How does Ephesians 6:10-18 relate to "be strong" in this verse? Two Letters, One Call to Strength “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10) Both commands flow from the same apostle, the same Spirit, and the same gospel. In 1 Corinthians, Paul issues a brisk military-style order. In Ephesians he opens the equipment locker and shows exactly how to obey it. Strength Source: The Lord, Not Ourselves • 1 Corinthians 16:13 gives the order; Ephesians 6:10 supplies the engine: “in the Lord and in His mighty power.” • Echoes through Scripture: – “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you.” (Joshua 1:9) – “It is God who arms me with strength.” (Psalm 18:32) – “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1) The Armor: God’s Provision for Obeying “Be Strong” Put on each piece and you are doing 1 Corinthians 16:13 in real time. • Belt of Truth – keeps everything from sliding; strength begins with honesty about God and ourselves. • Breastplate of Righteousness – Christ’s righteousness guards the heart, so courage isn’t crippled by guilt. • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – readiness to move, stand, or advance without slipping. • Shield of Faith – extinguishes the flaming arrows that would drain spiritual strength. • Helmet of Salvation – protects the mind with the certainty of rescue. • Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – offensive strength; we counter lies with literal, living Scripture. • All-prayer (v. 18) – continual radio contact with headquarters; strength is renewed as we pray “at all times.” Shared Vocabulary: Stand, Watch, Act • “Be on the alert” (1 Corinthians 16:13) = “so that you can stand against the schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). • “Stand firm in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13) = “having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). • “Be men of courage” (1 Corinthians 16:13) = armor imagery of a soldier ready for battle. Paul circles the same battlefield theme: vigilance, firmness, courage, and God-supplied strength. Living It Out Today • Begin each morning by consciously “putting on” the armor—walk through Ephesians 6:10-18 aloud. • Memorize 1 Corinthians 16:13 as a day-long checkpoint: Alert? Firm? Courageous? Strong? • When temptation or trial hits, identify which piece of armor applies—then wield it. • Stay Bible-saturated; the sword dulls without practice (Hebrews 4:12). • Pray “at all times,” linking the command to the power source (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20). Paul’s two verses harmonize: 1 Corinthians 16:13 tells us to be strong; Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us how. God never commands without providing, and His armor still fits today’s soldiers perfectly. |
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