The Promise of Empowerment 1. When we forget our spiritual resources and rely on our own strength, we'll experience discouragement, weariness, and disillusionment. Spiritual warfare is hard and never stops. Timothy, like us all, needed to be reminded of the source of spiritual strength.
Scripture records many such reminders.
Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. To be complete in Christ is to be strong spiritually. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. The next three illustrations are a series of metaphors.