• People often say God is powerful or strong. When I was a kid I used to challenge my friends by saying “My Daddy is stronger than your Daddy.”  Did you ever say that?  
• Now think about your Heavenly Father. Nobody is stronger than he is.  He created the universe with mere words from his mouth, out of nothing visible (Heb 11:3). He created man in his image from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him (Gen 2:7). God has power over life and has defeated death (Joh 11:26). God is in control of all circumstances (Jer 32:27). And most importantly God is holy, just, merciful, and loving (Joh 3:16).  
• There really is nothing God can’t do other than be inconsistent with his own word (Joh 1:1; Eze 12:25A; Jer 31:26). We on the other hand are different. We often fall short of our word. We don’t keep it fully. We even base our word on human wisdom (which is sin) rather than God’s. But Jesus based his life only on God’s word (Mat 4:4).
• The key to consistent living according to God’s word is giving your life to Christ and trusting in the gospel, because he kept God’s word perfectly for all who trust in him (Joh 5:19). The Apostle Paul explained it this way: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom 3:21-26).
• You can be strong, because your Heavenly Father is strong, and you are his through faith in Jesus Christ.  You have an enemy who will try and defeat you: he is the devil.  But you have armor to fight against him (truth, righteousness, the good news of the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Holy Spirit inspired and empowered Bible, and prayer). “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Eph 6:1-18).
• Children brag about their Daddy’s strength, because they think he is really great and they love their Daddy.  Christians boast about the Lord’s strength, because Jesus is really great and we love him.  “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1Co 1:26-31).
• It’s ok to feel weak and long as you know where your strength comes from, for, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Co 12:9).  “I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.  The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psa 121).
• What about you? If you have never participated in this ministry reach out to us and tell us how we can pray for you and what the Lord is doing in your life.  May the Lord bless you richly today!

Pastor Greg