The Christian’s Strength (5)

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3.14-19

Not a solo project
The Christian life is not a solo project. God has called us together into communities – the Body of Christ – because He knows we only grow strong when we are in company with all the saints.

As Paul indicates, we will increase in the power of the Spirit unto Christlikeness as we learn and grow together with other believers. The Westminster Confession of Faith explains (26.1): “All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.”

Together, the saints of the Lord correct, teach, admonish, help, encourage, strengthen, pray for one another, and stimulate one another to love and good works. If we hope to grow in the strength of Christ, then we must do so in company with other believers, for only in the fellowship of the Church will God enable us to realize the strength of Christlikeness to which He calls us.

Which makes the Church, despite its many shortcomings, an indispensable means for growing strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Beyond the local church
But not simply the local church. More is available to us from the company of all the saints than what any local church can supply. God uses the work of many believers beyond the local fellowship to help His people grow strong in Him. In our day, as never before, resources for growth and ministry exist beyond the local fellowship that can strengthen believers in their walk with and work for the Lord, and local churches as signs and outposts of the Kingdom.

Many fine Christian writers, teachers, and servants in various callings are available to us through a wide range of publications and ministries. We should seek out such believers, and learn from them, to build into our souls the strength we need to grow into Christlikeness. In my early years as a believer, Dr. Joel Nederhood was a constant weekly companion on the radio, and Francis Schaeffer was a daily instructor in print. These two servants of God helped to form important aspects of my soul at a crucial period in my own development. Since then, many others have been of invaluable insistence as well.

At the same time, the example of faith, courage, and perseverance by believers suffering in the Soviet Union, which I read about in various forms of samizdat literature, strengthened my own faith and bolstered my resolve to seek the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, believers beyond our local churches need the strength they can gain from the fellowship and ministry we extend to them. Whether laboring to win the lost and build new churches, struggling to overcome adversity or hardship, or suffering through persecution, believers in other places look to the rest of Christ’s Body to help them be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Strength from the past
But also available to us are the works and example of great saints from every age of the Church, and we should seek out ways of learning from their writings as well. The writings of Augustine, à Kempis, Calvin, Edwards, Wesley and many others have survived as long as they have because Christians have found them to be sources of great strength for growing into Christ and living for God’s glory. Similarly, the example of tireless servants, determined martyrs, and everyday believers living for Christ in their individual callings, can inspire us to faithfulness in our own.

We are not wise to ignore or neglect the resources of our Christian past. The more we can “comprehend with all the saints” the depths and breadth of God’s love and mighty power, the more we will grow “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,” and “be filled with all the fullness of God.”

The saints of the present, together with the saints of the past, constitute a treasury of wondrous gifts of God, and means of grace whereby He helps us to grow strong according to the riches of His glory. And saints in the present look to us for strength through prayer, giving, and help in their ministries and lives. The love of Christ is expressed in the unity of His Body, and His strength is made perfect as all His members unite in prayer, mission, and mutual encouragement in our journey toward Christlikeness.

Let us not overlook the benefits to be gained from regularly submitting to the teaching and writing of those whom God has approved, nor to share as we are able in strengthening our fellow believers, locally and around the world. For only in company with all the saints will we realize our fullest potential for growing strong in the Lord.

For reflection
1.  What role has the fellowship of other believers played in your own walk with and work for the Lord?

2.  The Church is the Body of Christ, and as with every body, needs all its members working together. What are the implications of this for your discipleship?

3.  What is your responsibility in reaching out to other believers to strengthen them with might for growing into Christlikeness?

Next steps – Conversation: Talk with some fellow believers about ways you might encourage one another to grow stronger in the Lord.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.