Arise People of Purpose - Pastor Iain Hesketh - Ephesians 6:10-20

So shall we go through to the first few verses? Shall we read these together? "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil spiritual forces in the heavens.

For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may, may be able to resist the evil day and having prepared everything to take your stand." Okay.

So I just wanna highlight a few things here to you.

Okay.

So this is the final piece, okay, of Paul's letter and communication to us.

He says this, he says, "Be," be what? "Be strengthened." By who? The Lord.

By the Lord.

So it's not your own power and own strength that Paul is kind of resting on.

He's going, "This community, this is who we are.

Rest and be empowered by the strength of the Lord." Why does he say, "Be strengthened by the Lord"? Because his strength is what? Vast.

Vast.

What does that mean? Never ending.

Never ending.

Never ending.

It's like a limitless resource of strength.

Now, I, I've been trying to do some strength work because I realize I'm getting l- into my 40s.

[laughs] I am in my 40s, and I will nearly be 50 very soon, and I recognize that once you get to that kind of age, um, things start to happen, don't they, that just kind of... [laughs] Right? So I, I...

But I, I reckon I'm still pretty strong.

Okay.

But my strength is incomparable to the strength of the Lord, who is vast in strength, which means his strength is unlimitless.

He says, "Be strengthened by the Lord." That's like...

So, um, can I have a young person? Like, somebody...

Hannah.