What Does Paul Mean By “Be Strong?”
Eph.6:10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
When the Apostle Paul exhorts the Saints to “be strong,” it is his desire that they would know the hope of their calling in Christ as being ‘more than just Justified unto eternal life,’ but that they desire to be a living sacrifice as a son. And what Paul is ‘beseeching’ the Saints to ‘do’ is “put on” an identity after godliness. This identity of the “strong” consists of being “led by the Spirit,” and being a living sacrifice. And by the Spiritual mind and selfless heart of the son his Sanctified life in Christ Jesus will be lived for “Christ’s sake,” and for the sakes of others, not our own. And being strong “in the Lord,” means to operate “in” the doctrine of the Lord which is according to godliness. We will be walking with the Spiritual mind, and by that, we “have the mind of Christ.” This “power” is given us by our Father, and a son that is strong would not walk according to this world, but for the ministry’s sake be “addicted” to the ministry of our Lord.
1st Cor.16:13] Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
[14] Let all your things be done with charity.
[15] I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
[16] That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Moreover, when the ‘strong in the Lord’ desires to be ‘strong in the faith,’ he desires to not only live his life as the strong in the Lord, but as one who desires to labor with the Father in the Ministry and teach the ministry unto those who are “weak in the faith.” This ‘laborer’ with the Father they not only become a living sacrifice unto the Father, but they live their life for the ministry’s sake to edify the members of His Body. And as we see in the verses above, the house of Stephanas were “addicted” unto the ministry of the saints. And it too was Paul’s desire to strengthen the Saints that had infirmities and was “weak,” and he said unto those Saints in 2nd Corinthians 13: 9] For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” Paul was “glad” to operate upon this selfless act of charity, and those who are strong in the faith also have this understanding knowing that if the strong is weak, it is because he is because he is laboring With the Father to strengthen the weak unto their “perfection.”
2nd Tim.2:1] Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[2] And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
[3] Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Furthermore, this is well pleasing unto the Father, and it ought to be unto the weaker brethren who are being edified. They ought to look at their sanctified life and understand and appreciate the essential doctrine for their “good.” But if they have not been “transformed by the renewing of” their mind, then they will continue to be ‘entangled’ with the affairs of this life, and be under conformity to this world, and not see just how vital their being strong means unto God. And the strong in the faith has knows what it means to “cast off the works of darkness,” and what it means to also “put off the old man” with his deeds. And he also knows that just as he is edified in the doctrine which is according to godliness, and grows “day by day,” there is also the necessity for the Saints who are “weak in the faith” to also be transformed by the renewing of their minds, and to know what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Rom.15:1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
[2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
[3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
And so, they that are strong knows that having the ‘lack of’ the Spiritual understanding in the Word and will of God is an infirmity in the sight of God. He also knows that when we that are strong have physical infirmities because of sufferings, that our infirmities “work for us,” unto a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” And Paul knew what his infirmities meant in the sight of God. This is where there is a difference between the strong in the faith and the weak in the faith in godly understanding and in Spiritual wisdom. The weak in the faith desires to have infirmities taken away from him just as Paul too desired when he had not yet learned the “power of Christ.” But Paul learned from the Lord that when he is physically “weak,” then Christ’s strength is made perfect in his weakness. Paul knew that by operating upon the Word of God, and the will of God alone when he suffered, the power of Christ was ‘resting upon him.’ And notice as he says, “THAT the power of Christ may rest upon me,” he knows that being “strong,” entails having the Spiritual mind to discern the will of God and the wisdom of God, and operating with the selfless heart of God for Christ’s sake not his.
2nd Cor.12:7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
[10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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