The Strength Within Us

Have you ever stopped to consider how strong you are? How much strength God gives you? Sometimes, we may feel weak as we watch others around us in all their revelry while we sit quietly by and keep primarily to ourselves as we feel “not a part” or “different” from the rest.

This, I am here to tell you today, “IS” our strength. I would like to take a few moments this morning to talk about our strength. I want to make certain everyone is aware of how strong we really are and how much strength God gives us.

We are, indeed, a very different breed in this world. While others struggle to find their way and “make it big” in this society, our satisfaction simply comes from the understanding of what our God has in store for us.

We Are the Light

Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus tells us very clearly here, “You are the light of the world.” He doesn’t want us to hide this from anyone. In fact, He is telling us, “Let your light shine before men.” Meaning, simply, make everyone around us know, we ARE Brothers and Sisters in our Lord and Savior as this is where we draw our strength, our energy and all that is us.

Gentleness and Respect

We’ve talked many times about being humble and kind? Keeping quite in our actions but always being aware of what surrounds us and knowing what to expect and when.

If we’ve done a good job at “shining our light,” then most assuredly we will, at some point, be challenged. We will be questioned on our beliefs and asked to answer questions as to why we can have so much faith. Be prepared, but not afraid.

1 Peter 4:15-16 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

You see the lesson here, right? In reacting to harsh questions with gentleness and respect, we’ll bring shame to the non-believers and those who question us or our beliefs. Be strong, yet gentle in your ways.

Where Our Strength Comes From

Encouraging Lessons from Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (NASB) – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

    He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,

    He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I Shall Not Want

If the Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want for anything more. The Great Shepherd tells us, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” John 10:11; therefore, “… I shall not want.”. The Shepherd provides all that the sheep will ever need so that they lack nothing, and He even guarantees His sheep eternal life.

He Makes Us Lie Down

Sheep (us) are not the smartest of animals. They’ll get so restless that they’ll wear themselves out. They don’t even have the sense to move from place to place and will end up eating the grass down to the roots, killing it in the process. Therefore, “he makes me to lie down in green pastures.” Sometimes sheep have to be led to green pastures because, as Isaiah writes.

Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

The Great Shepherd sometimes must make us lie down where the green pastures are so we can feed and grow.

He Leads Us to Still Waters

Sheep will not approach water that’s running fast. You know why? Sheep can’t swim. Can you imagine a soaked sheep carrying all that heavy water in its wool, sinking straight to the bottom of the stream? That’s why the Great Shepherd “… leads me beside still waters.”

The literal Hebrew is “waters of quietness,” and only then will the sheep drink, for they avoid swift, running, and troubled waters and would end up dying of thirst if not for the still waters.

He Restores Our Soul

How can the Great Shepherd restore a soul? By the regeneration of the Spirit of God and then by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, for we were dead…

Ephesians 2:1 – “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins”

But we are forgiven and God made us alive again with Him…

Colossians 2:13 – “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins”

“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness…” The word for restore is like restoring an old car that had no engine. Our Great Shepherd restores our soul and then leads us into the path of righteousness laid out by His own blood which He shed for us!

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

He, who had no sin, was the Great Shepherd.

His Rod and Staff Comfort Us

Sheep (we) are completely vulnerable to predators and, sometimes, total cowards. Sheep can’t really defend themselves and are very slow runners, so they are about as defenseless as any animal there is, but the rod wards off predators.

The staff of a shepherd has a crook in it and is U-shaped to make it fit any of the sheep’s neck, and by it, the Great Shepherd can bring us back if we start to stray down the wrong path. That’s why the psalmist writes “your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” and they should comfort you, too.

What Do We Mean (I Am a Christian)

When I say, I am a Christian… (Carol Wimmer)

  • I’m not shouting, “I am saved.” I’m whispering, “I get lost” That is why I chose this way.
  • I don’t speak of this with human pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need someone to be my guide.
  • I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I am weak and pray for strength to carry on.
  • I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and cannot ever pay the debt
  • I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are too visible but God believes I’m worth it.
  • I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches which is why I seek HIS name.
  • I do not wish to judge. I have no authority I only know I’m loved.

And when I speak, God replies…

  • “God, I hurt.” – “I know.”
  • “God, I cry a lot.” – “That is why I gave you tears.”
  • “God, I am so depressed.” – “That is why I gave you Sunshine.”
  • “God, life is so hard.” – “That is why I gave you loved ones.”
  • “God, my loved one died.” – “So did mine.”
  • “God, it is such a loss.” – “I saw mine nailed to a cross.”
  • “God, but your loved one lives.” – “So does yours.”
  • “God, where are they now?” – “Mine is on My right and yours is in the Light.”
  • “God, it hurts.” – “I know.”

Conclusion

Of course, the Great Shepherd is Jesus Christ, who is the Chief Shepherd over the sheep (us) and the Head of the church. Therefore, we shall not want for anything because He will lead us to still, quiet waters, He restores our soul to bring us eternal life, and He defends us from the enemy and corrects us when we need it. No wonder Psalm 23 is one of the all-time favorites of Bible readers. This is where we can get our strength back when we’re feeling weak.

I encourage you to read this chapter in Psalm often. Understand it; believe in it and know, you receive mighty strength from God.

Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless!