Chapter #15c - Strengthening The Brethren

 2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. [asv]

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
 

    The word strengthen as used in the New Testament means "to make firm, to place, set, cause to stand, to make stable or strong." One word (dunamoo)is used only one time and means to "make powerful,"

COL 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"

Another word (endunamoo) is used twice, and means to "make powerful inwardly."

PHI 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 2TI 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

STRENGTHENING THE BRETHREN

      Our subject is "strengthening the brethren." What do we mean by the term "strengthening the brethren." Where does this come from? Well, it is a New Testament expression and a good one. Let's consider what is taught by it.

      Those in Antioch (of Psidia) had heard the Word of God preached by Paul and Barnabas on what we refer to as Paul's "first missionary journey." His sermon is recorded in chapter 13, verses 15 through 41. We learn that,

"many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God" (v. 43).

Paul and Barnabas had taught them, baptized them into Christ, had made followers of them, and, before leaving, "persuaded them to continue in the grace of God." In other words, they were urged and exhorted to be faithful.

      After leaving Antioch they came to Iconium, and the Scriptures say, they,

"so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed" (14:1).

Then they went into Lystra, and "there they preached the gospel" (v. 7).

THEY RETURNED - WHAT DID THEY DO?

      Now after going into Derbe they returned to these three cities. Now what did they do when they returned to these cities? The record says:

"confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith" (14:21,22)

      In Acts 15:32 we read: "And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren (this was at Antioch) with many words and confirmed them."

      In verse 36 we learn that Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the brethren in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are."        We recall the dissension that arose about the taking of John Mark with them so Paul chose Silas, and the record says:

"He went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the church" (v. 41).

THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

      Now we come to the beginning of Paul's next "missionary journey." Now with Titus, he picks up Timothy at Lystra. The Scriptures say:

"And as they went though the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily" (16:4,5).

      Somewhat later in his life, Paul, on the way to Jerusalem where he would be arrested and subsequently be sent to Rome, "went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples" (18:23).

STRENGTHEN, ESTABLISH, CONFIRM - FROM ONE WORD

            The three words, strengthen, establish, and confirm, used in the above passages might well be used interchangeably for they came from the exact same word. I believe these are all the passages in the New Testament where the words are used in this connection.

      It is of interest that the word "establish" is never used in the New Testament to institute, or inaugurate the coming of the Kingdom, or the beginning of the church as promised by the Lord in Matthew 16:18, or the beginning, starting, planting, organizing of a local church, as we so commonly hear of today. The words are used to describe something that was done to saints and to congregations of saints after these had begun to assemble together, to increase their strength, vitality, faith, love, grace, and so forth. For instance,

      1.   We read of souls being established: "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

      2.   We read of hearts being established: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein" (Heb. 13:9).

      3.   We read of love being established: "Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm (or establish) your love toward him" (2 Cor. 2:8).

      4.   We read of faith being established: "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith" (1 Thess. 3:2).

      5.   We read of those established in the truth: In 2 Peter 1, Peter speaks of the Christians graces, and urges them to give diligence to make their calling and election sure. He states that he would not be negligent to remind them of these things, so they could be "established," that is, confirmed and strengthened, in the present truth" (v. 12).

"For," he said, "if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (vs. 8-11).

HOW DO WE "STRENGTHEN" BRETHREN

      What then did Paul, Silas and the others do to strengthen the brethren? If we can ascertain this, then we can have some insight into what we ought to strive to do, now, to strengthen the brethren.

1. They Prayed For them:

      First, quite naturally, Paul prayed for those that would need to be strengthened.

      To the saints in Rome he said:

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness . . . that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request" - note what he prayed for - "if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established" (Rom. 1:8-11).

He wanted to go to them, "that they might be established." In the mean time he wrote extensively to them, to further establish and strengthen them.

      To the Ephesians Paul wrote:

"I . . . cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" - note what he prayed for - "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Eph. 1:15-19)

And again, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . that he would grant you . . . to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (3:14-19).

      To the Philippians he wrote:

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer . . . that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:3,9-11).

      To the Colossians he wrote:

"We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you . . . do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:3,9-11).

      There are few more encouraging and inpiring words in all of the New Testament than the prayers of Paul. These examples will tend to prove it. Paul wanted to bless his brethren at these places, and prayed great and wonderful things for them. And the heart and core of all of this was that they would be strengthened. Re-read once again the beautiful desires he longed for them. Strengthened!

      No preacher of the word is fit to fill a pulpit who does not pray diligently for those who favor him with an audience. Sincere desires to touch hearts, and convert souls, and persuade to righteousness will cause a preacher to prepare his lessons well, and to present them with force and power. Prayer, real prayer, will cause him to be courageous, and preach the truth, the whole truth, with love yes, but with force and power.

2. They Preached The Word To Them

      Listen to Paul:

"We were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God . . . for our exhortation was not of deceit, or of uncleanness, nor in guile: but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others . . . but we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us" (1 Thess. 2:2-8).

How was this type of preaching received? Hear it:

"We thank God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (2:13).

      And does the preacher have the right to expect the saints to pray for him? Without a doubt! "Pray for us," said Paul, "that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you" (2 Thess. 3:1). "Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me," he told the Roman saints. We should pray for the preacher's health, and for his preparation, and for his courage, and for success in moving hearts toward maturity, toward being strengthened and confirmed and established in the faith.

A preacher friend told me of an incident where he canceled a gospel meeting with a congregation. "What is your theme for the Meeting to be; what are your aims, purposes, objectives for the Meeting?" he inquired. "We don't have any particular theme, aim, purpose, or objective," was the reply. Whereupon, my friend respectfully declined to accept the invitation to preach for them. Did he do right? Could a congregation have a successful study of the Word of God when no thought of what was lacked, wanted or needed had been given? What could they pray for?

      Every Christian ought to have a list of persons that need prayers, and every true Christian will have. The lost ones known to the Christian, the weak in faith and the unfaithful, the spiritually weak, the physically sick; all these will be remembered. And, it probably would be good for us to tell them we are praying for them. If not, why not? Think about this.

      If we are going to be able to strengthen, establish and confirm the brethren, it will begin with prayer.

STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH

      What did Paul want to leave with the Romans? "That I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Rom. 1:11,12).

      What to the Thessalonians? We send Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning our faith" (1 Thess 3:1).

      What in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe? "Exhorting them to continue in the faith" (Acts 14:21).

      What to all the cities on his second missionary journey? "And so were the churches established in the faith" (Acts 16:4,5).

      Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It can come in no other way! The Scriptures need to be exposed and explained. There is a time for entertainment, but it is not when men are starving for the faith that saves the soul. With so much at stake one needs to speak boldly the things that pertain to eternal verities; of "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come." Pulpit preaching, and even "Gospel meetings" have too often become periods of fellowship at the expense of the stressing of truth. This should not be. Paul would certainly not have done so.

THE END OF FAITH IS CHRIST

      Paul prayed for the Ephesian brethren, "that he (God) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16).

      What was the source of that strength? "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (vs. 17-19).

      To the Philippians Paul stated what has become one of the most oft-quoted statements in all the New Testament. "I can do all things," he says, "through Christ which strengtheneth me" (4:13). What was the specific matter? Paul was in prison, neglected by his friends, little hope of ever being released. Had all this discouraged him? Not at all. "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be contented. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Now how am I able to be content? It is Christ. "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." How often we face discouragement today, in so many ways. Yet, Christ is our strength. Through faith we come to Him and He dwells in our hearts. We too can "do all things through Him."

      Have you considered all the things the Scriptures tell us Christ can do for us? The list is amazing. Study it and see for yourself!

      Strengthening the brethren? Establishing the saints? Confirming the church? Christ preached; this and this alone will accomplish it.

WHY SHOULD WE "STRENGTHEN" THE BRETHREN

      1. Because we are capable of falling away.

Demas. One of the saddest stories in the New Testament is that of Demas. He is only mentioned three times, but there is a progression from strength to weakness, and finally to apostasy. The three references say:

COL 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

PHM 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. 2TI 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

1CO 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1CO 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

      There is hardly a day that goes by but that someone is discovered who admits to once being a member of the church of the Lord. Often they have now joined a denominational group, occasionally the result of an "inter-faith" marriage. Often they have just been absorbed into the world with no religious affiliation. Sometimes there is an air of explanation and apology, often not. In any event there are many in this category.

      It is my opinion that if all who had at one time believed on the Lord Jesus and were immersed into Him were faithful to the Lord today, and were active in His cause, pure and true Christianity would dominate the culture of our community. The house of worship would overflow and the moral character of the community would be obvious. Sadly this is not true.

      Our work is clearly cut out for us. Alexander Campbell once said,

"To cut off an offender is good; to restore the fallen is better; but to keep one from falling is best of all."

Yes, we must restore the fallen. Yes, we must reclaim those who have become unfaithful. And, no doubt, one of our greatest works is to teach the unconverted, those who have never become believers. But, to convert one and then through neglect or indifference let that one become lost again, is virtually unforgivable. We must save all we can, strengthen all we save, and keep all we strengthen.

      And who is to do this? The professional "clergy?" NEVER! It cannot be done by official converters. This has failed miserably. True disciples went everywhere in the early days preaching, and this is what is needed today. Those that love the Lord, and are willing to do his will will be active in the great work of the Kingdom. May the Lord help us to so do.

      Lord, we pray to be strengthened, and to see the necessity of strengthening others.

- Hank Tankersley