Three Mistakes We Dare not Make!

Ephesians 6:10-13

The Bible Teaching Commentary

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Power Crisis

Ephesians 6:10

Paul J. Bucknell

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Introductory

Ephesians 6:10 Power | Ephesians 6:11 Protection | Ephesians 6:12 Perception

Bible Study Questions | mp3 Podcast | Podcast video | English-Chinese video podcast

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Purpose

Power Crisis is the expository preaching on Ephesians 6:10 which helps analyze the meaning of 'be strong in the Lord' as well as the more important "How does one be strong in the Lord?"

1. Power Crisis (Ephesians 6:10)

Wrong concept of Christian belief (just religion–no power)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Just because you do not experience the power of God, it does not mean that there is no power. Jesus Christ has risen. He now lives in His people.

Signs that we have made mistake #1

The sign that we have fallen to this mistake is that we believe Christ is no longer unique and special. Christianity is seen as just another religion. It is nice when everyone is nice to me, but it does not make much difference in my life.

Not a power supply problem

We need to first be convinced of the supply of power.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13- 14).

Who receives this Holy Spirit? Everyone who hears the message of truth and believes. The believer who questions whether the power is present based on his experience is focusing on the wrong question. The problem is not whether there is power but whether I am or not connected to it.

I think of my computer. I remember once having no power on my computer so I called support. One of the first questions they asked is whether I am sure it is plugged in. Of course I said yes. As I was talking I checked the cords more carefully.

After a more careful examination, I discovered my computer cord was no long plugged in! I immediately interrupted the technician and apologized for my mistake. I should have known better. The problem was not whether there was electricity but my computer was not connected.

We are not to question whether the Holy Spirit is there but only why am I not seeing the power of the Holy Spirit actively working in our lives.

When one gets down to comparing religions, it betrays a lost of confidence in Christ. We should instead follow Paul’s lead and be strong in our faith. Jesus said,

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

The real problem

Jesus tells us the problem His people have is that if we are not close to Him, then we will not have power. We will not have His life abundantly flowing through us.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether you are close to the Lord. Are you praying each day? Are you connected like a branch to the vine? Do you read His Word with interest?

If you have lost the zeal and power of the Lord, do not blame God. Just connect back to the Lord. You ask, “How do I do this?” Pray something like this with an earnest heart.

Lord, I have strayed from you. I have doubted you. Please forgive me. I have been living in my own strength and wisdom. I now ask that you would bring me back to know the power of Christ in my Lord. You need to be my strength. Revive me. Let the power of Christ live in me and your Name glorified. In Jesus Name, Amen.

What did Paul mean?

Paul says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.” It is hard to describe what it is to be strong in the Lord. But if you can pray that prayer from your heart, you will be making your self strong in the Lord. As you confess and draw near the Lord, you will sense God’s Spirit again flow in your life. Let me share one example.

I was just in Uganda. I had a chance to speak on bitterness from Joseph’s life in Genesis. The pastor there told me of someone who testified. The wife was bitter because she was neglected as the second wife. When her husband came at 1:00 am, she would be deliberately slow about answering the door. So he would go away. But after hearing about forgiveness, her bitterness melted away.

God was working in her. She determined to be different that night. She quickly opened the door and confessed her sin. Her husband surprisingly responded and knelt down on the floor and himself apologized for his sin. That couple was restored. God was mightily working.

The power of Christ is never to be undermined. If we distance ourselves from Christ, we will have no power.

Summary

Do not think that Christianity is just another religion. No, no. Repent. Turn back to God until He refreshes you. Stop living in your own strength. Through your prayer, put the plug in the wall. Connect to the Living Lord and He will animate you.

Are you sensing you are away from the Lord? Right now is the time to seek the Lord and plead His forgiveness and healing. He will come. He is waiting. If you do not know the Lord, even still repent from your hardness and unbelief. Through Christ He can forgive and will bring you into His family. Satan has deluded us by having us falsely conclude the lack of power, zeal and love is because there is no power. No. The problem is with us.

Let’s look at the second mistake.

=> Next page: 2 . Protection Stripped off (Ephesians 6:11)

Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell