HOW TO BE STRONG

Eph 6:10 (NIV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. HOW ??

I will teach you SEVERAL ways from the Bible . . .

FIRST of all, REALIZE that the REAL YOU is a SPIRIT:

1Thes 5:23 (KJV)

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole SPIRIT (the REAL you - the part that continues AFTER your body dies) and SOUL (your MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS) and BODY (that part is OBVIOUS) be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

#1.) FEED YOUR SPIRIT

#2.) EXERCISE YOUR SPIRIT

#3.) PRAY FOR YOUR SPIRIT & PRAY IN THE SPIRIT

#4.) GROUP TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS OF LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH (COALS) OFTEN

#5.) HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD

Your spirit can be fed like the mind can be fed - your spirit can be strenghthened like the body can be strenghthened. You must FEED your spirit and you must exercise or USE your spirit.

#1.) FEED YOUR SPIRIT.. what do you feed a spirit?? SPIRIT FOOD:

John 6:63 (NIV)

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are SPIRIT and they are life.

Josh 1:7-8 (NIV)

7 Be STRONG and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; MEDITATE on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

#2.) EXERCISE YOUR SPIRIT - HOW??:

Heb 5:12-14 (KJV)

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised (TO EXERCISE VIGEROUSLY - TO USE CONSTANTLY) to discern both good and evil.

#3.) PRAY FOR YOUR SPIRIT & PRAY IN THE SPIRIT

Eph 3:14-19 (KJV)

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit IN THE INNER MAN;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Jude 1:20 (NIV)

20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

#4.) GROUP TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS OF LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH (COALS) OFTEN

There is STRENGTH in NUMBERS - just as a single COAL will loose its HEAT when sitting OFF BY ITSELF.

Heb 10:24-25 (NIV)

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

SATAN himself operates like lion the Bible says - lions PICK OFF the animal that has STRAYED from the herd . . .

1 Pet 5:8-9 (NIV)

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

#5.) HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD

Neh 8:10 (NIV)

10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

The people were working HARD .. it was time to TAKE A BREAK and ENJOY their LIFE and their FAITH in GOD ! ! !

Lets FINISH the ways to be strong - its come FULL CIRCLE - back to our text scripture and read more:

Eph 6:10-19 (NIV)

10 Finally, be STRONG in the Lord and in his mighty power. (READ ON):

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (NOTICE IT NEVER SAYS TO TAKE IT OFF . . .)

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.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,