strength

September 13, 2014

Mighty Power Within

God designed His people to be channels, pathways of delivery, garden hoses – for His love, grace, healing, deliverance, gifts, peace, hope. Paul announced, “Now all glory to God, who is able, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT) The Lord of the universe wants to exert His mighty power within us. Are you willing to become a garden hose for Jesus?

A garden hose can be an effective tool in the hands of a gardener, but a garden hose is ineffective without access to water. A garden hose not connected to a water source can’t do much. Without water following through the hose, the hose can never fulfill its purpose for existence. A garden hose is designed to be a channel, a pathway of delivery.

A hose without water is hollow and purposeless. Without association to water, the hose is still a hose, but the world around the hose it scarcely benefited. Plants and flowers are offered little aid. Grass withers. Children can’t play in the sprinkler. Water balloons aren’t wet. Outdoor windows aren’t cleaned. Buckets remain empty. Cars aren’t washed.

A Christ-follower is God’s hose meant to be filled with God’s super-abundance. In fact, God’s power is at work in and through our lives. The power within is resurrection power, power that raised Christ from the dead and enthroned Him in the heavenlies. The power within is supernatural, beyond the limits of what we could ever pray or describe or imagine. The power within is greater than any force of the enemy. Working within us is the infinite strength of God.

“It is neither talent, nor power, nor gifts that do the work of God, but it is that which lies within the power of the humblest; it is the simple, earnest life hid with Christ in God.” (F.W. Robertson)

Jesus Christ Himself is the infinite power within. “The Christ you have to deal with is not a weak person outside you, but a tremendous power inside you. He was ‘weak’ enough to be crucified, yes, but he lives now by the power of God. I am weak as he was weak, but I am strong enough to deal with you for I share his life by the power of God.” (2 Corinthians 13:3-4 Phillips)

Are you ready for God to use you? The power within is not limited to preachers or evangelists. No, God’s power is at work in every believer surrendered to His Lordship. I recall my dad’s admonishment, “Be a garden hose, a PVC pipe, a channel for God’s healing power. You don’t have to be fine china to be used by God. In fact, the Lord delights in using styrofoam cups, ordinary people just like us.” God wants to use you. God wants to use me.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT)

Years ago, Richard C. Halverson (former Senate Chaplain) wrote: “You don’t need a five-foot pipeline to irrigate a garden. You can do it with a quarter inch hose…assuming adequate source – a connection between it and the hose – and an uncluttered channel. The only ability God requires is your availability! The resources are His and they are unlimited. God pours His resources through human channels willing to be used.”

Have you ever told a young child that “please” or “thank you” are magic words? Most of us have said something like that when are trying to train good manners and respectful habits. In God’s economy, the magic words, needed to release us as God’s garden hoses, are not “please” or “thank you.” The magic words are “Yes, Lord.” The words that bring the release we need and the release that the world around us needs are “Yes, Lord.” We can experience His power when we surrender in obedience to Him. Say it aloud. Let your ears hear your your confession. “Yes, Lord.” God’s power is within.

January 31, 2014

You Can Persevere in God’s Strength

It’s human nature to feel tired when trouble comes our way or when we haven’t had enough rest or when we have selflessly given out to serve other. We’ve all had moments when our bodies just don’t want to put out any more energy. We’ve even had days it seems like everything is working against us. If we’re not careful, those days can turn into weeks and weeks into months. Next thing we know, we’re tired, discouraged, angry, and burning out.

I certainly enjoy ministering around the world, but even ministry can be tiring. God can still use us – even when we are physically drained – but we do need to take time to rest.

We may be stretched, but God doesn’t want His followers to lead exhausted lives. God wants to give us strength to live every day to the fullest. The apostle Paul asked God to strengthen every follower of Christ with an inward spiritual strength “through His Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).” In 2 Timothy 2:1, Paul compelled Timothy to “be strong strengthened inwardly in the grace that is to be found only in Christ Jesus.” Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to rely on God for physical and spiritual strength, you can rely on the Lord and to preserve in His strength.

“Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10 GNT)

Throughout Scripture, God reminds His people that we need to run to Him when we feel weary. “The Lord is like a strong tower; those who do right can run to him for safety (Proverbs 18:10 NCV).” In Psalms, He refers to Himself as our “refuge” and as a “very present help” (Psalm 46:1). These images are strong illustrations of God as a safe haven for our immediate problems – both spiritual and physical, large and small. Even when troubles flood our lives God promises, “I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you (Isaiah 41:10 NIV84).

Isaiah 40:31 is another promise from God’s Word that has sustained me:

But those who wait for the Lord and expect, look for and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power, they shall life their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary: they shall walk and not faint or become tired (AMP).

God has promised we can run the race of our lives with Him and with much strength, advancing from glory to glory and from strength to strength.

Refresh yourself in God’s strength by spending time in His Word. Using your own Bible or biblegateway.com, read the many Scripture references I have listed in this article. Take time to think about them. Meditate the Word of God (John 6:53-66). Keep yourself free from sin that drains away your strength (Ephesians 5:4; Colossians 3:8; Hebrews 12:15). Drink from the living water of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-38).

Don’t let bad days become bad weeks. Don’t grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). Don’t burn out. Set time aside to rest (Matthew 11:29). Stay connected with the Holy Spirit and discover rest in His grace and mercies because they are new every morning. As we pay attention to God’s Word and trust His promises we’ll become stronger each day.

September 5, 2013

Divinely Resourced

Even when you feel drained, or life knocks you around, or you feel like you just can’t make it, God remains your source. Your connection to Heaven’s King puts you in a spot to be Divinely resourced. You have somewhere to go when you need strength to stand back up. There is good stuff held-back, waiting for the day you need them. Even if you think you are out of options, but God says you are not!

We also pray that you will be STRENGTHENED with all his glorious power so you will have all the ENDURANCE and PATIENCE you need. May you be filled with JOY, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the INHERITANCE that belongs to his people, who live in the light. (Colossians 1:11-12 NLT)

Paul prayed for strength and his prayer provides an open door for us to ask God for strength. Pray for strength.

You and I can be strengthened by His Glorious Power! Father God provides for His children with abundant, ready supply. Author and noted New Testament translator, J.B. Phillips proclaimed, “God is the great reality. His resources are available and endless. His promises are real and glorious, beyond our wildest dreams.”

We are Divinely Resourced! Heavenly Fathers delivers endurance, patience, joy, inheritance.

#1 ENDURANCE

You have an endurance reserve. Often God perplexingly and mysteriously seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, situations that try resolve and test persistence. But, God never let more come your way that you are able to handle – with His help.

Sometimes we pray for the easy way out of adversity, instead of asking for strength to go forward or expecting God’s comfort. We want no persecution, no pain, no discomfort, no hardship. We beg God to get us out of difficult circumstances, but could God want glory from bringing us through the insurmountable obstacle? Everything that He accomplishes in our lives is for our benefit, but it is also for His glory.

God will deliver you and will provide you a reservoir of strength, but in doing so He will get glory and He will give you a lesson that you will never forget. Even when you think your tank is empty, you have a Divine reserve for endurance.

#2 PATIENCE

You have a patience supply. Paul lists patience as a fruit of Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) and our choice to yield to Holy Spirit is superblooming-fertilizer for patience.

I chuckled to hear of the sign hanging in a Texas country store, “Be patient. None of us am perfect.”
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Patience really isn’t optional; God commands, “Be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14b NIV). I have been told that a Greek word for patience carries the literal idea of “taking a long time to boil.” Hmm. How long does it take you boil?

Pray. Invite the Holy Spirit to develop Christlike character within you. Tap into the Divine supply of patience.

#3 JOY

You have a joy source. The joy of the Lord is your strength but His joy cannot be equated to how most people view “happiness.” The materialism of American culture pushes people to look for happiness in a having MORE STUFF. However, Jesus tells us, “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). American society values the pursuit of happiness and some folks mistakenly assume praying the “sinner’s prayer” automatically releases this kind of stuff-minded happiness.

Being born again gets you into the kingdom of God, but to be a joyful Christian, you have to get the kingdom of God into you. Our minds need to be renewed and retrained, our faith needs to be exercised, our lifestyles need to be transformed, and all of this happens as we continue to yield to the Holy Spirit. Joy is available even when circumstances are deplorable. Why? Because our joy is ultimately based on the finished work of Christ and Christ’s death and resurrection opens the way for us to live in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12).

#4 INHERITANCE

You have a Divine inheritance. In Colossians 1:12-14, Paul reminds of readers of the present and future victory we enjoy as believers. God divinely positions His children to prosper and succeed in what He has called them to do. Believers are blessed – empowered to prosper and succeed in every area of life so that they experience satisfaction, fulfillment, full joy, and success.

James Hudson Taylor, the famous Christian missionary to China and founder of China Inland Mission, wrote:

It does not matter where He places me or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me. For the easiest positions He must give grace; and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient. So, if God places me in great perplexity, must He not give me much guidance? In positions of great difficulty, much grace? In circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? As to work, mine was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. His resources are mine, for He is mine. (Draper’s Book, p.7481.)

God isn’t finished yet; the story isn’t over; Divine resources are not yet exhausted. Paul encourages, “this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT).

God remembers you, even when you have failed and let Him down again and again. You can confidently pray and call upon Him in your desperate need. With the God who provides as your source, you are never out of options.You will discover you are Divinely resourced.

April 30, 2013

5 Benefits of Healthy Friendships

You need healthy, Godly friendships to finish the race God has laid out for you. You benefit from healthy relationships, but you must be open to receiving the following five:

#1 Perspective

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14 NASB) You have blind spots. I have blind spots. You and I both need people around us who love us enough to speak into our lives. Others can see things in us that we can’t see – our strengths and weaknesses.

#2 Accountability

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT) Accountability helps keep us out of trouble and maintain integrity both in public and in private. The key to being accountable to someone else is to be open and honest.

#3 Encouragement

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#4 Strength

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT) Two are definitely better than one! God designed it so that when any of us is weak in any area, another is able to supply our lack.

#5 Friendship

“My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!” (1 John 4:11-12 MSG) God placed in each of us a deep need to be known and loved.

Do you have God-honoring friends who help spur you forward? Do your relationships help you serve the Lord?

February 28, 2013

God-Confidence to Reach Beyond Limits

Don’t let barriers – from the enemy, from the world’s culture, or from your own mind – keep you from doing all God has called you to do. Travel the path God has prepared for you with confidence. God promised to never leave you and He is on your side!

“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:7, 11 NIV)
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV)

It’s time for you to become more familiar with God’s ability than the enemy’s obstacles. It’s time for you stop looking only at where you are and start looking at what you can be. It’s time for you to trust His strength within you more than your own dysfunctional thought patterns.

What restrictions or restraints have you put on yourself? What limits are you accepting that are hindering what God wants to do in your life? Where are you defeating yourself? In what areas of your life have you limited God’s ability inside of you?

I CAN’T BECAUSE ________.

What phrase do you put in the blank? I am just ordinary? I ain’t smart? I never have? I am only a ‘B’ student? I don’t have enough money? I’m scared? What might people say? I’m too heavy, too skinny, too short, too awkward . . .?

Too many folks never move further than the boundary of their self-imposed limitations. Gideon looked at circumstances and limited himself (Judges 6:11). God called Gideon “mighty warrior”, but Gideon quarreled and complained (Judges 6:13, 15). Don’t be like that! Stay out of your own way. Take the limits off your thoughts! Don’t fight with God. Surrender to His strength and use what He puts inside of you for His glory.

The Philistines possessed military superiority over the terrified Israeli army (1 Samuel 13:19-25), yet Jonathan displayed God-confidence in the face of the sizable force. Jonathan didn’t limit God’s ability. “’Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,’ Jonathan said to his armor bearer. ‘Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!’” (1 Samuel 14:6 NLT)

Jonathan was willing to take on an entire company of Philistines with only one guy standing with him. Jonathan went all MMA “using hands and feet” (14:6) on the enemy. His God-reliant exploit opened the door for victory not only for himself and his armor bearer but for the entire Israeli army. Follow Jonathan’s example!

Open your eyes to the possibilities around you. Believe God for what seems impossible for He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Renew your mind with God’s Word.

Pick a barrier big enough to matter when you overcome it. Move toward the obstacle like Jonathan did – in faith, not fear! Stretch yourself to attempt something new or to do something differently.

Exercise God-confidence. Begin to take small steps toward your problem, and don’t quit. You may be stopped temporarily, but you are the only one who can stop you permanently. God is with you. You can move forward!

February 15, 2013

Distressed? 3 Sources to Encourage Yourself

To extend encouragement to others, you personally need to be encouraged.

Last year, my family walked through some stress. The three ladies in my house all faced rough reports from doctors. Kimberlyn’s four-wheeler accident uncovered a bone tumor in her shoulder that baffled several doctors. With each visit and referral, we were told that the next specialist would know if the growth was cancer or not. Final referral to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, TN) connected us with the specialist who did the surgery. We felt the pressure of uncertainty. It didn’t feel real good.

To make it even more ‘interesting’, Patti and Rozy had test results that initially weren’t favorable (Patti-internal; Rozy-in her gum). Yeah, it wasn’t pleasant. The reports are good now, but walking through it wasn’t easy.

The picture above was taken last year during a day of tests at St. Jude’s. Kimberlyn is great; her next appointment isn’t until September. Good report then will be the end of her treatment. I have had several ask, “Y’all look happy; why weren’t you falling apart?” Why? In the middle of that stress, we were buoyed by God’s strength. Our family benefited from the encouragement of community, and we also knew how to seek out God’s encouragement when we were alone.

I appreciated the encouragement that came from my church family and Godly believers, but I also needed God’s grace when I was alone – all by myself. Today, I want to share with you three sources from which I drew the encouragement. Right in the middle of crummy scenarios, I was still able to find strength.

For the 16 months in which David lives in Philistine territory under the “protection” of Achish of Gath, the Bible doesn’t record David seeking the Lord for anything. David isn’t prepared for the impending distress. Not seeking the Lord is always a setup for disaster.

As David and his crew return from being rejected by the Philistines, evil Amalekites destroy their “secret” base in Ziklag, plunder the city, burn the houses, and take all the citizens hostage including the wives and children of David’s warriors (1 Samuel 30:1-5). David’s wives are also taken, but his men aren’t at all sympathetic.

David is in dire straits. David’s leadership (without seeking God’s direction) is flawed; his orders open the door to catastrophe. The strained loyalty of his fighters capitulates to discussions of stoning David.

Finally, at this bleak moment, David turns his attention to the place where it should have been all along. Prayer brings him back into relationship with his true Defender. When his closet friends were talking of stoning him, David strengthened and encouraged himself in the Lord (30:6).

With his focus reestablished, David seeks direction from the Lord (30:7-8). God commands him to lead the attack and promises him victory. At God’s direction, David and his men marshal themselves and witness the God-promised recovery (30:9-20). Not one of the kidnapped family is hurt!

I hope your friends aren’t ready to hurt you! If discussions of your downfall are already underway, you better act quickly. Get your focus back on Christ! Keep your focus on the Lord. Seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Do you need encouragement? Even if you are all alone, you can be encouraged as you draw from THREE READY SOURCES:

#1 Your Position in Christ: Paul extols the “encouragement from being united with Christ” (Philippians 2:1 NIV) as a provocation to live and to love like Christ.

#2 Scripture: The Bible “was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NASB)

#3 The Holy Spirit: The same Spirit who encouraged early church growth encourages us. “The church then had peace . . . and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.” (Acts 9:31 NLT) I am praying for this kind of Holy Spirit encouragement in Valley Fellowship today!

Christ’s life encourages you, God’s Word encourages you, and the Holy Spirit encourages you, AND, don’t forget you also have the encouragement of community! (check out yesterday’s post)

Encourage yourself in the Lord! Receive His mighty strength. Mourning may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. The light ahead of you is not an oncoming train. As you encourage yourself in the Lord, the light ahead of you is His direction, a lighted-path to victory.

January 9, 2013

Strength for Today – Strong in the Lord

The strength needed to live life successfully is found in God’s unlimited power.

Life has struggles. Sooner or later, every person faces overwhelming circumstances, situations seemingly impossible to make it through. If we are honest, we all recognize our need for help. Sometimes, the stress is FAR beyond our own strength to handle it. Lowell Streiker (Encyclopedia of Humor) shares the following story that I think even a husband can understand.

The harried housewife sprang to the telephone when it rang and listened with relief to the kindly voice in her ear. “How are you, darling?” it said. “What kind of a day are you having?”

“Oh, Mother,” said the housewife, breaking into bitter tears, “I’ve had such a bad day. The baby won’t eat, the washing machine is broke down, I haven’t had a chance to go shopping, and besides, I’ve just sprained my ankle and I have to hobble around. On top of that, the house is a mess and I’m supposed to have two couples to dinner tonight.”

The mother was shocked and was full of sympathy. “Oh, darling,” she said, “sit down, relax, and close your eyes. I’ll be over in half an hour. I’ll do your shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I’ll feed the baby, and I’ll call a repairmen I know who’ll be at your house to fix the washing machine promptly. Now stop crying. I’ll do everything. In fact, I’ll even call George at the office and tell him he ought to come home and help out for once.”

“George?” said the housewife. “Who’s George?”

“Why, George! Your husband! . . . Is this 284-1373?”

“No, it’s 284-1376.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I have the wrong number.”

There was a short pause. Then the young woman asked, “Does this mean you’re not coming over?”

Ever wished for help? We all need strength, but too often we are like the young mother vainly seeking assistance from strangers! Guess what? You aren’t likely to find the help you need from a mom’s misdialed connection, but Heavenly Father is available. The classic hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” praises the Lord who gives “strength for today.” Psalmists repeatedly honor the Lord for the strength He provides (search “strength” in the Book of Psalms at www.biblegateway.com). Here are just three:

The Lord gives his people strength. Psalm 28:8 NLT
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11 NLT
God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! Psalm 68:35 NLT

Writing under Holy Spirit inspiration, the Apostle Paul commands, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 NIV). The strength we need is found in only one place – “in the Lord.” Paul isn’t encouraging a stiff-upper-lip-attitude. He isn’t calling for his readers to grit their teeth and pretend. He is pointing to the location we must go if we are to find the strength we need.

Paul wanted believers in Ephesus (and all Christ-followers!) to have a greater understanding of the awesome strength that is available to God’s people. Paul writes,“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT) Paul revisited the need in Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”

We need to be wrapped up in God’s strength. Kenneth Wuest (Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader) says the Paul’s choice of words in Ephesians 6:10 conveys the idea of “to clothe one’s self with strength as one puts on a garment.” Can you see the impact of that imagery? We are familiar with that activity. Don’t you put on clothes every day? I get dressed everyday. Okay, some relaxing days at home I may not be very dressed-up, but my family insists I have on clothes. Getting dress is normal, daily, activity. For the Christ-follower, receiving God’s strength should be just as normal, even more than common.

We shouldn’t be content just to receive God’s strength one time. Regularly, we need to reach out for strengthening. Wuest’s comments on Ephesians 6:10 reveal the ongoing nature of this dependance. “Here the verb is in the passive voice, ‘be continually strengthened.’ The qualifying phrase, ‘in the Lord,’ defines the strengthening as Christian strengthening, such as can take effect only in union with the Lord . . . ‘be strengthened,’ causes the saint to depend on the Lord for the supply of that strength . . . Translation. Finally, be constantly strengthened in the Lord . . .”

People cannot strengthen themselves; they must be empowered, and that not once for all but constantly, as the tense of the Greek indicates. Furthermore, he says, not ‘by the Lord,’ though that would be true enough, but again in the Lord. When life is lived in union with Him, within the orbit of His will and so of His grace, there need not be failure due to powerlessness (1 John 2:14). Apart from Him the Christian can do nothing (John 15:1-5), but there is available all the strength of His might. ( Francis Foulkes in Tyndale NT Commentary Ephesians)

I can – I SHOULD live in a place of strength. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me. Jesus Christ won the ultimate victory when He died and rose again. I don’t fight FOR victory; I fight FROM victory! I want to live life successfully. Today, I will draw from the steady current of God’s power available to me via praying in the Holy Spirit, feeding upon His Word, connection with other believers, fasting and other spiritual disciplines, and many more avenues. I desire strength for today. How about you?