Identity—who Am I? Series

INTRODUCTION:

The movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddle, an Olympic champion and missionary to China. Eric would run with a reckless abandon; his sister commented that the movie failed to capture the wildness of Eric’s running; when he would run it was as though he would suddenly reach another gear throwing his head back and arms pawing the air. He may not have run with the fluid artistic style of many of today’s runners, but as he ran Eric said, “When I run, I feel his pleasure.”

>>Clip from movie—Eric preaching after a race in the rain.

Where does the strength come from? Where can you and I find the strength for our lives today? It does not come from our ability; strength is not found in hours of training or preparation. Strength is not a result of keeping a positive attitude or inner confidence. Real strength for daily living comes from deep within our hearts—not from ourselves—but from the power of God within us.

•Ephesians. 3:16-19 (NIV)

[16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

•Ephesians 3:16-19 (MsgB)

[16] I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— [17] that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, [18] you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! [19] Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Is there anyone who needs this glorious inner strength? Am I the only one who needs the renewal of divine power for daily living? We all need God’s power at work in our inner being! Is there anyone who might want to share a difficulty or problem you are facing in which you need God’s strength to make it from day to day—anyone open and honest enough to tell us how you have to depend upon God to help you?

How many people do you know who are tired and weary? People who are always on the go, but never seem to accomplish anything.

Churches today are filled with people who struggle to live a victorious Christ-like life; instead of living holy lives many are living haggard lives. Many Christian and non-Christian alike are exhausted, tired and just plain worn-out!

As Christians it should not be that way! The Bible says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV). As believers we should be the most energetic full of life people on the planet. Unfortunately, too many of us are hard pressed to just make a living and don’t have the time or energy to make a difference.

o We are the salt of the earth, but we’re too tired to get out of the salt-shaker and bring change to our world.

o We are the light of the world but we just want to turn the light off and go to sleep!

WHY? Why are we so tired? Why are we victims instead of victorious? Why are we just getting by instead of having joy unspeakable and full of glory? What are we missing in our daily lives that would set us apart from our fiends and neighbors? What are we lacking that keeps people from saying, “I want what you’ve got?”

IN A WORD WE ARE MISSING RENWAL! We need to be daily energized by the Holy Spirit! We need God’s overcoming, more-than-sufficient power working in our lives.

When we fail to partake of God’s sustaining grace we faint and grow tired. If we don’t daily receive power and life from the Holy Spirit within us then we just run out of gas! WE LIVE POWERLESS LIVES WHILE OUR CULTURE IS STARVING FOR RELAVANCE AND LIFE. People around us want to know “does your God work?”

It doesn’t have to be that way! The Apostle Paul joins his voice with the prophet Isaiah calling to let God daily renew our strength and give us an overcoming victorious life.

•Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.