For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,
from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of His Glory
He may grant you to be strengthened
with power through His Spirit
(Ephesians 3:14-16)
I just bought a used Nordic Track. I’ve looked at them for years… and then they were discontinued. However, I was just looking for a treadmill and found a used Nordic Track for sale. And affordable, too! I am getting older and want to maintain – and build – my strength and endurance. But this is much harder than a treadmill!!! And that makes me feel very old and out of shape. (Round is a shape, right!) It’s going to take more work than I imagined, and consistency. God help me!
In the verses above, God wants us to be strengthened. UGH! Work! However, keep reading. We’ll talk about WHY He wants us strengthened in the next blog. But, for now, let’s sit on this part of the verse. He wants to grant us strength with power through His Spirit.
I don’t think it means we don’t need to work at it, but what we need is strength with power.
What’s the difference between strength and power? The picture that comes to mind is Popeye. (I said I am old!) Popeye is an everyday kind of guy – with a corncob pipe and a girlfriend, Olive Oil. (Personally, I think he didn’t see that well. She’s really not pretty, but love is blind… and so was Popeye.) I digress. Bluto, the town bully, would beat Popeye to a pulp – until Popeye’s secret weapon. Spinach! After sucking down the spinach, Popeye’s arm muscles would suddenly bulge and he could lift a heavy weight. That’s strength. Then one punch from Popeye and Bluto would go flying. That’s power!
Strength and power often go together, but they are not the same. The Lord says He is our Strong Tower. A strong tower is not easily moved or pulled down, but it can’t actively fight in the battle. It provides safety and a refuge but does not defeat the enemy.
Power, on the other hand, implies action. It is strength in action that is required.
Back to building strength through exercise. Why should I build muscle? Just so I’d have a better physique? Look better in clothes? As great as that may be, I don’t think that’s the main goal. I need to be able to move, walk, get up off the floor, avoid falls, and so on.
That is why God wants us to be strengthened with power. And that is not just from our efforts, but He desires us to be strengthened, with power, through Holy Spirit! It is important to stand, but not just stand. Ephesians 6 gives us armor for the battle, and then says in verse 13, Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Strength!
Why do we need this? Here are my thoughts.
We are in a battle. I’m not talking about battling the “old man.” He was crucified with Jesus according to Galatians 2:20. [We] have been crucified with Christ and [we] no longer live, but Christ lives in [us]. Our “old man” mindset is what we battle. Our old habits. Lies we’ve believed, as so on. We must stand “strongly” in who God says we are. (And remember, He knows who He created us to be, and sees the “finished product.”)
This takes work, and work requires power. Webster defines power as “the ability to act or produce an effect.” In battle, that requires a strong, powerful person shooting the arrows, wielding the sword, defeating the enemy. (Remember, God’s Word – spoken – is our sword.)
We need power and strength, for our everyday battles. Webster also defines power as “a source or means of supplying energy.” That is the last part of today’s verse. Holy Spirit is our source of power and strength – not our efforts, or consistency, or successes. He gives us the spiritual energy to stand strong, shoot straight, and defeat the enemies.
Second Timothy says that in the last days, People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Timothy 2-5) We certainly see the first part of those verses as true, but let’s not be one of them. Let’s not have a form of godliness but deny it’s power.
Hebrews tells us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
This is true for Holy Spirit as well. He is the same today as He was on Pentecost. He wants to fill us and give us power. That is what Jesus said in Luke 24:29. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Holy Spirit,
Fill us,
Today and Tomorrow,
With strength, with joy,
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength,
With power,
There’s power in the Blood –
Again and again.
Amen!