Strengthened By the Word of the Lord

Is is impossible to overemphasize the importance of the Word of the Lord as a source of spiritual strength for our lives. Yet, in an increasingly undisciplined age, there is a growing apathy and casualness regarding the Bible among the very people who contend that the Bible is God's Word and that the Bible is important to them. Concerts, conferences and consumer-centered Christian books are the rage while the unopened Bible collects dust.

It is quite simple. To the degree that any one of us neglects the reading, studying, meditating and memorizing of Scripture, spiritual sluggishness and atrophy will be the order of the day. This discipline does not have the goal of simply increasing Bible knowledge, sort of a spiritual academic exercise. The goal, instead, is putting God's Word into practice in our lives. The goal is an increase in obedience. The goal is to be more and more conformed to the image of Christ in every area of our lives.

The Bible is necessary for spiritual strength because of...

...the authority of the Word of the Lord.

The final paragraph of the Sermon on the Mount is often quoted. But when it is, the postscript added by Matthew, is neglected. So, let's begin with this postscript:

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed as His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law (Matthew 7:28,29, emphasis added).

Now, for His sermon conclusion:

"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who builds his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matthew 7:24-27).

The Premise: There are two, and only two, choices. Put God's Word into practice or not to put God's Word into practice.

The Promise: If you put God's Word into practice, when (not IF) the storms come, your house will stand. You will have the spiritual strength necessary.

The Prediction: If you do not put God's Word into practice, when (not IF) the storms come, your house will come crashing down. You will sadly discover that you do not have, in yourself, the strength, power and might to withstand the storms that come.

...the sufficiency of the Word of the Lord.

Because our Lord is all-sufficient for every life need and situation, we can trust that His Word is all-sufficient. Our Lord always works in, under and through His Word in our lives.

It, and it alone, is sufficient for SALVATION. "...how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). The Bible, from cover to cover, proclaims the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Every other religion has a book that teaches that we earn our salvation by our good works.

It is sufficient for SANCTIFICATION. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16). We don't mind the teaching and training. But the rebuking and correcting is another matter. The Word tells us that we need all four, like it or not.

It is sufficient to SATISFACTION. "...so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). Instantly, most will think of self-satisfaction. This plays into the consumer Christianity that has swept over the evangelical church. Such a perspective is not only wrong, it is dangerous. My life in Christ is not about me, my needs, my convenience, my priorities, my likes or dislikes. My life in Christ is about Him and His Lordship in my life and His Gospel and His glory. So, this is not satisfying ourselves, but our desire to live lives that are satisfying to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus was clear that our good deeds were to bring glory to our Father in heaven (see Matthew 5:16).

The prophet Amos predicts a day when the Lord will send a famine of hearing the Words of the Lord. I dread the arrival of that day.
The question for today is: Are you experiencing a self-imposed famine of the Word of God in your life? How much time and energy are you investing into this vital source of spiritual strength?

It is time to turn off the television, close your computer Internet connection, put down the novel or magazine, say no to this or that recreational activity. It is time to invest time into the timeless Word of God. Your spiritual life depends upon it.

Strengthened By the Grace of Our Lord

There is no shortage of adjectives and descriptive phrases that can be employed in front of the word 'grace.' Grace is multi-faceted and omni-dimensional. For our consideration today is the Biblical truth that we need to be strengthened by the grace of our Lord.

The last blog entry provided the overview about our need to be strengthened by the Lord, mentioning that there were numerous avenues the Lord uses in this important process. So far, I have identified 25 specifics in the Scriptures. This first one heads the list.

To set the stage, I remind you of three of the dimensions in God's supply of grace:

• Saving Grace: "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8). No amount of human effort, good works or religious deeds can earn for us a place in God's presence. Salvation is from start to finish a gift of God's grace.
• Standing in Grace: "...through Whom (Jesus) we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (Romans 5:2). Not only does the beginning point of our salvation depend on grace, but the ongoing certainty of our salvation is all of grace. We NOW stand in our spiritual lives by grace.
• Strong in Grace: To Timothy, Paul writes, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1). This strengthening grace is the provision of our Lord that is a necessity in living the victorious Christian life.
  

Grace provides spiritual strength for...

...the Pressure Points - Examine the immediate context preceding and following Paul's exhortation to Timothy mentioned above and you will discover that the aging apostle was facing numerous pressure points: ridicule, isolation, opposition, imprisonment, hardships, sin in the church. Paul had first hand experience regarding the strengthening power of God's grace seeing him through all of the pressure points of living in this fallen world.

...the Thorns - The 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 "thorn" episode is one of the most poignant recorded by Paul about his personal life. The thorn was simultaneously from Satan, yet under the jurisdiction of the Lord. Therefore, we know that the Lord designed it for Paul's good and God's glory. The issue is simple: Is Paul more useful (1) conceited without a thorn? OR (2) not conceited and with a thorn? His initial response was to get rid of the thorn as quickly as possible. Then the Lord changed Paul's mind when He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (2Corinthians 12:9). Paul went from pleading for the eradication of his thorn to boasting and delighting in his thorn. And here is the bottom line conclusion that each of us need to grasp: "For when I am weak, then I am strong!"

What strengthened Paul for his pressure points and his thorn? The strengthening power of God's grace.

• If you are ever to be saved, it will be only by God's grace.
• If your are NOW standing spiritually, it is only by God's grace.
• If you are TODAY spiritually strong, it is only by God's grace.

Admit you are a weakling. Then run as as fast as possible to the Source of strength. He alone can make you strong with the garce that is in Christ Jesus.

Calling All Weaklings

I am a weakling! I do not like being called a weakling...but I admit that I am a weakling. In and of myself, I am not strong. In terms of worldly wisdom, this is a negative admission. In terms of spiritual wisdom, this is a positive admission. But, before we delve into this matter, a point of clarification is needed. The opposite of strength is not weakness. I could not find an appropriate word to use to make my point, so I made up a new word. The opposite of strength is strengthless.

Why belabor this point? Simple: To remain Biblical in our discussion. The rather straightforward statement of Paul cannot be misintrerpreted: "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9). He does not say that he was weak or used to be weak. He is weak. Admitting that fact is crucial. Our weakness is the very territory where God's strength becomes our possession. It is a good thing to recognize and admit our weakling status. Then, we are preapred to run as fast as possible to the source of strength.

There are quite a number of specific sources of spiritual strength available to us. We will consider them individually in subsequent posts. Here we consider the umbrealla that spreads out over all of God's provision of strength.

The world makes its attempts to provide strength. None of them ultimately work. Look around and you will see idols to the goddess of strength everywhere:

• Education will make you strong.
• Exercise will make you strong.
• Medical advancements will make you strong.
• Financial stability will make you strong.
• Government will make you strong.
• Man-centered religion will make you strong.

These idols are disintegrating right before our eyes. Towering above these toppling idols looms the Gospel, the Good News, the Word from the Lord:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

The strength we need for living victorious lives comes from the Lord and His mighty power. Reflect and meditate on this tremendous promise from the Word of God:

"Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

they are ever praising You. Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in You,

who have set their hearts of pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping),

they make it a place of springs...

They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion."

(Psalm 84:4-7, emphasis added.)

It is the Lord who arms you with strength. Admit your weakness and run as fast as you can to the Lord to find your strength in Him. Even as a weakling, you can go from strength to strength. He is faithful and He will do it!