Inner Strength

Inner strength- by Roger Roark

Ephesians 3:14-21 and Acts 7:54-60

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Ephes. 3:14-21 (nlt )

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. [17] And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. [18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

[20] Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. [21] May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.

. While reading this text, think of inner strength.

1. Where does it come from.

2. Why do we need it

3.How do we get it

4. When do we get it.

The secret of inner strength is in that it comes from God.

.Ephesians 3:16 says, ---

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

The New Living Translation says, --Ephes. 3:16

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

From His glorious resources. These resources are unlimited.

Let’s just think about this for a moment. His resources of inner strength are unlimited.

Through the workings of The Holy Spirit, we have unlimited potential.

From childhood, we are fascinated by outward strength.

When I was a child, I was impressed with the outward strength of my dad.

He worked outside all of his life, and was very strong physically.

When we were in grammar school, we feared the 9 year old bully.

Then when we becme teenagers, we were impressed by the kids who had fast cars. These cars were a symbol of strength.

Then when we got out of school, and got jobs, we were impressed with power in positions. We were impressed by our bosses.

But at some point in our lives, we realize that we need inner strength.

. Why and when do we need inner strength?

(A) To stand up for our faith

In the early church, the disciples would take up food and distribut it out to the poor and the widows.

Then there was a problem. The Greek speaking people were complaing that the Hebrew speaking widows were getting more food.

So the apostles called a meeting , and chose 7 men to distribute the food.

Among them was a man named Stephen.

The Bible tells us that Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

To be full of the Holy Spirit, we must empty self.

(B) The Bible tells us that he was a man full of grace and power. ( power of the indwelling Holy Spirit )

Stephen , being full of the Holy Spirits power, did spectacular things.

Read Acts 7:54-60 (nlt)

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists in rage. [55] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [56] And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!"

[57] Then they put their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, they rushed at him. [58] They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The official witnesses took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

[59] And as they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." [60] And he fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died.

Some of the men started an argument with Stephen, but they were not able to stand against Stephens wisdom and spirit.

Some of them brought charges against him, saying that he was speaking against the temple and the laws of Moses. They had him arrested, and brought him before the council for trial.