14. STRENGTH & POWER

1. GOD’S STRENGTH VS. YOUR STRENGTH:

A. God is infinitely more powerful than weak man:

Psa.8:3,4 – When I consider Thy heavens… the moon & the stars, which Thou hast [made]…what is man?
Isa.40:15,17, 22 – All nations before Him are as nothing…as a drop of a bucket… less than nothing
Dan.4:35 – All the inhabitants of earth are reputed as nothing, none can stay His hand
1Cor.1:25 – [Even] the weakness of God is stronger than men
(See also 2Chr.20:6; Psa.89:6.)

B. An honest view of man & his strength:

Job 14:1,2 – Man…is of few days…he cometh forth like a flower, & is cut down (See also Job 7:1)
Isa.40:6-8 – All flesh is grass…the grass withereth (See also Psa.90:5b,6; 103:15,16; Jam.1:10,11; 1Pet.1:24,25.)
Job 8:9 – We know nothing…our days upon earth are a shadow
Psa.39:5,6 – Every man at his best state is altogether vanity
Psa.144:3,4 – What is man? Man is vanity: his days are as a shadow (See also 1Chr.29:15; Psa.62:9; 90:10; Eccl.6:12.)
Psa.78:39 – He remembered they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away (See also Isa.2:22; Jam.4:14,15.)
Psa.103:14 – He knoweth our frame…remembereth that we are dust (See also Gen.18:27; Isa.29:5,6.)
Job 25:6 – Man is a worm
Isa.40:22 – The inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers
(See also Job 4:18-20; Rom.7:18.)

C. God is able to do absolutely anything:

Jer.32:27 – I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me? (See also Gen.18:14)
Job 42:2 – I know that Thou canst do everything
Psa.62:11 – Power belongeth unto God
Mat.19:26 – With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible
Mat.28:18 – All power is given unto Me in Heaven & in earth

D. God has total power over man:

Job 12:10 – In (His) hand is the soul of every living thing, & the breath of all mankind (See also Dan.5:23)
Job 12:13-25 – With Him is strength…He increaseth the nations, & destroyeth them (See Psa.75:6,7; 107:33-40.)
Isa.43:13 – There is none that can deliver out of My hand
Psa.115:3 – God…hath done whatsoever He hath pleased
Isa.64:8 – We are the clay, & Thou our potter; we all are the work of Thy hand (See also Isa.45:9)
(See also 1Chr.29:12; 2Chr.20:6; Job 9:4; Psa.104:29, 30; Isa.40:23,25.)

2. TRUST IN THE LORD, NOT YOUR OWN STRENGTH:

A. Let God strengthen you with His strength:

Eph.6:10 – Be strong in the Lord, & in the power of His might
2Chr.20:12 – We have no might against this great company…neither know we what to do: our eyes are upon Thee
Psa.20:7,8 – Some trust in chariots, & some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God
Psa.84:5 – Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee
Psa.105:4 – Seek the Lord & His strength: seek His face evermore
Isa.26:4 – Trust in the Lord, in the Lord is everlasting strength
2Cor.3:4,5 – Not that we are sufficient of ourselves…but our sufficiency is of God
Phi.3:3 – We worship God…& have no confidence in the flesh
(See also Exo.15:2; 2Sam.22:33; Psa.27:1; 68:28,35; 118:8; 147:10,11.)

B. He can do what you can’t do:

Zech.4:6 – Not by (your) might, nor by power, but by My Spirit
1Sam.2:9b – By [your own] strength shall no man prevail
Psa.60:11 – Give us help from trouble: vain is the help of man
Psa.127:1 – Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it
Jn.15:5 – Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Job 9:19a; Psa.33:16,17.)

C. Do what you can, but success depends on God:

Pro.21:31 – The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord
Neh.4:14 – Be not ye afraid of them: [but] remember the Lord great & terrible, & fight for your brethren

3. OUR WEAKNESS CAUSES US TO DEPEND UPON GOD:

A. God’s strength is manifest in our weakness:

2Cor.4:7 – We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the… power may be of God, & not of us
Isa.40:29 – He giveth power to the faint; & to them that have no might He increaseth strength
Psa.8:2 – Out of mouth of babes…hast Thou ordained strength
Psa.37:39 – The Lord…is their strength in the time of trouble
Psa.73:26 – My flesh & my heart faileth: but God is [my] strength
Isa.25:4 – Thou (art) a strength to…the needy in his distress
Isa.41:10 – I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee
2Cor.1:8,9 – We were pressed out of measure, above strength…but we (do) not trust in ourselves, but in God
2Cor.12:9,10 – “My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness”… When I am weak, then am I strong
2Cor.13:4 – We are weak in Him, but we shall live…by power of God
Heb.11:34 – [Bible saints:] Out of weakness were made strong
(See Psa.94:17,18)

B. When you have no other help, He’ll strengthen you:

Psa.72:12 – He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, & him that hath no helper
Lk.22:43,45 – [Jesus' disciples slept, but] an angel (came) from Heaven, strengthening Him
2Tim.4:16,17 – No man stood with me, but all men forsook me… the Lord stood with me, & strengthened me
(See also Psa.27:10)

C. He will give strength day by day to keep you going:

Deut.33:25b – As thy days, so shall thy strength be
Mat.6:34 – Take no thought for the morrow…sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof

D. When you have only little strength, the Lord will help you:

Psa.37:24 – Though he fall…the Lord upholdeth him with His hand
Isa.35:4 – Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong”
Dan.11:34 – When they fall, they shall be holpen with a little help
Rev.3:8 – Thou hast a little strength, & hast kept My Word

4. GOD CAN STRENGTHEN & USE YOU:

A. How to receive God’s power:

Josh.1:5-9 – Only be thou strong & very courageous…observe the (Word)… then thou shalt have good success
2Chr.16:9 – The Lord (shews) Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him
Neh.8:10 – The joy of the Lord is your strength
Psa.138:3 – When I cried Thou…strengthenedst me with strength
Isa.27:5 – Let him take hold of My strength
Isa.30:15 – In quietness & in confidence (faith) shall be your strength
Isa.40:31 – They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength
Dan.11:32 – People that do know God shall be strong, & do exploits
Mic.3:8 – I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord…& of might
Acts 1:8 – Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you
Eph.3:16 – Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man
1Jn.2:14a – Ye are strong [because] the Word of God abideth in you

B. He strengthens you with His power:

Psa.18:29-34 – It is God that girdeth me with strength
Psa.68:28 – Thy God hath commanded thy strength
Psa.68:35 – God…giveth strength & power unto His people
Psa.71:16a – I will go in the strength of the Lord God
Psa.80:17 – Let Thy hand be upon the man…whom Thou madest strong for Thyself
Psa.84:5,7 – Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee…they go from strength to strength
Phi.4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
Col.1:11 – Strengthened with all might, (by) His glorious power
Mat.10:1,8 – He gave (His disciples) power against unclean spirits
(See also Judg.14:6,19; 15:14,15; Psa.8:2; Lk.10:19.)

C. Praise God for strengthening you:

Psa.28:7,8 – The Lord is my strength…I am helped…with my song will I praise Him

D. Give God the glory for working through you:

Phi.2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you
1Pet.4:11 – Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
Isa.10:13,15 – [Proud] saith, “By (my) strength…I have done it.” Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth?
Jer.9:23,24 – Let not…the mighty man glory in his might…but glory in this, that he knoweth Me
Acts 12:21-23 – The angel of the Lord smote (Herod), because he gave not God the glory

E. Sometimes the Lord Himself wants to do the whole thing:

Exo.14:13,14 – Stand still, & see the salvation of the Lord…Lord shall fight for you, & ye shall hold your peace
Judg.7:all – [Gideon & his 300 let God fight the battle His way]
2Chr.20:15 – Be not afraid…the battle is not yours, but God’s
2Chr.20:17 – Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: stand ye still, & see the salvation of the Lord
Neh.4:20 – Our God shall fight for us
Psa.18:17 – He delivered me from my strong enemy…for they were too strong for me
Isa.30:7 – Their strength is to sit still

5. DON’T TRUST IN YOURSELF:

A. Warnings against trusting in your own strength:

Psa.52:5-7a – God shall destroy…the man that made not God his strength
Psa.118:8,9 – It is better to trust in the Lord than…in man
Psa.146:3 – Put not your trust in…princes, nor in…men, in whom there is no help
Jer.9:23,24 – Let not…the mighty man glory in his might…but glory… that he knoweth Me, that I am the Lord
Jer.17:5 – Cursed be man that trusteth in man, & maketh flesh his arm, & whose heart departeth from the Lord
Jn.15:4,5 – Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Isa.31:3)

B. What happens when you rely on your own strength & plans:

2Chr.26:16 – When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord
Hos.10:13 – Ye have reaped iniquity…because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men
1Cor.10:12 – Him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
(See also 1Sam.15:1-28; 28:4-25; 31:1-8 re: Saul.)

C. He will deliberately let you fail:

Lev.26:18-20 – If ye will not…hearken…I will break your power…your strength shall be spent in vain
Num.14:41-45 – Go not up, for the Lord is not among you…but they presumed to go up [to battle, & were smitten]
2Chr.16:7 – Because thou relied on the king of Syria, & not on the Lord…the host (is) escaped out of thine hand
(See also 2Chr.25:7,8)

D. Lack of strength often due to sin:

Psa.31:10 – My strength faileth because of mine iniquity
Lev.26:27,36,37 – I will send a faintness into (your) hearts…& ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies
Josh.7:12 – (They) could not stand before their enemies…because they were accursed
Judg.2:13-15 – They forsook the Lord…(His) anger was against Israel…they could not stand before their enemies
(See also Amos 2:13-15)

6. POWER WHEN WITNESSING:

A. Power comes from the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:8 – Ye shall receive power (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: & ye shall be witnesses
Mic.3:8 – I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord…to declare to Israel his sin
Jn.6:63 – It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing
Acts 4:8,13 – Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost…they saw the boldness of Peter
Acts 4:31,33 – They were filled with the Holy Ghost…& with great power gave the apostles witness
1Thes.1:5 – For our gospel came unto you…in power
2Tim.1:7 – God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power

B. No man can stand up to the power of God’s Spirit:

Lk.21:15 – I will give you a mouth…which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (contradict) nor resist
Jer.5:14 – I will make My Words in thy mouth fire, & people wood
Acts 6:10 – They were not able to resist the wisdom & the spirit by which he (Stephen) spake
2Cor.10:4 – The weapons of our warfare are… mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds

C. It has to be by God’s power:

1Cor.1:18 – The preaching of the cross…is the power of God
1Cor.2:4,5 – My preaching was…in…the Spirit & power: That your faith should…stand…in the power of God
1Cor.4:20 – The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power
(See also Lk.4:14)

D. God can use you even when you’re weak:

Gal.4:13,14 – [Paul witnessed to & won the Galatians even though suffering infirmity in the flesh]

E. God can take over & powerfully use you:

Exo.4:10-12 – I am not eloquent…I am slow of speech. The Lord said, “I will be with thy mouth, & teach thee”
Jer.1:6-9 – I cannot speak. Lord said, “Whatsoever I command thee…speak. I have put My Words in thy mouth”
Mat.10:20 – For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit…which speaketh in you (See also Mk.13:11; Lk.12:12.)
Acts 4:13 – They…perceived (Peter & John) were…ignorant men, they took knowledge…that they had been with Jesus
(See also 1Sam.10:6)

7. GOD’S POWER VS. YOUR ADVERSARIES’ PHYSICAL POWER:

A. For your spiritual battles, defending the faith:

Jude 3b – Ye should earnestly contend for the faith
2Cor.10:3-5 – We do not war after (in) the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
(See also 1Cor.10:11)

B. If you must physically defend your loved ones or country:

Lk.11:21 – When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace
Jn.10:11 – The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

C. Fleshly “might” is no match for the power of God:

1Sam.17:45 – Thou (Goliath) comest to me with a sword, & with a spear…but I come to thee in the name of the Lord
2Chr.32:8 – With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord to help us, & to fight our battles
Psa.9:19,20 – Lord, let not man prevail…put them in fear: that (they) may know themselves to be but men
Isa.31:3 – The Egyptians are men & not God…when the Lord shall stretch out His hand…they all shall fail
(See also Hos.1:7)

D. They may seem strong, but their strength has departed:

Num.14:9 – Neither fear the people…for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them
Jer.46:17 – Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed [his time is up]

E. God decides the outcome, not physical, carnal might:

1Sam.2:4 – The bows of the mighty men are broken, [whereas] they that stumbled are girded with strength
2Chr.25:8 – God hath power to help, & to cast down
Psa.33:16 – There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength
Psa.33:17 – An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength
Psa.35:10 – The Lord deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him
Psa.44:3-7 – They got not the land…by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but Thy arm

F. You are not to trust in fleshly might to fight your foes:

2Ki.18:21 – Thou trusteth upon…this bruised reed…on which if a man lean, it will (pierce) his hand
Psa.44:5,6 – Through Thee will we push down our enemies: I will not trust in…my sword (to) save me
Isa.31:1 – Woe to them that go to Egypt for help…because they are very strong; but look not unto…the Lord

G. You are not to fear the power of man:

Deut.3:22 – Ye shall not fear them: the Lord shall fight for you
Psa.27:1-3 – Of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear
Psa.118:6 – The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Pro.29:25 – The fear of man bringeth a snare
Isa.2:22 – Cease (fearing) man, whose breath is in his nostrils
Isa.51:12,13 – (Why) art thou…afraid of a man that shall die…as grass; & forgettest the Lord thy Maker
Jer.1:8 – Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord
Lk.12:4,5 – Be not afraid of them that kill the body

H. God is on your side & you shall win:

Deut.20:1 – When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, be not afraid…for the Lord thy God is with thee
Deut.20:4 – Lord [will] fight…against your enemies, to save you
Deut.31:8 – The Lord…doth go before thee; He will be with thee
1Sam.17:47 – Battle is the Lord’s, He will give you into our hands
Psa.108:13 – Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies
Rom.8:31 – If God be for us, who can be against us?
(See also 2Chr.14:11,12; 20:12-25; Zeph.3:17.)

I. The armies of Heaven are on your side:

2Ki.6:14-17 – [Elisha said,] They that be with us are more than they that be with them
2Chr.32:7,8,21 – [Hezekiah said,] There be more with us than with him
Mat.26:52,53 – [God would] give Me more than 12 legions of angels
(See also Josh.5:13,14; Psa.68:17; 91:11; Isa.37:33-36.)

J. You become far more powerful than your adversaries:

1Jn.4:4 – Greater is He that is in you, than he…in the world
Josh.1:5 – There shall not any man be able to stand before thee
Josh.23:9,10 – One shall chase a thousand, for God fighteth for you
(See also Deut.11:25; 28:7.)

K. God can help you win against overwhelming odds:

1Sam.14:6 – No restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few
2Chr.14:11 – Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power
2Chr.16:8,9a – A huge host…because thou didst rely on the Lord, He delivered them into thine hand

14. Strength & Power, Copyright © 1998-2012, The Family International