Renewed Strength for the Battle
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INTRODUCTION
We all face times in life where we feel severely depleted, ready to throw in towel and just give up.
As Christian we know the battle we face is a spiritual one - one that has our eternal salvation in the balance.
Today we will see that no matter what the circumstance of you battle fatigue, we must always seek the Lord as our only source for renewed strength to win the battle.
Objectives
Importance of Spiritual Strength
Biblical Examples of Battle Struggles
Embracing God as the Source of Our Strength
Importance of Spiritual Strength
Importance of Spiritual Strength
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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.
What is the most difficult part of this verse?
There are times, we feel, God’s time frame simply does not fit my schedule and situation.
God is too slow, so we act on our own devices
The key is waiting on the Lord!
Biblical Examples of Battle Struggles
Biblical Examples of Battle Struggles
Jonah
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”
Elijah the Prophet Flees Jezebel
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Moses and the complaining Israelites
I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”
Common Threads
They all sought out God in their despair
God did NOT grant their request
When life becomes overwhelming, even the best of the best want to give up. These three men continued to live to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Whenever we become overwhelmed and want to give up and die, we should realize that God has a purpose for our lives that must be completed before our lives end here on earth.
Embracing God as the Source of Our Strength
Embracing God as the Source of Our Strength
Are you reading your Bible?
Are you meditating on God’s Word?
Are you praying on a consistent basis?
Does it seem like none of this is helping your struggle or that sin that won’t let you go?
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
That addiction, that resolve to give up, it the place we run to. It’s our safe place
It’s easy to want it gone but secretly hold on to it.
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
When the urge begin to get stronger, examine yourself
What have you been thinking about
What did you experience throughout your day
How did it make you feel
There’s a pattern of thought that needs to be discovered, then interrupted
There’s a pattern of thought that needs to be discovered, then interrupted
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The addiction is the fruit
The reasons you choose it is the root
If you only get rid of the fruit, it will grow back because the root is still there
Get rid of the root, destroy the fruit
Conclusion
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.