The Power of Surrendered Strength:
Notes
Transcript
Strength OVER Stress
Sermon 3: The Power of Surrendered Strength: Strength OVER Stress
Main Reference: James 4:6-10
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Thesis Statement: Surrendered strength—gained through humility and dependence on God—prevails over worldly stress and provides an access to the superior strength of the Kingdom.
Challenge 1: Embrace Humility Over Pride
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 22:4
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
Explanation: Worldly perspective sees strength in pride, but Kingdom perspective sees strength in humility. Pride leads to downfall, while humility leads to honor.
Biblical Account: Consider King Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel Daniel 4:28-37
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Challenge 2: Seek God’s Strength Over Personal Might
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Explanation: In the Kingdom of God, our strength is not based on personal abilities but on God’s all-sufficient grace. Our human weaknesses allow God's power to be made perfect.
Biblical Account: Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh" made him realize that in his weakness, Christ’s strength was made perfect 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Challenge 3: Yield to Divine Guidance Over Self-Direction
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails."
Explanation: In the stress of life, we often try to take control of everything. But surrendering to God’s sovereignty means trusting His purpose over our plans.
Biblical Account: The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Despite severe adversities, he trusted God's plan and his surrendered strength eventually triumphed.
Challenge 4: Rest in God’s Peace Over Worldly Anxiety
Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Explanation: When the world’s stress threatens to overwhelm us, we are invited to rest in God's peace that surpasses all understanding. This is the power of surrendered strength.
Biblical Account: Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. Amidst the overwhelming storm, the disciples learned to rely on Jesus' peace over their fear and anxiety.
Concluding Story: The story of Gideon in Judges 6-7. Gideon was a man of no significant strength or influence. Yet when he surrendered his strength to God, God used him mightily to deliver Israel. Gideon was a judge of Israel during a period in its history known as the time of the Judges. This was a time when Israel had no king, and "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25, ESV).
Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh and lived in a town called Ophrah. When we first encounter him in the book of Judges, Israel was being severely oppressed by the Midianites. This was a punishment from God for their constant turning away from Him and worshiping other gods. The Midianites would destroy their crops and livestock, leaving the Israelites starving and in a state of despair.
God appeared to Gideon as he was threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord greeted him as a "mighty man of valor" (Judges 6:12, ESV), which seemed strange given his current situation. Yet, God saw in Gideon what he did not see in himself.
God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Initially, Gideon doubted, questioning why all the misfortunes had happened to them if God was with them. Furthermore, Gideon felt inadequate for the task, as he considered his clan to be the weakest in Manasseh and he was the least in his father's house.
Despite his doubts, Gideon was reassured by God who said, "But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man" (Judges 6:16, ESV). Gideon asked for a sign to confirm the message, which God graciously granted.
Gideon's story is one of transformation from fear and doubt to faith and courage. Even though he initially questioned God's plan, he eventually obeyed and, with only 300 men, defeated the vast Midianite army. The story of Gideon illustrates God's strength made perfect in our weakness, a theme that aligns perfectly with our sermon topic of "Surrendered Strength: Strength OVER Stress." This is a vivid picture of how surrendered strength—rooted in humility and faith—overcomes stress and triumphs in God's kingdom.