How strong are you?

Sermon Cardiff 25 07 15

Good morning everyone and a big Cardiff Welcome to our guests.

The question we're looking at today is - how strong are you?  When I did this in Llanelli I got the kids doing a tug of war.

At SEP, when I was a camper, they had a giant tug of war and on one side they hooked up a speed boat to help them...  This is the same for us today - on our own we are weak, together we're stronger - but still we're fighting forces we don't know or understand which seek to undermine us - so we desperately need help.

Do you remember Joe Tkach's message a couple of months ago where he spoke about the young oxen learning from the old and being allowed to develop and strengthen alongside the older one.  It's the same with us - we have Jesus alongside us supporting us as we develop and mature.

That speaking of life was based on Mat 11: 28-30 when Christ said.

Mat 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus yoke is light as he's there helping us bear it.  Jesus has already suffered and died on our behalf, he's even carried our cross - and we can rest in him knowing all that needs to be done for our salvation has been done already.  Our part is to believe this is so, and accept the gift of salvation.
Whatever happens in life should therefore be seen in this context.  Things happen that we're not happy about and we get discouraged, however our strength is the assurance that there is more than this life and our problems.

Judy's favourite scripture was Php 4:13 which says in the King James "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  She did some amazing things despite her latter illness and we are very grateful for all the things she did especially for the children with children's church.

People have defied the odds and defied their physical circumstances all over the world and done amazing things in the name of Jesus.  People like Mother Teresa.  I'm sure you can think of people.
Even GCI, although we are a relatively small denomination have got churches all over the world and some are in the poorest places like refugee camps and rubbish dumps.  Spreading this good news of God's grace amongst the most challenging circumstances, and that is where the growth is taking place.

We have a summer camp called SEP (www.sepuk.org) and there, a team of people work hard over two weeks turning a sheep field into  a community - amazing efforts by the set up staff.  But where to they get the strength and motivation?  It is a big ask for people to give up weeks of their time for something some of them don't even see working.

Moses isn't renouned for his singing but after they crossed the red sea he sang.
Exo 15:2  "The LORD is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Notice he gave God the credit for saving the people from Egypt - the deliverance from Egypt and especially the crossing of the red sea is an example where they could not have physically done it on their own strength.  The plagues are an example of divine intervention.  Israel could not have physically done this for themselves.  Do you remember them all?
1. Water into blood 2. Frogs 3. Lice 4.Flies 5. Livestock got sick 6. Boils 7. Hail and Fire 8. Locusts 9. Darkness 10. Death of First born.

God strengthened them by displaying his power against the Egyptians.  Remember that it was God who hardened their hearts

Exo_10:1-2   Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."

This is clear that their hearts were deliberately hardened for the Israelites benefit so that they could declare the strength and glory of God for generations to come.

There are examples in the bible where people were given strength beyond their physical capabilities in order to glorify God.

David and Samson are two famous examples.

The story of David and Goliath for example showed that a child plus God could achieve more that the finest soldiers.  Notice however he gave God the glory throughout.  Lets pick out a couple of verses.
1Sa 17:37  The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

1Sa 17:45  David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
1Sa 17:46  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
1Sa 17:47  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
1Sa 17:48  As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
1Sa 17:49  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
1Sa 17:50  So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
1Sa 17:51  David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

Clearly it was divine intervention here and it was for God's glory by showing both the Philistines and Israel how powerful he was.

Samson likewise lived in the strength of God.  I won't go through the story as you'll know it, however at the end they've captured him and he's tied up in their temple.

Jdg_16:28  Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."

Other famous examples are Daniel in the lion's den, Shadrach Mishak and Abednigo in the Fiery Furnace etc.  Again divine intervention which was beyond human strength.

What about us?  We only really see God's strength coming through us when we are going through adversity.  People going through trials can cope with things beyond their wildest nightmares when they are living in the strength of God.  Some say that trials show lack of faith or that you are doing something wrong - therefore if you don't have any you are living right. Many people are proud of their achievements and think they are right with God because of the effort they are putting in.  There is a flaw in this thinking however as Ephesians says we are saved by grace so no one can boast.

Eph 2:8  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
Eph 2:9  not by works, so that no one can boast.

How many here think that they are perfect?

1John 1 says if you say you are without sin you are calling God a Liar. I certainly don't want to be accused of that!!
1Jn 1:8  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

So all have sinned - all have fallen in weakness, however it says that God is faithful and just to forgive.

So we've established that we are not perfect - but God loves us anyway.
So, what is it that we need to do?  For what purpose does God give us strength?  __ Helping people __

Gal 6:9-10  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Notice help ALL people - but they had a fledgling church like ours - so they were told to especially help their Christian brothers and sisters.

We see people suffering all over the world and we can't help everyone - but we can help when we feel moved to do so.  As a church we have sent money from the UK office to our church brothers and sisters in places like Nepal and the Philipines to help them re-build their lives and their communities - thankfully none of our members have died but their lives have been devastated.

They need God's strength at this time and so do those being persecuted around the world. So please remember them in your prayers.

So, if you feel weak and can't carry on in your troubles, if you think you are being punished for issues you may have, pray for God to uphold you and lets live in His strength.  God loves us where we are at and whatever we have done - we can't do much in our own strength as our strength is flawed - however he can do anything through us if we are open to the lead of his presence in our lives.  Lets live in His strength.

Reference are Today's NIV.

www.gciwales.org
www.llanelli.church