How to Be Strong in the LORD

Colin Melbourne
© 05-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info

Your adversaries are not flesh and blood, they are spiritual, invisible, and utterly defeated. Your victory is manifested by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ who is your only strength

You Are Strong, So Be Strong

I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power. 1 Jn. 2:14b; Eph. 6:10 Holy Bible NIV

God tells believers (both men and women) that they have defeated Satan, overcome him, and that the Devil has no power over them whatsoever.

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness... Disarmed the powers and authorities... Col. 1:13; 2:15

Do you believe God?

Christ says that every believer has His authority over demons and all Satan's power, and that nothing will harm them.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Lk. 10:19

Do you trust the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Make-believers protest, 'That was only spoken to the disciples!'

Wrong! Jesus specifically told those first disciples to pass on the same instructions, and authority, to all subsequent believers: that's you and me, look:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Mtt. 28:19,20

Better than manna from Heaven. Take it, eat it, and obey it. The power to fulfil God's Word comes with His Command. Simply trust and obey, then you will see His Glory today as of old. It works for me; I'm a witness, and I'm no better than you are.

In Christ You Conquered Satan

You defeated Satan when Christ rose from the dead. He did it for you. Christ didn't need to vanquish the Devil for Himself, because He has no hold on me. Jn. 14:30 Instead, He took your place on the Cross; bore your diseases and sins on His Body, yielded to death in your place, went to Hell in your stead, then He whipped Satan for you, and rose to prove you are victorious through faith in Him.

This is the victory that has overcome the world even our faith. Who is it who overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 Jn. 5:4b-5

Embrace that Gospel message with all your heart. Say, 'I have defeated Satan once and for all, through what Jesus has done for me. The devil has no power over me whatsoever. I have power over him in Jesus' Name.'

Now put that into action; use the authority Christ died to give you over the Devil, demons, and sickness. That is how you become strong in the Lord. Not by doubting, not by discussing doctrine, but by exercising the real spiritual authority you have in Christ Jesus.

In Jesus' Name

Theory is fine so long as it is true, but practice makes perfect. You will learn more in a single practical situation than in a dozen 'Spiritual warfare' Bible studies.

The Master taught the first twelve disciples by example, 'Watch and learn.' Then He told them to go and do the same things. Mtt. Ch.10 They obeyed and were amazed to discover evil spirits submitted to them, just as they do to Christ. You'll be delighted the first time too. Have faith in your authority to use the Name of Jesus, doing what He did. He's given it to you to use.

I will do whatever you ask in my name... you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Jn. 14:13-14

Believers are encouraged to ask Father in Christ's Name, who promised,

I tell you the truth; my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name... Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. Jn. 16:23-24

Experts in Bible Greek tell us that English doesn't do justice to the 'I will do' and 'you will receive' expressions of the Greek. That is the strongest assertion our tongue has, the Greek is far more emphatic. 'Pappy' Nelson paraphrases it like this: 'whatever you ask in my name you will receive, and if I haven't got it, I'll make it for you!'

That's Father's heart towards his faithful children. 'Whatever you ask for... If I haven't got it, I'll just make it for you.'

Jesus: Peter: You

Soon after Pentecost, Peter took Jesus at His Word and healed a crippled beggar. Peter said the miracle came by using the Name of Jesus in faith.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man... was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him... Ac. 3:16

It wasn't Peter's holiness or righteousness that worked the miracle, but God honoured his faith in his authority to use the Name above all names. He'll do the same when you exercise faith in Christ's Name.

Not only has every believer received this authority, but also the same precious faith. Peter said so in his last letter to believers.

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. 2 Pe. 1:1b

If you have been born again, that is what the Holy Spirit tells you. Do you believe Him?

Say, "God tells me I have the same faith that Peter had. So I can do what he did in Jesus' Name too."

Living in the Promised Land

Cross your personal Jordan and set foot today in the Promised Land of Heaven on Earth. Doing what you were made for, proclaiming the Good News, healing the sick, and driving out devils.

The Word of the Lord has come to you. You've heard from Him. You are like Joshua on the East Bank looking across the river into what God has promised on the West Bank.

He was an ordinary man with the Promise of God until he obeyed. Doing, in faith, as he was told. What was the result? The fear of God came upon his enemies and they were routed.

Come on you saints!

God whispered to him, As I was with Moses, so I will be with you... be strong and courageous... be strong and very courageous. Jos. 1:6-7

The anointing and authority come with the Word of command. Obedience releases the power to fulfil it.

Joshua believed God's Word. He boldly told the people that great things were going to happen the next day. Read the first six chapters of Joshua, you'll fly through them. They are far more exciting than any Hollywood blockbuster, and it's all true!

I love Old Testament examples of faith talking. Jesus made the lesson crystal clear in the New Testament teaching that you will have what you say.

First you believe in your heart, and then you say, then you get it. (See Mark Ch. 11, Mtt. Ch. 21, Ro. 10) But it's thrilling to discover Abraham was a faith preacher: In Genesis Ch. 22 God told him to go and kill his precious son, and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham gave a stunning example of obedience and faith. He put the firewood on Isaac's back; the lad was naturally puzzled and asked his Dad,

The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb...

Where is the lamb? Little did he know.

Abraham replied, God himself will provide the lamb.

And He surely did, both in 'type' and reality. But see how Abraham's faith was talking. He spoke in faith, and God made it good. God will provide the Lamb. Isn't that majestic? Learn to have the same faith and the same shout as Abraham. Where did he get it?

Obstacles Overcome: Giants Defeated

Joshua was a faith preacher too. In faith, he said the River Jordan would be parted like the Red Sea, and it was. In faith, he said that the stronghold of Jericho would fall following the shout of victory. Israel obeyed the Word of the Lord, encircled their cowering enemy, uttered the victory shout, and then the impregnable walls tumbled down. Note the order: Faith, obedience, the shout of victory, then the rout.

No shout, only doubt: no rout.

Joshua was strong in the Lord the same way you can be. By simple faith in, and obedience to the Word of God. Eat God's Word so that it becomes your only source of life and nourishment, and you'll soon be shouting in faith.

Take on that Jericho in your life. Of course it looks impossible; naturally you will be mocked, that's biblical. Now see what God says about it, believe His Word against all circumstances, obey Him, and shout the victory, and you will live in the Promised Land enjoying God's Blood-bought blessings.

I don't care what barriers your Enemy has used to block your path into God's Promises: Christ Jesus has given you perfect victory now. Jesus' conquest is yours forever; Satan is powerless in your life as long as you believe God's Word. Doubt honours the Devil, and denies God. Reject doubts; embrace God's Word.

When you received Christ as Lord, Satan's power over your life was completely broken. The instant you became a new creation, God raised you up in Christ and seated you in the heavenly realm with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. (Eph. Ch. 1-2) Your faith in Jesus makes you Satan's master, not his slave.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 Jn. 4:4

That is where your shout begins no matter how grim the situation. Look to the Greater One in your heart. Shout, 'The Lord has given me victory!' Shout it from the rooftops, and especially in the valleys. Oh it is wonderful to look at those towering Jericho walls, yet stand in the place of faith holding fast God's Promise, seeing the Omnipotent One far above all obstacles, rulers, and powers. Then to shout your victory when the walls are still up and nothing can change the situation but God alone.

You declare, 'Victory is mine. Jesus is Lord of all; He is with me, for me and in me. Who can stand against me?'

Come on you saints!

David and Goliath

First your enemy ignores you, next he scoffs and ridicules you, finally he attacks: then you win.

David was a mere youth, but he knew Almighty God, and he had the shout of faith when all Israel was knock-kneed at Goliath's taunts, a gaggle of faithless wimps. (Kenneth Hagin's tape, Defeating the Giants in Your Life is highly recommended.)

David was another faith-preacher. He shouted the victory as he went out to face Goliath.

What did he say under the shadow of his gigantic enemy?

This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. 1 Sam. 17:46

Remember Jesus teaches us to say what we believe, and we shall have it. David spoke the Word in faith, God made it good, slew Goliath, and David cut off his head with his enemy's own sword.

Learn the lesson from the shepherd boy who became a King: Be strong in the Lord.

1) Believe God's Word

2) Obey God's Word

3) Shout the Victory

It is yours