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