THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Be strong.

1.    These words are found four times in Joshua 1.

a.    “Be strong and of a good courage…” (v. 6).

b.    “Only be thou strong and very courageous…” (v. 7)

c.    “Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage…” (v. 9).

d.    “…only be strong and of a good courage” (v. 18).

2.    Joshua and Israel were about to enter into the Promised Land and fight against the seven evil nations of Canaan.  Strength and courage were definitely two traits they would need to defeat their enemies.

 

b.    We, too, are called upon to be strong in several verses in the New Testament.

1.    1 Corinthians 16:13

 

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 

2.    Ephesians 6:10

 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

 

3.    2 Timothy 2:1

 

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 

c.    In this lesson, we will be talking about our need for strength as we serve the Lord.  We want us all to embrace the title of our lesson which is:  “The Lord Is My Strength.”

 

I.             THE NEED FOR STRENGTH

 

A.   There is the need for physical strength in life.

1.    Physical strength is needed in order to carry out the daily affairs of life.

2.    Young people do not feel this need as strongly as older individuals do.

a.    The easy things of life become much more difficult and take strength to accomplish.

1)    Getting ready in the morning.

2)    Taking care of things around the house.

3)    Travel

4)    Enduring sickness

b.    Example:  Jacob was sick and Joseph came to visit him (Gen. 48:2).

 

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee:  and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

 

B.   There is the need for emotional strength in life.

1.    There are some things in life that take a toll on the emotional component of an individual.

2.    These can impact young and old, and both men and women.

a.    Great losses

b.    Unexpected tragedies

c.    Betrayals

d.    Financial burdens

e.    Relationship issues

3.    Example:  David and his son Absalom.

a.    Proverbs 17:25

 

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

 

b.    When Absalom rebelled against his father, David made an extremely difficult, emotional departure from Jerusalem (2 Sam. 15:17).

 

And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was afar off.

 

C.   There is the need for spiritual strength in life.

1.    If Christians are faithful, there are all sorts of things that challenge their spiritual man and call for one to be strong.

a.    Temptation

b.    Trials

c.    Internal struggles within the church

1)    Sin

2)    False doctrine

3)    Relationship issues

4)    Matters of option

d.    Persecutions

e.    Deep concerns for one’s brethren

f.     The care of the local congregation

2.    Example:  Paul (2 Cor. 11:28)

 

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 

II.           SOURCES OF STRENGTH

 

A.   “Strength” is found in many places:

1.    Man’s personal strength:  muscles, wisdom, experience

2.    The strength of several men combined:  unions, gangs, social groups, political action groups

3.    Financial strength

4.    Military might

5.    The strength of the government

 

B.   There are times when the sources of strength mentioned above fail.

1.    Samson’s strength failed him (Jud. 16:19).

 

…and his strength went from him.

 

2.    The Bible teaches that riches can quickly take wings and fly away (Prov. 23:5).

 

…for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

 

3.    Powerful militaries can be defeated by less powerful forces (Ex., Israel when they sought to take the city of Ai, Josh. 7:5a).

 

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men:  for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down…

 

III.         THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD

 

A.   There is only one true source of strength, that is, God.  He is referred to in the Bible as “the Almighty.”

1.    This title is used 57 times throughout the Bible.

2.    The first time we find it is in Genesis 17:1.

 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

 

B.   God has manifested His strength in many ways.

1.    Creation by simply a word (Ps. 33:6).

 

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

 

2.    The destruction of the enemies of God’s people by the hand of God.

a.    Egyptians (Exo. 14)

b.    Jericho (Josh. 6)

c.    The Midianites (Judg. 7)

d.    The Assyrians (2 Kings 19)

3.    The providence of God manifests His strength.

a.    Judah did not honor his promise of a husband to Tamar, but she bore twins through Judah, one of which was in the lineage of Jesus.

b.    Joseph’s brothers sought to get rid of their brother Joseph, the dreamer, but his dreams came true when his brothers bowed before him in Egypt.

c.    Pharaoh sought to kill the infants of Israel, but God raised up Moses to be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

d.    Haman built gallows for Mordecai, but God caused Mordecai to be hanged on his own gallows.

 

C.   Psalm 89:8

 

O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee?...

 

IV.         THE LORD CAN BE OUR STRENGTH

 

A.   We need strength.

1.    Strength in weakness

2.    Strength over sin

3.    Strength over death

4.    Strength over temptation

5.    Strength over our enemies

6.    Strength to endure

 

B.   The psalmist knew the Lord was his strength.

1.    At least nine times in the psalms he refers to the Lord as “my strength” (Ps. 18:1, 2; 19:14; 22:19; 28:7; 43:2; 59:17; 118:14; 144:1).

2.    He makes numerous other statements about God being his strength.

a.    The strength of my life (Ps. 27:1)

b.    The rock of my strength (Ps. 62:7)

c.    The strength of my heart (Ps. 73:26)

d.    Strengthen me with strength in my soul (Ps. 138:3)

e.    The strength of my salvation (Ps. 140:7)

 

C.   The question is:  “How do we make God our strength?”

1.    Strength is found in the grace of God (2 Tim. 2:1).

 

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 

a.    God’s grace is God’s divine help.

b.    His grace enables us to topple every spiritual battle we face:  Satan, sin, and death.

2.    Strength is found in a doubtless faith.

a.    Faith involves trust and confidence.

b.    Part of that confidence is in the power of God to accomplish great things.

c.    Part of that trust involves God’s empowerment when we are weak.

d.    Hebrews 11:33-34

 

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtain promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

 

3.    Strength is obtained in fervent prayer.

a.    Prayer ignites the power of God.

b.    James 5:16b-18

 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:  and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

 

4.    Strength is given in a soul filled with God’s Word.

a.    God’s Word is powerful (Heb. 4:12).

 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

b.    God’s Word is not just meant to be learned or memorized.  It is to be lived out in daily lives. 

1)    When we live according to it, it has a transforming effect upon our lives (Rom. 12:2).

2)    Too, it clothes us with armor that protects us from the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10-17).

5.    Strength is provided in a family who cares for us.

a.    The church can provide for us physically at times.

b.    The church can encourage us in our discouragement.

c.    The church can be with us in our weaknesses.

d.    The church can provide forgiveness and acceptance.

e.    The church can offer up prayers on our behalf.

f.     The church can protect us from some of our enemies.

g.    The church gives us spiritual nourishment for growth.

h.    The church gives us examples to follow when our path is not clear.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Psalm 84:5

 

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee…

B.   Psalm 105:4

 

Seek the Lord, and his strength…

 

C.   Psalm 71:16

 

I will go in the strength of my God...