Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Paul's closing charge to believers calls them to firm strength after his directions on godly family order and wholehearted service. To be strong means to show courage, decision and steadfast active faith rather than weakness, wavering or fear, and to draw all power from the Lord and not from self, human ability or human aid. It opens the call to take every piece of God's armor so as to stand firm against the devil's schemes and spiritual powers of darkness rather than merely human foes. This strength is received by abiding in Christ with living faith, earnest prayer and wrestling, and diligent receiving and practicing of the Word that subdues wrong and builds growth. It keeps the church militant, watchful and united for the last great conflict, enabling the remnant to withstand sifting, hold principle under opposition, and advance in courageous missionary service to final victory.
Verse Setting and Terms
Finally, brethren, be strong is Paul's summing up of his instruction to the Ephesian believers, standing as the final call at the close of directions to fathers not to provoke children but to raise them in godly training, to servants to obey with sincere wholehearted service to Christ, and to masters to act likewise without threatening because their heavenly Master shows no favoritism. It is an exhortation given with the conflict between Christ and Satan over human souls in view, commanding strength in the Lord and in the power of His might, not in self, self-confidence and self-sufficiency. That divine strength is for standing against the wiles of the devil in a wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, and when remembered and obeyed in camp-meeting work by putting on the whole armor of God it gains wonderful victories. It calls for firmness, not feebleness or wavering instability tossed about like sea waves, for power drawn not from human might but from the Lord and His might, meaning that those who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel must be willing to share in His conflicts and wage determined war against the powers of darkness.
The command to be strong calls for firmness, courage, decision of character, living active faith and valiant steadfastness, not weakness, feebleness, wavering instability, indecision, cringing fear, or careless half-awake living. That God commands it proves being strong is possible, for there is no limit to the Lord's power, He is invincible and is a strong tower into whom believers can run and be safe. The lesson is taught by Nehemiah's experience in connection with the rebuilding of Jerusalem and will be needed as long as time shall last, because the enemy will mingle his evil with every good work if workers are not on guard and so seeks to spoil God's purposes. The strength is needed because conflict with the prince of darkness is constant and must be severe, since true Christianity arouses enmity and evil is ever warring against good, so believers must unite in that warfare, cease warring against those of their own faith, and refuse to help Satan in his work. It means abiding in Christ and going on from strength to strength, from character to character, as fruit-bearing trees of righteousness bearing much fruit to the glory of God, keeping the love of Christ burning upon the altar of the heart so that love can be kindled in the hearts of others. Without it the churches degenerate into weakness and inefficiency, keep truth in the outer court unsanctifying the soul, let the once-bright candle go out in darkness, lose vital connection with Christ like Ephesus, and open the door to wolves, while the Spirit will not always strive with a perverse heart. It is a charge given in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to find strength in the Lord and in the power of His might, where Jesus loves the believer and will be his constant efficiency for overcoming, so that those who overcome much because they love Jesus most will in the day when each is rewarded according to his works be put next to Christ within the inner circle and greatly honored, making every moment exceedingly precious.
In the Lord and in the power of His might means all strength comes from the Lord, Christ Jesus, and God, never from self, self-confidence, human strength, ability, goodness, righteousness, organizations, wisdom, or human aid. Believers must draw their strength from the Lord and from His mighty power to face spiritual conflict, for the strength for standing firm comes from God, not merely from human ability. That strength fortifies them against Satan and his emissaries and enables them to stand against the devil's schemes, and God provides what is needed to overcome opposition when His directions are followed. Strength for Christian service comes from Christ Jesus and the power of God, so that ministers who come before people in Christ's strength show that God is with them and upholds them by His mighty power. The command finds strength in Him rather than in themselves, as the opening instruction for taking up the whole armor of God and standing firm in conflict with evil.
The verse opens and introduces the instruction to take God's whole armor so believers can stand against the devil's schemes, withstand spiritual opposition, and remain standing. The following instructions show this strength is needed to stand against the devil's schemes and spiritual powers, equipping them for the spiritual conflict described in the following verses. This strength equips them to wear God's full armor and resist spiritual evil, for the struggle is against spiritual powers, not merely human opponents. The armor is truth, righteousness, readiness from the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, God's word, and persevering prayer for all believers and saints, with loins girt, breastplate, feet shod, shield, helmet, sword of the Spirit, and supplication.
Enemy and Armor
The strength is needed because much is at stake in a wrestling that is not against flesh and blood or merely human opponents but against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places, including unholy angels. The church remains in militant time and must not be weaklings nor off guard for a moment, for it must still fight seen and unseen foes until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. Those foes include satanic agencies in human form confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts and organized in every city against the law of God, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers joining them, as well as deceiving human agencies speaking what the enemy puts into their minds. Standing therefore requires refusing to believe and be deceived by those turned from truth to fables whose words eat as a canker because they will not break fellowship with unholy angels, and instead watching and praying, giving Satan no advantage in word or spirit, holding firmly to the Saviour in humility, meekness and lowliness, and speaking truth while resisting his deceptions in a spiritual struggle rather than against human beings.
Being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might means putting on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. That armor is loins girt with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. With it goes praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with bold utterance of the gospel mystery. This equipment begins the instruction for withstanding spiritual opposition that is not merely human but involves evil spiritual powers.
One or two pieces are not enough, for every piece must be taken as the condition for standing firm in the evil day against schemes that are not of human origin but of spiritual powers. The armor is described as the armor of righteousness. Christ Himself is the believer's armor, so the gospel armor is not too heavy to bear when hidden in Him, keeping the wicked one from harassing or confusing faith and giving His own peace to the one who hides in Him. Putting on Christ's righteousness as armor guards the soul against resisting the Spirit of God and enables holding firmly to truth.
That divine strength equips believers to stand against the devil's schemes and spiritual forces of evil, not by human ability but by the Lord's might. It enables speaking the truth, resisting Satan's deceptions and spiritual temptation, quenching fiery attacks, guarding speech, and helping tempted souls resist. It enables refusing to appear outwardly in harmony with those opposing God's law, holding principle in the conflict over Sunday observance without needlessly provoking opponents. The need is illustrated by Satan's persistent work to gain control of human minds and lead into sin, which God restrains and counterworks, as shown by the missionary ship's preservation at sea.
Standing With Vigilance
To stand and to withstand in the evil day is to stand firm for what is right, to put on the whole armor of God, and having done all to remain standing. The strength is required because the wrestling is not against flesh and blood or merely human opposition but against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places, including unholy angels. That armor is loins girt with truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, with praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with perseverance and supplication for all saints. The evil day is the coming time of testing and sifting just before the end, when all who claim to belong to God will be tested and only those whose conduct matches the light they received will stand on the Lord's side, while those given great light but refusing to live by it will meet darkness corresponding to the light rejected.
The church is still militant, not yet triumphant, and must fight seen and unseen foes until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. Therefore believers must never be weaklings, weak, divided, indecisive, or living careless half-awake lives, and must never be off guard for a moment but stay constantly on guard, drawing all strength from the Lord and the power of His might. Satanic agencies in human form are on the ground, men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts, satanic agencies in every city are organizing those opposed to the law of God with professed saints and avowed unbelievers joining them, and these confederacies opposing truth will increase in number and power near the end of time. Vigilance means watching as sleepless sentinels and minute men with Bibles in hand saying It is written, being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, keeping on the whole armor, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls.
Standing firm requires refusing to believe and be deceived by those who have turned from the truth to fables and speak whatever the enemy puts into their minds, whose words eat as a canker because they will not break from fellowship with unholy angels. It requires resisting rebellion, apostasy, and deception, remaining firmly anchored in Christ and fully armed when false claims to be Christ and Satan's agents seek the allegiance of believers. Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end and will come as an angel of light claiming to be Christ to deceive the world, but his triumph will be short and those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth cannot be moved by storm or tempest even in the time of almost universal apostasy. Especially in the approaching crisis, those who have yielded to temptation will be unprepared and confused, unable to distinguish what is divine from what is Satanic.
In this strength believers conquer every foe, including foes not yet developed, and become more than conquerors through Christ's love, pressing the battle to the gates and advancing step by step toward heaven while leading others in safe paths. The command is not mockery, for God is true and His Word cannot fail, and God has made full provision to equip for warfare with the powers of darkness, so that depending on God under all circumstances, meeting the foe with It is written, keeping the armory well supplied with the Word, and keeping eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive to detect the devices of the enemy trains for still more severe attacks. Victory comes not by human courage or self-reliance but by being united to Christ by living faith, depending on Him who died and rightly estimates the value of the soul, putting on Christ, trusting Him to supply needs, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, and uniting human effort with divine power and heaven's grace and help to bring in righteousness and save perishing souls. Then wisdom is given to discern clearly the wiles, devices, and stratagems of the enemy, wickedness is exposed as weak, and the triumph is with joy in redeeming grace and final victory.
Final Conflict Urgency
The strength commanded is for the last great conflict between two opposing parties that continues until the close of this world's history and of earth's history, with no moment to be off guard. In that conflict satanic agencies are at work and organized in every city, organizing those opposed to the law of God, with men confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts and professed saints joining with avowed unbelievers. Confederacies opposing truth will increase in number and power near the end of time while apostasy increases, and aggressive forward movement to push the work and carry the message to churches and to the world arouses the full weight of the hostility of the powers of darkness in a confederacy of evil men united with satanic agencies. Heavenly angels in human guise are also on the field against subtle satanic agencies in human form opposing the building up of the kingdom, in a world in midnight darkness almost wholly given to idolatry, and the warfare will continue until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. That strength forbids being weaklings, being weak and divided, living careless half-awake indecisive lives, and requires drawing all strength from the Lord and His power, being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, keeping on the whole armor to conquer every foe including foes not yet developed, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls.
The call belongs to every age but applies especially to the remnant church facing Satan's powerful deceptions and attacks in the last days, to those keeping God's commandments amid a crooked and perverse world who must stand at the post of duty and resist spiritual forces of darkness. Its strength gives the final warning and presents the Sabbath message, for trusting God brings success and victory as strength and shield while relying on personal strength leads to defeat. In the conflict over Sunday observance that strength enables standing against the devil's wiles without appearing outwardly in harmony with those opposing God's law, holding principles without needlessly provoking opponents. It is the strength to preserve the foundation of faith in the third angel's message and to stand against Satan's efforts to undermine faith. It enables standing firm for truth amid severe opposition, remaining true to principle and moral integrity unmoved by praise, blame, or reward, keeping a clear conscience even at the cost of life.
Divine strength is needed to remain faithful when tested and to stand against evil in the coming sifting and time of testing that will sift those who claim to belong to God and settle every person's course for eternity. Those given great light who have not lived by it and refuse to live by it will face darkness corresponding to the light they rejected and to despised light, while those whose works and conduct match the light received will be counted and numbered on the Lord's side. The evil day is the sifting day just before us when those claiming to be children of God will be tested and the unjust found among the just, as the enemy works to add souls to apostasy and the Lord soon comes to close earth's history and decide every case for eternity. Being strong therefore means not merely waiting but vigilantly watching and working as the living church with none neutral, all representing Christ in active effort to save perishing souls, not folding hands or sleeping, taking every precaution against haphazard work and spiritual declension, strengthening the mind to discern the reasons of faith and purifying the soul-temple by truth, for only the pure in heart will stand, with warnings needed while gathering light and upholding truth amid moral darkness as Satan's power to deceive increases and the weak are at risk of being led astray.
Nehemiah's prayer for God to strengthen his hands shows this dependence in practice in connection with rebuilding Jerusalem, refusing to be frightened into abandoning the work or committing a sin enemies could use against him, a lesson in strength and decision of character needed as long as time shall last because the enemy will mingle evil with every good work if workers are not on guard and so seeks to spoil God's purposes. Faithful workers in earlier generations stood firm by trusting wholly in God though weak in themselves, true as steel, because their conflicts were spiritual and not merely human. Aged soldiers of the cross in the work since the passing of the time in 1844, such as Butler and Haskell in the southern field, stand sustained, respected, and prepared for while doing arduous enduring work to fit up men and women to proclaim the message with faith and hope and courage and wisdom, holding established truth by experience and meeting misleading theories from misused texts not with controversy but by presenting clear straight truths, with others like Bates and Gurney steadfast preparing for the seal and courage to proclaim present truth since 1844. Wolff's confidence that the Bible's might would sustain him amid danger and Luther's firm facing of opposition with truth on his side show that strength and sustaining power come from the Lord and not personal power.
Receiving Divine Strength
Strength is received by abiding in Christ through living faith and close connection, united to Him who died and who rightly values the soul, depending on Him with wholehearted trust, affection and consecration rather than on self-reliance, good works, good impulses or personal righteousness. Without Him nothing can be done, but abiding in Him brings forth much fruit and all efficiency for effective work against spiritual opposition, for the spiritual life is nourished by the soul's unseen union with Christ as having no root without that connection. To be strong is to put on Christ and yield the will to be hid with Christ and allied above all principalities, receiving Him within so that His power becomes personal property vitalizing the whole being, clothing life with power, guiding mind and lips, and enabling a life without unrighteousness and readiness to speak timely words to those ignorant of truth. It is both privilege and duty to grow in grace and in knowledge and strength of experience by using blessings unselfishly to bring hope and courage to lives ready to die, working out salvation with spiritual strength for duty, constantly trusting Christ to supply need, going forward in His might while helping the weak, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, with wisdom given to discern clearly the enemy's wiles, devices and stratagems to deceive and ruin. Those exalted to responsibility and trust must reveal deeper piety, more earnest faith and more zeal as witnesses of His grace, never following a course that leaves less of Jesus Christ.
That abiding is exercised by living faith that looks away from own merits to the merits and righteousness of Christ as loving and mighty Savior, believing He means what He says and taking Him at His word. Standing in the strength of the Mighty One comes by falling all broken upon Jesus, wholly without reserve the Lord's, lying low subdued at the foot of the cross while taking hold of His strength, accepting forgiveness by faith and being changed in moral affections by the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit until complete in Christ and standing in the moral excellence of His character. His word is pledged that He will be a present help in every time of need, a Rock, shield and keeping power in every perplexity and sorrow, and that strength is all that is needed for working in greater faith and fighting the good fight of faith and breaking the force of Satan's suggestions by living actual faith. The warfare is met by depending on God under all circumstances, using the weapons of His Word, meeting the foe with It is written, keeping the armory well supplied and thereby meeting advances of the enemy and training for still more severe attacks, with eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive to detect his devices. Truth, the Word of God, faith and righteousness, and the hope of salvation are the armor of the successful warrior, and God has made full provision to equip thoroughly against the powers of darkness and the wiles of the devil, so the command is no mockery for His Word cannot fail and assurance is found in it, sought through prayer and constant watchfulness amid daily conflict.
Strength is also received through communion, earnest pleading and wrestling with God for blessing as Jacob did, daily kneeling prayer for special help longing for salvation, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The soldier's life is aggressive warfare requiring perseverance and endurance, not mimic battles or make-believe conflict but real struggle against most powerful adversaries, and strength is found not in self where the early disciples found it but in the Lord by being with one accord in earnest prayer and supplication, merging self in Christ and Christ in God and centering all hope and faith and confidence in Christ. When those enlisted in Christ's army do difficult work and endure trials for His sake and pray from contrite souls, they receive the Holy Spirit, boldness to speak God's word, and a display of His power that melts and subdues hearts, giving refuge when soul-tearing conflicts come with energies taxed to the uttermost yet upheld by His assurance of abiding presence. That grace subdues passion, overcomes inherited and cultivated wrong, agonizes against temptation, endures hardness as good soldiers, and advances through trial as exercise strengthens the body, forming Godlike character as promises are trusted and enabling victory over personal inclination and cultivation of personal piety. Those carrying responsibilities draw this mighty power to meet temptation and debate over Bible truth by keeping out of controversy and refusing presumptuous ventures to prove position impregnable, doing all possible to make peace and gathering fewer responsibilities and giving no occasion for stumbling by example.
It comes further by diligent study, receiving and practicing the Word as written expressly for self, sanctification through truth, and progressing from strength to strength as fruit-bearing trees lest connection be lost. Being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls forbids weak, divided, indecisive and careless half-awake living and enables conquering every foe including foes not yet developed amid subtle agencies and increasing confederacies opposing truth. Practicing the Word instead of standing with the world requires clearing the mind from selfish indulgence in eating, drinking and dressing and living health and purity principles, without which blessing and cooperation with human effort cannot be expected, while grace must make received light a living principle of action as character, actions and motives are weighed. Receiving this strength lets people see themselves in a different light and become workmen learning from Christ and working as He worked, which is sanctification, drawing all strength from the Lord rather than finite human sufficiency so that efficiency is of God and not of self.
Receiving it requires knowing self and proving motives and desires, for the more this is done the more is felt personal inability to fight in own strength and the need to be girt with truth for purity of purpose to serve Christ and not self. Being strong means establishing the heart in belief that God knows every trial and difficulty in warfare against evil, refusing unbelief that belittles His power and dishonors Him, refusing to depend on any broken reed or look for human aid or put man where God should be, but trusting His nearness to strengthen and uphold as everlasting strength with promised help in His field of labor under testing. It means humbling self under the cross for everlasting deliverance, walking after Christ with positive evidence of separation from the world, enduring to the end and holding confidence firm unto the end for eternal righteousness through reconciliation for iniquity and the everlasting righteousness brought in by sacrifice. It means bridling suspicion, distrust, evil-speaking, scheming, confederating in questionable matters, underhand working, untruthful practice, corrupt dealing, irreverent talk and the least injustice for advantage, and instead studying the Bible, imitating Christ, doing right because it is right and doing unto others as one would be done by, with perceptive faculties awake while integrity is tested under heaven's watch and with imaginary unhappiness rooted out by walking as redeemed children with all heaven's treasures at command.
Courage for Service Living
Being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might is strength for Christian service drawn from Christ Jesus and the power of God, so that ministers who come before people in that strength show God with them upholding them by mighty power. True soldiers do not act as though Christ were not a risen, ascended Saviour, but yoke up with Christ, pray for the Holy Spirit, gird up the loins of the mind, bridle the tongue, humble self without exalting self, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ making no provision for the flesh. The servant thus made strong stands ready to go wherever Providence leads, calling nothing his own but holding talents, learning, position, wealth, and influence as the Lord's lent treasure to be employed to strengthen His flock, as a messenger of mercy and minister of grace, converted and humble as a little child with childlike faith. Ministers live amid the closing scenes of earth's history as watchmen on the walls of Zion who must discern and give the messages due at this time with a certain trumpet sound lest souls be quieted to sleep unto eternal loss, which requires putting on the whole armor to stand against the devil's wiles in a wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith to quench every fiery attack, salvation, the Word of God, and constant persevering prayer in the Spirit for all saints to withstand in the evil day. That strength equips those carrying responsibilities to meet temptation and debate over Bible truth by keeping out of controversy and refusing presumptuous ventures to prove a position impregnable, because the warfare is with Satan the wily deceiver and not with men of flesh and blood. Young men and young women are called to find this strength in God to fight decisive battles for Him by consecrating themselves to saving those perishing without Christ, with intensity in seeking souls because Satan is intense in deceiving souls and gathering them under his banner of apostasy and rebellion with laborers without number. Christian workers must find strength not in themselves but in the Lord and His power, who gives strength to serve and to endure deep trials, and intends them to help and bless one another, standing faithfully at posts in the fear of God, doing first duty aright with meekness and daily conversion, speaking carefully and wisely, opposing deceptive agents, confounding Satan's forces, and triumphing in the Lord's name without feeling the whole burden rests on self.
The call arms faithful service and preaching the Word to a perishing world, for the complete armor that equips believers to stand against Satan's forces is found in God's Word, the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has given every person work to do and imparted talents that must yield a return, and strength for that work comes only in the Lord and in the power of His might, so that no matter how wise in Bible knowledge each soul must receive and believe in Christ and cooperate with God, gaining a right knowledge of God which is life and peace. God's people are to be minutemen, ready at once to engage in aggressive warfare, keeping all combined forces united in one line of work rather than dividing them into weakness, learning the Scriptures while teaching others, and applying the mind closely to impart knowledge in a clear connected manner with no haphazard work, so the work is completed strongly and stands firm where opposition is strong and where Satan's seat is. When messengers carry the message to the churches and to the world and push the work forward aggressively, that forward movement arouses the hostility of the powers of darkness and a confederacy of evil men united with satanic agencies, and its full weight is then understood, for the conflict is not against flesh and blood but against the devil's wiles, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, so only divine strength enables standing. Christians are soldiers in an army fighting for Prince Immanuel who must drill and train to be ready for actual service in spiritual warfare, with battles to be fought in different countries of Europe against tradition, superstition, and error, and preparation must be earnest, painstaking, and thorough like soldiers training for literal battle. This same strength builds the church, carries work in America to help distant fields, conducts schools, sells publications that will enlighten unknown readers, unites medical missionary work with the gospel, and holds workers ready at once.
Being strong means girding on the gospel armor, ceasing to weaken, and standing firm in fidelity to God and to one another, united to Christ by living faith, depending on Him who died and who rightly estimates the value of the human soul, and putting on Christ. His grace enables faithful performance of every given duty, and in the power of His might every foe is to be conquered, as it is the privilege and duty of every child of God to grow in grace and in strength of experience God waits to give to all who use His blessings unselfishly to bring hope and courage to lives ready to die. The verse is an order from Christ as Captain of salvation to every soldier to count the cost and make preparation for battle against a vast confederacy of evil, with assurance of supernatural assistance so that in human weakness believers are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding the evil one, standing united shoulder to shoulder under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel and obeying orders with candor, confidence, love, and cooperation. God exhorts every member of the church to strive together for unity by this strength, which is the preparedness of heart all must have to enter heaven, gained by putting on the whole armor to stand against the devil's wiles in the evil day, requiring careful self-examination to draw in even cords with brethren, refusing to weaken influence by dwelling on faults and mistakes seen in others and refusing to pet self, so as to become of sterling worth. A church that lacks Christ's love becomes weak and ineffective, unable to kindle love in others or keep its spiritual light shining, while conflict with eternal interests at stake calls for discipline, order, and harmonious action, since disorder weakens courage and hinders successful action and united work allows heavenly messengers to cooperate. Standing in God's strength means working together on God's principles instead of standing aloof, opening the windows of the soul heavenward and closing them earthward so God can reveal His salvation, keeping medical missionary work and the gospel inseparably bound as a united whole, with every talent and institution connected in shared management having interest in every part of the work, which brings management to a higher level and presents an unbroken front in answer to Christ's last prayer.
In daily life the call means drawing strength from the Lord to persevere in a position of responsibility and honor God despite criticism, for the Christian battles ahead require the full armor of God. That strength is needed to guard the Lord's property and resist evil dealings, while watching in prayer and guarding speech so the enemy does not gain advantage, and to bear responsibility and do spiritual work faithfully rather than relying on human power. Believers are to stand wholly under the control of Jesus Christ, joined to putting on the whole armor so they may stand against the devil's wiles as further set forth in verses 12-18. The verses including this charge are among the scriptures guiding the church and students in preparing for the coming day of trial, calling them to find strength in the Lord as they consecrate abilities to useful service and work to bless others. In bringing up children this strength is needed to follow God's will and help children resist evil, with God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, given to them as their weapon against evil. So understood, faithfulness means wholly consecrated service fitting for translation as Enoch, growth in mental, moral, and physical ability to think and plan, wise use of every faculty, care in small choices and kindnesses, and rest without overtaxing powers.
The strength gives courage for the trying position, since the struggle is not against people but against spiritual powers of evil, so God's whole armor is needed to withstand the evil day and stand firm. It enables drawing strength from the Lord and His power to stand firm against threats, deception, opposition, and deceptive efforts to hinder God's work. Nehemiah's prayer for God to strengthen his hands shows this dependence in practice, for he refused to be frightened into abandoning his work or committing a sin that enemies could use against him. Those who fight in the Lord's cause need not be without strength, because strength comes from the Lord and the power of His might, so that standing under His banner they can resist the devil's deceptive influence and stand firm by taking the whole armor of God. This strength is needed to stand against the devil's many wiles, so believers must remain on guard, with hope resting in living, earnest, determined faith that works by love and purifies the soul. In hardship, perplexity, illness, exhaustion, financial delay, homesickness, and scarce resources it means clinging to the Rock, seeking wisdom, trusting past and promised help, moving onward step by step toward the New Jerusalem, speaking faith and praise, and blessing others with holy atmosphere and full joy.
Paul's closing charge to believers calls them to firm strength after his directions on godly family order and wholehearted service.
To be strong means to show courage, decision and steadfast active faith rather than weakness, wavering or fear, and to draw all power from the Lord and not from self, human ability or human aid.
It opens the call to take every piece of God's armor so as to stand firm against the devil's schemes and spiritual powers of darkness rather than merely human foes.
This strength is received by abiding in Christ with living faith, earnest prayer and wrestling, and diligent receiving and practicing of the Word that subdues wrong and builds growth.
It keeps the church militant, watchful and united for the last great conflict, enabling the remnant to withstand sifting, hold principle under opposition, and advance in courageous missionary service to final victory.
Verse Setting and Terms
Finally, brethren, be strong is Paul's summing up of his instruction to the Ephesian believers, standing as the final call at the close of directions to fathers not to provoke children but to raise them in godly training, to servants to obey with sincere wholehearted service to Christ, and to masters to act likewise without threatening because their heavenly Master shows no favoritism. It is an exhortation given with the conflict between Christ and Satan over human souls in view, commanding strength in the Lord and in the power of His might, not in self, self-confidence and self-sufficiency. That divine strength is for standing against the wiles of the devil in a wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, and when remembered and obeyed in camp-meeting work by putting on the whole armor of God it gains wonderful victories. It calls for firmness, not feebleness or wavering instability tossed about like sea waves, for power drawn not from human might but from the Lord and His might, meaning that those who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel must be willing to share in His conflicts and wage determined war against the powers of darkness.
The command to be strong calls for firmness, courage, decision of character, living active faith and valiant steadfastness, not weakness, feebleness, wavering instability, indecision, cringing fear, or careless half-awake living. That God commands it proves being strong is possible, for there is no limit to the Lord's power, He is invincible and is a strong tower into whom believers can run and be safe. The lesson is taught by Nehemiah's experience in connection with the rebuilding of Jerusalem and will be needed as long as time shall last, because the enemy will mingle his evil with every good work if workers are not on guard and so seeks to spoil God's purposes. The strength is needed because conflict with the prince of darkness is constant and must be severe, since true Christianity arouses enmity and evil is ever warring against good, so believers must unite in that warfare, cease warring against those of their own faith, and refuse to help Satan in his work. It means abiding in Christ and going on from strength to strength, from character to character, as fruit-bearing trees of righteousness bearing much fruit to the glory of God, keeping the love of Christ burning upon the altar of the heart so that love can be kindled in the hearts of others. Without it the churches degenerate into weakness and inefficiency, keep truth in the outer court unsanctifying the soul, let the once-bright candle go out in darkness, lose vital connection with Christ like Ephesus, and open the door to wolves, while the Spirit will not always strive with a perverse heart. It is a charge given in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to find strength in the Lord and in the power of His might, where Jesus loves the believer and will be his constant efficiency for overcoming, so that those who overcome much because they love Jesus most will in the day when each is rewarded according to his works be put next to Christ within the inner circle and greatly honored, making every moment exceedingly precious.
In the Lord and in the power of His might means all strength comes from the Lord, Christ Jesus, and God, never from self, self-confidence, human strength, ability, goodness, righteousness, organizations, wisdom, or human aid. Believers must draw their strength from the Lord and from His mighty power to face spiritual conflict, for the strength for standing firm comes from God, not merely from human ability. That strength fortifies them against Satan and his emissaries and enables them to stand against the devil's schemes, and God provides what is needed to overcome opposition when His directions are followed. Strength for Christian service comes from Christ Jesus and the power of God, so that ministers who come before people in Christ's strength show that God is with them and upholds them by His mighty power. The command finds strength in Him rather than in themselves, as the opening instruction for taking up the whole armor of God and standing firm in conflict with evil.
The verse opens and introduces the instruction to take God's whole armor so believers can stand against the devil's schemes, withstand spiritual opposition, and remain standing. The following instructions show this strength is needed to stand against the devil's schemes and spiritual powers, equipping them for the spiritual conflict described in the following verses. This strength equips them to wear God's full armor and resist spiritual evil, for the struggle is against spiritual powers, not merely human opponents. The armor is truth, righteousness, readiness from the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, God's word, and persevering prayer for all believers and saints, with loins girt, breastplate, feet shod, shield, helmet, sword of the Spirit, and supplication.
Enemy and Armor
The strength is needed because much is at stake in a wrestling that is not against flesh and blood or merely human opponents but against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places, including unholy angels. The church remains in militant time and must not be weaklings nor off guard for a moment, for it must still fight seen and unseen foes until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. Those foes include satanic agencies in human form confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts and organized in every city against the law of God, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers joining them, as well as deceiving human agencies speaking what the enemy puts into their minds. Standing therefore requires refusing to believe and be deceived by those turned from truth to fables whose words eat as a canker because they will not break fellowship with unholy angels, and instead watching and praying, giving Satan no advantage in word or spirit, holding firmly to the Saviour in humility, meekness and lowliness, and speaking truth while resisting his deceptions in a spiritual struggle rather than against human beings.
Being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might means putting on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. That armor is loins girt with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. With it goes praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, with bold utterance of the gospel mystery. This equipment begins the instruction for withstanding spiritual opposition that is not merely human but involves evil spiritual powers.
One or two pieces are not enough, for every piece must be taken as the condition for standing firm in the evil day against schemes that are not of human origin but of spiritual powers. The armor is described as the armor of righteousness. Christ Himself is the believer's armor, so the gospel armor is not too heavy to bear when hidden in Him, keeping the wicked one from harassing or confusing faith and giving His own peace to the one who hides in Him. Putting on Christ's righteousness as armor guards the soul against resisting the Spirit of God and enables holding firmly to truth.
That divine strength equips believers to stand against the devil's schemes and spiritual forces of evil, not by human ability but by the Lord's might. It enables speaking the truth, resisting Satan's deceptions and spiritual temptation, quenching fiery attacks, guarding speech, and helping tempted souls resist. It enables refusing to appear outwardly in harmony with those opposing God's law, holding principle in the conflict over Sunday observance without needlessly provoking opponents. The need is illustrated by Satan's persistent work to gain control of human minds and lead into sin, which God restrains and counterworks, as shown by the missionary ship's preservation at sea.
Standing With Vigilance
To stand and to withstand in the evil day is to stand firm for what is right, to put on the whole armor of God, and having done all to remain standing. The strength is required because the wrestling is not against flesh and blood or merely human opposition but against the wiles of the devil, against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places, including unholy angels. That armor is loins girt with truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, with praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with perseverance and supplication for all saints. The evil day is the coming time of testing and sifting just before the end, when all who claim to belong to God will be tested and only those whose conduct matches the light they received will stand on the Lord's side, while those given great light but refusing to live by it will meet darkness corresponding to the light rejected.
The church is still militant, not yet triumphant, and must fight seen and unseen foes until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. Therefore believers must never be weaklings, weak, divided, indecisive, or living careless half-awake lives, and must never be off guard for a moment but stay constantly on guard, drawing all strength from the Lord and the power of His might. Satanic agencies in human form are on the ground, men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts, satanic agencies in every city are organizing those opposed to the law of God with professed saints and avowed unbelievers joining them, and these confederacies opposing truth will increase in number and power near the end of time. Vigilance means watching as sleepless sentinels and minute men with Bibles in hand saying It is written, being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, keeping on the whole armor, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls.
Standing firm requires refusing to believe and be deceived by those who have turned from the truth to fables and speak whatever the enemy puts into their minds, whose words eat as a canker because they will not break from fellowship with unholy angels. It requires resisting rebellion, apostasy, and deception, remaining firmly anchored in Christ and fully armed when false claims to be Christ and Satan's agents seek the allegiance of believers. Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end and will come as an angel of light claiming to be Christ to deceive the world, but his triumph will be short and those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth cannot be moved by storm or tempest even in the time of almost universal apostasy. Especially in the approaching crisis, those who have yielded to temptation will be unprepared and confused, unable to distinguish what is divine from what is Satanic.
In this strength believers conquer every foe, including foes not yet developed, and become more than conquerors through Christ's love, pressing the battle to the gates and advancing step by step toward heaven while leading others in safe paths. The command is not mockery, for God is true and His Word cannot fail, and God has made full provision to equip for warfare with the powers of darkness, so that depending on God under all circumstances, meeting the foe with It is written, keeping the armory well supplied with the Word, and keeping eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive to detect the devices of the enemy trains for still more severe attacks. Victory comes not by human courage or self-reliance but by being united to Christ by living faith, depending on Him who died and rightly estimates the value of the soul, putting on Christ, trusting Him to supply needs, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, and uniting human effort with divine power and heaven's grace and help to bring in righteousness and save perishing souls. Then wisdom is given to discern clearly the wiles, devices, and stratagems of the enemy, wickedness is exposed as weak, and the triumph is with joy in redeeming grace and final victory.
Final Conflict Urgency
The strength commanded is for the last great conflict between two opposing parties that continues until the close of this world's history and of earth's history, with no moment to be off guard. In that conflict satanic agencies are at work and organized in every city, organizing those opposed to the law of God, with men confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts and professed saints joining with avowed unbelievers. Confederacies opposing truth will increase in number and power near the end of time while apostasy increases, and aggressive forward movement to push the work and carry the message to churches and to the world arouses the full weight of the hostility of the powers of darkness in a confederacy of evil men united with satanic agencies. Heavenly angels in human guise are also on the field against subtle satanic agencies in human form opposing the building up of the kingdom, in a world in midnight darkness almost wholly given to idolatry, and the warfare will continue until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance. That strength forbids being weaklings, being weak and divided, living careless half-awake indecisive lives, and requires drawing all strength from the Lord and His power, being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, keeping on the whole armor to conquer every foe including foes not yet developed, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls.
The call belongs to every age but applies especially to the remnant church facing Satan's powerful deceptions and attacks in the last days, to those keeping God's commandments amid a crooked and perverse world who must stand at the post of duty and resist spiritual forces of darkness. Its strength gives the final warning and presents the Sabbath message, for trusting God brings success and victory as strength and shield while relying on personal strength leads to defeat. In the conflict over Sunday observance that strength enables standing against the devil's wiles without appearing outwardly in harmony with those opposing God's law, holding principles without needlessly provoking opponents. It is the strength to preserve the foundation of faith in the third angel's message and to stand against Satan's efforts to undermine faith. It enables standing firm for truth amid severe opposition, remaining true to principle and moral integrity unmoved by praise, blame, or reward, keeping a clear conscience even at the cost of life.
Divine strength is needed to remain faithful when tested and to stand against evil in the coming sifting and time of testing that will sift those who claim to belong to God and settle every person's course for eternity. Those given great light who have not lived by it and refuse to live by it will face darkness corresponding to the light they rejected and to despised light, while those whose works and conduct match the light received will be counted and numbered on the Lord's side. The evil day is the sifting day just before us when those claiming to be children of God will be tested and the unjust found among the just, as the enemy works to add souls to apostasy and the Lord soon comes to close earth's history and decide every case for eternity. Being strong therefore means not merely waiting but vigilantly watching and working as the living church with none neutral, all representing Christ in active effort to save perishing souls, not folding hands or sleeping, taking every precaution against haphazard work and spiritual declension, strengthening the mind to discern the reasons of faith and purifying the soul-temple by truth, for only the pure in heart will stand, with warnings needed while gathering light and upholding truth amid moral darkness as Satan's power to deceive increases and the weak are at risk of being led astray.
Nehemiah's prayer for God to strengthen his hands shows this dependence in practice in connection with rebuilding Jerusalem, refusing to be frightened into abandoning the work or committing a sin enemies could use against him, a lesson in strength and decision of character needed as long as time shall last because the enemy will mingle evil with every good work if workers are not on guard and so seeks to spoil God's purposes. Faithful workers in earlier generations stood firm by trusting wholly in God though weak in themselves, true as steel, because their conflicts were spiritual and not merely human. Aged soldiers of the cross in the work since the passing of the time in 1844, such as Butler and Haskell in the southern field, stand sustained, respected, and prepared for while doing arduous enduring work to fit up men and women to proclaim the message with faith and hope and courage and wisdom, holding established truth by experience and meeting misleading theories from misused texts not with controversy but by presenting clear straight truths, with others like Bates and Gurney steadfast preparing for the seal and courage to proclaim present truth since 1844. Wolff's confidence that the Bible's might would sustain him amid danger and Luther's firm facing of opposition with truth on his side show that strength and sustaining power come from the Lord and not personal power.
Receiving Divine Strength
Strength is received by abiding in Christ through living faith and close connection, united to Him who died and who rightly values the soul, depending on Him with wholehearted trust, affection and consecration rather than on self-reliance, good works, good impulses or personal righteousness. Without Him nothing can be done, but abiding in Him brings forth much fruit and all efficiency for effective work against spiritual opposition, for the spiritual life is nourished by the soul's unseen union with Christ as having no root without that connection. To be strong is to put on Christ and yield the will to be hid with Christ and allied above all principalities, receiving Him within so that His power becomes personal property vitalizing the whole being, clothing life with power, guiding mind and lips, and enabling a life without unrighteousness and readiness to speak timely words to those ignorant of truth. It is both privilege and duty to grow in grace and in knowledge and strength of experience by using blessings unselfishly to bring hope and courage to lives ready to die, working out salvation with spiritual strength for duty, constantly trusting Christ to supply need, going forward in His might while helping the weak, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, with wisdom given to discern clearly the enemy's wiles, devices and stratagems to deceive and ruin. Those exalted to responsibility and trust must reveal deeper piety, more earnest faith and more zeal as witnesses of His grace, never following a course that leaves less of Jesus Christ.
That abiding is exercised by living faith that looks away from own merits to the merits and righteousness of Christ as loving and mighty Savior, believing He means what He says and taking Him at His word. Standing in the strength of the Mighty One comes by falling all broken upon Jesus, wholly without reserve the Lord's, lying low subdued at the foot of the cross while taking hold of His strength, accepting forgiveness by faith and being changed in moral affections by the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit until complete in Christ and standing in the moral excellence of His character. His word is pledged that He will be a present help in every time of need, a Rock, shield and keeping power in every perplexity and sorrow, and that strength is all that is needed for working in greater faith and fighting the good fight of faith and breaking the force of Satan's suggestions by living actual faith. The warfare is met by depending on God under all circumstances, using the weapons of His Word, meeting the foe with It is written, keeping the armory well supplied and thereby meeting advances of the enemy and training for still more severe attacks, with eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive to detect his devices. Truth, the Word of God, faith and righteousness, and the hope of salvation are the armor of the successful warrior, and God has made full provision to equip thoroughly against the powers of darkness and the wiles of the devil, so the command is no mockery for His Word cannot fail and assurance is found in it, sought through prayer and constant watchfulness amid daily conflict.
Strength is also received through communion, earnest pleading and wrestling with God for blessing as Jacob did, daily kneeling prayer for special help longing for salvation, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The soldier's life is aggressive warfare requiring perseverance and endurance, not mimic battles or make-believe conflict but real struggle against most powerful adversaries, and strength is found not in self where the early disciples found it but in the Lord by being with one accord in earnest prayer and supplication, merging self in Christ and Christ in God and centering all hope and faith and confidence in Christ. When those enlisted in Christ's army do difficult work and endure trials for His sake and pray from contrite souls, they receive the Holy Spirit, boldness to speak God's word, and a display of His power that melts and subdues hearts, giving refuge when soul-tearing conflicts come with energies taxed to the uttermost yet upheld by His assurance of abiding presence. That grace subdues passion, overcomes inherited and cultivated wrong, agonizes against temptation, endures hardness as good soldiers, and advances through trial as exercise strengthens the body, forming Godlike character as promises are trusted and enabling victory over personal inclination and cultivation of personal piety. Those carrying responsibilities draw this mighty power to meet temptation and debate over Bible truth by keeping out of controversy and refusing presumptuous ventures to prove position impregnable, doing all possible to make peace and gathering fewer responsibilities and giving no occasion for stumbling by example.
It comes further by diligent study, receiving and practicing the Word as written expressly for self, sanctification through truth, and progressing from strength to strength as fruit-bearing trees lest connection be lost. Being diligent students of the Word, praying more and talking less of matters of little consequence, and giving decided testimony that encourages weak and needy souls forbids weak, divided, indecisive and careless half-awake living and enables conquering every foe including foes not yet developed amid subtle agencies and increasing confederacies opposing truth. Practicing the Word instead of standing with the world requires clearing the mind from selfish indulgence in eating, drinking and dressing and living health and purity principles, without which blessing and cooperation with human effort cannot be expected, while grace must make received light a living principle of action as character, actions and motives are weighed. Receiving this strength lets people see themselves in a different light and become workmen learning from Christ and working as He worked, which is sanctification, drawing all strength from the Lord rather than finite human sufficiency so that efficiency is of God and not of self.
Receiving it requires knowing self and proving motives and desires, for the more this is done the more is felt personal inability to fight in own strength and the need to be girt with truth for purity of purpose to serve Christ and not self. Being strong means establishing the heart in belief that God knows every trial and difficulty in warfare against evil, refusing unbelief that belittles His power and dishonors Him, refusing to depend on any broken reed or look for human aid or put man where God should be, but trusting His nearness to strengthen and uphold as everlasting strength with promised help in His field of labor under testing. It means humbling self under the cross for everlasting deliverance, walking after Christ with positive evidence of separation from the world, enduring to the end and holding confidence firm unto the end for eternal righteousness through reconciliation for iniquity and the everlasting righteousness brought in by sacrifice. It means bridling suspicion, distrust, evil-speaking, scheming, confederating in questionable matters, underhand working, untruthful practice, corrupt dealing, irreverent talk and the least injustice for advantage, and instead studying the Bible, imitating Christ, doing right because it is right and doing unto others as one would be done by, with perceptive faculties awake while integrity is tested under heaven's watch and with imaginary unhappiness rooted out by walking as redeemed children with all heaven's treasures at command.
Courage for Service Living
Being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might is strength for Christian service drawn from Christ Jesus and the power of God, so that ministers who come before people in that strength show God with them upholding them by mighty power. True soldiers do not act as though Christ were not a risen, ascended Saviour, but yoke up with Christ, pray for the Holy Spirit, gird up the loins of the mind, bridle the tongue, humble self without exalting self, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ making no provision for the flesh. The servant thus made strong stands ready to go wherever Providence leads, calling nothing his own but holding talents, learning, position, wealth, and influence as the Lord's lent treasure to be employed to strengthen His flock, as a messenger of mercy and minister of grace, converted and humble as a little child with childlike faith. Ministers live amid the closing scenes of earth's history as watchmen on the walls of Zion who must discern and give the messages due at this time with a certain trumpet sound lest souls be quieted to sleep unto eternal loss, which requires putting on the whole armor to stand against the devil's wiles in a wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith to quench every fiery attack, salvation, the Word of God, and constant persevering prayer in the Spirit for all saints to withstand in the evil day. That strength equips those carrying responsibilities to meet temptation and debate over Bible truth by keeping out of controversy and refusing presumptuous ventures to prove a position impregnable, because the warfare is with Satan the wily deceiver and not with men of flesh and blood. Young men and young women are called to find this strength in God to fight decisive battles for Him by consecrating themselves to saving those perishing without Christ, with intensity in seeking souls because Satan is intense in deceiving souls and gathering them under his banner of apostasy and rebellion with laborers without number. Christian workers must find strength not in themselves but in the Lord and His power, who gives strength to serve and to endure deep trials, and intends them to help and bless one another, standing faithfully at posts in the fear of God, doing first duty aright with meekness and daily conversion, speaking carefully and wisely, opposing deceptive agents, confounding Satan's forces, and triumphing in the Lord's name without feeling the whole burden rests on self.
The call arms faithful service and preaching the Word to a perishing world, for the complete armor that equips believers to stand against Satan's forces is found in God's Word, the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has given every person work to do and imparted talents that must yield a return, and strength for that work comes only in the Lord and in the power of His might, so that no matter how wise in Bible knowledge each soul must receive and believe in Christ and cooperate with God, gaining a right knowledge of God which is life and peace. God's people are to be minutemen, ready at once to engage in aggressive warfare, keeping all combined forces united in one line of work rather than dividing them into weakness, learning the Scriptures while teaching others, and applying the mind closely to impart knowledge in a clear connected manner with no haphazard work, so the work is completed strongly and stands firm where opposition is strong and where Satan's seat is. When messengers carry the message to the churches and to the world and push the work forward aggressively, that forward movement arouses the hostility of the powers of darkness and a confederacy of evil men united with satanic agencies, and its full weight is then understood, for the conflict is not against flesh and blood but against the devil's wiles, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places, so only divine strength enables standing. Christians are soldiers in an army fighting for Prince Immanuel who must drill and train to be ready for actual service in spiritual warfare, with battles to be fought in different countries of Europe against tradition, superstition, and error, and preparation must be earnest, painstaking, and thorough like soldiers training for literal battle. This same strength builds the church, carries work in America to help distant fields, conducts schools, sells publications that will enlighten unknown readers, unites medical missionary work with the gospel, and holds workers ready at once.
Being strong means girding on the gospel armor, ceasing to weaken, and standing firm in fidelity to God and to one another, united to Christ by living faith, depending on Him who died and who rightly estimates the value of the human soul, and putting on Christ. His grace enables faithful performance of every given duty, and in the power of His might every foe is to be conquered, as it is the privilege and duty of every child of God to grow in grace and in strength of experience God waits to give to all who use His blessings unselfishly to bring hope and courage to lives ready to die. The verse is an order from Christ as Captain of salvation to every soldier to count the cost and make preparation for battle against a vast confederacy of evil, with assurance of supernatural assistance so that in human weakness believers are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence in withstanding the evil one, standing united shoulder to shoulder under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel and obeying orders with candor, confidence, love, and cooperation. God exhorts every member of the church to strive together for unity by this strength, which is the preparedness of heart all must have to enter heaven, gained by putting on the whole armor to stand against the devil's wiles in the evil day, requiring careful self-examination to draw in even cords with brethren, refusing to weaken influence by dwelling on faults and mistakes seen in others and refusing to pet self, so as to become of sterling worth. A church that lacks Christ's love becomes weak and ineffective, unable to kindle love in others or keep its spiritual light shining, while conflict with eternal interests at stake calls for discipline, order, and harmonious action, since disorder weakens courage and hinders successful action and united work allows heavenly messengers to cooperate. Standing in God's strength means working together on God's principles instead of standing aloof, opening the windows of the soul heavenward and closing them earthward so God can reveal His salvation, keeping medical missionary work and the gospel inseparably bound as a united whole, with every talent and institution connected in shared management having interest in every part of the work, which brings management to a higher level and presents an unbroken front in answer to Christ's last prayer.
In daily life the call means drawing strength from the Lord to persevere in a position of responsibility and honor God despite criticism, for the Christian battles ahead require the full armor of God. That strength is needed to guard the Lord's property and resist evil dealings, while watching in prayer and guarding speech so the enemy does not gain advantage, and to bear responsibility and do spiritual work faithfully rather than relying on human power. Believers are to stand wholly under the control of Jesus Christ, joined to putting on the whole armor so they may stand against the devil's wiles as further set forth in verses 12-18. The verses including this charge are among the scriptures guiding the church and students in preparing for the coming day of trial, calling them to find strength in the Lord as they consecrate abilities to useful service and work to bless others. In bringing up children this strength is needed to follow God's will and help children resist evil, with God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, given to them as their weapon against evil. So understood, faithfulness means wholly consecrated service fitting for translation as Enoch, growth in mental, moral, and physical ability to think and plan, wise use of every faculty, care in small choices and kindnesses, and rest without overtaxing powers.
The strength gives courage for the trying position, since the struggle is not against people but against spiritual powers of evil, so God's whole armor is needed to withstand the evil day and stand firm. It enables drawing strength from the Lord and His power to stand firm against threats, deception, opposition, and deceptive efforts to hinder God's work. Nehemiah's prayer for God to strengthen his hands shows this dependence in practice, for he refused to be frightened into abandoning his work or committing a sin that enemies could use against him. Those who fight in the Lord's cause need not be without strength, because strength comes from the Lord and the power of His might, so that standing under His banner they can resist the devil's deceptive influence and stand firm by taking the whole armor of God. This strength is needed to stand against the devil's many wiles, so believers must remain on guard, with hope resting in living, earnest, determined faith that works by love and purifies the soul. In hardship, perplexity, illness, exhaustion, financial delay, homesickness, and scarce resources it means clinging to the Rock, seeking wisdom, trusting past and promised help, moving onward step by step toward the New Jerusalem, speaking faith and praise, and blessing others with holy atmosphere and full joy.