Strength and Power
1. GOD’S STRENGTH VS. OUR STRENGTH:
A. God is infinitely more powerful than weak man:
Psalm 8:3–4 When I consider thy heavens … the moon and the stars, which thou hast [made] … what is man?
Isaiah 40:15,17,22 All nations before him are as nothing … as a drop of a bucket … less than nothing
Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, none can stay his hand
1 Corinthians 1:25 [Even] the weakness of God is stronger than men
(See also 2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalm 89:6.)
B. An honest view of man and his strength:
Job 8:9 We know nothing … our days upon earth are a shadow
Job 14:1–2 Man … is of few days … he cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down (See also Job 7:1.)
Job 25:6 Man is a worm
Psalm 39:5–6 Every man at his best state is altogether vanity
Psalm 78:39 He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away (See also Isaiah 2:22; James 4:14–15.)
Psalm 103:14 He knoweth our frame … remembereth that we are dust. (See also Genesis 18:27; Isaiah 29:5–6.)
Psalm 144:3–4 What is man? Man is vanity: his days are as a shadow (See also 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 62:9; 90:10; Ecclesiastes 6:12.)
Isaiah 40:6–8 All flesh is grass … the grass withereth (See also Psalm 90:5–6; 103:15–16; James 1:10–11; 1 Peter 1:24–25.)
Isaiah 40:22 The inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers (See also Job 4:18,20; Romans 7:18.)
C. God is able to do absolutely anything:
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do everything
Psalm 62:11 Power belongeth unto God
Jeremiah 32:27 I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (See also Genesis 18:14.)
Matthew 19:26 With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible
Matthew 28:18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
D. God has total power:
Job 12:10 In [His] hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind (See also Daniel 5:23.)
Job 12:13–25 With him is strength … he increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them (See also Psalm 75:6–7; 107:33–40.)
Psalm 115:3 God hath done whatsoever he hath pleased 105 strength and power
Isaiah 43:13 There is none that can deliver out of my hand
Isaiah 64:8 We are the clay, and thou our potter; we all are the work of thy hand. (See also Isaiah 45:9.)
(See also 1 Chronicles 29:12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 9:4; Psalm 104:29–30; Isaiah 40:23,25.)
2. TRUST IN GOD, NOT YOUR OWN STRENGTH:
A. Let God strengthen you with His strength:
2 Chronicles 20:12 We have no might against this great company … neither know we what to do: our eyes are upon thee
Psalm 20:7–8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee
Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore
Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the Lord, in the Lord is everlasting strength
2 Corinthians 3:4–5 not … that we are sufficient of ourselves … but our sufficiency is of God
Ephesians 6:10 Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might
Philippians 3:3 We worship God … and have no confidence in the flesh
(See also Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:33; Psalm 27:1; 68:28,35; 118:8; 147:10–11.)
B. He can do what you can’t do:
1 Samuel 2:9 By [his own] strength shall no man prevail
Psalm 60:11 Give us help from trouble: vain is the help of man
Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it
Zechariah 4:6 Not by [your own] might, nor by power, but by my spirit
John 15:5 Without me ye can do nothing
(See also Job 9:19; Psalm 33:16–17.)
3. OUR WEAKNESS CAUSES US TO DEPEND UPON GOD:
A. God’s strength is manifest in our weakness:
Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes … hast thou ordained strength
Psalm 37:39 The Lord … is their strength in the time of trouble
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is [my] strength
Isaiah 25:4 Thou [art] a strength to … the needy in his distress
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength
Isaiah 41:10 I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee
2 Corinthians 1:8–9 We were pressed out of measure, above strength … but we [do] not trust in ourselves, but in God
2 Corinthians 4:7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the … power may be of God, and not of us
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 [God’s] strength is made perfect in [our] weakness … when I am weak, then am I strong
2 Corinthians 13:4 We are weak in him, but we shall live … by the power of God
Hebrews 11:34 [Bible saints] out of weakness were made strong
(See also Psalm 94:17–18.)
B. When you have no other help, He’ll strengthen you:
Psalm 72:12 He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper
Luke 22:43,45 [Jesus’ disciples slept, but] an angel [came] from heaven, strengthening him
2 Timothy 4:16–17 No man stood with me, but all men forsook me … the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me
(See also Psalm 27:10.)
C. He will give strength day by day to keep you going:
Deuteronomy 33:25 As thy days, so shall thy strength be
Matthew 6:34 Take no thought for the morrow … sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
D. When you have only a little strength, God will help you:
Psalm 37:24 Though he fall … the Lord upholdeth him with his hand
Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong”
Daniel 11:34 When they fall, they shall be holpen with a little help
Revelation 3:8 Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word
4. GOD CAN STRENGTHEN AND USE YOU:
A. How to receive God’s power:
Joshua 1:5–9 Only be thou strong and very courageous … observe the [word] … then thou shalt have good success
2 Chronicles 16:9 The Lord [shews] himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him
Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength
Psalm 138:3 When I cried thou … strengthenedst me with strength
Isaiah 27:5 Let him take hold of my strength
Isaiah 30:15 In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength
Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
Daniel 11:32 People that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits
Micah 3:8 I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord … and of might
Acts 1:8 Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you
Ephesians 3:16 Strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man
1 John 2:14 Ye are strong [because] the word of God abideth in you
B. He strengthens you with His power:
Psalm 18:29–34 It is God that girdeth me with strength
Psalm 68:28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength
Psalm 68:35 God … giveth strength and power unto his people
Psalm 71:16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God
Psalm 80:17 Let thy hand be upon the man … whom thou madest strong for thyself
Psalm 84:5,7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee … they go from strength to strength
Matthew 10:1,8 He gave [His disciples] power against unclean spirits
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might [by] his glorious power
(See also Judges 14:6,19; 15:14–15; Psalm 8:2; Luke 10:19.)
C. Praise God for strengthening you:
Psalm 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:
Isaiah 10:13,15 [Proud] saith, “By [my] strength … I have done it.” Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth?
Jeremiah 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
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you
1 Peter 4:11 Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
E. Sometimes God Himself wants to do the whole thing:
Exodus 14:13–14 Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord … Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace
Judges 7:all [Gideon and his 300 men fight the battle God’s way]
2 Chronicles 20:15–17 Be not afraid nor dismayed … the battle is not yours, but God’s … Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord
Nehemiah 4:20 Our God shall fight for us
Psalm 18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy … for they were too strong for me
Isaiah 30:7 Their strength is to sit still
5. DON’T TRUST IN YOURSELF:
A. Warnings against trusting in your own strength:
Psalm 52:5–7 God shall destroy … the man that made not God his strength
Psalm 118:8–9 It is better to trust in the Lord than … in man
Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in … men, in whom there is no help
Jeremiah 9:23–24 Let not … the mighty man glory in his might … but glory … that he knoweth me, that I am the Lord
Jeremiah 17:5 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord
John 15:4–5 Without me ye can do nothing
(See also Isaiah 31:3.)
B. What can happen when you rely on your own strength and plans:
2 Chronicles 26:16 When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord
Hosea 10:13 Ye have reaped iniquity … because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men
1 Corinthians 10:12 Him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
(See also 1 Samuel 15:1–28; 28:4–25; 31:1–8.)
C. Lack of strength is often due to sin:
Leviticus 26:27,36–37 I will send a faintness into [your] hearts … and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies
Joshua 7:12 [They] could not stand before their enemies … because they were accursed
Judges 2:13–15 They forsook the Lord … [His] anger was against Israel … they could not stand before their enemies
Psalm 31:10 My strength faileth because of mine iniquity
(See also Amos 2:13–15.)
6. POWER WHEN WITNESSING:
A. Power comes from the Holy Spirit:
Micah 3:8 I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord … to declare to Israel his sin
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing
Acts 1:8 Ye shall receive power [when] the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
Acts 4:8,13 Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost … they saw the boldness of Peter
Acts 4:31,33 They were all filled with the Holy Ghost … and with great power gave the apostles witness 109 strength and power
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came unto you … in power
2 Timothy 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power
B. No man can stand against the power of God’s Spirit:
Jeremiah 5:14 I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth … which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay [dispute] nor resist
Acts 6:10 They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he [Stephen] spake
2 Corinthians 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:
1 Corinthians 1:18 The preaching of the cross … is the power of God
1 Corinthians 2:4–5 My preaching was … in … the Spirit and power: That your faith should … stand … in the power of God
1 Corinthians 4:20 The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power
(See also Luke 4:14.)
D. God can use you even when you’re weak:
Galatians 4:13–14 [Paul witnessed to and won the Galatians even though suffering infirmity in the flesh]
E. God can take over and powerfully use you:
Exodus 4:10–12 I am not eloquent … I am slow of speech. The Lord said, “I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee”
Jeremiah 1:6–9 I cannot speak. Lord said, “Whatsoever I command thee … speak. I have put my words in thy mouth”
Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit … which speaketh in you (See also Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12.)
Acts 4:13 They … perceived [Peter and John] were … ignorant men … and they took knowledge … that they had been with Jesus
(See also 1 Samuel 10:6.)
7. GOD’S POWER VS. PHYSICAL POWER:
A. For your spiritual battles, defending the faith:
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 We do not war after [in] the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
Jude 1:3 Ye should earnestly contend for the faith
(See also 1 Corinthians 10:11.)
B. If you must physically defend your loved ones or country:
Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace
John 10:11 The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep
C. Physical might is no match for the power of God:
1 Samuel 17:45 Thou [Goliath] comest to me with a sword and with a spear … but I come to thee in the name of the Lord
2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord to help us, and to fight our battles
Psalm 9:19–20 Lord, let not man prevail … put them in fear: that [they] may know themselves to be but men
Isaiah 31:3 The Egyptians are men and not God … when the Lord shall stretch out his hand … they all shall fail
(See also Hosea 1:7.)
D. They may seem strong, but their strength has departed:
Numbers 14:9 Neither fear the people … for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them
Jeremiah 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 might:
1 Samuel 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, [whereas] they that stumbled are girded with strength
2 Chronicles 25:8 God hath power to help, and to cast down
Psalm 33:16–17 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength
Psalm 35:10 The Lord deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him
Psalm 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 physical might to fight your foes:
2 Kings 18:21 Thou trusteth upon … this bruised reed … on which if a man lean, it will [pierce] his hand
Psalm 44:5–6 Through thee will we push down our enemies: I will not trust in … my sword [to] save me
Isaiah 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:
Deuteronomy 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: the Lord shall fight for you 111 strength and power
Psalm 27:1–3 Of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare
Isaiah 2:22 Cease [fearing] man, whose breath is in his nostrils
Isaiah 51:12–13 [Why] art thou … afraid of a man that shall die … as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker
Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord
Luke 12:4–5 Be not afraid of them that kill the body
H. If God is on your side, you will win:
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord … doth go before thee; he will be with thee
Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?
(See also 2 Chronicles 14:11–12; 20:12–25; Zephaniah 3:17.)
I. The armies of heaven are on your side:
2 Kings 6:14–17 [Elisha said:] They that be with us are more than they that be with them
2 Chronicles 32:7–8,21 [Hezekiah said:] There be more with us than with him
(See also Joshua 5:13–14; Psalm 68:17; 91:11; Isaiah 37:33–36.)
J. With God, you are more powerful than your adversaries:
Joshua 23:9–10 One shall chase a thousand, for God fighteth for you
1 John 4:4 Greater is he that is in you, than he … in the world
(See also Deuteronomy 11:25; 28:7.)
K. God can help you win against overwhelming odds:
1 Samuel 14:6 No restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few
2 Chronicles 14:11 Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power
2 Chronicles 16:8–9 A huge host … because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand