STRENGTH

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

2 Timothy 2:1 (KJV)

The apostle Paul admonished Timothy in the text above to be strong in the Lord’s grace and this goes to all true Christians. Pursuing Christ and the kingdom of God is not a bed of roses but a journey that involves fighting and escaping temptation and obeying the Word of Christ.

The Bible says in Proverbs 24:10 that if thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. This reveals that strength in the grace of God is of great importance and that there is the day of adversity. This day of adversity shall test our strength levels as Christians and we need to make certain that we do not grow weary. Paul taught the church this truth as is portrayed in Acts 20:21-22.

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

We can by no means inherit God’s Kingdom without going through tribulations. For it is by these tribulations that we are perfected in Christ. Scripture reveals in the book of James that we ought to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptation, knowing that the trying of our faith works patience, and that the perfect work of patience leaves us perfect and entire, lacking nothing. By this we learn that being strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus is imperative.

Sources of Strength for a Christian

     1.     The word of God.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” – Acts 20:32

The word of God’s grace and love is able to strengthen our souls to pursue God and His kingdom. Knowing in our hearts that this world is passing and cannot offer us eternal joy and peace, we receive strength to endure tribulation and consider God’s promises as true.

2.     Earnest prayer.

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” – Luke 21:34-36.

Prayer would strengthen us to escape the tribulations that lie in wait for us in this world. Our Lord Jesus Himself prayed that He may be able to endure the cross (Luke 22:39-46). His purpose was so great that He asked to let it pass Him by if it be His will. He knew He couldn’t endure it without strengthening of God.

3.     Growth in Wisdom and Knowledge.

“A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” – Proverbs 24:5.

4.     The Voice of the Lord.

“And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.” – Daniel 10:16-19.

The voice of God is powerful and capable of strengthening you to do exploits. The very experience of God’s voice can change a man totally. It can convert a convicted atheist into a man of God. It can change a criminal into a servant of God. Experiencing the empowering voice of God releases strength into our spirits and our souls to do exploits for God.

5.     Speaking in tongues

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…” – 1 Corinthians 14:4.

Speaking in tongues is something that has raised a lot of controversy in the church of God but it remains undisputed that it is a gift of God that is able to build us up. The word edify in the scripture above is “epoikodomo”, which means to build up. This reveals that by speaking in tongues a Christian is able to build Himself up in God.

Christians need to be strong in the grace of God and be conscious of the truth of God’s promises that they may never give up in their walk of faith.

  

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 By Samuel Entsua ©2014-2017 Christ for Humanity Outreach 

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