July 26, 2026

Prayer

Scripture; Ephesians 6:10–17

10.“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11.Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

12.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14.Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15.and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

SUBJECT: STANDING STRONG

Background of the Text

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome around A.D. 60–62. As he writes, he is chained to Roman soldiers. Every day and everyday he watches these soldiers dress themselves with armor before taking their post. So the HOLY SPIRIT uses Paul's everyday activity to teach him a spiritual truth.

The church at Ephesus lived in one of the darkest spiritual cities in the Roman Empire. Ephesus was known for idol worship, sorcery, occult practices, and the Temple of Artemis (Acts 19). These believers understood spiritual warfare because many had been delivered from demonic influence before coming to Christ.

In the next few weeks we will be doing a series of preaching on Ephesian 6:10-17 getting us prepared for battle. In this Series out theme is Suited for Battled. but in order to be suited for battle there are some things we must work on first, and that is making sure that we are strong enough for the battle. So today we will look at the verse 10 and 11 in our preparation for battle.

In Chapter 6: 10-11 Paul urging the Ephesian believers to be strong in the Lord. When it comes to spiritual warfare, we cannot be sufficiently strong by ourselves. If we are going to have adequate strength for the spiritual battles of life, it must be the Lord’s strength. Only God has the mighty power sufficient to win spiritual battles against the demonic enemy.

God never intended for believers to live defeated lives. Through His strength, His power, and His provision, we can stand firm against every attack of the enemy.

Can I tell you this:

There comes a time in every believer's life when life stops feeling like a playground and starts feeling like a battlefield. The enemy does not announce his attacks. The enemy does not care who he uses for his attack. He does not care what he attacks. Sometimes he attacks your health, your family, your finances, your mind, and your faith.

How many times have you had to say LORD IT’S IN YOUR HAND, EVERY SITUATION, EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT, LORD I AM STANDING STRONG ON WHAT YOU TOLD JOSHUA BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS . DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.

LORD, I REMINDER OF OF WHAT HEZEKIAH TOLD JUDAH, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, DO NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE THE KING OF ASSYRIA AND THE VAST ARMY WITH HIM. FOR THERE IS A GREATER POWER WITH US THAN WITH HIM. WITH HIM IS THE ARM OF FLESH, BUT WITH US IS THE LORD OUR GOD TO HELP US AND TO FIGHT FOR US. AMEN.

THEN PAUL SAYS FINALLY, In other words, after everything I've taught you about salvation, grace, unity, holiness, marriage, family, and Christian living, STAND STRONG. Church, there are days when WE are SO emotions weak. There are days when our body will be tired.

There are days when people will disappoint us.

But the Lord says,

Stand Strong!

When we have cried all the tears we can cry...

Stand Strong!

When we’ve prayed and haven't seen the answer yet...

Stand Strong!

When everybody else walks away...

Stand Strong!

Because your strength does not come from your circumstances.

Your strength comes from the Lord!

Standing Strong Begins with Depending on God's Strength

"Be strong in the Lord..."

Paul does not say:

Be strong in yourself.

Be strong in your education.

Be strong in your title.

Be strong in your experience

Be strong in the Lord.

Jesus Himself prayed continually to the Father.

If Jesus needed God's strength...

Surely we do.

Many of us become exhausted because we are trying to win spiritual battles with human strength.

Prayer becomes optional, Bible study becomes occasional, Worship becomes routine, Then we wonder why we are tired.

Your spiritual strength is connected to your relationship with God. how can we be strong if we do not have a relationship with God.

I love what Paul says next Put on the whole armor of God, What is that armor? In Rev. Ricky voice I am so glad you ask. your armor is your prayer life, do you pray when thing are going go or just when things are going bad, Prayer. The Word of God , Faith. Holiness.

Righteousness. Truth. The Gospel.

Standing Strong Means Refusing to Surrender

"...that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Notice Paul does not say run.

He says stand.

Stand when temptation comes.

Stand when criticism comes.

Stand when sickness comes.

Stand when loneliness comes.

Stand when your prayers seem unanswered.

Stand when your heart is broken.

Stand because God is still fighting.

The enemy specializes in deception.

"Wiles" means schemes, tricks, strategies, and methods.

The enemy studies weaknesses.

He attacks when you're tired.

He attacks after victories.

He attacks through discouragement.

But when you're standing in God's strength...

His attacks cannot destroy you.

The winds may shake you.

The storm may bend you.

The battle may bruise you.

But God will keep you standing.

If you ever want to know what standing strong looks like, don't first look at the battlefield—look at the garden.

The night before the cross, Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46). He knew betrayal was coming. He knew the nails were coming. He knew the crown of thorns, the mocking, the beating, and the cross were only hours away.

The weight of humanity's sin pressed so heavily upon Him that the Bible says His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Three times Jesus prayed,

"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

Notice that Jesus did not stand strong because He felt strong. He stood strong because He surrendered to the Father's will.

Today, someone walked into this Church, weary from the battle.

You've smiled while hurting.

You've worshipped while wounded.

You've served while struggling.

You've been fighting in your own strength.

But today Jesus is inviting you to exchange your weakness for His power.

If you're tired...

Come.

If you're discouraged...

Come.

If you're under spiritual attack...Today, someone walked into this sanctuary feeling battle-weary. You have managed to smile through your pain. You have worshiped despite your wounds. You have served others while facing your own struggles. You've fought hard on your own.

But today, Jesus beckons you to trade your weakness for His unmatched power.

If you’re feeling exhausted… come. 

If you’re feeling discouraged… come. 

If you’re under spiritual attack… come. 

If you need strength for your family… come. 

If you need strength for your ministry… come. 

If you desire to stand stronger in the Lord… come. 

The battle may still rage, but God’s grace is ever present. The altar is open. Come and receive renewed strength from the Lord, who is victorious in every battle.

Come.

If you need strength for your family...

Come.

If you need strength for your ministry...

Come.

If you simply want to stand stronger in the Lord...

Come.

The battle is not over, but neither is God's grace.

The altar is open.

Come and receive fresh strength from the Lord who never loses a battle.