How to Get to Be the Strong Man God Wants You to Be

When we think about what a strong man is, people have all kinds of images that pop into their heads. To them, a strong man may conjure up pictures of some bodybuilder with gargantuan steroid injected muscularity. Some have a picture of legendary tough guy-type actors. Others have a concept like this guy in the following story.

An old fellow had been in the north woods for weeks by himself, camping out. Each night at dusk, he built a campfire, boiled water for coffee, and took out his skillet to fry up some bacon for dinner. As he was sitting by the fire one night, the water boiling and the bacon sizzling, he heard a tremendous racket in the brush. The sound was like a roaring freight train, and as trees fell over and branches snapped, the biggest bear he’d ever seen lumbered into the clearing. A tough-looking hombre holding a seven-foot live rattlesnake in his hands was on the bear’s back. The man shouted and screamed as he brought the bear to a skidding halt, bit the head off of the rattlesnake, and flung it into the brush. Then he slid off the bear’s back, turned, and hit him between the eyes, knocking him unconscious.; The camper was speechless as this wild-eyed renegade walked over to the fire, tossed the boiling coffee down his throat, drank the hot grease from the skillet, and ate all of the bacon in one bite. As he wiped his hands with poison ivy and slapped the bear back to consciousness, he turned to the camper and said, “Partner, I’m sorry I can’t stay around and visit with you a while, but I’ve got to keep moving ‘cause a real bad dude is chasing me!” Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002). This is a comical example of a strong man. But all that aside, how do you get to be a strong man of God, not physically, but spiritually? Answering that question is our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
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Pray for one another. Ask the Lord in prayer to strengthen the people in your world so that they can become a strong man or women of God.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
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Question: How has the Lord strengthened you? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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You can find more information on the book of Ephesians by clicking on the links below.

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

Strong Man of God: The Reason

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV) — 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Home in on the phrase, ‘for this reason.’
The question you should ask is, what’s the reason?
It is the same reason that Paul speaks of in this verse.

Ephesians 3:1–2 (ESV) — 1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

You already know that the Bible wasn’t written in chapters and verses.
Paul wrote a letter — that’s what an epistle is — it’s a handwritten letter.
How do you write a letter?
Well, you just write it — you put on paper what’s in your heart.
You don’t break it all up into nice neat sentences and mark them all off with a reference, do you?
So, if you take the chapters and verses away, you see that the last thing Paul talked about before verse one of Ephesians three is how the Temple of God grows.
You find that at the end of chapter two.
Then Paul talks as a sidenote talks about his mission to the Gentiles.
And at the end of that, we have these words in verse thirteen.

Ephesians 3:13 (ESV) — 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Then Paul follows up with this prayer for strength that we’ve already read.
What’s the reason? – It’s everything that has gone on before verse fourteen.

One: The church is the Temple of God in Ephesians 2:21–22.

For the Church to grow as the Temple of God, they need to be strengthened with might in their inner man.
What’s the reason?

Two: It’s Paul’s mission to the Gentiles relayed in Ephesians 3:1–12.

To complete your mission for God, you need to be strengthened with might in your inner man.
What’s the reason?

Three: It’s the possibility that the Ephesians may lose heart over the sufferings Paul is experiencing because of his mission to the Gentiles – Ephesians 3:13.

You need to be strengthened with might in your inner man to not lose heart.
All these areas need the prayer of Ephesians 3:14–21.

The Strong Man of God Is Part of the Temple of God

If we look at the church being the Temple of God in Ephesians 2:21–22, God’s temple is built up as the individual believers are built up.
That’s what we’re doing here in this class, the Spirit of God is building individual believers up through the powerful, life-changing, and enlightening Word of God.
This same process is happening all over the globe.
Believers in Jesus are being edified in groups just like this.
They meet in churches, in homes, and small groups.
Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is hails the admonition of scripture.
You find that verse in Hebrews ten.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) — 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The Greek word ‘neglecting’ used here means separating connection with someone or something, forsake, abandon, or desert.¹
Because of the persecution of believers, Jesus followers quit hanging out with one another.
They quit coming to church.
The word ‘neglecting’ also means ‘to cease, to stop,’ ‘to discontinue,’ ‘to give up,’ ‘to get out of the habit.’
The word does not mean falling away from Jesus.
It doesn’t mean that these believers backslid – or no longer believed in Jesus.
They just quit hanging out with each other.
Hanging out with like-minded believers is vital.
Something good happens in people and to people when they have their own company of believers.
You need the fellowship of like-minded people.
You should like to be around Jesus people.
It should make you happy.
If you are not happy, there is something wrong.
Then you have this well-known ‘hanging out’ passage in Matthew.

Matthew 18:20 (ESV) — 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

‘Where two or three are gathered — there am I among the group’ is what Jesus says.
The group is vital.
Look at the disciples of Jesus operating in a group.

John 20:19–21 (ESV) — 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

The disciples were afraid of repercussions over having walked with Jesus.
They thought the Jews were coming after them, and they were.
But where are they?
They are in each other’s company — they were in the same room.
They didn’t scatter — they clung together.
Even though they were afraid, they did not forsake the assembling of themselves together.
What happened? – Jesus appears to them – remember Matthew 18:20.
Then Jesus says something to them.
I’m convinced you will miss Jesus saying something if you forsake meeting with one another.
There are moves and manifestations of the Spirit in group life that don’t necessarily occur when you are by yourself.
So, we are talking about ‘for this reason.’
Again, what are the reasons for this prayer of strength?
Number one is the building up of the Temple — the group — the body of Christ.
Here is the second reason, to ask God for strength for one another.

The Strong Man of God Must Complete His Mission

Paul says ‘for this reason’ and reiterates his mission in chapter three.
Now he’s been talking about his mission throughout this epistle.
He wants the Ephesians to understand his mission.
Now, let’s talk mission for a moment — your mission and the strength it takes to pull it off.
Do you think you might need some help along the way?
Do you think you might need the strength that only comes from God?
God’s plan takes God’s strength to pull off.
It takes a strong man to do a strong plan.
Paul needs this strength in his inner man to complete the task God gave him, that is, reach the Gentiles with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You need strength to do the thing God asked you to do.
The prayer of Ephesians 3:14–21 is a necessary piece to this end.
Finishing your course — completing your mission — fulfilling your purpose on planet earth is needful and right.
Now Paul had already shared some along this line with the elders in Ephesus when he was establishing the church there.
Listen to Paul here as he talks to the Ephesian elders.

Acts 20:18–24 (KJV 1900) — 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Bonds and afflictions — none of these things move me, Paul said.
That’s a strong man of God talking here.
Paul’s focus was so intense. It overcame all the potential difficulties that were in play.
None of these things move me — that should be your testimony.
Say it like Paul said it.

none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

This verse should be your testimony.
Take verse twenty-four and insert your name in there and insert your purpose.
For me, it would be: None of these things move me so that I, Emery, might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to write a running commentary on the New Testament and publish it as my life’s written work.
How would yours sound?

The Strong Man of God and Asking for Prayer

Now listen to this sentence: the strong man of God asks for prayer.
What do you think about that?
Do you think that a strong man of God, a strong woman of God, needs others praying for them?
You would be tempted to think that being strong and needing prayer are competing thoughts.
But they are not.
People think that a strong man is one who already knows how to pray and since they already know how to pray, why do they need prayer themselves?
Now, this is just not accurate.
Everyone needs grace to run their race.
Everybody needs strength in their inner man.
People look at spiritual leaders and put them up on a pedestal.
I know people would come up to Sharon and say Emery is this and Emery is that, and he is so spiritual.
And they would plug their definition of what they think spiritual is and piggyback that on their opinion of you.
And I’m telling you some of those opinions are in leftfield.
Sharon would tell them, ‘No, he’s just a man.
We are spiritual beings that live in earthbound bodies.
Young believers need strength in their inner man and so do old ones.
I heard my spiritual dad say years ago that if you spend all the available time in spiritual areas, reading scripture, praying, and doing those kinds of things like ministry, the best you would do is only operate about 20% in the spiritual realm.
You know that’s true – sleeping is about one-third of your life.
Add in all the rest, and you can readily see that eighty percent of your life is in the natural.
So, an eighty-twenty split is about the best that anyone can do.
And so, recognizing that there’s a strong natural component to all of us is simply good common sense.
And, in the natural, there is the physical body, and with the physical body, there is the sin nature.
Your spirit is born again, but your body isn’t born-again.
It’s going to be — you will receive a new body.
That’s 2 Corinthians 5:1.

2 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV) — 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Then, there is the thought life.
Your mind needs to be renewed to think like God thinks — to have opinions in line with His Word.
That’s Romans 12:1–2.

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And in these dynamics of you and me dealing with our passions and dealing with our thinking, mistakes occur.
Thank God for the Blood.
Then there is unknown sin – sin you committed, and you didn’t even know you committed it.

Psalm 19:12 (ESV) — 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

The Hebrew word ‘errors’ here means an error, mistake, or wrong that is committed without the knowledge of moral or legal requirements.
The two words ‘hidden faults’ are one word in Hebrew, and it means secret information or information concealed from the individual.
In other words, the sin this person has committed is a secret among the Godhead – the person doesn’t know it.
It is concealed from the person who committed it.
Now, some have been enamored with unknown sin.
In the ancient world, they have found documents of people who have prayed to false gods about unknown sin.
One fella prayed this:

An Assyrian worshiper goes through an elaborate listing of possible offenses (“the forbidden thing I have eaten, I do not know; the prohibited place on which I have set foot, I do not know”) asking that his unwitting sins be pardoned, claiming the offense was committed in ignorance.²

People in Holiness circles used to debate all aspects of sin – like ‘what if you sinned right before the Rapture? — Would you go to heaven?’
Let me settle the debate for you – ‘Yes, you would go to heaven.’
Jesus paid for all of your sins, past, present, and future — it’s all under the Blood.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) — 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

You are the righteousness of God in Christ, and righteous people go to heaven.
There are no righteous people in hell.
Now, we miss it — we all miss it sometimes — our passions pull us off course.
When that happens, your heart bothers you, and up comes flying out of your mouth — ‘Oh Lord, forgive me – have mercy on me.’
And the Lord knows that about you — He knows your pattern — He knows the way that you take.
So don’t worry about missing the Rapture if you sin right before it occurs.
Now, what I am describing for you here is why we should be praying for one another and why we should ask the Lord to strengthen one another.
People miss it in the natural.
I don’t know about you, but when I miss it, He always comforts me.
He is always saying — it’s okay.
He says those words, ‘it’s okay,’ in many different areas to me.
You know I love Sharon to pieces — she’s had many medical issues over the 40 years we’ve been married.
When one of those medical situations pops up, and she gets to not feeling right in her body — you have to understand she almost died four times when she was 41 years of age when she had the brain aneurysm, so I’m a little sensitive to her not feeling well, I’m still that way even though it was 20 years ago — When she gets not to feeling well in her body, many times, immediately up on the inside of me comes those words ‘she’s okay.’
Sometimes when there’s severe weather on the horizon, and I’m tempted to be concerned about it, the Spirit of God whispers, ‘it’s okay.’
I’m not being melodramatic or flowery with my words — I’m sharing that He says that to me — it’s okay.
God is my witness; there has not been one time that he has said that to me that it wasn’t okay.
Every time it was okay — every single time.
I learned to trust that comforting word because He said it to me many times.
Here it is in the Bible, this very thing I’m talking about.

John 14:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

The Greek ‘comforter’ — the ESV says helper means a legal advocate.
It means a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative of someone else’s policy, purpose or cause, especially before a judge in a court of law.
Comforter doesn’t mean ‘oh you poor thing.’
That’s not what it means.
Comforter means advocate or lawyer.
Take your mind over to a courtroom.
You are sitting there at the table before the judge.
The case is presented against you, and you’re tempted to be concerned about what’s going on here – these charges laid out against you.
What does your advocate do — what does your lawyer do?
He leans over to you and whispers, ‘it’s okay.’
And you go whoosh, ‘I’m glad it’s okay.
Do you mean to tell me that God also does with you when you sin? – when you mess up?
Yes, here it is in scripture.

1 John 3:20 (ESV) — 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

I’m not saying the Lord condones sin — I’m saying that the Spirit of God the Comforter is there to lead you back to the way of righteousness.
And so let’s sum all of this thread: because you are just a man, because you are mortal, because of the sin nature, because your mind has not been fully renewed yet, because of unknowing sin – it’s proper and right to ask people to pray for you.
Paul did it.

Ephesians 6:16–20 (KJV 1900) — 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul said pray for me — I need help completing my mission.
Paul was a strong man of God, yet he asked for prayer.
It must be right.
James encouraged believers along this line also.

James 5:16 (ESV) — 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

The scripture says confess your faults to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.
We all have faults — we just read that in the Psalms.
So yes, a strong man asks for prayer.
No man is an island.
No man is bullet-proof.
No man is superman or the Lone Ranger.
We need one another.
Here is Paul, the strong man of God, again asking for prayer.

Colossians 4:2–3 (ESV) — 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (ESV) — 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

So, what’s the reason?
The reason is so that the church can be built up; that’s why you need the prayer for strength in Ephesians chapter 3, starting in verse 16.
The reason is so that we might complete our mission- the purpose for which God has crafted us and placed us on planet earth in the first place despite the difficulties of living in a natural world.
Now here’s the third reason for praying the prayer for strength.
The Ephesian believers themselves losing heart over Paul’s difficulties — you find that in Ephesians 3:14.

Ephesians 3:13–16 (ESV) — 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

The prayer of Ephesians 3:14–21 is the answer to losing heart.
Losing heart means being discouraged.
You need to pray that God strengthens your heart to not’ lose heart.
That’s one way you become a strong man of God.
Now, Paul is praying here for the Ephesians.
He doesn’t want the Ephesians to be discouraged because he is in jail.
If Paul prayed that the Ephesians wouldn’t be discouraged, it’s right that you pray the same prayer for one another.
When was the last time that you did that?
Lord, I pray right now for every believer under the sound of my voice.
I pray that you would strengthen them with might.
I ask that they not lose heart over their circumstances.
Instead of being discouraged, let them be full of courage — full of boldness because of your great mercy and because your mercy endures forever.
You guys have a great God week, and we will see you next time in Jesus’ Name for another edition of Light on Life.

Why People Who Are Strong in the Lord Thrive

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References:

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 273. ↩
Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 896. ↩

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How to Get to Be the Strong Man God Wants You to Be

Podcast: Light on Life Season Nine Episode Thirteen

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio