What the Bible says about ‘Strength’
God says a lot about ‘strength’ in the bible but it’s not as simple as you think.
__
Have you noticed that the word ‘Strength’ or ‘stronger’ or ‘Strong’ comes up so many times in the bible?
I understand the word ‘strength’ and connected derivatives appear more than 360x across the Old and New Testaments. Here are a sample to remind you. See if you recognise any of them:
Ex 15.2: ‘The Lord is my strength and my defense…’
Deut 6.5: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength’
Joshua 1.9: ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…’
Neh 8.10: ‘…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
Ps 28.7: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield..’
Acts 16.5: ‘So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers’
Ephesians 6:10: ‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.’
God wants to tell us something about himself and us through this word strength.
ONE WORD DIFFERENT MEANINGS
Would it surprise you to learn that there are multiple Greek and Hebrew words that are translated into our one word ‘Strength’? Even with almost 200k active words in the English language, we can still find it has limitations.
The way we get around this is by using strength in the context of a phrase. For example, we can talk about strength as in ‘physical strength’ but we can also talk about ‘strength of character’ or even ‘strength of mind’. We can describe someone’s ‘inner strength’ or the need to ‘play’ to our strengths. We are familiar with broader definitions of the word strength in our modern day world.
Here are a few meanings behind the word ‘strength’ that we can find in the bible:
1.PHYSICAL STRENGTH
In the bible physical strength is the word ‘ischuros’ – which means might, strong in the sense of physical strength. An example of this would be in 1 Corinthians 1.25, ‘…and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.’ Here Paul wants to convey how much Stronger ‘physically’ speaking God is compared to us puny humans. That makes sense doesn’t it? God created the universe. He’s a bit stronger than me and my 12kg dumbbell’s.
2.TO PREVAIL
Then there is the Greek word ‘Krataioo’ which means to prevail, to gain the upper hand over opposition. This is what Paul is getting at in Ephesians 6.10 before that famous passage about the armour of God when he says, ‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…’. He’s exhorting them to gain the upper hand over the enemy by finding strength in the Lord.
3.TO MAKE SOLID
There’s another word translated as strength and that is the Greek word ‘Stereoo’. Luke uses it when speaking of the early church in Acts 16.5 ‘So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.’What he means is that the church was being established, made solid, immovable, firm, sure. What a powerful picture of what was happening in the church in the first century AD. That fledgling church. God strengthened it. Now look at it! Global expansion!
4.EVERYTHING
Then there is the word strength in the greatest commandment ‘to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). To love God with all your heart, soul and mind already sounds like everything that you are, but the extra word strength or ‘meod’ which means muchness, or everything. With all that we are. Our time, our talents our treasures. Everything within our sphere of influence directed towards loving God. Mind blowing.
5.ABLE
When Paul describes his weaknesses in 2 Corinthians 12.9-11, he summarises by saying he delights when he is weak for Christ’s sake, because that is exactly when he is strong. Not his own strength, but Christ’s strength in him. The word is ‘dynamis’.
A word that is used elsewhere in the New Testament and often in relation to the power of the Holy Spirit. He’s saying that when he is weak, he is able, he powerful, he is at his most influential, because it is the power of God at work in him despite his human limitations.
STRONGER OR WEAKER NETWORK?
So when using the word ‘stronger’ for Stronger Network, we’re trying to encapsulate something of this. This isn’t about how bold and beautiful we can be in the world. This isn’t how rich and influential we can be. This is about bringing all that we are, our skills, our gifts, our experiences, time, talents and treasures to Jesus and saying ‘use it for your glory, for your name, for your renown’.
This is most definitely about a fresh discovery of God’s strength in our weakness. Isn’t that at the heart of the gospel with our crucified Christ offering salvation for all? This is a desire for his people across the UK to find a new strength in the Lord and for the church to be established across this land, in our generation.
Let me know if you have any thoughts on this or comments 👇👇👇
