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We'll never reach a point in life where we think we have
all the strength we need. We always want to be stronger,
to serve God better every day.
In this article, I want to remind you how we grow
stronger in the Lord, so you can serve God to the best of
your ability.
Assemble With The Saints
The purpose of our assembly is to worship God, with the
result of growing stronger. Paul says of our assembly, "and
let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and
good deeds . . . encouraging one another" (Heb. 10:24-25).
He emphasizes the importance of making our assembling
a top priority in life, saying, "not forsaking our own assembling
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Heb.
10:25).
If we assemble with the saints, participating in the things
God commands when we assemble, we'll grow stronger every
time. But if we neglect the assembly, by not attending or
not engaging our minds, we'll spiritually die.
Paul tells us that people who neglect to partake of the
Lord's Supper as God commands, die spiritually. He says,
"whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in
an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the
blood of the Lord. . . . For he who eats and drinks, eats
and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the
body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and
sick, and a number sleep" (1 Cor. 11:27-30).
If we diligently assemble with the saints, doing the things
God commands, fully engaged in our spirits, we'll grow stronger.
But if we neglect the assembly, we'll grow weaker and weaker
till we spiritually die.
Increase In The Knowledge of God
God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge
of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). This "knowledge" (epignosis)
comes from conforming one's self to God's word, and results
in spiritual maturity (2 Pet. 1:2-11).
Hence Paul's prayer for the saints was to be filled with
the knowledge of God's will, resulting in strength with
all power, according to God's glorious might, for the attaining
of all steadfastness and patience. Thereby, we lay aside
the old man and put on the new man who is renewed to a true
knowledge according to the image of the Christ (Col. 1:9-11;
3:9-10).
We grow stronger by diligently increasing in our knowledge
of God's word, which we apply to our lives (Rom. 1:16; 1
Th. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:5-8).
Pray For Spiritual Strength
Jesus teaches us to pray for the things we need, which certainly
includes spiritual strength. He tells us to ask and knock
and seek, promising that our prayers will be answered, that
we will find, and that doors will be opened (Matt. 7:7-11)!
In like manner, Peter sets forth this principle from Psalms
34, saying, "For, 'The one who desires life, to love and
see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips
from speaking deceit. . . . For the eyes of the Lord are
toward the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil'"
(1 Pet. 3:10-12).
Furthermore, Paul teaches us to pray as we put on God's
armor, also praying for the strength of our brethren, while
asking Christians to pray for us (Eph. 6:10-20).
We can't expect God to strengthen us if we're not assembling
with the saints and increasing in knowledge through His
word. But if we are, it's very appropriate to pray for strength,
confident God will answer our prayers as His children.
Social Fellowship
Social fellowship with brethren is a personal work we engage
in as Christians. From the beginning of the church, Christians
have interacted socially to encourage one another, "breaking
bread from house to house, . . . taking their meals together
with gladness and sincerity of heart"(Acts 2:46).
Paul shows us that we're refreshed by the social fellowship
we have with Christians.
- Onesiphorus often refreshed Paul because he was not
ashamed of his chains. When he was in Rome, Onesiphorus
eagerly searched for Paul and found him (2 Tim. 1:16-17).
- Paul was confident Philemon would grant his personal
request. As a result, Paul was refreshed in his spirit
(Ph'm. 1:20).
When we interact socially, our spirits are refreshed.
We encourage one another as we spend time together, working
and recreating, talking about spiritual things, and helping
one another.
Summary
We'll never reach a point in life where we think we have
all the strength we need. We always want to be stronger,
to serve God better every day.
Are you doing the things God commands, to become stronger?
What can you change in your life, to become even stronger
--- strengthened with all power, according to God's glorious
might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience?
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