10.05.2008.Sermon.Be Strong
By William Akehurst, HSWC
BE STRONG. In today’s economic and climatologically erratic conditions and worldwide unrest, we must be firm in our hope, and strong in the LORD. Paul encouraged Timothy to Be Strong. This is to encourage every believer to build their faith in the GRACE of the LORD, and put their trust in Him.
Scriptures Referenced
2 Timothy 2:1
Psalms 33:18, 39:7, 130:7, 131:3, 146:5
Acts 17:28
Psalm 31:24
Joshua 1:7
Haggai 2:4
1 Cor 16:13
2 Cor 12:9-10
Ephesians 6:10
Philippians 4:13
2 Peter 3:18
Rising Fuel Costs, Hurricanes, Economic Disaster, Stock Market and Banking Systems Collapse,
Elections, New Leadership. What next?
With all these things seeming to be in disarray, many are wondering...What NEXT?
Some may even be wondering if life is worth living. Some may have seemingly lost all hope…
Where is your hope?
Psalm 33:18
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Psalm 39:7
"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
Psalm 130:7
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Psalm 131:3
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
Psalm 146:5
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
We have our hope in the LORD GOD our creator, redeemer and king.
2 Timothy 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Look at this phrase-Be Strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus
What does it mean to be strong?
Strong, Strength, Muscular, Able to lift and carry great loads, able to stand against opposition.
1. Physical: Muscular Strength - I will not be moved. I will physically endure.
2. Emotional: Mental Strength - to not collapse under duress. To be able to handle stress. POWs mental stress to endure. Name, Rank, Serial No. I will not be moved. My mind will remain fixed. I will mentally endure.
Thinking of John McCain, for so many years as a POW. He needed mental and emotional strength to endure
3. Spiritual Strength: I will not be moved. I will be filled with the spirit and stand firm in the spirit of the LORD. I will spiritually endure. Knowing from where my strength comes. The Grace in Christ Jesus
What is that Grace?
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Grace? Gift, Received, Accepted, Changed, Enriched for eternity
Webster says this about Grace
GRACE means unearned favors received from God.
GRACE is the unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
Interesting. Webster who wrote the definitions of our language points grace as something that comes from GOD.
When we hear of grace, we also hear of mercy.
It is by God’s mercy upon us, that we have grace. But what is mercy?
I think of the servant who prostrates himself before the king pleading for mercy that the king would spare his life.
Mercy is given by those over us. Mercy is given upon someone below yourself.
MERCY? Unmerited favor. Favor that was not deserved or worked for.
Not getting what is deserved (punishment)
Compassion that spares from punishment
HIS Mercy and Grace
HE shows HIS mercy, HIS compassion to us by sparing us what we deserve (punishment) and by favor (love) provides for us what we deserve not (salvation and life)
HIS Mercy was HIS love for us. HE so much loved us that HE showed HIS love for us, by sending Jesus to live, die and rise up again. In Christ’s death, He took upon himself the sin of the world, from everlasting to everlasting. That all who believe in him might have life for ever. To live with him eternally.
His Grace is everything we need. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I think of Joni. A quadrapalegic. Still giving glory to the LORD. In her weakness, HE is EVERYTHING to her. And what can she do. Use her mouth to give praise for the Strength HE gives her. Her Mouth. What she uses to breathe, gives praise in word, song, and art. She uses
her mouth to paint! She lives and breathes Christ. Acts 17:28
We’ve seen the commercials on the TV. Allen Ailken - Action Business Systems. Copiers. His slogan is “We Live and Breathe this stuff”
And Paul says it to Timothy in the passage.
Be Strong in the Grace of our LORD JESUS
In order to be strong. We must eat...
Eat, Consume, Live, Breathe
This bible, GOD’s holy word. We must LIVE AND BREATHE. Every breath we take is given by the LORD. We take it in, and must give it back. We need to live and breathe the WORD of GOD
Live and Breathe this stuff. Live the word, breathe the word.
Breathe. Speak, Say, Sing, Shout, Pray, Praise, Project your voice
And where does our strength get its power. Power source is the blood of Christ, and his resurrection.
To be strong, we must:
Be fed - Get into the word
Take in and digest - Memorize it, study it
Grow muscle - Learn from its teaching. Build up a storehouse of strength from the word
Train the muscle - learn how to live in different situations. By studying, meditating
Prepare for the battle - Get wisdom from the word
Be properly equipped - Put on the whole armor. Be fully prepared. Don’t just look to one thing.
Be fully enveloped in the message of the word.
Put on the right armor
Live, Eat, Breathe this stuff.
Be strong.
1st eat to grow
2nd get stronger, by studying and training
3rd. BE strong. BE, being, DO.
Acts 17:28 In Him we live and move and have our being
Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
HOPE IN THE LORD AND BE STRONG IN THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS
In this day and in this economy. The people of the LORD need to stand firm, steadfast.
Unmoved. Fully trusting in the LORD. Praying for our country. Lifting up our nation to HIM.
We need to be strong. We need to ‘BE’ Christian. We need to BE like Christ. We need to BE so that the world might see that though all these things are going on, we will remain and BE…that lighthouse in the storm, the light in the darkness, rock solid in Christ.
We need to...BE
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
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