Being strong and courageous - Part 4
Introduction: The Life Trap -Offense; RTF , refining fire. The only way we can be strong and courageous is when we draw upon the strength of the Lord. How do we draw upon His strength?
1. We must acknowledge that God is the source of all strength. We see right through the Bible how Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul and many others drew their strength from the Lord Isaiah: 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Trust (be confident, secure, steadfast, take refuge in) the Lord - first we have to come to a place of explicitly and simply putting our trust in God, In Heb 11:6 he who comes to God must believe that He is, He is the "I am" who presented Himself to Moses.
Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Gen 15:1 "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. Gen 17:1 And the LORD appeared to him (Isaac) the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. Gen 26:24
To Jacob -And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Gen 28:13
To Moses -"I am the God of your father-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God (Ex3:6) and in Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Ex15:26 For I am the LORD who heals you (J Rapha) Lev 20:8 I am the Lord who sanctifies ( consecrates/ sets you apart) you (JMakadesh) Is 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. (vs6, 18,22; 46:9; 47:8; 47:10; Is 48:12 I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.
Jeremiah - I am with you; Ezek 6:7,10,13 and you shall know that I am the LORD. John 11: 25: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 15: I am the true vine; In Rev 1:8 I AM the Alpha and the Omega.
God is God, there is no other - He is the self existent One; He is eternity past, eternity present and eternity future; He is everlasting - no end, continuous. Strength - fortress, Rock, Immovable, Mighty One Ps 18: 2 - The Lord is my rock(sure foundation/ lofty mighty immovable force), my fortress ( castle, defence, strongplace and my deliverer (escape) Begin to declare Who God really is in You!
2. God, He desires to give us His strength - Is 40:29 He gives power (vigorous force) to the weak ( fatigued, exhausted), and to those who have no might He increases strength. Vs 31 Those who wait ( to bound together, to intertwined ) on the Lord SHALL renew their strength ; in other words those whose lives are intertwined with the word ( Jesus ) shall be strong; You will be strong when you are saturated, moulded into Jesus; there will be a spring in your step, you will spring up with strength -Jesus.
3. Be aware of the strategies of the enemy to diminish our strength - By distraction tactics; dividing strategies; keeping us very busy like busy bodies having no time to read the word; causing us to be anxious or worried; by the entry of other things 1Pet: 5: 8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Vs 6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
We are not designed to carry cares but to trust - to be care free. BY the entry of other things whereby your heart becomes hardened against the things of God - these are likened to those who sow in thorny ground or among thorns (Mk 4: 19) where the cares of the, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires of other things entering in choke the word and it becomes unfruitful. We have to purpose in our heart that we are going to God reliant and God resilient and NOT reliant on Self.
This is a time when we have to be on our guard (Prov 4:23-27) Keep your heart with all diligence (MSG) Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. Don't allow the things of this world to "choke" you.
Remember God is God He - acknowledge Him as your source of Strength; He desire to give you His strength; and to be reliant on Him not giving into the cunningness of satan.