Inner Strength

Introduction

A. I am frequently interested in the inner strength that people possess. The mother who cares for a sick child much of the night only to go to work the next morning. Where does that strength come from? The man who works a full day, helps around the house at night, and still finds time to help a neighbor. Where does that strength come from? The teenager who takes an unpopular stand while holding on to his or her values knowing that others will ignore and ridicule. Where does that strength come from? I am interested in that inner strength that allows very hard decisions and actions to follow.

B. And as interesting are those reactions are there are some that are even more intriguing, encouraging, and challenging.

1. The person whose spouse has been unfaithful and the person forgives and restores a marriage.

2. The person who is tortured for faith and yet does not deny the Lord.

3. The person who feels abandoned by God and yet continues to express faith in tangible ways.

4. Where does this strength come from?

C. Discouragement is not new. In our text Paul is responding to the discouragement he knows exists in Ephesus. Every day, Christians would step outside their dwelling and see signs that Rome was in charge and the one true God was no where to be found. A temple built to honor Diana and dedicated to Caesar Augustus could be seen from almost any place in Ephesus. Inscriptions abounded extolling the virtues of the god, savior and uniter Augustus. And into this situation Paul writes a letter to remind his readers of several truths:

1. They have been adopted into God’s family

2. They have been forgiven through the great grace of God

3. They have been given great power from the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

4. They have been united together with others to form the body of Christ — the church

5. They have a purpose in this world to reveal God’s beautiful multifaceted wisdom.

D. But with these great promises discouragement remains. They are discouraged because Paul is in prison. But Paul paints a different picture of his suffering. It is one of beauty because the chains remind him that they belong to God. So Paul ends this section of his letter with a prayer. A prayer which was to bring courage to a discouraged heart. A prayer which was to place great emphasis on the God who is worthy of all praise. Let’s praise him now in prayer and song.

A Prayer

1. Paul began this prayer in 3:1 and then had another thought to complete. So the prayer begins again in our text. And while there is some discussion about the specifics of this prayer, there is no doubt about the intent of the prayer. Paul prays for their strength. Not physical strength but the strength of courage and determination. This strength comes from God’s greatness (glorious riches) and power. This strength comes to us from God through his Spirit who lives within us. God’s greatness and power becomes our courage and determination.

A. Paul also prays for something which goes beyond human understanding. He prays for them to know the love of Jesus. Paul affirms that they are rooted and grounded in love but he prays that they will be able to grasp the extent of Christ’s love. It is a love that surpasses human knowledge. We can see glimpses of this type of love in the human experience. A parent who continues to love when a child has rejected that love. A spouse or friend who care for one who cannot offer anything in return. We are inspired by that kind of love. How much more are we encouraged by the love of God? A love that initiates relationship with us; a love that sacrifices for us; a love that is poured out on us in our sin. We may not be able to understand it fully but we know it and see it and have experienced it.

B. Paul also says the consequence of this strength and this love is that his readers will grow to full maturity. Because of this strength and love we will grow to be the kind of people God intended for us to be (2:10).

The World

A. These early Christians were surrounded by a world that denied the existence of the Creator God. It was a world where incantations and magic existed to explain current and future events. It was a world that was wound up in the rule of Rome and everything was about giving one’s allegiance to Caesar. It was world where sex was god; and power existed in the few. And it is in this world that these early Christians try to survive physically and spiritually.

B. Where does the inner strength come from when we are pressured; hurt; discouraged; lost in direction? Where does this strength come from when hate is easier than love; bitterness is easier than forgiveness; when giving in is easier than taking a stand? There isn’t enough human strength to be God’s people. Our strength comes from God who has already been at work in us and through us. Our strength comes from God whose greatness and power are shared with us. The determination and courage to be God’s people in this world comes from God along with the immeasurable penetrating love of Christ through the Spirit who lives in us.

C. All of this so that we grow up. Maturity isn’t about chronological age. Maturity isn’t about knowledge and greater wisdom. Maturity is understanding that our lives make sense because of God. Look at the verses 20-21. Great finish! God takes what we pray for and does more with it than we can imagine. Ever said “never saw that coming.” That’s what God does. He takes what we offer and does with it far more than we can ever imagine. Never saw it coming is a phrase that is used about God and what he is doing. It is both personal and corporate. And as powerful as it would be to express amazement at God’s power, the point of the prayer is for readers to be mature.

D. Glory! Maturity is reflecting God’s glory. Strength and determination come from God. Love comes from Jesus. The mixing of all of this together is through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The result — God’s glory is seen in the church and through every generation. We exist to make God look good. We exist to reveal his wisdom. Maturity is thinking less about self and more about God. Maturity is recognizing that difficult, challenging decisions are not about our embarrassment, discomfort, or potential ridicule it is about God. Maturity is recognizing that our bitterness and hate is about us and forgiveness and love is about God. Maturity is recognizing that discouragement may come but we remember that strength is coming from God and we show this world that we are heading in a different direction.

1. Our peers may ridicule; we love them anyway.

2. Our employers may demand; we work understanding that we work for Jesus

3. Our spouse may betray but we forgive.

4. We may be discouraged, lonely, afraid, worried but through it all these God given emotions we pour out our hearts in praise to God’s glory.

E. Life isn’t about us; it is about the God whose nature, character, thoughts, actions, and imagination are greater than our own and we want people to be impressed with him. Invitation.

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