All throughout Paul's writings, he encourages us to be strong. In First Corinthians sixteen, he tells us, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13). In other words, be resolute! Don't cave in to temptations. Don't give in to opposition. Stand firm in your faith and be determined to withstand the pressures that life tries to put upon you. His advice to us as believers is, hold your ground! Remain fortified within. Don't let the weaknesses of this world determine your destiny. Rise above it and live in the strength of Almighty God! And how are we to do that? We are to do it by letting God strengthen us from within.

            This is not an outward strength. It is an inward strength. When Paul addressed the church of Corinth, over his concerns with many eating and drinking the Lord's Supper unworthily, his words were, "For this cause, many are weak, and sickly among you, and many sleep" (! Cor. 11:30). This word "weak" is the Greek word ASTHENES and it means to be unable to achieve anything great, to be destitute of power, to be sluggish in doing right, to be wanting in manliness and dignity, to have no power to promote salvation. He is simply saying that when you stoop to live on this lower level of worldly thinking- holding on to grudges, carrying attitudes, letting people's opinion affect your behavior, etc., then you become susceptible to things that weaken you spiritually. I am quite sure, in most cases, where believers have become subject to sickness and even die before their time, that it all stems from becoming weak on the inside. That is usually the first symptom and sign that shows up, and it is very easy to detect. Folks begin to back off from attending church. They don't come to prayer meetings. They get more and more involved in natural things. And then they wonder why they struggle overcoming the enemy!

            Listen friend, there is strength, a saving strength that comes into our lives to empower us to live above the currents of this world's system. Jesus taught that we are in this world but not of this world. That is so important for us to understand! This is not our home. And we can't afford to let it sway us or influence us, because the moment we lose our grip on the strength of God we become weakened by the weak and beggarly elements of this world. Our life must be fixed on the kingdom! Our citizenship must be centered on heaven. That is where we draw our strength, and why we must build our lives on the resolution that we are above only and not beneath!

             In the great chapter on the armor of God, Paul begins by saying, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph. 6:10). This is where our strength lies! It comes from abiding "in" the Lord and "in" the power of his might! If you think about it, the moment you gave your life to Christ, you where placed "into" him. "Therefore, if any man be "in" Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Cor. 5:17). But there is something in this statement that Paul declares that takes our being in Christ to a whole new level. He said, "Be strong in the Lord!" In other words, "BE STRONG IN CHRIST'S LORDSHIP!" Let his mighty power and dominion take hold on the inside until his strength becomes your strength - until his power becomes your power! This is how you find that resolve to live above the dictates of this world.

            It is no secret. You have been made more than a conqueror through him that loves you! (Rom. 8:37). And how you live your life as "more than a conqueror" comes by seeing yourself in him, and drawing from the power of his victory! It would do us all well to meditate on the riches of his glory. I mean, feed on the wealth of his triumph. For there is where your strength lies - it is in that great and glorious victory when he conquered death and spoiled principalities and powers! You talk about the strength of God! There is no might like the Almighty!