220. Strengthened with Might
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.
We are promised strength with might, strong strength, in the inner man. This is not physical strength or military might, but strength in the soul, invisible strength, emotional strength. The inner man is the soul influenced and positively affected by the Spirit in the human spirit. The strength and confidence we need does not come from self-confidence or from inner strength in the mind, emotions and will of the natural human. The confidence we have been promised comes from God’s Spirit, not from the human soul.
Inner strength and self-confidence has always been commended and honored, but inner confidence is confidence in God, and inner strength is God’s strength. This very strength with might in the inner man is “by His Spirit,” that is, it is the life of God that lives deep within our spirit, and there is no doubt that the life of God is very strong, Our inner nature is being renewed every day. Everything in the physical universe naturally decays, rots, gets weaker, disintegrates, and finally dies, unless it is maintained and nurtured.
The oil and the nourishment that maintains continued functioning and health for the spiritual and invisible soul is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every human soul needs continuous injections of oil (Spirit), cleansing (by the Blood), and nutrients (Law and Gospel). If we do not get these renewed doses of Gospel the inner man begins to wear down. This raises a practical question: How many weeks can one go without hearing the Gospel? The Gospel strengthens with might in the inner man, and we go from strength to strength and from victory unto victory. How strong is it? As strong as the riches of His Glory.