Text: Prov. 20:29
- Intro:
- Strength comes pretty naturally to young men [Prov 20:29 the glory of young men is their strength] –Sometimes you see this youthful strength even in an old man [Caleb – Jos 14:10-11] –But the strength we need in our lives is far more than physical strength –Physical strength can do very little for us in the work of the Lord –Here are some verses that show us how we obtain strength –
- We obtain strength from:
- The Lord – God, Ps 18:1-2 “strengthen me” –
- You do not need a greater defense than he –
- He is right there to step in at any time –
- Jesus, Phil 4:13 –
- Anything he wants you to do you can do through his strength –
- We are in his body –
- So we can be abased or abound and still be content –
- A missionary on a hard field, under-supported, can be strengthened to continue –
- Holy Spirit, Eph 3:16 –
- Strengthened with might in the inner man –
- Mainly in our fight with the flesh and in the supernatural calling of God [spiritual gifts].
- The way of the Lord – Prov 10:29 –
- We are reinforced by walking in the way of the Lord –
- When you step out of the way of the Lord is when you are weak –
- You end up walking through thorns and hedges, the way of transgressors hard, and evil pursueth sinners.
- Wisdom – Prov 24:5; Ecc 7:19 –
- Greatest source of wisdom is the Bible –
- So apply yourself diligently to the study of the word –
- Live by the word [be doers].
- Preachers – Lk 22:32; Acts 18:23 –
- Preachers impart godly, spiritual, biblical truth through preaching –
- And just at the right time.
- Grace – 2 Cor 12:9 –
- Grace is an element of supernatural provision that more than compensates for our physical insufficiency.
- Joy – Neh 8:10 –
- Joy is one manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit –
- Rejoice evermore –
- Paul wanted to finish his course with joy [Acts 20:24] –
- Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross [Heb 12:2].
- Courage – Jos 1:9 –
- Moral courage strengthens a man to stand and fight when every instinct in him tells him to run [Prov 28:1] –
- Joshua knew that he was in the right to be strong against the enemies that he would face in Canaan.
- Conclusion:
- These seven things are better than a workout at the gym [though a good workout at the gym is not a bad thing] –
- Concentrate your time and effort on these and you will grow stronger in the Lord through your entire life.