One Prayer - God is Strength | Message Recap 6.28.09
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As followers of Christ, we are children of God; as children of God, we possess the power of the Alimighty Creator. In other words, we are strong because we have His strength. Throughout the Bible, there are accounts of people who have unleashed this awesome power in their lives: David, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Caleb, Joshua, Daniel, Elijah and others. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (ESV).
In Revelation 21:7, the Lord speaks of the power to conquer that the Christ follower has: The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. In our lives, being strong and conquering may be as smple as talking to neighbors, building relationships and telling people about Jesus. As Christians, we should be known as strong because our God is strong.
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). Are we strong, or are we do we have the traits of the cowardly?
Some of what we take into consideration for not following God are the things He ordains we cannot get a grip around. We must remember, though, that we were all created by Him, and that God does whatever He wants. As an old preacher on the radio who was mentioned in the message would say, God has a plan, and God has a universe. You may have a better plan, but you don't have a universe.
[...] for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can say, "What have you done?" And no one can hold back his hand (Daniel 4:35 ESV).
There is a gap between the Creator and created, but God has the power to fill it, and with that power, His strength is unleashed in us. Here is a glimpse of His strength and Sovereignty from 1 Timothy 6:15: [...] he who is blesses and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion (NKJV).
God is so strong and so definitie, He has able to swear to Himself (Isaiah 45:22-23). We, as the created, are to be strong and courageous:
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:6-9).
