Be Strong!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16v13 (KJV)

“Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength.” 1 Corinthians 16v13 (AMP)

Strength is needed to get work done. It is necessary to fight a battle. It is needed to fulfill destiny. Deuteronomy 31v6-8 (KJV) relates Moses’ message to Israel and Joshua when he told them he would not be going forward with them into Jordan – “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” Why is there an emphasis on us being strong? Because there is a fight to be had and as believers we know that we do have an adversary, which is the devil and constantly have to be on our guard (1 Peter 5v8). Indeed, our flesh also wars against the Spirit of God in us (Galatians 5v17). We therefore need strength – to get work done, to fight a battle, to fulfill destiny, to be who God wants us to be. Luke 21 looks at Jesus at the mount of Olives where He went to pray before He went to the Cross. Verses 41 to 43 say “And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” We all need strength, and if we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small (Proverbs 24v10). Thank God that even if our heart and flesh fail, He is the strength of our heart and our portion forever (Psalm 73v26), and our strength in time of trouble (Psalm 37v39).

Supplementary Text

“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;” Psalm 20v1-2 (KJV)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your word this day. Thank You for You are our strength. Strengthen us this day to do all that You will require us to do, to fight the battles we face and to fulfill destiny. Help us to be strong and of a good courage and remember always that You are our strength. We thank You and appreciate You in Jesus name, amen.