Be Strong

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Hebrews 13:9

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

“We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

Ephesians 6:10 “Be strong” is endunamoō, “to make strong, to endue with strength.” The idea is, “to clothe one’s self with strength as one puts on a garment.” Here the verb is in the passive voice, “be continually strengthened.” The qualifying phrase, “in the Lord,” defines the strengthening as Christian strengthening, such as can take effect only in union with the Lord (Expositors). The rendering, “be strong,” could encourage one to self-effort at being strong, whereas the translation “be strengthened,” causes the saint to depend on the Lord for the supply of that strength. “Power” is kratos, “relative or manifested power,” and “might” is ischuos, “power as an enduement.” The idea is, “in the active efficacy of the might that is inherent in Him.” Translation: Finally, be constantly strengthened in the Lord and in the active efficacy of the might that is inherent in Him. WEUST

Warren Wiersbe on Joshua 1:6 Divine sovereignty is not a substitute for human responsibility. God’s sovereign Word is an encouragement to God’s servants to believe God and obey His commands. As Charles Spurgeon put it, Joshua “was not to use the promise as a couch upon which his indolence might luxuriate, but as a girdle wherewith to gird up his loins for future activity” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 14, p. 97). In short, God’s promises are prods, not pillows.

Be Strong

Be strong is Paul’s fourth imperative for Christian living. As here, the Greek term (krataioō) is frequently used in the New Testament to denote inner, spiritual growth. The verb is in the passive voice, and literally means “be strengthened.” We cannot strengthen ourselves; that is the Lord’s work. Our part is to submit ourselves to Him in order that He can strengthen us. We can only “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10), and “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1).

Only a strong spirit can successfully battle and overcome the flesh. Again, that is where the Corinthians were weak. “For you are still fleshly,” Paul told them. “For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Cor. 3:3). Yet they had deceived themselves into thinking they were wise and strong. “If any man among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise” (3:18). The apostle says of them sarcastically. “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong” (4:10). Because of their spiritual weakness they even despised and profaned the most sacred of things, including the Lord’s Supper—for which desecration many of them became “weak and sick, and a number sleep,” that is, had died (11:30).

The person who thinks he is strong in himself is in the greatest danger of falling (10:12). At one time in his ministry Paul faced that very danger. He had been “caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak … And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exiting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me—to keep me from exalting myself!” The lesson the apostle learned directly from the Lord was, “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Cor. 12:4, 7, 9).

We can no more be spiritually strong than we can be physically strong without self–discipline. “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self–control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Cor. 9:25). Spiritual strength comes from self–sacrifice, self–denial, and self–discipline.

We grow in strength as we use our strength. As we “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,” we thereby become “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Col. 1:10–11).

The supreme source of all spiritual strength, of course, is Christ Himself. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” Paul declared (Phil. 4:13). “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service” (1 Tim. 1:12). I can imagine that Paul often remembered Psalm 27:14—“Wait for the Lord: be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”

As we wait for the Lord, yielding our spirits to His Spirit, we become “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).

MacArthur, John: 1 Corinthians. Chicago : Moody Press, 1996, c1984, S. 475

Daniel Wheedon Be strong—Strain up your nerve and sinew

Beacon Bible Commentary – To be strong requires that we drink deeply at the fountain of Gods love and eat consistently at God’s table. To be strong means to exercise oneself in the Lord. It indicates the ability “to do and suffer all His will” Christianity would never have made an impact upon the pagan society of the first century without strong men and women, people who were mightily strengthened through the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 16:13

BI It is not natural, but moral strength that is here intended. A man may be as strong as Goliath, and at the same time quite as wicked. He may have the courage and magnanimity of an Alexander or a Caesar, and yet be a slave to his own lusts. The strength which Paul speaks of, like wisdom, it “cometh from above,” and consists in our being strengthened with all might by God’s Spirit in the inner man (Pro_16:32; Jam_3:17; Eph_3:16).

Be Men of Courage; Be Strong.

A. He is telling them not to give in to the pressures of this world.

B. The Christian is to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).

C. The Christian is to set his, or her, heart and mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2).

(Deu 31:6) Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

(Deu 31:7) And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

(Deu 31:23) And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.