“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Dear Ones:
Where does strength and stability come from? Isaiah writes: “…they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” (40:31) We know from David’s writings that, “…the Lord is the strength of my life.” (Ps. 27:1) From a very practical standpoint, he wrote in Psalm 16, “I have set the Lord before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (v.8) We find here a correlation between the Lord being the Psalmist’s strength, a strength that is superior than the circumstances of life. All through the New Testament, in particular in Paul’s letters, we discover the evidence of this “operative power” received in answer to the the believer’s faith. Paul writes of his own limitations and helplessness in the face of personal need, but then turns to the greater reality of Christ as his strength. The Lord Jesus spoke to him concerning this matter: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians12:9) Paul also writes in this letter to the Corinthians, “Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.” (2:14) He is speaking of a strength, and power, that is more than sufficient for every need, an overcoming capacity and power received to rise above the harassing opposition of circumstances and people, in particular overcoming the powers of darkness. He is also speaking of the need to appropriate this strength by faith. Again, this is only possible as the believer sees the truth that he is IN Christ, and complete in Him. This means that the very strength of Christ is available to him. However, he must seek the Lord in order to receive it.
Up until the moment that Samson compromised his Nazarite vow of faith, he was receiving the strength of God for the accomplishment of his task as a judge in Israel. It was when he, in the depths of his heart, abandoned that most sacred trust, and commitment to God, that “true faith” no longer received strength according to the truth. The result was the immediate cessation of the “flow” of that strength into his heart, mind, soul, and body. For the believer it is the same. The believer may grieve the Spirit of God by engaging in some sin, or simply not exercising faith, thus forfeiting communion with God, which is the great essential for receiving the power of God.
Daniel is another example of someone who came to see and know the reality, and key, of appropriating the strength of God. He chose to pray three times a day, an exercise necessary to maintain his attitude of faith. He would not let anything, or anyone, stand in the way of this, as he knew that faith was key in being able to receive strength from God. But how does faith work? We might know that God is our strength, but how does faith work, to receive thef the stability we need in the everyday demands upon our lives?
In Psalm 27, we find a pattern of faith that is often repeated in the Psalms, but also, throughout Scripture. The Psalmist begins with a position of faith, based upon the knowledge of the truth in his relationship with God. He begins with Who and What God IS. He then takes that truth and uses it in prayer, applying it personally to his life. David wrote: “The Lord is MY light, and MY salvation.” David saw that God was, and is light and salvation. He made that truth his own in prayer. Note that God tells David to seek His face. The response of David is to pray: “My heart said unto Thee, ‘Thy face Lord, I will seek.'” (v.8) It is in seeking the face of God, based upon the truth of God, that faith is born to receive strength.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to seek, and find, Thy face, receiving Thy power, strength, and stability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad