(Psalm 46)

PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Out of 180 references I read concerning strength; only around 10 of them were found in the NT.

What do you think of that?  Certainly the OT is bigger - about 3 or 4 times the size, but not 18 times the size. 

Why did the OT believers speak so much about strength?

Why do the NT Scriptures seem to speak so much less about strength?

Did they need more strength than we do?

Was strength more important to them?

To this I say - Nay!

I think that the Lord expects us to see the important foundation for understanding "strength" found in the OT; and build upon that foundation when we say:

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!"

Are we strong in the Lord?

PR 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength,

    gray hair the splendor of the old.

I was in the Warroad High School last week during a lunch break and sure enough, I saw it with my own eyes, the boys had a garbage can set up and they were arm wrestling on top of it.

I was very tempted to jump in and give it a try, but my gray hair won out - and I just walked by. 

Strength of youth or strength with age?  We must figure out where we are.

PR 24:5 A wise man has great power,

    and a man of knowledge increases strength;

  PR 24:10 If you falter in times of trouble,

    how small is your strength!

There will be trouble with sin, life, soul, etc. 

What did Jesus say in these situations?  "You have little faith."  This wasn't a put down by the Lord, it was a good healthy indicator of where they were.

ARE WE STRONG IN THE LORD?

How can such a thing be accomplished?

Three principles:

I.                    Know the One who has the strength (Psalm 46:1).

REV 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:

  "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

  and honor and glory and praise!"

    REV 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

  "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

  be praise and honor and glory and power,

      for ever and ever!"

REV 5:14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

REV 7:11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

  "Amen!

  Praise and glory

  and wisdom and thanks and honor

  and power and strength

  be to our God for ever and ever.

  Amen!"

II.                 Pray for God to give me strength (Psalm 46:10).

1PE 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Present passive imperative - "to be empowered" or "to be strengthened".  We are to allow the Lord to strengthen us!

III.               Serve the Lord with all my strength (Mark 12:29-32).

MK 12:29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

    MK 12:32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

    MK 12:34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

ARE WE STRONG IN THE LORD?

How can such a thing be accomplished?

Three principles:

There is an interesting part of "being strong in the Lord" that is found in the language of Ephesians 6:10.  This is not "active" as we would assume; rather it is "passive".  This means to "allow yourself to be strengthened".

C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters wrote, "As one of the humans has said, active habits are strengthened by repetition but passive ones are weakened (p. 71). 

Repetition in action has its place in preparing us for these battles; but to win this we must "be still" and let the Lord strengthen us.