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 (NKJV)
Apostle Paul in the above scripture emphasized the importance of having strength in the inner man and the need for us to have the dwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts through faith. In the preceding verses of these text, Paul talked of the challenges, tribulations that a believer will no doubt have to contend with. Our Lord Jesus Christ also set realistic expectations to everyone that will follow Him - "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". John 16:33. How do we overcome the world in a sea of challenges and hostile influences? The inner man must be strengthened, bold and unfazed and able to navigate through life's hurdles. This will only be possible with the inner man strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
What is the state of your inner man? How you respond to the world around you gives you its true state. In all things, it must be guarded, protected and strengthened through the Holy Spirit in us.
Be encouraged,
Afolabi
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