Orange Moon Cafe "Be Strong" Part 3 - The Presence, the Promises, the Power

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe...

 

  "Be Strong" - Part 3

 

The Presence, the Promises, the Power

 

   "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10).

 

   What does Solomon mean by "thy strength?"  The premise of this series of messages answers the question.  If we find ourselves fainting in adversity, that is, not facing our challenges well, we are actually fainting in our access of "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).  Indeed, "thy strength" is actually His strength received by faith.  "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 2:1).

 

   Regarding any matter of life wherein born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ feel weak and subsequently tempted to act (or not act) in despair, the issue lies in our perception of God, that is, His presence, promise, and His power.  Does He dwell with us to the degree He dwells within us?  Are His promises of enabling in all things trustworthy?  Is "the power that worketh in us" sufficient for every challenge? (I Corinthians 3:16; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:20).  How we answer these questions determines our strength, which, again, is actually His strength revealed in us.  

 

    This means that our knowledge of God and His truth determines whether we are "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  If feelings of weakness  overwhelm faith in our Heavenly Father's presence, promises, and power, we can be sure we need to know Him better, and understand His truth to a greater degree.  Thus, great opportunity lies before us wherever we may be in our walk with God.  We all need to better know our Lord and His truth.  So, in matters wherein we feel the weakest, He calls us to gaze more deeply into His heart and His Word whereby we are "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).  Adversity provides such opportunity, challenging us to feel weak in order to provide opportunity for affirming and accessing the power of God.  Rather than faint, we thereby arise to walk, to run, and to fly as led and enabled by the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:10; Psalm 119:32; Isaiah 40:31).

 

    We close with perhaps the greatest Biblical declaration that the strength of believers is the strength of God revealed in us as we lay hold upon the presence, the promises, and the power…

 

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

 

Memory Verse

   "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am."

 (Psalm 39:4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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