Dearly beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you in the precious name of our Redeemer Jesus Christ!
For us to “go from strength to strength,” let us examine what the Bible teaches us and commit to live accordingly as it is the truth. The Lord looks at each one of you who are in dismay, having faced loss in business, or having been cheated by your own children and put to shame, or having drained of all your strength by something, and says, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10). Will this comforting word become true in our lives? Do not doubt it. Turn your heart to what is said in the Bible. You will be strengthened in your body, soul and spirit, and be blessed.
1. Those Who Wait
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles...”
(Isaiah 40:31
We live in an ‘instant-age’. In everything we do, and wherever we go, we want the end result immediately. We also want them to be done the way we want. For that we strive. In case, there is a delay, we get upset. We lose strength and we have no patience to wait and do something to get it done in sinful ways, relying on self-righteousness.
Here are a few examples. Some would apply for Provident Fund Loans from their salary for which they are eligible. But they would not wait for the amount to be disbursed. Expecting it, they would borrow an equivalent amount from others beforehand. In case, they receive an amount lower than what they expected, they face a lot of difficulties. For this, they also quarrel with the office staff who calculate the amount. Thus they seek ways to have things early and when they fail in their attempts, they are upset and lose strength in their spirit.
There are those who are so dissatisfied with their doctors when the prescribed medicines does not yield the desired results that they worry over it too much and lose even the strength they have. But the truthful Bible teaches us to wait for the Lord for the renewal of strength. When we plant a tree, we have to wait for the tree to grow, blossom, and then bear fruit which should ripen. If we pluck the unripe fruit, it is useless. Similarly, in our life, when we attempt to do things earlier than its due time, the consequences would be miserable. You would lose the strength you have and not able to bear the loss.
Some resort to business in which they can expect to have much more than what they have invested only after a minimum of four years. In case they fail to wait during this initial period, they would wind up the business thinking that it is not a profitable business. Such people lose strength to do business. Our Lord Jesus Christ knows when the things we do should prosper. Till then we should wait. When waiting, you have more strength to stand and go ahead.
In the marriage feast at Cana, the mother of Jesus approached Him for meeting the shortage of wine. But as the time was not ripe, He did not fulfil her request immediately. Even His mother had to wait for His time. If it is so, how much more should we wait in His presence!
For Jesus Christ to do ministry, He waited for 40 days fasting, and had His strength renewed in the presence of the Lord. Let us also wait in the presence of the Lord for renewal of strength and be blessed.
2. Those Who Delight in the Lord
“ ... for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
In all things, we should be happy in our relationship with the Lord. Many question the Lord as to what He has done in their lives. They point to the fact that their family alone is in trouble and the reproach they undergo. They hurt themselves and keep blaspheming against the Lord. This naturally leads them to the wrath of the Lord.
The Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt with His outstretched hand through Moses. But they were not content with the Lord, nor did they delight in His doings. They lusted for meat and were sinful in their thoughts. They rebelled against Moses and the Lord through their grudging. What they desired the Lord gave, but along with that they were punished. The Lord gave them over to destruction of the enemy.
Dear Brother/ Sister, let us not worry over the shortcomings and lacks in our lives, but rather think of the good things with a grateful heart and be joyful. That is strength to our spirit, soul and body.
Once a sister prayed fasting for 7 weeks before the Lord for her to be exalted in life. After that period, nothing happened to satisfy her wish. Then she began to grumble before the Lord. She stopped reading the Bible or praying. As a result, she underwent many sufferings. She was weakened physically. After that, she was warned through a servant of God. She, who had been redeemed, committed once more to be cleansed with the blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord restored her health and blessed her more than she expected.
The Israelites complained and made those who lead them to err and, as a result, their leaders were punished. In our lives too, in all situations, if we delight in the Lord for all the good things He has done in our lives, for our good health, for the business, and for our children, we would be blessed and would have strength in our spirit.
Once we had been to a hilly area to do ministry. The meeting was scheduled to be held at 6 pm and therefore we hurried to be there at the right time. The host of the house where we stayed delayed the lunch and we had missed the only bus that went there. We had our luggage in hand and we did not know what to do. We thanked the Lord and praised Him for having given us the strength to climb the hill and we started walking up the hill. The Lord sent us the van that should have left the place 2 hours earlier .
When we delight in the Lord, it provides us the strength of God, and all our desires are fulfilled by Him.
Dear Brother/ Sister, you may be going through delays in conceiving a child, in getting a job or getting married, or may be suffering the pain of loss in business. Do not complain. The Most High Lord has provided protection, food, and other things in life so far. Delight in Him. The Lord who says, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10), is the same today and forever. He lives even today.
So let us stay connected to the Lord in our relationship with Him in all situations. Let us not complain against the Lord in our troubles. But let us, like Job, not complain in thought or speech but delight in the Lords so that we would have divine strength and be blessed.
3. Those Who Use the Name of Jesus Christ
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong...”
Acts 3:16
The name ‘Jesus’ strengthens us. I have seen in my life that those who are under the possession of the devil and have lost their strength would not be able to utter the name of the Lord Jesus when asked to do so.
Once a youth lived alone in an estate. His mother prayed a lot. But this brother never prayed or uttered the name of the Lord Jesus. They were going through hard times. Things kept missing from their house. There was no one living nearby. It was a lonely house in a hilly area. Yet this happened. He was terrorised. During the night he felt as if he was awakened by the slap of someone and also heard someone walking here and there in the house. He did not know what to do. He was afraid. Sometimes, he felt as if someone brushed him physically. Now not knowing what to do, he kept a Bible near his pillow at bed. His mother asked him to pronounce the name of Jesus. As he called the name of the Lord Jesus, he heard these evil spirits leave the house. After that he began to use the name of the Son of the Lord in all situations. He attained new strength in his body. Fear left him. He had peace of mind and was strengthened in body and spirit.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Let us not forget this verse, but liberally use it. Let us seek refuge in the name of Jesus which has the power to strengthen us and have victory over the devil. In the midst of struggles, let us stand in the name of Jesus which would comforts us and strengthens us, for we will be blessed.
4. Those Who Trust in Him
“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15
We need to be cleansed with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and have the assurance of salvation through faith, and live as a new holy being in Christ on the model He has set. Having been delivered from old sins, we would have new strength and confidence. Our lives are changed and we can live with patience and hope. We are spiritually strengthened. We should not allow the thought that we are sinners to dominate in us or condemn us as the Lord has justified as if we had never sinned. We have been made righteous in Him. We should do away with all other thoughts that torment us. We must have trust in the Lord as He strengthens His people. Thus, when we remain steadfast with hope in Him, the Lord would strengthen us.
Once a youth accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and began his journey in Christ. All of a sudden, sinful thoughts arose within him. Then his heart began to beat fast condemning him. He became restless. At that time, he was meditating on the verses of the Bible which comforted him. He became calm. He gave up his evil suicidal thoughts and regained the strength to live for Christ.
Similarly, we should also give up evil thoughts and steer away from worries and sinful ways. Then we will live happily with faith and hope in Christ. There would be tranquillity and confidence in us. This strengthens us in the Spirit. When we receive this strength in the inner man we will not be concerned or worried about anything.
5. Those Who Receive the Holy Spirit
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
For us to live a holy life and to be led daily with definite knowledge of what is sin and what pleases the Lord, we need a discerning heart. For this we need the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit who gives the strength to live for Him. I had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit. But the Lord gave me the Comforter promised by God through Jesus Christ. Till then I was constantly under the fear of death and I was confused as to what I should do. The Lord changed my life. He strengthened me physically, spiritually and mentally. My life got transformed. I never loved the word of the Lord. Now I began to love it and sought it with thirst. Not only that, He strengthened me and gave me wisdom and emboldened me to strengthen and counsel others.
In the Bible, we read in several places how the Lord strengthened people. Samson was an ordinary man. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he was girded with strength to tackle a young lion and he dealt with it as if it were a lamb. Similarly, we are strengthened to deal with Satan which operates against us. We are empowered to overcome the acts of the devil. Because of the Spirit from above, we can easily overcome sins which undermine us. We might have uttered lies in fear of punishment. Now we are strengthened to stand punishment. We will be strengthened to lead a life without borrowing from others and can easily resist such temptations in severe circumstances. Now you have the inner strength to resist such temptations and you can manage situations in a wonderful way without any fear. Your shyness to proclaim Jesus Christ is replaced by the boldness to exult in Him and bear witness of Him and glorify His name. Instead of speaking ill of others, you will be led to pray and intercede for them. This is the working of the Holy Spirit.
Peter, who was afraid of the words of a woman and began to deny any knowledge of Jesus Christ, boldly declared before authorities their misdeeds and was able to bear witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God after he received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the power from above, from the Lord. With this divine strength we are led to do ministry and perform miracles and to challenge others to live for Christ.
Thus, the Holy Spirit removes all fear and weakness in you and would empower you in the body, soul and spirit. So do not be dismayed by delays or hurdles in your way, but wait in the presence of the Lord God with confidence and delight in Him, and use His name as a saved child of God. His name is above all other names. Rest steadfast in His love with faith and confidence in Him. With His Spirit you will be enabled to overcome all the troubles, trials, unrighteousness and sufferings when you live in Him. May the Lord help you to be anointed with His Spirit! You will be strengthened to say like Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
May the Lord bless you so!
In the service of Christ Jesus,
Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul (Late)
(Published in April 1993)
