Ephesians 3:16 (NKJV) That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His spirit in the inner man.
The Epistle of Ephesians is an important book. The first three chapters teach us about the positional truth that Jesus has made available to us through all the spiritual blessings. Chapters four to six teach about how to walk out the truth. Paul prayed for the church to know, to have a revelation of who they are, what they have and what they can do in and through Christ! Knowledge puffs up but faith builds up because faith is built on revelation. When the revelation is received, men will or should act on the truth in their lives. This is the heart of the Apostle Paul. Just like the Apostle Paul who wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus; because of his love for them to know the truth and not just to establish his apostleship.
The Epistle to Ephesians has also revealed to us that the spiritual realm is real just as the physical realm. There are rulers of the air, principalities and powers that influences man and manipulate situation and circumstances. Therefore, this is the reason why the Apostle Paul asked us to put on the full armor of God and take an offensive stance rather than to be passive.
Ephesians 3:16 (amplified) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
The term “strengthened” there in verse 16 is the word that means “made mighty.” The might is referring to power and in the modern terms it means dynamite, dynamo or electric energy. It is referring to intense energy being released on the inside of us! It is referring to the power of the resurrection, the power which raised Christ from the dead and the power of God which lives on the inside of us.
Our inner man is strengthened through meditation on the truth and understanding the knowledge of revelation. This power is not found in intellect nor in the emotional realm, but in the hidden man or the inner man whom the Bible refers to as the spirit man.
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
It is wonderful to know that we can be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man. All of us need strength in our daily living especially when we are faced with insurmountable trials and tribulations. We often feel weak, helpless, and hopeless in difficult situations. Therefore, it is important for us to know that we can be strengthened in the midst of trials and persecutions through the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith and strength are found and established in the inner man.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NKJV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
There has been a lot on emphasis on building up the intellect but there has not been enough emphasis on building up the inner man. We have neglected listening to the voice of God through the work of the Holy Spirit where He reminds us on the biblical truth.
We do not really think or ponder about these truths during the normal routine of our lives but we lose our peace, faith, and joy whenever we encounter a challenge in life. It affects our prayer life and our faith in the midst of trials. Hence, we are urged to put on the full armour of God as we ward off all the fiery darts of the devil!
John 14:26-27 (NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
You have a Divine Partner living in you, and He is in you to strengthen you with power so that you have an ability that you did not have before! If you will learn to tap into Him, you will begin to learn to live in the reality of His presence!
Sermon series: Inner man
藉着圣灵成为刚强
以弗所书 3:16 求他按着他丰盛的荣耀，藉着他的灵，叫你们心里的力量刚强起来。
使徒书信里的以弗所书是本重要的书， 前三章讲述的是真理的位份，是耶稣藉着一切属灵的祝福带给我们的。第四到第六章告诉我们如何行出真理。保罗为教会祷告，为使他们知道自己是谁、拥有什么、在基督里因着基督能做什么。知识会使人膨胀，但信心能建造人，因为信心是建立在启示之上的。当人们领受到启示的时候，就会在他们的生命中行出真理来，这是使徒保罗的心愿。对给以弗所写信的使徒保罗来说，他爱以弗所，渴望他们能认识真理，而不是仅想奠定他自己的使徒身份。
给以弗所的书信也向我们启示，属灵境界是真实的，就像物质境界一样。有空中掌权者，统治者和有权力的影响着人类，操纵着局势和环境。因此，这就是为什么使徒保罗要求我们穿上神所赐的全副军装并采取主动进攻的立场而非被动防御的原因。
第16节（扩展版）求他按着他丰盛的荣耀，藉着住在你们内里和个性里的圣灵，以大能大力来增强你们内在的力量。
在第16节中“刚强”这个词的意思是“使变强大”。这种能力指的是力量，用现代的话意味着是炸药、发电机或电能。这指的是我们心里释放的强大能量！所指的是复活的大能，使基督从死里复活的大能及住在我们心里的神的大能。
藉着对真理的沉思和明白启示的知识，我们的内心会变刚强。这种力量既不存在于智力上，也不存在于情感领域中，而是在隐藏之中或内心之中，在圣经中称之为灵人。
以弗所书 3:20 神能照着运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足的成就一切超过我们所求所想的。
知道我们可以靠内心的圣灵变刚强，多么美好！我们每个人的日常生活都需要力量，尤其是当我们面临难以克服的考验和磨难时。在困境中我们常常感到软弱，无助和绝望。因此，我们要知道很重要的是，藉着圣灵的力量能使我们在试炼和逼迫中变得刚强。
哥林多后书 4:16-17 所以我们不丧胆。外体虽然毁坏，内心却一天新似一天。我们这至暂至轻的苦楚，要为我们成就极重无比永远的荣耀。
有很多信息强调如何提升智力，却很少去重视如何建立内在的人。 我们忽视借着圣灵的作为来聆听神的声音，但圣灵提醒我们有关圣经的真理。
在正常的日常生活中我们不会真正去思考琢磨这些真理，但是当我们遇到人生挑战时，我们就失去了平安，信心和喜乐。所以我们要穿上神的全副军装，以抵挡魔鬼激烈的进攻。
约翰福音 14:26-27 但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事，指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的，不像世人所赐的。你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。
你有一位神圣的伙伴住在你里面，祂在你里面用能力使你变刚强，使你拥有前所未有的能力！如果你学会与祂亲近，你就开始学习活在祂同在的真实里！
讲章系列: 内在的人
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