Joshua, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
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Now watch, "Be strong and of a good courage. For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swear to their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, then shalt thou have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong, and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest." Interestingly, in this short passage, three times God commanded Joshua to be strong. Now, it is impossible to be strong in the Lord without obedience.
#11 | 7:03 to 8:08 | cleaned
There is a verse in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 16, the Bible says this: "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them and mercy upon the Israel of God." Now, if you want to know who the Israel of God is, it is those that walk according to this rule. And those that walk according to this rule have peace. Now, the word "rule" is a very interesting word. The Greek word is the word "kanon," from where we get our English word "canon," not c-a-n-n-o-n, that's the kind that shoots, but it's c-a-n-o-n. We talk about the canon of Scripture, or the Old Testament canon, or the New Testament canon. And the word "kanon" literally means a measuring stick, or a measuring rod, or a rule. Now listen to what he said: "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy upon the Israel of God." So the Word of God then is our rule, it is our standard, it is our measuring stick, it is our measuring rod for obedience.
#12 | 8:09 to 9:18 | cleaned
And obviously, very clearly, we must walk in accordance with this measuring stick and this measuring rod. Now, the command to be strong occurs only three times in the New Testament. Amazing. Many times in the Old Testament, but it only occurs three times in the New Testament. And notice I said "command," because each time you see this it is in the imperative mode, which means it is a command. Anytime you see an imperative, it is a command.
#13 | 9:19 to 9:57 | cleaned
I could look at Lorraine and I could ask and say, "Lorraine, would you please get me a glass of water?" That's the question I'm asking her. But if I looked at her and I said, "Lorraine, get up and get me a glass of water," that's a command.
#14 | 9:58 to 10:12 | cleaned
Now, Steve wouldn't like that, and she probably wouldn't either. But that's the difference between a question and a command. A command is when God just issues it and says, "This is what you do." No ifs, ands, and buts. Just that simple.
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Now, I want you to look at the three times. We've already looked at one; I'll just quote it, Ephesians 6. But if you will turn in your Bibles first to 1 Corinthians chapter 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16, then we are going to go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And as we go to 2 Timothy, I will quote Ephesians 6 again, because that is the three times that we are commanded in the New Testament to be strong. So, notice if you would in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13, notice what the Bible says: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." And then of course Ephesians 6 and verse 10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might." And then in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, Paul says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." So three times we are commanded to be strong. Now, if you will turn back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 13, I want you to note this: that all the terms in this verse are military terms.
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You are also going to find that all the terms in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10-18, are military terms as well. That is, they relate to war and to the military.
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Now, I'm not going to really delve into 1 Corinthians 16 and verse 13. I'm going to remind you of a few things. And the reason I'm not going to expound this verse completely and thoroughly is because I've already done so. If you would read or listen to Captain Jonathan Davis in "A Combat Mentality," you will find this verse expounded and explained. So, let me just remind you of certain things. First of all, look, if you would, 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13 says, "Watch ye." First Corinthians, I'm sorry, First Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13. Yeah, First Corinthians, because in my Bible I see Second Corinthians. First Corinthians 16 verse 13: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Now here is the interesting thing: "Quit you like men." The word "men" here is a very special word.
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It is "andrizomai" in the Greek. Now, the word "men" and "man" occurs many times in the Bible, but usually it's from "anthropos" or "aner." This is what is known as a "hapax legomenon," which means it is a word that occurs only once in the Bible. And here you have "andrizomai," and this word literally means to make a man, to make brave, or to show oneself like a man, and to show oneself as brave. So when he says, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men," he's talking about courageous, brave, bold individuals. So it's a special word.
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Secondly, the command here to be strong signifies that we are not to give in to weakness. We are not to give in to despair or discouragement. We are not to faint. We are to maintain our courage. We are to maintain our strength and sustain and help one another because we understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the captain of our salvation and He is the victor. That is why the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 3, Paul said, "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." So as soldiers are not to give in, give up, give out, but to endure cheerfully, likewise God says that is exactly what we are going to be doing. Now, look at verse 13 again. He says, "Watch ye," which is a military term. "Stand fast," which is a military term. "Quit you like men," which is a military term. "Be strong," which is a military term. Notice, if you would, verse 13 commands us to be strong. The only thing that is missing is how are we to be strong.
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And what does it mean to be strong? Well, 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13 is a wonderful verse, but it does not tell us those things. However, Ephesians chapter 6 and 2 Timothy chapter 2 fulfill that requirement where God tells us exactly what it means to be strong. And I propose to look at these passages. We certainly need strength, especially spiritual strength. We cannot discharge our duties, face our foes, or accomplish our task in our own strength. Because the truth of the matter is this, folks: we really don't have any strength. We may think that we do, but we certainly do not. The Bible, 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 9, says this: "He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail." For by strength shall no man prevail. So we really and truly do not have any strength of our own. Stop and think about what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5, where He said, "Without me you can do what?"
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Nothing. Obviously, that means that we don't have the strength to do anything. But notice this: the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 and verse 13 said this, "I can do all things through Christ who has strengthened me." So while we are impotent in and of ourselves, we have the all-powerful God at our disposal.
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Now, let me put it to you like this. The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are. That is the beginning. Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh. And he besought the Lord three times for that thorn to be removed. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9, Paul said that God said to him, "My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness." And then Paul added this, "Therefore will I glory in my weakness and in my infirmities." Why?
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"That the power of Christ may rest upon me." So Paul is saying that when I realize how helpless and powerless I am, then God is ready to use me. As long as we think we can, we cannot. As long as we think we're able, we are unable. When we reach the conclusion and reach the truth that we are helpless and powerless and unable in and of ourselves, then we are ready to be used by God.
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Now let me explain something to you about the book of Ephesians. It only has six chapters in it. You say, "But I can count." I understand that. Well, it is perfectly divided as well. The first three chapters deal with doctrine. The last three chapters deal with duty. Okay? So, that tells you this: that our duties are based upon doctrine. So, you should always have doctrine to back up what you do, and why you do it. When you look in Ephesians chapter 6, beginning of verse 10, this is the last part of the practical aspect of the book of Ephesians. And although Paul now has told us about our duties, he is now telling us how we must perform those duties. And those duties are not to be performed in our strength, but in the power of God. Because he tells us that we are to recognize the fact that we are weakness personified.
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We have mighty enemies; we have powerful foes. And the Apostle is telling us if we are going to face them and if we are going to defeat them, it must be in the power of God. So if you look in Ephesians 6 and verse 10, he says this: "Finally, my brethren," that is, he is bringing his argument to a conclusion. He's teaching you how to perform your duties. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
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So let me say this again. First of all, we need to acknowledge our own weakness, our own impotency, our own powerlessness. But at the same time, we must also confess and acknowledge the power of God and that God is omnipotent. He has all power. That's why the Bible in Psalm 62 in verse 11 says this: "For God has spoken once, yea, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God." So the Apostle is teaching us that if we're going to stand and fight, we must stand and fight in the power of God, because we have no power in and of ourselves. Now the interesting thing is this: when we stand and when we fight, we must use the means that God has ordained. But at the same time, we must trust Him and look to Him to make those means effectual. If He does not bless the means, the means are useless in and of themselves. For instance, if I were to take a verse out of Proverbs 23, where the scripture says, "Beat thy child with a rod."
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"If thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with a rod, and thou shalt save his soul from hell."
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Now, salvation actually comes through beating someone with the rod? One of the greatest examples of evangelism is to grab a rod and go out on the street and just start beating the devil out of everybody? Obviously, that's not what the Bible means. Every child that has been whipped does not go to heaven. What God is saying is you must use the means, that is discipline, that He has commanded, but you must trust in Him and look to Him to bless those means and make them effectual. And what He is saying is those who use the means and trust in Him, eventually that child will in all probability be converted because His discipline will work for his good and not for his ill. So, we have to reach the place where we understand that although we use means, we must seek God's blessing upon those means to make them effectual as well.
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You remember the passage in 1 Samuel chapter 17 where David was going to face Goliath. And he went to Saul and he said, "Don't let your heart trouble you; I'll go out and I'll fight this man." And Saul said, "You're but a youth. And this man has been a warrior from his youth." Well, he said, "I'll take care of it." And Saul dressed David in his own armor.
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You know, I've tried to picture that in my mind. You remember what the Bible says about King Saul? That he was head and shoulders above everyone else. He was a big man. And David at this time was probably about 15 or 16 years old. And can you imagine this skinny little youth with all this armor on? And you know what David told Saul? "I can't go in these. I haven't proved them. But I've proved this sling. And I've proved God, and I know that he works, and I know my sling works. That's all I need." So David took Goliath down with a sling. It was the means, but it was God who directed that rock and empowered David to sling that stone straight. So you have to have the means and you have to have the power of God as well.
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Now, I want you to look, if you would, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10, he says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." He said, "Put on the whole armor of God." Now the word "whole armor" here is "panoplia" in the Greek. We talk about the panoply of God. It just simply means the armor of God. And so this full, complete armor is revealed from verse 13 on down through verse 18. Obviously, we cannot use partial armor; we have to have the whole armor. In fact, if you would note in verse 13, he says, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God." So in verse 11, it's "put on the armor of God"; verse 13, it is "wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God." In verse 11, "put on" is an imperative, which is a command. In verse 13, "wherefore take unto you" is an imperative, which is a command.
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So God commands us to put on the whole armor of God. Now, He explains why we need this whole armor of God in verse 12. Look in verse 12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." So Paul is not telling us that our battle is not against man. Certainly it is against man in one sense of the word. But what Paul is telling us is this: the real battle is against those powers that are beyond and behind wicked men. It's those powers that support them. If this was just simply a flesh and blood battle, it would be easy in one sense of the word. But it's not a flesh and blood battle. Flesh and blood just happens to be what we see. It's what we cannot see that is the real motivating cause behind the enemy. And Paul identifies these enemies as principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
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Now, I want to give you what Albert Barnes said on this verse because to me, it explains it so plainly, so simply, so easily. I want you to listen because he shows us exactly what we're facing. He wrote: "Against the rulers of the darkness of this world. The rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance and sin with which the earth abounds, darkness. Darkness is the emblem of ignorance, misery, and sin. And no description could be more accurate than that of representing these malignant spirits as ruling over a dark world. The earth, dark and wretched and ignorant and sinful, is just such a dominion as they would choose or as they would cause. And the degradation and woe of the heathen world are just such as foul and malignant spirits would delight in."
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"It is a wide and powerful empire. Listen to this. It has been consolidated through the ages. It is sustained by all authority of law, by all the omnipotence of the perverted religious principle, by all the reverence for antiquity, by all the power of selfish, corrupt, and base passions. No empire has ever been so extended or has continued so long as that empire of darkness, and nothing on earth is so difficult to destroy."
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"Yet the apostle says that it was on that kingdom that we are to make war. Against that, the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set up, and that was to be overcome by the spiritual weapons which he specifies. When he speaks of the Christian warfare here, he refers to the contest with the powers of this dark kingdom. He regards each and every Christian as a soldier to wage war on it in whatever way he could and wherever he could attack it. The contest, therefore, was not primarily with men or with the internal corrupt propensities of the soul. It was with this vast and dark kingdom that has been set up over mankind. I do not regard this passage, therefore, as having a primary reference to the struggle which a Christian maintains with his own corrupt propensities. It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Yet in maintaining the warfare, the struggle will be with such portions of that kingdom as we come in contact with and will actually relate."
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And then he gives five things, five areas in which this kingdom of darkness actually relates. Listen carefully. Number one, to our own sinful propensities, which are part of the kingdom of darkness. So he said it doesn't relate primarily to that, but it does include it. Number two, with the evil passions of others, their pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge, which are also part of that kingdom. Number three, with the evil customs, laws, opinions, employments, and pleasures of the world, which are also a part of that dark kingdom. Fourthly, with error, superstition, false doctrine, which are also a part of that kingdom. And fifthly, with the wickedness of the heathen world, the sins of the benighted nations, also a part of that kingdom. Whenever we come in contact with evil, whether in our own hearts or elsewhere, there we are to make war. Isn't that interesting? There we are to make war.
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I want to point something out. Go back to verse 12 in Ephesians chapter 6. He says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." I mentioned earlier, if warfare was just simply with flesh and blood, that would be very simple and very easy. But now we are talking about principalities. We are talking about powers. We are talking about things we can't see. Wow! But let me show you something. I want you to turn over just a few pages to the book of Colossians chapter 2, and then we'll go back to Ephesians 1. But look in Colossians 2. This is part of the work of Jesus Christ. Note, if you would, please, Colossians 2 and verse 15. Here's what Jesus Christ has done: "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Having spoiled, literally, having disarmed them, He made an example of them and was elevated far above them.
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So while we are thinking about principalities and powers, we have to understand that they are already defeated enemies. And if you will turn back to Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians chapter 1, look if you would please at verses 20 and 21, because here we are talking about the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1 verse 20: "Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."
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"Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come." So Jesus Christ has defeated and has exposed and disarmed every principality, every power, every dominion. And when he arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, he was elevated above and over all of these principalities and powers. So we have to acknowledge that while they are still strong, they're also defeated because Jesus Christ defeated them.
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Now, I want you to go back to Ephesians chapter six. I want you to understand that it is only in Jesus Christ then that we have victory.
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Now, if you were to ask me, "How do we fight the battle? What equipment do we use?" My answer is going to be, those questions are answered in verses 13 down through 18, which we will probably look at more next week. Want you to look at verse 13 again? He says again, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God." Notice, if you would, "take unto you the whole armor of God." Let's take this, please: "take unto you the whole armor of God." Note, if you would please, "put it on, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Now, of course, he repeats from verse 11, "put on the whole armor of God."
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And I've told you that both of these are imperatives. But here's what I want you to see in verse 13. He tells us to take unto ourselves the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day. The word "withstand" literally means to resist, to oppose, to counter. So if James threw a left hook at me, I can block with this hand and counter with this. That's what the word means: to resist. It means to fight. It means to oppose. So he tells us in verse 13 that we need to take the whole armor of God that we may be able to fight and to oppose in the evil day. Now, let me deal with the word "able." Look at it. He said, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able." The word here for "able" is the word "dunamai," which comes from "dunamis." It is where we get our English word "dynamite." It means to have the ability, to have the power, to have the strength.
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So he said we have to take unto ourselves the whole armor of God that we may be able, that we may have the dynamite of God, the power of God. You remember what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1 in verse 16? He said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to everyone that believeth." And the word "power" is the word "dunamis," dynamite. It is the dynamite of God. So he tells us we have to have this armor in order that we would be able to stand. Okay? Now watch this. Boy, I like this next verse, or this next part. Watch it, if you would please. He said, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day." Let me deal with "evil" first. When you get to the Greek text, there are two Greek words for evil. The first one is "kakos," K-A-K-O-S.
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And it just simply means that which is evil, more really and truly that which is bad, that which is worthless, that which is faulty. I mean, it's just a word for something that is bad. But the second word is "poneros." And the word "poneros" indicates something that is positively evil, wicked, and vile. Let me show you. It is translated in our Bibles 51 times as "wicked," 10 times as "the wicked one," six times as well as "the wicked one," and two times as "evil things." So it's just translated as "wicked" 51 times, "wicked one" 10 times, and then also "evil things" two times. But any time you see the word "poneros," it refers to that which is inherently sinful, wicked, and evil in and of itself.
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You remember that passage in Luke chapter 11 where the disciples came to our Lord and said, "Teach us to pray." He said, "Okay. When you pray, say, 'Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.'"
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"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." The word "evil" is "poneros." When you put a definite article, "ho poneros," it refers to the evil one. So when you read that prayer, it is asking not only for deliverance from the evil one, it is asking for deliverance from that which is positively wicked, vile, corrupt, and contrary to God. Ah! When you go back to verse 13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able, have the power, to withstand, that is to fight and oppose, in the wicked, vile day." It's not just something bad. It's something exceedingly wicked. Oh, you talking about living in wicked days? We are. Now watch this, if you would please. He says in verse 13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to fight, resist, oppose, counter in the wicked, vile day, and having done all, to stand." "Histemi" is the Greek word for "stand." It means to stand as a victor in the contest.
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So here Steve and I, we've agreed to fight each other. We're not mad at each other. We just want to fight, so we get our ring on and our ring made, we get our boxing gloves on, everybody's invited to come and watch, and we start boxing. And I come up with a right hook and I just knock him out. Or he comes up with a haymaker and knocks me out. Doesn't matter. One of us goes to the floor. What does the victor do? He stands. He stands. That's exactly what this word means.
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Look at verse 13 again now, watch this carefully. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God," why? "That you may have the power and the ability to fight and counter in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand victoriously." Stand as the victor, having your foe defeated, having your foe destroyed. You are the one who is the winner and the victor. Wow. And it doesn't matter how many the foes are. It doesn't matter how numerous they are. It doesn't matter how powerful they are. God says if we stand in his whole armor and we fight, we will end up standing victoriously over our defeated foes.
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Now, I want to read something to you. And I want you to listen very carefully. If you have never read Pilgrim's Progress, I would encourage you to read it. If you've read it, but it's been a long time ago, please read it again. I remember the very first time I ever read Pilgrim's Progress. I even remember where I was. I remember what time it was when I finished it. I was preaching in Birmingham, Alabama, and I was staying in the basement of a private home, and I finished reading that book at midnight.
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And when Christian got over that river and got into the Celestial City, I was just overcome with emotion and I started shouting. And I woke the people up that were upstairs. It is a tremendous book. You should read it to your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren. It is just—it is the book that is second only to the Bible in sales. More people have bought Pilgrim's Progress than any other book outside of the Bible. Doesn't mean they read it, but they bought it. Unhappily, a lot of people do not read what they buy, but you should read it. But I just want to read this one section where Christian meets Apollyon, the devil, Satan. I want you to listen carefully. "But now in this valley of humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it."
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"For he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming with a field to meet him. His name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armor for his back. Therefore thought to turn the back to him might give him the greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts. Therefore he resolved to venture to stand his ground, for thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way is to stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him."
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"Now the monster was hideous to behold. He was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride. He had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly came forth fire and smoke, and his mouth was the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question him. Apollyon: 'Whence come you, and whither are you bound?' Christian: 'I am come from the city of destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the city of Zion.' Apollyon:"
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"'By this I perceive that thou art one of my subjects. For all that country is mine, and I am the prince and the god of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I had hope that thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground.' Christian: 'I was born indeed in your dominion, but your service was hard.'"
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"'And your wages, such as a man could not live on, for the wages of sin is death. Therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other considered persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself.' Apollyon: 'There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I yet lose thee. But since thou complainest of my service and wages, be content, go back. What our country will afford, I do hereby promise to give thee.' 'But I've let myself to another, even to the king of princes. How can I with fairness go back?' Apollyon: 'Thou has done in this according the proverb, changed a bad for worse. But it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves to be servants after a while to give him the slip and return to me again. Do thou so also, and all shall be well.' Christian: 'I've given him my faith'"
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"'and sworn my allegiance to him. How then can I go back from this and not be hanged as a traitor?' Apollyon: 'Thou didst the same to me, and yet I'm willing to pass by all if now that will turn and go back again.' Christian: 'What I promised thee was in my nonage. And besides, I count the prince under whose banner now I stand is able to absolve me.'"
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"'Yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee. And besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country better than thine, and therefore leave off to persuade me further. I am his servant, and I will follow him.' Apollyon: 'Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me in my ways.'"
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"'How many of them have been put to shameful deaths? And besides, thou countest his service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from that place where he is to deliver any that served him out of their hands. But as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that have faithfully served me from him and his, though taken by them, and so will I deliver thee.' Christian: 'His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try their love, for they will cleave to him to the end. And as for the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their account.'"
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"'For for present deliverance they do not much expect it, for they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it when their prince comes with his and the glory of his angels.' Apollyon: 'Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and how dost thou expect to receive wages of him?' Christian: 'Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him?' Now listen, Apollyon: 'Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost choked in the gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy prince had taken it off. Thou did sinfully sleep and lose thy choice thing. Thou was also almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. And when thou talkest of thy journey and what thou has heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous of vain glory in all that thou sayest or doest.' Christian: 'All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out. But the prince whom I serve and honor is merciful and ready to forgive.'"
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"'But besides, these infirmities possess me in thy country. Therefore I suck them in, and I've groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my prince.' Apollyon: Then Apollyon broke into a grievous rage, saying, 'I am the enemy to this prince. I hate this person, his laws, and people. I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.' Christian: 'Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the king's highway, the way of holiness. Therefore, take heed of yourself.' Apollyon: Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way and said, 'I'm void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die, for I swear by my infernal den that thou shalt go no further here while I spill my soul.' And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast. But Christian had a shield in his hand with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that. Then did Christian draw, for he thought it was time to bestir himself. And Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail, by the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it,"
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"Apollyon wounded him in the head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give back a little. Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian again took courage and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above a half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent. For you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and weaker. Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall, and with that Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, 'I am sure of thee now,' and with that he almost pressed him to death. So the Christian began to despair of life."
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"But as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword and caught it, saying, 'Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy. When I fall, I shall rise again.' And with that, he gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian, perceiving that, made at him again, saying, 'Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.' And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped away, that Christian, for a season, saw him no more. In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen it and heard it as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the fight. He spake like a dragon, and on the other side what sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword."
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"Then indeed he did smile and look upward. But it was a dreadful sight that I ever saw. A more unequal match can hardly be: Christian must fight an angel. You see the valiant man by handling sword and shield does make him go; a dragon quit the field. So when the battle was over, Christian said, 'I will here give thanks to him that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, to him that did help me against Apollyon.'" Now you're talking about a fight. Here is a picture of a spiritual fight that we cannot ignore. Here is a man that conquered in the name of Christ, through the power of Christ, although he was severely wounded, and although he was severely discouraged. And yet through faith he caught the sword again and plunged it into the heart of Apollyon. The point I'm trying to make right now is this.
#63 | 52:57 to 54:06 | cleaned
"Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able, that you may have the power, that you may have the strength to fight in the wicked day, and having done all, stand victoriously." We have to learn that we have no strength of our own. We have to learn that all of our strength is in our God. That He is omnipotent. This is the confidence that we have.
#64 | 54:07 to 54:41 | cleaned
This is what is to encourage us and to keep us going. This is the beginning of spiritual strength: when we see how helpless we are and how glorious and how powerful He really is. When we understand if we use the means that God has ordained and He blesses those means and makes them effectual, we cannot fail. We will always be left standing victorious on the battlefield because His victory is our victory.
#65 | 54:42 to 55:21 | cleaned
He's already defeated our enemies and we just stand in Him. Success in the Christian life—I do not care where you are in your Christian life—but success in the Christian life depends upon the power of God and not in your strength. The same God that preserves us gives us grace to persevere. The same God that calls us enables us to come to him. The same God that commands us to pray gives us a praying heart. The same God that commands us to study gives us the desire to study.
#66 | 55:22 to 56:05 | cleaned
Everything that we have is in him and through him and for him. So the question has to be asked: What equipment do we need? What is our armor? And how will we fight? And my answer is: You will have to be here next week at the same time in the same channel to find out exactly what God commands. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and kindness.
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Help us to love thee, Lord. Help us to fight. Help us to have on the armor of God. Help us to stand strong in the power of God, giving honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great victor, who has already given us deliverance. Help us to praise thee and honor thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:59:16Z

Be Strong - Part 1 of 3

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver introduces a series on spiritual strength from Ephesians 6:10, emphasizing that true strength is found in the Lord and His power, not in human ability. He contrasts physical decline with the potential for increasing spiritual strength in old age, and stresses that obedience to God's Word is indivisibly linked to spiritual strength. The sermon highlights the believer's warfare against spiritual forces of darkness, the necessity of putting on the whole armor of God, and the assurance of victory through Christ, who has already defeated all principalities and powers.

Introduction: The Universal Desire for Strength

Weaver opens by noting that everyone desires strength, especially physical strength, but physical strength declines with age, as illustrated by Barzillai and Moses.

Looking at Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10, the scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

One simple verse:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 19:34-35

"And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore, that is 80 years old, and can I discern between good and evil?" "Can my servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should my servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?"

Spiritual Strength vs. Physical Strength

While physical strength wanes, spiritual strength can increase with age; David and Psalm 92 show that the righteous can flourish and bear fruit in old age.

It was David who made this prayer in Psalm 71 in verse 18. He said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 71:18

"Now also, O Lord, when I am old and grayheaded, listen, O God, forsake me not until I have showed this generation thy strength and thy power to everyone that is to come."

Strength Connected to Obedience

Using Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9, Weaver demonstrates that biblical strength is tied to keeping God's commandments; obedience is the pathway to being strong.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"Therefore shall you keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land whither you go to possess it."

Note, if you would, watch carefully,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to give unto them and to their seed a land that floweth with milk and honey."

So He says,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:8-9

"that you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day."

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5-9

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

The New Testament Commands to Be Strong

Only three New Testament passages command believers to be strong: 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, and 2 Timothy 2:1; all use military terminology.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."

You are also going to find that all the terms in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10-18, are military terms as well. That is, they relate to war and to the military.

Acknowledging Our Weakness and God's Power

Spiritual strength begins with recognizing our own helplessness; Paul's thorn in the flesh teaches that God's strength is perfected in our weakness.

The Nature of Our Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness; Albert Barnes' commentary expands on this cosmic conflict.

Christ's Victory Over Principalities and Powers

Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 show that Jesus has already disarmed and triumphed over all spiritual powers; our victory is in Him.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:20-21

"Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." "Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come."

Now, I want you to go back to Ephesians chapter six. I want you to understand that it is only in Jesus Christ then that we have victory.

The Whole Armor of God and Standing Victorious

Ephesians 6:13 commands believers to take up the full armor of God to withstand in the evil day and stand as victors; the Greek word 'histemi' means to stand as a conqueror.

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to everyone that believeth."

Illustration from Pilgrim's Progress

Weaver reads the account of Christian's battle with Apollyon to illustrate spiritual warfare, perseverance, and victory through Christ's power.

Conclusion: Dependence on God for All Strength

Success in the Christian life depends entirely on God's power; He provides the means and the grace to persevere, and we must trust Him to make those means effectual.

Be Strong - Part 1 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	4eRmCyrzWNs
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-06-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 175: Be Strong — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	68

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Universal Desire for Strength: Weaver opens by noting that everyone desires strength, especially physical strength, but physical strength declines with age, as illustrated by Barzillai and Moses.
Spiritual Strength vs. Physical Strength: While physical strength wanes, spiritual strength can increase with age; David and Psalm 92 show that the righteous can flourish and bear fruit in old age.
Strength Connected to Obedience: Using Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9, Weaver demonstrates that biblical strength is tied to keeping God's commandments; obedience is the pathway to being strong.
The New Testament Commands to Be Strong: Only three New Testament passages command believers to be strong: 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, and 2 Timothy 2:1; all use military terminology.
Acknowledging Our Weakness and God's Power: Spiritual strength begins with recognizing our own helplessness; Paul's thorn in the flesh teaches that God's strength is perfected in our weakness.
The Nature of Our Warfare: Ephesians 6:12 reveals that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness; Albert Barnes' commentary expands on this cosmic conflict.
Christ's Victory Over Principalities and Powers: Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 show that Jesus has already disarmed and triumphed over all spiritual powers; our victory is in Him.
The Whole Armor of God and Standing Victorious: Ephesians 6:13 commands believers to take up the full armor of God to withstand in the evil day and stand as victors; the Greek word 'histemi' means to stand as a conqueror.
Illustration from Pilgrim's Progress: Weaver reads the account of Christian's battle with Apollyon to illustrate spiritual warfare, perseverance, and victory through Christ's power.
Conclusion: Dependence on God for All Strength: Success in the Christian life depends entirely on God's power; He provides the means and the grace to persevere, and we must trust Him to make those means effectual.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Strength is Commanded, Not Optional

The command to 'be strong' appears as an imperative in the New Testament, indicating it is a divine order, not a suggestion.

Weaver explains the imperative mood in Greek and lists the three NT commands: 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, and 2 Timothy 2:1.

Obedience Precedes Strength

One cannot be strong in the Lord without obedience; the Word of God is the 'canon' or measuring stick for obedience, and walking by it brings peace and strength.

Deuteronomy 11:8-9 and Joshua 1:5-9 are used to show the direct link; Galatians 6:16 is cited with the Greek word 'kanon' meaning rule or standard.

Self-Sufficiency is a Barrier to God's Power

As long as we think we are able, we are unable; spiritual strength begins when we realize our complete helplessness and depend on God's omnipotence.

Paul's thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:9) and the statement 'when I am weak, then am I strong' are used to argue that God's power is perfected in acknowledged weakness.

The Battle is Spiritual, Not Physical

The real enemy is not flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of darkness; therefore, natural strength is useless, and spiritual weapons are required.

Ephesians 6:12 is analyzed with the Greek terms for principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness; Barnes' commentary expands on the nature of this dark kingdom.

Victory is Assured in Christ

Because Christ has already defeated all spiritual enemies, believers who put on God's armor and fight in His power will ultimately stand victorious.

Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited; the Greek word 'histemi' in Ephesians 6:13 is explained as standing as a victor over defeated foes.

Means Must Be Accompanied by Divine Blessing

God ordains means (like the armor of God), but those means are effectual only when He blesses them; we must trust Him to empower our use of His provisions.

The example of David and Goliath is used: David used a sling (means) but trusted God to direct the stone; Proverbs 23:13-14 on child discipline is similarly explained.

Scripture References

Ephesians 6:10: The foundational verse for the series: 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.'
2 Samuel 19:34-35: Barzillai's confession of physical decline at age 80, used to illustrate the loss of physical strength in old age.
Psalm 90:10: Moses' statement that the days of our years are seventy, or eighty by reason of strength, yet their strength is labor and sorrow.
Psalm 71:18: David's prayer to declare God's strength to the next generation even when old and grayheaded.
Psalm 92:13-14: The righteous shall flourish and bring forth fruit in old age, showing spiritual vitality does not diminish with age.
Deuteronomy 11:8-9: God commands Israel to keep all His commandments that they may be strong and prolong their days in the land.
Joshua 1:5-9: God commands Joshua three times to be strong and courageous, linking strength to meditating on and obeying the law.
Galatians 6:16: Peace and mercy are upon those who walk according to this rule (kanon), the measuring stick of God's Word.
1 Corinthians 16:13: One of the three NT commands to be strong; uses military terms: watch, stand fast, quit you like men, be strong.
2 Timothy 2:1: Paul commands Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
1 Samuel 2:9: By strength shall no man prevail; human strength is insufficient for spiritual victory.
John 15:5: Without Christ we can do nothing, emphasizing total dependence on Him for spiritual strength.
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; our ability comes from His enabling power.
2 Corinthians 12:9: God's grace is sufficient; His strength is made perfect in weakness, so Paul glories in his infirmities.
Psalm 62:11: Power belongs to God; He is the source of all strength.
Proverbs 23:13-14: Used as an example of means (discipline) that must be blessed by God to be effectual for salvation.
1 Samuel 17: David's victory over Goliath illustrates using means (sling) while trusting God to empower and direct.
Colossians 2:15: Christ spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly and triumphing over them.
Ephesians 1:20-21: Christ is seated far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, both in this age and the age to come.
Romans 1:16: The gospel is the power (dunamis) of God unto salvation; the same dynamite power is available for spiritual warfare.

Historical References

Barzillai the Gileadite: An 80-year-old man who supported David during Absalom's rebellion; his physical decline is used to illustrate the loss of strength in old age.
Albert Barnes' Commentary on Ephesians 6:12: Weaver quotes Barnes' description of the rulers of the darkness of this world and the five areas of conflict in spiritual warfare.
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan: The battle between Christian and Apollyon is read at length to illustrate spiritual warfare, perseverance, and victory through Christ.

Important Quotes

Spiritual strength, according to the Bible, is connected indivisibly with obedience.

This is the central thesis linking the Old Testament commands to be strong with the necessity of obeying God's Word.

The beginning of our spiritual strength is when we recognize how helpless, how powerless, and how weak we really and truly are.

Summarizes the counterintuitive principle that strength comes through acknowledging weakness, a key argument of the sermon.

As long as we think we can, we cannot. As long as we think we're able, we are unable. When we reach the conclusion and reach the truth that we are helpless and powerless and unable in and of ourselves, then we are ready to be used by God.

A forceful statement of the necessity of total dependence on God for spiritual effectiveness.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The key verse defining the nature of the Christian's spiritual warfare, directly quoted from Ephesians 6:12.

Success in the Christian life depends upon the power of God and not in your strength.

A concise summary of the sermon's main point: all spiritual success comes from God's power, not human effort.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical connection between obedience and strength challenge the way we typically think about spiritual growth?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that strength is indivisibly connected to obedience, using Deuteronomy 11 and Joshua 1.

[Question]

In what areas of your life do you tend to rely on your own strength rather than acknowledging your weakness and depending on God's power?

[Context]

The sermon stresses that spiritual strength begins with recognizing our helplessness, citing 2 Corinthians 12:9.

[Question]

How does understanding that our battle is against spiritual forces of darkness change the way we approach conflicts and challenges in daily life?

[Context]

Ephesians 6:12 is expounded to show the real enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness.

[Question]

What does it mean practically to 'put on the whole armor of God' in your personal walk with Christ?

[Context]

The command in Ephesians 6:11 and 6:13 is emphasized as an imperative for every believer.

[Question]

How can the truth that Christ has already defeated all principalities and powers give you confidence in spiritual battles?

[Context]

Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 1:20-21 are cited to show Christ's victory over all spiritual enemies.

[Question]

In what ways can older believers demonstrate increasing spiritual strength, even as physical strength declines?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts physical decline with the potential for spiritual flourishing in old age, using Psalm 92:13-14.

[Question]

How does the illustration of Christian's battle with Apollyon in Pilgrim's Progress help you understand the nature of spiritual warfare and perseverance?

[Context]

The lengthy reading from Bunyan's allegory illustrates the reality of spiritual combat and victory through Christ.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:41:01Z