When we compare the strength of ourselves to God the Father, we see the contrast between us. He is all powerful having created the heavens and the earth. When we witness a storm with strong winds and violent lightning or feel a mighty earthquake, we get a small view of the power of God. We see His power demonstrated in Jesus who was able to perform miracles, heal the sick, cast out evil spirits and forgive sins. We also see His power in raising Jesus from the dead. We are weak humans with very little power compared to God. He has the power. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prayed to the Father in Matthew 6:13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The Father has the power.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had some of the power of God? The good news is that God has chosen to use His power on our behalf. One of the ways that He uses His power is to deliver us from the evil one, as we just read. In our spiritual warfare, we must be strong in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10-11 “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.” This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), and prayer. Although we certainly have a part to play in putting on the armor and using it, we need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might when we fight against the devil and the spiritual forces of evil.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” In the spiritual battles that we face, we need to trust in the power of God and not in our own strength. Our spiritual weapons are mighty in God.
The apostle Paul was made weak by a thorn in the flesh from Satan. He didn’t tell us what it was; there have been various theories as to what it could be. Whatever it was, God wouldn’t take it away. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It seems that Paul asked the Lord three times to take away his thorn in the flesh, but the Lord did not take it away. When Paul accepted his weaknesses and trusted in the Lord, Christ was able to make Paul spiritually strong. The power came from Christ. God wanted Paul to spiritually trust in Him rather than to depend upon his own physical abilities. God wants us to humbly acknowledge our weaknesses and instead trust in Him for strength.
Consider two prayers that the Apostle Paul made that are recorded in the Bible. The first was for the Ephesians, recorded in Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Notice that the strength and power come from God. Where we really need strength is in our inner person. Only God can give us strength in our inner person through His Spirit.
The second prayer was for the Colossians, recorded in Colossians 1:9-11 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Again, notice the prayer for strength by God’s power. In this case, the power is for patience and longsuffering. It is power to endure and not be defeated spiritually.
If the Apostle Paul could pray for God’s strength for the Ephesians and for the Colossians, we too should pray for each other to have strength from God. And as you do so, pray for yourselves that you will be strong – strong against temptation and strong in your service for God and strong in your spiritual battles. Don’t depend upon your own strength, but ask for the strength from God. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The Apostle Paul also prayed in Ephesians 1:17-19 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ” I also pray that we may know the greatness of His power toward us.