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Knowing Your Strength

Words of Faith Final

Knowing Your Strength

Words of Faith 5-3-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 6

[10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

 

       This is Spiritual Boot Camp.  There is a foundational truth to be learned here.  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  You cannot do battle if you do not know your strength.  Your enemy wants you to believe you are weak-- and that he is strong or does not exist.  What your Enemy does not want you to know-- is that the war has already been won. It is finished.

       I had to chuckle at a story I read a couple of years ago about an "Atheist Holiday Sign" that was posted at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington.  The sign read: "At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail.  There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.  There is only our natural world.  Religion is but myth and superstition. That hardens hearts and enslaves minds."  Of course, it wasn't long before the sign was stolen.  And, of course, it was pointed out that this theft was a breaking of the 8th commandment.

        But as I reflected on the story, it occurred to me that the most dangerous thing about the sign was not the proclamation that there is no God.  Everyone knows that there is a God.  The most dangerous idea on sign was that there is no devil-- no enemy-- no hell.  If our Enemy can convince us of that even briefly, the battle is nearly over. 

       The truth is that Jesus has won the war.  "Take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Our struggles are part of the clean-up skirmishes.  There will be one more final battle because the Enemy refuses to surrender. In the meantime, the Enemy inflicts wounds and pillages.  His purpose is not to win because he cannot do that.  The Enemy purposes to kill, steal, and destroy.  There is no Enemy more dangerous than a defeated one with nothing to lose.

          So be strong in His Power.  The word here is endunamao, from which we get the word dynamite.  Be filled with the dynamite of the Lord.  Be filled with His power and in the vigorous force of His dominion.  Know your strength.

       We celebrate the sweet story of Christmas with gentle carols, but in reality, Christmas is a story of war.  Sin brought about a war between the forces of darkness and light.  After thousands of years of preparation and expectation-- God launched His long-awaited attack.  He used His most powerful weapon, love.  He launched that weapon in the form of a baby.  The invasion was announced by Gabriel-- the Angel of the power of God. 

      The assault of God was against the rulers and authorities.  Herod was so angry at this invasion that he tried everything to intercept and kill this weapon.  The battle was 33 years long against the principalities and powers-- religious, political, and demonic.  The war was won at Calvary on the cross when Jesus declared-- It is finished! 

      There is still no surrender or treaty. The Enemy is bloodied and defeated.  He can only operate within our fear and ignorance.  He still struggles though the war is over.  The Struggle is his-- not yours.  You stand in the Power of God’s might and the victory of Jesus. You stand in the victory of His Cross.  You stand with the army of the Righteous. There is still sniper fire, traps, and land mines as the skirmishes continue, but you stand in victory.

 

      Father God, help me to stand in Your power and might.  Help me to constantly realize that the victory You have won.  Help me to recognize the ploys of the Enemy to create fear and ignorance so that he might harass.  I choose to stand in the power of Your might today and to walk in Your victory.  In Jesus’ Name.