Dearly beloved in Christ,
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I express my New Year greetings to you!
Today what a man needs most in his life is strength. It is needed to do our daily routine. Even in our workplace, to do our duty well we need it. To stand against our enemies, we need strength. The One who multiplies this strength in us lives even today. He assures us to strengthen us. He helps us by providing the strength to pray fervently, to walk in His ways and also to exalt His name. Paul declares in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” When we enjoy this divine strength in us, we are never terrified by any of the problems
I WHERE WE NEED STRENGTH?
1. In the body
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles,they shall run and not be weary,they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
To regain the lost strength and to enjoy new strength in the body we should wait before Him. When we have this strength, we will not get tired even when we run or walk. “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deut. 8:18). Only when we have strength, we can earn wealth. To carry out our responsibilities in daily life, we need strength to go to factory. The Lord will give it this year in an abundant measure and bless us. Let us learn to wait on Him.
Many people take a lot of efforts in various ways to restore the lost health. Today we see people going for jogging early in the morning or doing some exercise. Only when we have this strength in us, we can walk or ride cycles or do anything without any delay. But some try to do something wrong when their strength fails them. As there is no strength left in them, they leave it to fate and do nothing about it.
Once a family came for prayer. That sister was terribly afraid of the failing strength. She had no children. They had problems in making efforts for getting conceived. They quarrelled unnecessarily. She enquired what they could do. I told them that it was the Lord God who provides us strength. I asked them to seek the help of God who has said, “I will make you strong; yes, I will help you.” I told them that the Lord Jesus Christ would help them and exalt them. I counselled them to seek Him more. I assured them that He would bless them with strength and would fulfil their desires. They began to seek the help of the Lord truly. The Lord provided her with the strength to bear two children one after the other. This strength in the body would bring about a great transformation in the family life and would give you joy.
2. In the spirit
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
The strength in the spirit is more blessed. Because we lack it, we grieve greatly even for small things. Lack of this strength makes us imagine too many unwanted things and get depressed. This leads to mental illness. Those who are filled with this strength do bear testimony about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). The disciples waited on Him as they were told and were filled with the Spirit. The Lord by His grace gives us this strength in the spirit through His Holy Spirit.
3. In the soul
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me,and made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 37:4
We need strength in the soul too. Lack of such strength leads to fear. There are people who fear for little things. Those who are strengthened by the Lord through their prayer receive the courage to face problems and to resolve them without any fear. This strength in the soul gives us the courage. Many commit suicides only because they have no strength in the soul to face the problems of life like defeats, failures, sorrows, losses and delays.
Once one brother started sharing his worries. He said that he had no peace or joy in life. He could not sleep in nights. He concluded that there was no reason for him to live. He had decided to commit suicide. But when the Lord revealed and reminded him of the good things He had done in his life, he was emboldened to live. He started to live for the Lord with new determination. The Lord who redeems you from the edge of life wants to bless you. Lay aside all your fears and accept Jesus Christ as the Lord. He will bring about a transformation in your life. The new strength you have in your soul would make you face the challenges of life and give you the courage to overcome the failures, struggles and sorrows in life.
In my life I was terrified by the works of the devil. During night times it would appear before me and question me. It would ask me, “Where shall I go? You have sent me away from my dwelling.” Its voice terrified me. My body shivered. I was depressed. I did not know what to do. Every day at mid night I had this problem. I began to give importance to Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” I also made another decision. I began to meditate the word of the Lord from 11 pm itself and to praise Him with supplication. I also began to think of all the good things He had done in my life and to praise Him during daytime. Then I was reminded of the sins I had committed. Then I confessed them and plead for His forgiveness. At that time, the Lord gave the reply to my prayer by pardoning me and strengthened me in the spirit by anointing me with His Holy Spirit. Then I was strengthened and established in the ministry. The fear and the accompanying instability at heart disappeared. I was emboldened to pray for the children of the Lord and for His ministers. Whatever be the nature of the evil spirits, I could stand against them and pray without any fear.
Dear Brother/ Sister, our Lord hears our prayers. He opens the doors for us in all things and makes us live without fear in all situations.
II WHEN DO WE LOSE OUR STRENGTH?
1. Because of iniquity
“For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” Psalm 31:10
We lose our strength because of the iniquities we commit. Strength is something glorious and essential. Only with strength we cam lead a good life. Moses was willing to give up the joy of sin and to suffer with the children of the Lord. He wanted to deliver them. The Lord spoke to him and led him to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptian king. When he died, he did not lose his sight. He was aged 120. He did not lose his strength. The Bible says, “And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor had he lost any of his natural strength (Deut. 34:7). But when we revel in iniquities, we lose our strength.
I know a good soccer player. Many wondered at his capabilities. He was a good sprinter. He had terrible strength. But he started the habit of drinking and got addicted to the habit. He began to lose his glamour. He lost his strength little by little. He began to experience difficulties in running fast. As days passed, he lost all his unique capabilities one by one. He lost his potential and glamour. Finally, his life became terribly miserable.
Dear Brother/ sister, the Lord gives you victory if you obey His word to go with the strength you have. When you do not submit yourself to evil acts but honour the statutes of the Lord, you would be protected from losing your strength.
2. Because of age
“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.” Psalm 71:9
As we become old, we lose our strength. Those who were athletes begin to walk with sticks to support them. In old age, people find it difficult to climb up a staircase or walk some distance. The spirit of infirmity too cripples a person.
3. Because of depression at heart
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10
Facing so many problems makes a person depressed. This depression takes away the strength in the body, the soul and the spirit of a man. Such people submit themselves to insanity of doing things without knowing what they do. They have no control over themselves and loiter about. Today we should keep the Lord before us. When we keep our problems before us and start worrying about them, depression takes over. We will not be able to sleep at nights. The One who is with us is greater than the one in the world. He is greater than our problems. He is the Lord of lords. So, let us keep Him always before us and run the race set before us. No evil force can take away the strength in us. Some look at their problems and do not know what to do in the whirlpool of problems.
4. Because of not guarding the secret of one’s strength
“That he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” Judges 16:17
The Lord instructed Manoah before the birth of his son through an angel how he should bring him up. Manoah had no children before that. It was the Lord’s decision. He was to be a Nazirite. His hair on the head should not be shaven. The Lord gave him a lot of strength and through him He tormented the Philistines. This Samson who was to be the judge of Israel gave himself to the sin of adultery which the Lord hated. He submitted himself to the sin of lust. He saw a harlot and went in to her. Then he started a relationship with Delilah. The Philistines used her to know about the secret of his strength. They were prepared to give her money. Everyday she pressed him to reveal the secret with words so much so that he became vexed. He revealed everything to her in the end. Micah 7:5 says, “Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.” She let the Philistines know the truth. His locks of hair were shorn and he lost his strength. But he did not know that he had lost his strength when the Philistines came upon him. He rose up to go but was caught and humiliated by them. His eyes were removed; he was chained. He was made to grind flour.
Dearly beloved in Christ, in your life you should walk carefully worthy of the calling of the Lord. You should do the right thing at the right place according to His leading. Do not yield yourself to temptation of self-righteousness and lose the vision of the Lord God.
III WHOM WILL THE LORD STRENGTHEN?
1) Those Who Trust in the Lord
“ For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength...” Isaiah 30:15
To gain strength we should turn away from sin. We should repent and turn to the Lord with trust in Him. When you submit yourself to live under His dominion, He girds you with strength. There is no rock except Him. He will give you new strength and make you know the way. He will make you stand in high places transforming your legs like those of a deer. He is the same today and forever. This strength that the glorious Lord gives fills you with blessings and peace all the days of your life.
Once an elderly Brother who did not accept Jesus Christ as God was struggling with weakness with a hard heart. But he accepted the gospel of Christ and repented and placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Till then he was with infirmity lacking in strength to live a dignified life. But now after he placed his trust in the Lord, he regained his strength. His weakness left him. There was joy and peace in his life. As he was filled with the peace of the Lord, he was not afraid of anything. He could enjoy the love of God and see the glory of the Lord by His grace.
2) Those Who Rejoice in the Lord
“...do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Life in Christ is a life of joy and peace. But mistakenly people harbour thoughts of Christian life as one packed with sorrows and hardship. As Prophet Jeremiah remarks, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jer. 15:16). In our lives also, we would be filled with joy when we receive His word. This happiness at heart is good medicine. It gives facial bloom and exalts us.
Not only that. The hope of the righteous is joy. Through trust in the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us all we are transformed into righteous people and the transformed life is joyful. This joy fills the life of people who do righteous works. Like Abraham, through faith we are transformed into righteous people. Let us walk in paths of righteousness that the Lord likes.
We are to worship the Lord with joy in our hearts. David says, “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1). When the Lord delivers people from captivity, they rejoice in Him. Psalm 53:6 says, “When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.” Let us also live a humble life and inherit this earth and filled with joy and peace. Thus, we would be blessed.
3) Those Who Belong to the Lord
“The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
Let us today commit ourselves to be fully transformed to be the people of the Lord. “... Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God.” (Jer. 11:4). Then you would become His people. The Lord makes a covenant with His people and blesses them. Lev. 26:12 says, “ I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Yes, you become His child when you walk according to His teachings. You will be His own people.
Today let us examine ourselves. Let us commit to walk in paths of Truth as He has taught us. He will be our God; we will be His people.
4) The Strength of the Holy Spirit
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Today we are blessed to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit through the Lord Jesus Christ. Before Him this Spirit was given only to a few saintly people. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied several things to the people, and guided them; sometimes they gave warnings to some others. Jesus Christ came and He pleaded to the Father for the Holy Spirit for all. This is a great privilege for us all. This Holy Spirit does several things in us. He convicts the world concerning sin, concerning righteousness and concerning judgment. He comes in us and delivers us. He teaches us of truth and brings all things to remembrance. He also gives us the strength to live untainted by this world. Thus, He blesses us.
The Lord who said: “I will make you strong; yes, I will help you” will strengthen us in the body, soul and spirit and help you to live a blessed life during the New Year.
May the Lord bless us!
In the service of Christ,
Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.