“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” — Ephesians 6:10
Notice where the strength comes from. Not “be strong,” full stop — as if you had to manufacture courage out of your own thin supply. It is “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The command is really an invitation to stop leaning on yourself and to stand in Someone stronger. When a shepherd boy faced a giant, he said it plainly: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts” (1 Samuel 17:45). That is the whole secret — not a bigger sword, but a greater Name. The same charge had rung out to Joshua before he ever crossed into the land: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). The courage was commanded — but the reason for it was Him.
Stand in the armour that is His
Paul spells out how: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The fight is real and it is not against people: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). And the goal is simply to remain upright: “that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Every piece of that armour is God’s — His truth, His righteousness, His gospel, His word. You are not asked to forge weapons; you are asked to put on what He has already provided, and stand.
God is invincible — the devil is no rival
It helps to be clear about who is actually in this contest. God has no equal and no opposite. Satan is not a dark counterpart to God, locked in some even match; he is a created being who rebelled, and he is completely outmatched. Scripture never pits them as equals. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The enemy is strong compared to you alone; he is nothing compared to the God who indwells you.
His power is borrowed — and already broken
Here is what the enemy does not want you to see: he has no independent power. Whatever authority he wields is on a short leash, permitted for a season and no further. He could not touch Job without asking: “the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand” (Job 1:12). He could do nothing to Jesus but what heaven allowed: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). His minions operate under strict limits set by God, not by themselves.
And at the cross the outcome was already decided. Christ, “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). The war has a settled verdict; what remains are skirmishes with a defeated foe. That is why Jesus could hand His people real authority: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
Resist — and he flees
So the instruction is not to cower, but to stand your ground: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,” and then the promise — “he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Notice the order. Submission to God comes first; a life yielded to Him is the ground you resist from. Then resistance — in His authority, not your bravado — and the enemy runs. He does not flee because you are fierce; he flees because of Whom you belong to.
Perfect peace — a mind stayed on Him
The steadiness in all this is not tension; it is peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). The mind that keeps drifting back to God — stayed on Him, fixed there — is kept in a peace the battle cannot break. Strength and peace are not opposites here; they come from the same place.
Trust the LORD — not riches, not yourself
Which raises the real question of every heart: what are you actually trusting? Jesus told of a man who trusted his barns and his bumper harvest, and called himself set for life — and God called him a fool, for that very night his soul was required of him. “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Riches make a poor fortress. So does your own cleverness: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Being strong in the Lord and trusting in the Lord are the same posture — weight taken off yourself and put on Him.
More than conquerors
Put it together and the believer’s footing is remarkably firm: an invincible God, an enemy on a leash whose defeat is already sealed, armour freely given, authority to resist, peace for the mind, and a call to trust Him rather than money or self. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Not by our might. In the power of His.
Bible Prophecy Explorer is a free, non-commercial study resource; Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.