To be strengthened (ἐνδυναμόω) is giving a person the ability or function to do something.
Because Christ manifested Himself to Paul and corrected his path, after spending three years in the desert learning, he returns to Damascus and immediately begins preaching the Messiah is the Son of God. The Jews were astonished that Saul was proclaiming Christ because he was known to be the one who had come to Damascus with orders from the Chief Priests so that he could destroy those who called on the name of Christ. However, Paul was strengthened against their astonishment and confounded them, proving that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and therefore God in the flesh, Acts 9:20-22. Paul did this through the evidence provided in the Old Testament.
Abraham was strengthened in his faith concerning God’s promise of a son, not counting the condition of his own body or the deadness of Sarah’s womb but was fully convinced that God would do what He said He would perform, Romans 4:19-21. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. God strengthened his faith when He rejected Ishmael and informed him that the promise of his seed would come through Sarah.
When it comes to defeating an attack from Satan, we are to be strengthened in the Lord. We are not to try and take him on by our own means or through the traditions of men. Rather, our victory over Satan is in Christ and therefore we need to be strengthened in the Lord as we go into battle against him, Ephesians 6:10. This means we are recognizing the fact that our defense against Satan is because God has taken us out of Adam and placed us into the Christ, in Whom we are righteous before Him. Therefore, we are able to walk in newness of life seeking out and doing the desirous will of God, for Satan wants nothing more than to get us to act independently from God and do his will rather than what God desires for us.
We are able to live in any condition with contentment because it is Christ Who strengthens us, Philippians 4:13. Paul faced a lot of difficulties in his life, often due to the saints not doing their part, Philippians 4:15. However, he had learned through these tribulations that it is not about himself and what he has; rather, because of what God has given him in Christ he can be content in any situation, whether rich or poor, Philippians 4:10-13.
While Paul was facing prosecution by the government for speaking the truth, no one stood with him. However, the Lord strengthened him, and he was delivered from the lies of the Jews who sought to have him put to death so that the message of the gospel could be fully preached among the Gentiles through Paul, 2 Timothy 4:17-18.
Although Paul was formally a blasphemer, he gives thanks to God because he recognized that it is Christ who strengthened him and counted him to be faithful, putting him into the ministry. He obtained mercy because of his ignorance in unbelief, coming to realize that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:12-15.
Those in the ministry are to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Grace is an attitude by which we receive a benefit without consideration of merit. Therefore, having learned the truth through others, they are to commit what they have learned to faithful men who are able to also teach, 2 Timothy 2:1-2.
Our strength in handling situations in our lives so that we live out the righteousness we have in Christ is not through our own power. Therefore, no quality of law has any value to the Christian, for law is not out from faith and is therefore reliant on the person’s own strength; rather, we live by grace through faith so that our lifestyle is not contrary to any law. When facing troubles, our strength is in Christ, Who through the truth of His word gives us a proper way to frame our minds so we see things as they truly are. With this type of mindset, we can then be content in any situation, overcome Satan when he attacks, give a proper and strong defense for the hope that we have, and even stand firm when being prosecuted for doing what is right, knowing that God is with us, and no one will ever take us from Him.
