Strength – PaulThompsonBlog

It was nearly eight years ago.

I would have to preach Psalm 46 to myself again and again and again. Today? I preach it to myself still.

Scripture is more than just words on a page. They’re not magical words on a page that come true when you say them in the correct order or read them by moon light. They are more than mere words on a page because they tell of who God is.

In Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found.

Because He is this, “we will not be afraid”. This does not read, “we don’t have to be afraid”, it is “we will not be afraid”.

I would, and still do, have to preach that to myself often. Because you are God, I will not be afraid. Even if the earth shakes and the mountain tops melt into the depths of the sea, even if the water rages and foams, even if turmoil is in my inner man, I will not be afraid.

~rest~ (Selah)

While all around me was and can still be in confusion, there is a river that “delights in the city of God.” Where God is, all things are subject to Him. Though the earth shakes, mountains melt, nations rage, kingdoms foam, the earth becomes mush… The LORD of Host is with us, “the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”

~rest~ (Selah)

Come.

Come, see the works of the LORD. He holds all things by the power of His word. He is the LORD of angel armies. He provides for the needs of His people and even for the needs of those who curse His name. He causes wars to cease. He shatters the works of man.

I will not be afraid.

I will preach this again! For the sake of my soul, I will preach this today!

“…and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25b)

It is strange to use the term “weakness” when speaking about an all powerful God. It almost feels blasphemous. I’m not at all comfortable with saying that until I understand it in the powerful conclusion; “…the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Just this week an Idaho citizen and fellow pastor of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ past his 1,000th day in jail in Iran. His wife, Naghmeh, has just reported that Saeed’s dad was able to have a short visit with him today and that he is encouraged. He told his dad to let us know,

“that for 1000 days he has experienced utter darkness and has died, yet for 1001, he has been resurrected with Christ.”

Oh, follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, not all of us are called to labor in such hardship but all of us are called out, to live differently, daily dying to self, humble lives.

Today, where it appears a Christian brother is in bondage to men, behind prison bars, beaten and mocked for his faith, there is a power in God that raises that brother each day.

May you too, experience the weakness of God.

What has you in bondage today? Are your trying to defeat or endure it in your own strength? Why not stop depending on your strength and lean on a liberating power of the “weakness” of God. Your most powerful display and clever genius thought cannot even begin to compete with God at his weakest moment on the cross. Surrender today, be resurrected again.

_______

In light of this; I respect that not all are able, but the church I pastor, Eastside Baptist Church, will gather in prayer again tonight, 6:30pm. We will pray, labor, take the battle ground as prepared men and women to lean into that weakness of God. What will keep you off the battle ground tonight?

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