Strength
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Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Our strength is not dependent on how we feel; He gives us strength! Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10 NKJV
Let’s back up and read what Paul said leading up to this in context. I love seeing the scriptures in context! That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 2 Corinthians 12:5-8
Have you ever noticed that the world sees Christians and those who believe in Jesus as weak? Satan wants us to be weak and fail to look to our Father for His strength. He wants us to be made ineffective by having us believe a lie; the lie that we are a victim, or that we are depressed, hopeless, useless, or infirmed and lacking the power to live a victorious purposeful life in God’s Kingdom! What lies has Satan told you? Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around LIKE a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan cannot speak the truth because there is no truth in him. He is the father of lies and the god of this world. Do not believe what the world may say you are! “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!” John 8:44-45
There is a pervasive humanistic victim mentality in our culture and if we are not in agreement with it, we are considered unkind and unsympathetic. People in the world need others to feel sorry for them when something bad happens. If they don’t get enough sympathy and validation, Satan immediately brings offense which causes division. During those times, words of encouragement, strength and hope for a better future are far more beneficial! We do not look back, but look forward with hope. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.” Philippians 3:13-16
Kingdom citizens are not victims, ever! No matter what happens to us, we are sons and daughters of our Father God. We know that everything will work together for our good and to benefit us in fulfilling His purpose for our lives! Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Our world is filled with fear, anxiety, hopeless, loneliness, and despair. But as you know, Kingdom citizens are not of this world. We have our citizenship in God’s Kingdom! When His Word says that we are “in the world but not of the world” He is saying that the world is not IN us. We have the ultimate immunity. We are filled with the Holy Spirit; He lives in us and protects us from the world getting IN us. But remember, the only way the things of this world may enter us is if we give it permission. Our words give fear, anxiety, depression and despair access. Guard your words always! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NKJV Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 NKJV
You are not your current condition or circumstance. You are what God’s Word says!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:0 AMP
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
The Lord God uses everything to equip us to fulfill His purpose for our life. Some things are hard at the time. I can say this from personal experience. The person I used to be wouldn’t be able to do what He has purposed me to do.
Spiritual growth is sometimes like being forged in fire.
But we come out stronger and more able to do His Will. We are so much stronger than this world will ever tell us. As I mentioned earlier, Satan does not want you to know how strong you really are; not your own strength, but through His Holy Spirit living within you! “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!”
“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:12-17
Citizens of God’s Kingdom should be the boldest, most fearless people walking on this earth! What have we to fear? What have we to worry about? Our strength is the Lord’s, not of our making!
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:31-34
These scriptures are so powerful! “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” “Who dares accuse us? No one!”
Since beginning this article, my mind has been flooded with scriptures, so much that I can barely write for adding scriptures! It is God’s Word alone that will give you strength. Fill your mind and spirit with it and it will flood your mind in every situation. It will remove a victim mindset, fear, anxiety and depression. Be strong through the power of His Word. There is no fear in God’s Kingdom because we totally trust in our Lord and King.
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
God’s purpose in your life is more powerful than anything you have been through! Do not allow the weights and distractions of this world to keep you from your assignment.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people;] then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Yes, Satan wants us to be weak, curled up in a ball, cowering in a corner somewhere. He feeds on that. Why would we ever want to bring him pleasure?
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
Let’s back up and read what Paul said leading up to this in context. I love seeing the scriptures in context! That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 2 Corinthians 12:5-8
Have you ever noticed that the world sees Christians and those who believe in Jesus as weak? Satan wants us to be weak and fail to look to our Father for His strength. He wants us to be made ineffective by having us believe a lie; the lie that we are a victim, or that we are depressed, hopeless, useless, or infirmed and lacking the power to live a victorious purposeful life in God’s Kingdom! What lies has Satan told you? Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around LIKE a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan cannot speak the truth because there is no truth in him. He is the father of lies and the god of this world. Do not believe what the world may say you are! “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!” John 8:44-45
There is a pervasive humanistic victim mentality in our culture and if we are not in agreement with it, we are considered unkind and unsympathetic. People in the world need others to feel sorry for them when something bad happens. If they don’t get enough sympathy and validation, Satan immediately brings offense which causes division. During those times, words of encouragement, strength and hope for a better future are far more beneficial! We do not look back, but look forward with hope. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.” Philippians 3:13-16
Kingdom citizens are not victims, ever! No matter what happens to us, we are sons and daughters of our Father God. We know that everything will work together for our good and to benefit us in fulfilling His purpose for our lives! Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Our world is filled with fear, anxiety, hopeless, loneliness, and despair. But as you know, Kingdom citizens are not of this world. We have our citizenship in God’s Kingdom! When His Word says that we are “in the world but not of the world” He is saying that the world is not IN us. We have the ultimate immunity. We are filled with the Holy Spirit; He lives in us and protects us from the world getting IN us. But remember, the only way the things of this world may enter us is if we give it permission. Our words give fear, anxiety, depression and despair access. Guard your words always! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NKJV Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 NKJV
You are not your current condition or circumstance. You are what God’s Word says!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:0 AMP
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
The Lord God uses everything to equip us to fulfill His purpose for our life. Some things are hard at the time. I can say this from personal experience. The person I used to be wouldn’t be able to do what He has purposed me to do.
Spiritual growth is sometimes like being forged in fire.
But we come out stronger and more able to do His Will. We are so much stronger than this world will ever tell us. As I mentioned earlier, Satan does not want you to know how strong you really are; not your own strength, but through His Holy Spirit living within you! “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!”
“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:12-17
Citizens of God’s Kingdom should be the boldest, most fearless people walking on this earth! What have we to fear? What have we to worry about? Our strength is the Lord’s, not of our making!
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:31-34
These scriptures are so powerful! “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” “Who dares accuse us? No one!”
Since beginning this article, my mind has been flooded with scriptures, so much that I can barely write for adding scriptures! It is God’s Word alone that will give you strength. Fill your mind and spirit with it and it will flood your mind in every situation. It will remove a victim mindset, fear, anxiety and depression. Be strong through the power of His Word. There is no fear in God’s Kingdom because we totally trust in our Lord and King.
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
God’s purpose in your life is more powerful than anything you have been through! Do not allow the weights and distractions of this world to keep you from your assignment.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people;] then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Yes, Satan wants us to be weak, curled up in a ball, cowering in a corner somewhere. He feeds on that. Why would we ever want to bring him pleasure?
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
