STRENGTH & POWER
1. God’s strength vs. your strength:
A. God is infinitely more powerful than weak man:
Psalms 8:3,4 When I consider Thy heavens… the moon & 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 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; Psalms 89:6)
B. An honest view of man & his strength:
Job 14:1,2 Man…is of few days…he cometh forth like a flower, & is cut down (See also Job 7:1)
Isaiah 40:6-8 All flesh is grass…the grass withereth (See also Psalms 90:5b,6; 103:15,16; James 1:10,11; 1 Peter 1:24,25)
Job 8:9 We know nothing…our days upon earth are a shadow
Psalms 39:5,6 Every man at his best state is altogether vanity
Psalms 144:3,4 What is man? Man is vanity: his days are as a shadow (See also 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalms 62:9; 90:10; Ecclesiastes 6:12)
Psalms 78:39 He remembered they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away (See also Isaiah 2:22; James 4:14,15)
Psalms 103:14 He knoweth our frame…remembereth that we are dust (See also Genesis 18:27; Isaiah 29:5,6)
Job 25:6 Man is a worm
Isaiah 40:22 The inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers
(See also Job 4:18-20; Romans 7:18)
C. God is able to do absolutely anything:
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)
Job 42:2 I know that Thou canst do everything
Psalms 62:11 Power belongeth unto God
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 & in earth
D. God has total power over man:
Job 12:10 In (His) hand is the soul of every living thing, & the breath of all mankind (See also Daniel 5:23)
Job 12:13-25 With Him is strength…He increaseth the nations, & destroyeth them (See Psalms 75:6,7; 107:33-40)
Isaiah 43:13 There is none that can deliver out of My hand
Psalms 115:3 God…hath done whatsoever He hath pleased
Isaiah 64:8 We are the clay, & 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; Psalms 104:29, 30; Isaiah 40:23,25)
2. Trust in the Lord, not your own strength:
A. Let God strengthen you with His strength:
Ephesians 6:10 Be strong in the Lord, & in the power of His might
2 Chronicles 20:12 We have no might against this great company…neither know we what to do: our eyes are upon Thee
Psalms 20:7,8 Some trust in chariots, & some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God
Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee
Psalms 105:4 Seek the Lord & His strength: seek His face evermoreIsaiah 26:4 Trust 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
Philippians 3:3 We worship God…& have no confidence in the flesh
(See also Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:33; Psalms 27:1; 68:28,35; 118:8; 147:10,11)
B. He can do what you can’t do:
Zechariah 4:6 Not by (your) might, nor by power, but by My Spirit
1 Samuel 2:9b By [your own] strength shall no man prevail
Psalms 60:11 Give us help from trouble: vain is the help of man
Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it
John 15:5 Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Job 9:19a; Psalms 33:16,17)
C. Do what you can, but success depends on God:
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord
Nehemiah 4:14 Be not ye afraid of them: [but] remember the Lord great & terrible, & fight for your brethren
3. Our weakness causes us to depend upon God:
A. God’s strength is manifest in our weakness:
2 Corinthians 4:7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the … power may be of God, & not of us
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; & to them that have no might Heincreaseth strength
Psalms 8:2 Out of mouth of babes…hast Thou ordained strength
Psalms 37:39 The Lord…is their strength in the time of trouble
Psalms 73:26 My flesh & my heart faileth: but God is [my] strength
Isaiah 25:4 Thou (art) a strength to…the needy in his distress
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 12:9,10 “My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness”… When I am weak, then am I strong
2 Corinthians 13:4 We are weak in Him, but we shall live…by power of God
Hebrews 11:34 [Bible saints:] Out of weakness were made strong
(See Psalms 94:17,18)
B. When you have no other help, He’ll strengthen you:
Psalms 72:12 He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also , & 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, & strengthened me
(See also Psalms 27:10)
C. He will give strength day by day to keep you going:
Deuteronomy 33:25b 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 little strength, the Lord will help you:
Psalms 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, & hast kept My Word
4. God can strengthen & use you:
A. How to receive God’s power:
Proverbs 1:5-9 Only be thou strong & 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
Psalms 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 & in confidence (faith) shall be your strength
Isaiah 40:31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strengthDaniel 11:32 People that do know God shall be strong, & do exploits
Micah 3:8 I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord…& 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 2:14a Ye are strong [because] the Word of God abideth in you
B. He strengthens you with His power:
Psalms 18:29-34 It is God that girdeth me with strength
Psalms 68:28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength
Psalms 68:35 God…giveth strength & power unto His people
Psalms 71:16a I will go in the strength of the Lord God
Psalms 80:17 Let Thy hand be upon the man…whom Thou madest strong for Thyself
Psalms 84:5,7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee…they go from strength to strength
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, (by) His glorious power
Matthew 10:1,8 He gave (His disciples) power against unclean spirits
(See also Judges 14:6,19; 15:14,15; Psalms 8:2; Luke 10:19)
C. Praise God for strengthening you:
Psalms 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:
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
Isaiah 10:13,15 [Proud] saith, “By (my) strength…I have done it.” Shall the axe 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
E. Sometimes the Lord Himself wants to do the whole thing:
Exodus 14:13,14 Stand still, & see the salvation of the Lord…Lord shall fight for you, & ye shall hold your peace
Judges 7:all [Gideon & his 300 let God fight the battle His way]
2 Chronicles 20:15 Be not afraid…the battle is not yours, but God’s
2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: stand ye still, & see the salvation of the Lord
Nehemiah 4:20 Our God shall fight for us
Psalms 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:
Psalms 52:5-7a God shall destroy…the man that made not God his strength
Psalms 118:8,9 It is better to trust in the Lord than…in man
Psalms 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 man that trusteth in man, & maketh flesh his arm, & whose heart departeth from the Lord
John 15:4,5 Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Isaiah 31:3)
B. What happens when you rely on your own strength & 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 re: Saul.)
C. He will deliberately let you fail:
Leviticus 26:18-20 If ye will not…hearken…I will break your power…your strength shall be spent in vain
Numbers 14:41-45 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you…but they presumed to go up [to battle, & were smitten]
2 Chronicles 16:7 Because thou relied on the king of Syria, & not on the Lord…the host (is) escaped out of thine hand
(See also 2 Chronicles 25:7,8)
D. Lack of strength often due to sin:
Psalms 31:10 My strength faileth because of mine iniquity
Leviticus 26:27,36 , I will send a faintness into (your) hearts…& ye shall
37 have no power to stand before your enemies
Proverbs 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
(See also Amos 2:13-15)
6. Power when witnessing:
A. Power comes from the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 Ye shall receive power (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: & ye shall be witnesses
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 4:8,13 Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost…they saw the boldness of Peter
Acts 4:31,33 They were filled with the Holy Ghost…& with great power gave the apostles witness
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 up to the power of God’s Spirit:
Luke 21:15 I will give you a mouth…which all your adversaries shall not beable to gainsay (contradict) nor resist
Jeremiah 5:14 I will make My Words in thy mouth fire, & people wood
Acts 6:10 They were not able to resist the wisdom & 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 & 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 & won theGalatians even though suffering infirmity in the flesh]
E. God can take over & 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, & 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 & John) were…ignorant men, they took knowledge…that they had been with Jesus
(See also 1 Samuel 10:6)
7. God’s power vs. your adversaries’ physical power:
A. For your spiritual battles, defending the faith:
Jude 3b Ye should earnestly contend for the faith
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 We do not war after (in) the flesh: For the weapons of ourwarfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
(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. Fleshly “might” is no match for the power of God:
1 Samuel 17:45 Thou (Goliath) comest to me with a sword, & 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, & to fight our battles
Psalms 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 & 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 defence 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, carnal 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, & to cast down
Psalms 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength
Psalms 33:17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength
Psalms 35:10 The Lord deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him
Psalms 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 fleshly might to fight your foes:
2Kings 18:21 Thou trusteth upon…this bruised reed…on which if a man lean, it will (pierce) his hand
Psalms 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
Psalms 27:1-3 Of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear
Psalms 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; & 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. God is on your side & you shall win:
Deuteronomy 20:1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, be not afraid…for the Lord thy God is with thee
Deuteronomy 20:4 Lord [will] fight…against your enemies, to save you
Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord…doth go before thee; He will be with thee
1 Samuel 17:47 Battle is the Lord’s, He will give you into our hands
Psalms 108:13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies
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:
2Kings 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
Matthew 26:52,53 [God would] give Me more than 12 legions of angels
(See also Proverbs 5:13,14; Psalms 68:17; 91:11; Isaiah 37:33-36)
J. You become far more powerful than your adversaries:
1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you, than he…in the world
Proverbs 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee
Proverbs 23:9,10 One shall chase a thousand, for God fighteth for you
(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 16:8,9a A huge host…because thou didst rely on the Lord, He delivered them into thine hand
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