Finding Your Strength
Griffith Baptist Church – 1/25/09
P.M. Service
Text: Psalm 43
Key verse: Psalms 43:2 - For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Premise: God promises us strength. So why do we find ourselves more weak than strong? What can we do to ensure power for every task?
The Introduction
A sideshow strongman was exhibiting his prowess and as a final trick he squeezed the juice from a lemon between his hands and then offered ten dollars to anyone in the audience who could squeeze a single drop out of it. Several husky men tried, to no avail. Finally, a small bespectacled man came forward. He took the lemon in hand, and to the delight of the audience, managed to squeeze one more drop from the lemon. As the strongman paid out the ten dollars, he asked the man, "What is the secret of your strength. How did you manage to get that last drop?" "Oh," the man replied, "I was the treasurer of our Church for 30 years."
Discuss the text:
o Here in verse 2 the Psalmist makes the statement about God being his strength.
o God has to be, when you see the situation the Psalmist describes in verse 1.
What do you place your strength in?
It seems like spiritual strength often eludes us:
o Temptation hits us and we give in
o Discouragement enters and we despair
o We struggle in this life with so much and find defeat
How do you acquire the strength you need on a daily basis?
Having and keeping your spiritual strength is a lot like building a fortress
o There is much that needs to be done
o It requires effort and upkeep
o It is necessary for your protection as well as your shelter
Body
1. You Can’t Build It Yourself – (spiritual strength needs greater knowledge than you know)
A. Often our approach to the Christian life is like a certain congregation that was about to erect a new church building. The building committee, in consecutive meetings passed the following resolutions: 1. We shall build a new church 2. The new building is to be located on the site of the old one. 3. The material in the old building is to be used in the new one. 4. We shall continue to use the old building until the new one is completed.
B. It is a supernatural work
i. 1 Corinthians 6:19 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
ii. God calls us “His building” and He has made us (1st Cor. 3:9)
a. He created us physically
b. He created us spiritually
C. It requires skills we do not possess
i. God alone knows the blueprints and what it will take to build you - Philippians 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
ii. The proper workmanship will lead to the right results - Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
D. It is too expensive for you to afford
i. So someone else needs to pay for it, and did – Jesus Christ
ii. 1 Corinthians 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2. You Need The Right Foundation – (spiritual strength has to have a good groundwork)
A. Jesus Christ
i. Salvation - Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
ii. He is the foundation and the chief cornerstone (1st Cor. 3:10)
B. Apostles and Prophets
i. The Plan - Ephesians 2:20 – And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets
a. God used the prophets and apostles to establish His new spiritual house
b. He used them in their writings
c. He used them in their lives and examples
d. He used them in their proclamation
ii. The Purpose - Ephesians 4:11-13 – 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the (1)perfecting of the saints, for (2)the work of the ministry, for (3)the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
C. Rock
i. He is Stable - Psalms 18:2 – The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
ii. He is Safe - Psalms 61:2 – From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
iii. Without the rock, our house is doomed - Matthew 7:24-25 - 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
3. You Need The Right Materials – (spiritual strength needs to use what works best)
A. Jesus Christ - Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
i. Jesus is an enabler for service
ii. Jesus can strengthen us to accomplish what is impossible on our own. (John 15:5)
B. The Word of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
i. It is unstoppable - Hebrews 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.
ii. It is unavoidable - Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
iii. It gives knowledge and hope - Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
C. Faith – Jude 1:20 - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
D. The Holy Spirit - Ephesians 3:16 – That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
4. You Need to Practice Responsible Maintenance – (spiritual strength needs to be maintained)
A. Keep a good security system - 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
B. Pay attention for ways to update and improve your existing structure - 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
C. Always stay connected to your greatest source of power – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
D. Rely on the great architect for everything - Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Conclusion:
What do you place your confidence in for strength?
Do you really think you can make it through every day on your own without God and his strength and do just as well, if not better?
Why do you resist Him so much?
Why do you refuse His help?
