The Bible exhorts us to be strong in the Lord, yet many Christians have never learned how to stand in the strength of God.
Ephesians 6 says:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Our struggle is against rulers, powers, and forces of darkness. There are different kinds of devils just as there are different kinds of angels, but the devil doesn't have anything new.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
(Eph. 6:10-18)
The same things he tricked Eve with are what he uses today. We must be wise enough to stand against the schemes of the devil and not each other.
We fight God when we fight each other, because we are fighting the same spirit that should be bearing witness with the Holy Spirit. When we stand in God's strength, we are on alert for the Body of Christ.
Instead of helping the devil tear down the Body, we completely quench his flaming missiles with the light of God.
The strength of God is joy, and the joy of the Lord is your strength. If you are standing in the strength of God, joy should be evident in your life.
Some people attribute the growth of my ministry to my personality. They say, "You are an exciting individual. You know how to stir people up!"
They believe that my personality has opened up doors for me. The truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ opens up the doors as I stand in His strength.
I never stand in my own strength; I can't handle it. Jesus said to His disciples, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41).
So I don't stand in the realm of the flesh; I crucify it daily and stand in the strength of God.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers