Renewed In Strength

Introduction

Good evening once again, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be worshiping with you all once again this evening.

I pray your joy has been made full by all the great brethren here and your love for God this week thus far.

As we continue our theme for this meeting, “Renewed Christians,” we examined last night the reality of faithfulness to God in our current, finite state.

That a “man after God’s own heart” still sinned spectacularly and if it can happen to king David it can happen to us which is why God is constantly reminding us to “take heed lest we fall” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

In Psalm 51 we noticed David’s inner thoughts and emotions about his sin, his desire to be made clean again, and to be “Renewed In Steadfastness” (Psalm 51:10).

As we discussed this life is difficult, this life is wrapped in sinfulness, this life is at best a challenge to navigate for those that love the Lord and desire to stay pure and holy.

Satan is actively seeking to devour us at every corner and with every opportunity.

Thus the need to be renewed in steadfastness.

That steadfastness is only possible however, if we have what it takes to endure.

In other words, when we seek to start back over with a “clean heart” and ask our God to “renew our steadfastness” we are seeking also to be “Renewed In Strength.”

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

This evening we are going to examine what we should be looking for “from God” when we find ourselves seeking to start over with a “clean heart” and be “renewed in steadfastness” again through by being “renewed in strength.”

When the faithful fall humiliatingly short of the glory of God as all Christians will do from time to time in their spiritual walk with God.

The first step to regaining the strength to fight the good fight of faith is understanding God’s strength or power.

By that I mean we must learn what makes God so powerful against sin and Satan.

God’s strength against sin and any of it’s followers is his actual nature.

In other words God is so powerful against our enemy sin because his nature, his very essence is based in…

Holiness

God’s Essence Is Purity.

God’s very essence is that he is “set apart” from sin completely.

James 1:13 (NKJV)

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

Hebrews 6:18 (NKJV)

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

God’s Essence Is Righteous.

God’s very essence is that he is “set apart” from all unrighteousness.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV)

4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

God’s Essence Exudes Perfection.

God’s very essence as fully holy means he exudes perfection in all he does.

His way is perfection.

2 Samuel 22:31 (NKJV)

31 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

His law is perfection.

Psalm 19:7 (NKJV)

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple

James 1:25 NKJV

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

He is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Summary

This matters because when we ask God to be “renewed in strength,” in the power of God’s might,” we are first and foremost admitting to ourselves…

We Are Helpless Without God

No Creation Has Defeated Sin.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, but simply striving to remind and point out the glaringly obvious.

Every person created by God, born of woman, who lived to the age of accountability has failed to defeat sin.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

On our own we cannot win the spiritual fight we are in with Satan over our soul.

Because it only takes “one sin” to loose the war.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death…

I can’t defeat sin on my own, you can’t defeat sin on your own, which means we are helpless without God.

Thankfully, for all of us, God is on our side; he wants all of us to be with him for eternity.

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Summary

Now this is significant because it is everything when it comes to us seeking help, us seeking for God to “renew our strength.”

It is only through our understanding of our helplessness and therefore who is perfect and without sin that we can overcome sin and is why we read in Acts 4:12…

Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

It is only through God’s perfection that we can become perfect.

Hebrews 10:14 NKJV

14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

So the first step in being “renewed in strength” by God is to admit we need “the power of God’s might” in our lives (Ephesians 6:10).

The second step is understanding how we access “the power of God’s might.”

So let’s look at what it takes to…

Access God’s Strength

Consume God’s Word.

The more we are in God’s word, reading God’s word, studying God’s word, and meditating upon God’s word the more our faith grows and we are strengthened by God’s power.

Psalm 119:28 NKJV

28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.

How does knowing and understanding God’s word give us “strength” from God?

The more we study God’s word, learn God’s word, and understand God’s word the more it abides or lives in us.

2 John 9 NKJV

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

In Paul’s letter to the Colossian church we find this perfectly explained.

Paul, begins his letter by pointing out that he prays for the church there because he has heard from Epaphras of their love and obedience to the gospel, i.e., God’s word.

Colossians 1:3–5 (NKJV)

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Colossians 1:6–8 (NKJV)

6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Paul then tells them his “never ceasing prayer for them” is to be filled with God’s word so as to be strengthened by God through it.

Colossians 1:9–11 (NKJV)

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy

The point is, the more God’s word is written on our hearts” by studying it, learning it, and understanding it the more God is able to strengthen us in this spiritual battle we are in.

Hebrews 5:12–14 (NKJV)

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The second source of our God’s strength in our lives is found in…

Prayer To Our God.

When we pray we are strengthened by his comfort to continue to fight the good fight of faith.

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

When we pray we are strengthened by his compassion.

1 John 1:8–9 NKJV

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we pray we are strengthened by his wisdom to make us wise.

James 1:5–6 NKJV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Lastly, we access God’s strength in our lives by way of…

Fellow Christians.

Our fellowship with like-minded brethren provides for us the benefit of bearing each other’s burdens.

Galatians 6:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 15:1 (NKJV)

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV)

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

Bearing each other’s burdens by helping the wayward, encouraging the fainthearted, and helping the weak is a great source of strength for us when we find ourselves struggling.

In Romans 16:1-16 Paul begins to list a number of people that he was in fellowship with and had helped him through his mission of teaching the lost.

In Romans 16:17-18 Paul warns the church in Rome to watch out for those that would cause division in the fellowship of the saints and not fall for their deceit.

We then read this in Romans 16:19-20.

Romans 16:19–20 (NKJV)

19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Summary

With the help of our fellow brothers and sisters who love us enough to tell us when we are lacking wisdom and acting foolish, we can crush Satan.

The God of peace uses our fellowship with our brethren to crush Satan under our feet through a mutual “building up of each other” (Romans 15:2).

Conclusion

So brothers and sisters and ladies and gentlemen, when we find ourselves needing to be “renewed in strength” we do so by relying fully and completely on God by…

Scrutinizing his word every day, praying without ceasing, and seeking the fellowship of the saints.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Acts 17:30 NKJV

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 NKJV

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1 John 1:7 NKJV

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.