His Strength
Theme : Lessons on Christian Living: Chapter 2 His Strength
Topic : His Strength
Key Verse : Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1.Why do we need strength from the Lord?
It is a promise from God for us to perfect our weakness and to enable us to live victoriously.
Strength in the Lord:
i. Empowers ordinary people to accomplish great things for Him Judges 6:14-16
ii. Turns setbacks (defeat, discouragement, condemnation) into victory 1 Sam 30:1-6
iii. Overcomes battles against the devil – temptations, crisis Genesis 39:7-10
iv. Builds up faith in the inner man to a Christ-like character Genesis 40:14, 23
2. Why are we not tapping on strength from the Lord?
- Disregard (Do you not know?) Isaiah 40:28
- Due to Ignorance
- Despair (Complain….my way is hidden… my cause is disregarded…) Isaiah 40:27
- Looking down on my problem with fear and discouragement
- Deceived (Self-dependence) (Has it not been told you … why do you say…) Isaiah 40:21,27; Psalm 33:16-20
- Doubting God as we look at others who do better than us Psalm 37:7-11
- Drifting away from God as pride sets in after initial success Proverbs 14:12
Result: Curse and doom to failure Jeremiah 17:5
3.How do we draw strength from the Lord?
- Set our Hope in the Lord in 3 ways: Isaiah 40:31
i.Perspective: Looking up confidently to God’s character Nehemiah 1:5
Isaiah 40:26 (Lift up your eyes to look to heavens: who created all these?)
- God’s unchanging nature - Love, Wisdom, Power
- Eternal perspective (an eagle’s-eye view)
ii.Prayer: Praying earnestly for God’s intervention Nehemiah 1:4; 4:4-9 Isaiah 40:28 (He gives strength to the weary…)
- Exchanging our weaknesses and weariness for His strength Ephesians 3:16
- Listening and watching eg 40-day Prayer and Fast Psalm 138:3
iii.Patience: Waiting patiently on God’s timing Nehemiah 2:1-4,8 Isaiah 40:31 (soar on wings like eagles)
- Eagles wait to catch a good strong wind thermal to soar
- God is working behind the scene
- His timing and outcome is the best and perfect
Outcome:
- Accomplishing super ordinary tasks with supernatural power (running and not grow weary) Isaiah 40:31 Nehemiah 6:15
- Walking victoriously in faith with the Lord in daily life (walk and not be feign) Isaiah 40:31
Applications
- How have you been drawing strength from God in your current situation and daily living?
- What are your main obstacles?
- How will you prepare yourself for the coming ‘40-day prayer and fasting’ month?