There are brothers and sisters
that need our help. They can’t count on our government, so let us be the ones that help them. FEMA will not help our fellow Christians in N.C. Go to MercuryOne.org and let the Lord be their Strength. Acts 11:28-30.
Today we will study Strength. How strong are you, are you able to handle anything that is set against you alone. Do you think strength comes from within? Well, it does, but not from you. It comes from the Lord, if you don’t believe on the Lord, then I don’t think you are as strong as you think you are. Have a little trouble and what is the first thing you do? You call on God, and that’s what I want to talk about today. To begin, let’s go to the beginning, and Exodus Ch.15 and verse 1 reads.
Exo.15:1] Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
[2] The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Speaking about how the LORD closed the waters on Pharoh’s army and they all drowned. We prepare him a place of habitation, that place is in our hearts. Now let’s drop down to verse 13 and it reads.
Exo.15:13] Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
So, we see here that Israel was brought up out of Egypt with a powerful hand of God. He is the Redeemer, and Salvation from the beginning. Now let’s see how king David spoke of his strength. Let’s read 2Sam.22:31-33.
2Sam.22:31] As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
“In God We Trust”. Something that our founding fathers knew from the beginning of our great nation.
2Sam.22:32] For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
[33] God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
Jesus spoke in John 14 how “If” we are in him, then the Father will also be within us and there they shall make their abode. Now, from within us the Power of God will give us strength, and let this comfort you as you pass through this world of ungodly people. King David would also write in Psalms 18 a special note for us to read and understand in these end times.
Psa.18:1] I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
[2] The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
[3] I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Yes, we have enemies, never forget Gen.3:15 “I will put enmity between thy seed and the woman’s seed.” Speaking to the Serpent about his seed and Eve’s seed. We are at war and yes, it is a spiritual war. A war of good and evil, you see it all over the world. And yes, even in our politics today. It seems that one side is the side of “death” and the other is fighting for the Constitution. Just to keep America the Christian nation that we were founded on. Remember we were just in Exodus 15 and read 1-2? Now, let’s read verse 3.
Exo.15:3] The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
That’s right, the LORD is a Man of War. This is why we are to put on the gospel armor. And fight, fight, fight. Let’s go to Ephesians and read 6:10-13.
Eph.6:10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Now let’s go to Paul, we find with him humility. The kind that makes us strong. Knowing that we are in the flesh, the flesh makes us weak. Paul is talking about his weakness in the flesh when we pick it up here. 2Cor.12:7-10 and it reads.
2Cor.12:7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Talking about not having his sight, for even though the scales fell from him, he only gained his spiritual eyes.
2Cor.12:8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The Lord did answer him and said in our weakness, the Lord is made strong. Can you except this? Can you understand that when we are about to give up, and “finally” give it to the Lord, then his glory and not ours can be seen by all. Paul continues.
2Cor.12:10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
For Christ’s sake. Not for our sake, but for his. Then the power of the Holy Spirit within us shows the world that the LORD is strong. Let’s now go to Revelations chapter 3 and see what the Lord said to the church of Philadelphia. Verse 7 reads.
Rev.3:7] And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
To those that the Lord has opened the eyes of spiritually.
Rev.3:8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
A little strength from the Lord is more than we will ever need. Notice those that kept his word.
Rev.3:9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
This is the war that we are now in, talking about these Kenites that are among us. This is “good vs evil”, it’s throughout the world today.
Rev.3:10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
He keeps us from the wicked of the world. More on this in a minute.
Rev.3:11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
[12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
[13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Did you hear, we are like pillars. Pillars hold up the temple of God. An awesome promise from God to us. This Spirit is capitalized, meaning the Holy Spirit. Many places in God’s word it is spoken “Strength”, about 260 verses. But I want to finish with 1Cor.10.11-13. And it reads.
1Cor.10:11] 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.
Meaning all the words from the prophets to this point are written for us in these end times and are made for the examples for us today. What is written will come to pass exactly as it is written.
1Cor.10:12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We are to Stand. Take heed, read his word, he just said that all was written for us to understand in these times.
1Cor.10:13] 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.
Never forget this last verse. We just read in Rev.3:10 about temptation. No matter what he will never leave us nor forsake us. Why? Because if you are in the Word “Jesus” then they (The Father and The Son) are within us. and through us his Glory is seen by all. And don’t overlook He will show us a way out.
What did we learn today?
1) That we have strength through the Lord, Jesus, His Word.
2) That we are in a war in these end times, and the Father is a Man of War. Good to have him on our side.
3) That the Lord will keep his children from the Tempter, that’s Satan in these end times. And God will always show us a way out of temptation. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.