Be Strong in the Lord (Bible Study) (Part 2). 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”Ephesians 6:10.(NKJV).

Real life challenges will test your faith in God. Adversity will push you so hard that if care is not taken, you may be tempted to doubt the existence of God. 

Some of the people that are reviving idol worship in various towns and villages today used to be firebrand Christians. Some of them prayed in tongues, fasted for weeks, went to different mountains for retreat and generally served God passionately. But today, they are saying that Christianity is a “white man’s religion.” Meanwhile they are driving the white man’s car, using the white man’s internet, making calls with the white man’s smartphone etc.

Some of the people that lined up in a river for incantation are Christians. Some of them probably preached to people to repent from their sins. Only to turn back and patronize the devil because of financial or material challenges.

I started encouraging believers to know God personally many years ago. Transferring your spiritual responsibility to a prophet or seer is the easiest way to remain a spiritual infant for life. In fact, you can easily turn your back on God the day you cannot find anyone to pray for you. 

It is too dangerous to push your spiritual responsibility to others. It is too dangerous to serve the God others are talking about, not the God you know personally.

People fidget and get frightened when the contrary wind of life blow against them because they did not take time to make solid spiritual investment in their spiritual life. That is why they panic and start running from prophet to native doctor.

“Be strong” in Greek is endunamoó. It means to empower. To be filled with power, to be strengthened, to make strong. It is related to Greek word, Dunamis.

As a believer, you are already filled with the Holy Spirit (through Holy Spirit baptism). The power of God is already at work in you. You are not supposed to chicken out when the devil or his agents bark at you. You are supposed to stand strong.

Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. (NKJV).

Below is what the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer:

Before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He said to His disciples:

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:8. (NKJV).

He knew that they did not have what it takes to carry out the assignment He gave to them. He knew that the devil and the religious leaders would overwhelm and defeat them. So He said to them;

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:16-18 (NKJV).

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27. (NKJV).

In other words, the Holy Spirit will energize you and help you to accomplish the assignment. Don’t go anywhere until He comes.

So, about 120 of them went to the Upper Room. They wondered what would happen next. I am sure they considered the consequences of preaching Christ to the same people that crucified Jesus. How would they survive?

Then suddenly, it was as if a wire was unplugged from God’s bedroom in heaven and was plugged into the Upper Room. And this happened: 

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”Acts 2:1-4. (NKJV).

This incident replaced fear with boldness. It replaced lily-livered heart with rugged heart. It replaced spinelessness with supernaturally backed up resolve to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. This incident killed fear and replaced it with blazing fire that is still burning till tomorrow.

The disciples were transformed, transfigured and transmogrified. They came out of the room like atomic bombs going somewhere to explode. And the people said,

“…They are full of new wine.”Acts 2:13.

That triggered the fire in Peter and he preached an unprepared sermon. He traced Jesus Christ right from the Old Testament down to where He was crucified. The sermon was so organized and powerful that when he finished preaching, this happened:

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37.

“Cut to heart” means they were prick violently. It is like someone who was pierced, stung or smitten. And 3,000 men surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ on the spot!

Why did this happen? Because the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. Why did the fearful and spineless Apostles suddenly become bold and audacious? Because they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 4, they were warned not to preach the gospel any longer. Look at what Peter and John said. (I mean, the same Peter that denied Christ on the night He was crucified):

“So, they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”Acts 4:18-20. (NKJV).

Dear friend, if you have truly received the Holy Spirit you should not be afraid of anything. You should stand strong in the face of challenges. You should stand your ground just like the Apostles because the same Holy Spirit they received is what you recieved too.

To continue from where we stopped in the first part of this discussion, to be strong in the Lord, you must take these two powerful steps.

(3). Pray in the Spirit All the Time.

Paul said, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4.

The word “edify” in that verse comes from the Greek word, oikodomos. It means to build a house. To build someone up, to help someone to stand.

When you are praying in the spirit you are building up your spiritual stamina. You are fortifying your spirit to withstand adversity. You are equipping your spirit so that you can stand your ground when unforeseen circumstances show up. You are thoroughly equipped to withstand pressure.

Jude said, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20. (NKJV).

The word “building” in Greek is epoikodoméo. It means to build upon. That means, whenever you are praying in tongue you are building up your faith to withstand the contrary wind of life. It is like constructing spiritual fortress against the evil wind of this life.

I don’t know about you, but I pray in tongue all the time. If I am praying for one hour, I literally pray in the spirit for fifty or more minutes. While at work I pray in the spirit. Sometimes, I just mutter it. I discovered that praying in tongue charges or revitalizes my spirit.

So, dear believer, if you don’t have the gift of praying in tongue, please pray earnestly for it. You cannot pray for three straight hours in your naturally language. You will soon lack words to express yourself. But when you switch over to tongue, you lend your tongue to the Holy Spirit to pray on your behalf. No wonder Paul said,

“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26. (NKJV).

(4). Raise Your Faith Antenna.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16. (NKJV).

Above all your effort, take up the shield of faith. To rise above that satanic harassment, take up the shield of faith. Stop complaining about delay in childbearing and take up the shield of faith. You have prayed and fasted to be healed but it seems as if nothing is happening, take up the shield of faith. Faith is above all your challenges. Grab the shield of faith, stand your ground and put the devil to flight!

The only weapon you will need to dislodge the devil and his agents is faith. And what is faith? Having complete confidence in God. Trusting God with all your hearth. Holding on to God’s Word as if your life depends on it.

The Greek word for faith is pistis. It means trust, confidence, fidelity, to be persuaded etc.

So, faith is trusting God sheepishly. Faith kills every iota of doubt in your heart. Locate a scripture that deals with your case and anchor your faith on it for as long as possible. (To learn how to walk by faith, order my life changing book, Wonders of Faith. Call 07032681154). 

Conclusion

It is natural to confess negatively when you are facing the fires of life. “I am sick.” “Things are hard.” “I can’t even feed my family.” “I am not sure we can pay house or shop rent this year.” “I am dead.” “I will never make it in this nation.”

It is natural to confess negatively.

But you must understand that words are seeds, one day, it will germinate, and you may not like its fruit. Mind what you say when you are face to face with adversity. Stop confessing what you are feeling or seeing, start confessing what God said in His Word.

David won the war of words before the real battle with Goliath started.

1 Samuel 17:42-47: “And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So, the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (NKJV).

What you say when you are facing life-threatening challenges will determine the outcome. David knew that Goliath was a warrior, but he had confidence in God whom he is fighting for. His words were filled with confidence. He spoke like a champion, a winner, a pathfinder, trailblazer, pace setter, road point and a celebrity. He did not speak like a coward.

Jesus said:

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23-24. (NKJV).

Any word that proceeds from your mouth must fulfil its content. When you say, “I will not recover from this sickness,” you sowed a seed that will germinate fast. Therefore, learn to speak like David whenever you are facing challenges. Say what you want to see, not what you hate to see.

I speak into your life this moment; from this day, you will be victorious. Every demon or devil that has been harassing you bows at the feet of Jesus Christ. Receive your miracle job, miracle baby, miracle house, business opportunities and connections. I declare that from this moment, everything about you and your family are changing for good in the Name of Jesus Christ!

If you want to recieve Jesus into your heart, say this short prayer and believe it from your heart:

Lord Jesus, I belive that you died to rescue me from damnation. Come into my heart and save me. I declare today that You are my Lord and personal Saviour. I am saved. I am born again. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Order my books like Wonders of Faith and Higher Life In Christ to learn more.

What did you learn from today’s Bible Study? Share with others at the comment section below.

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