You Are Strong Enough

You Are Strong Enough
by Don Vess

Proverbs 24:10 NLT If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

Fail: Raphah (raw-faw)- to slacken, cease, abate, fail, to faint, to quit.

Prov 24:10 NASB -If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.

Last week I spoke of seed that is sown in 4 different kinds of hearts (or soils):

1. Hard Hearts: cynical, unbelieving, selfish hearts that will not listen to truth, no matter what.

2.Hollow Hearts: Fleshly; they hear the message and receive it with joy, but when the first sign of trouble or resistance comes, they wilt away. No endurance.

3.Half-Hearts: Receive the message of the gospel, but are not willing to totally surrender to Christa as Lord. They want the benefits of the kingdom but want to hang on to the world at the same time (monkey trap). Attracted to the vices of the world:

James 4:4 Don't you realize that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

4.Whole Hearts: GOOD SOIL; Hears the word, receives the word, acts on the word, and is transformed by it.

What would cause us to want to quit or be slack in our relationship with God or to fail in His purpose or destiny that He has apportioned for us?  

If we are not walking by faith but are trusting in our circumstances to guide us, then we will find that our strength is growing weak, and we will soon wilt under pressure.
 
I recall a time when I was facing a real crisis in my life and ministry. It was a very chaotic and troubling time for me and my family. Someone that God was using at time as a prophetic voice in my life, came to me and shared Proverbs 24:10 with me. He gave me the verse and said, Ponder this verse and consider what it means.

Later on, when our situation became very desperate, another friend who is such an exhorter in my life and in the lives of others, sent me a text. In His text He reminded me of a passage of Scripture in Heb. 13:5b-6 NLT God has said, I will never fail you, I will never abandon you. So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. WHAT CAN MERE PEOPLE DO TO ME?

 Trouble is going to come in your life. That's for certain. It can come from multiple sources.

We are promised that we Will have tribulation in this world (Jn 16:33), but Jesus said, Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world (World's system: Cosmos)

If we rely on anything other than the strength of the Lord in times of trouble, we set ourselves up certain defeat.

Paul tells us in Eph. 6:10  NASB- Finally, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE STENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having done everything, to stand firm.  (Then Paul lists the whole armor of God: (loins girded with truth, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, the shield of faith to extinguish the fiery darts, or lies of the devil, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  And praying in the Spirit at all times.

If we don't recognize who our real enemy is (and its not people) and stand against him accordingly, as Andrew Womack says, He'll eat your lunch and pop the bag.

Times of trouble or tribulation (Jn 16:33 Grk. Thlipsis: stress, trouble, tribulation), can actually be good for us, if its handled properly.

Jeremiah  Chapt 12: Jeremiah launched a complaint to God about his prophecy not changing the situation around him. His complaint was: Why are the wicked so prosperous: Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.

4, How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil of this land. For the people have said, The Lord doesn't see what's ahead for us!

Jeremiah couldn't understand why it seemed as though wicked people continued to be seemingly prosperous and happy while God's own people suffered. He felt as though he was fighting a losing battle.

We probably feel the same way sometimes when it seems that everything we do is going nowhere. But if we allow our circumstances to dominate our thinking then we will find ourselves defeated and losing ground.

The Lord replied to Jeremiah, vs. 5- If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble on the open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?

Romans 5:1-5 NLT- Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into the place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Gal 6:9- NLT- let us not grow tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest IF WE DON'T GIVE UP (grow slack, grow weary, faint, and quit).  

If we do grow tired and give up, then our strength is too small. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us strong for the battle. (Acts 1:8)

If we trust in our own strength or the strength of mortal man, we will lose ground and eventually lose the war. You may not win every battle, but you have already won the war if you keep your trust in God and in the promises of His word.

Here are some keys to keeping yourselves strong in the Lord:

I already gave you Ephesians 6:10-18.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT- Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

(Don't leave your decisions to chance or fate! Don't lean on what you think in your mind apart from God and His word. His Word will lead you and guide you in the right direction. Ps. 119:105 NLT- Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and light for my path.

Keep your mind in the right focus! Don't be anxious about your situations but trust the Lord with them.

Phil 4:4-8 NLT- Always be full of joy in the Lord (Neh 8:10 the joy of the Lord is our strength). I say it again ”REJOICE! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, THE LORD IS COMING SOON. 6 Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. 7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and your minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Jn. 8:31-32 NASB- If you abide (live in, walk in) in My Word, THEN you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and truth will set you free.)

James 1:2-4 NLT- Dear brothers and sisters, when any kind of trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect (mature) and complete, needing nothing (Christ is all we NEED!).

This life here is a TEST! The devil tempts us, God never does! James 1:13-14 NASB- Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself DOES NOT TEMPT ANYONE. 14 But each one is tempted WHEN HE IS CARRIED AWAY AND ENTICED BY HIS OWN LUST. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Peter reminded the early Christians who were being severely persecuted and were scattered abroad. Their very lives were under constant threat. They weren't just concerned about how they were going to pay the bills or afford a new car or appliance or send a child to college or who to vote for in the next election. Their very lives were in constant peril. Peter says, 1 Pet. 1:6-9 NLT ...be truly glad. There is wonderful joy AHEAD, even though you must endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested (your faith) as fire tests and purifies gold ”thought your faith is more precious than mere gold. So, WHEN your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Are You Strong Enough?