Ephesians 6:10. Finally, my brethren, Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Gather round friends, gather round, it’s that time again, the Lord’s Sabbath! That means it’s time for praise and worship, joyful togetherness by technological means, for our physical sanctuaries are still mostly shut down. But as we keep saying, worshipful togetherness by any means is preferable to no worshipful togetherness at all.
So let’s do away with the talking, (smile) and get on with the praise and worship nuh. And today’s song of praise is one in which we don’t know the author’s name, but its words are so powerful and true that it has lasted for some time and has become a favourite of believers all over the world. It’s titled: ‘Just a closer walk with thee.’
And friends, I can assure us that there’s no better person to walk this earthly journey in companionship with than Jesus Christ! For He is the way, the truth, the life and the light, also the author and finisher of our faith path. Yes, it just makes sense to follow the one who first blazed the awesome path that you desire to tread, because He knows the way best. So let’s raise our sacrifice of praise heavenwards nuh, with loud but sweet harmonious voices, and hearts filled with sincere LOVE for our Triune God.
An easy rocking but passionate version. ‘I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. (Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.) Thro’ this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. [Refrain]When my feeble life is o’er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
[Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.) Take my hand Lord Jesus, take my hand. Take my hand Lord Jesus, take my hand. There’s a race to be run, there’s a victory to be won, every hour, give me power to go through. Take my hand and let me walk with thee, Blessed Jesus let it be…’
Oh mih people, what wonderful, passionate sacrificial praise! All heaven was singing along with us. And why not eh, since we were praising the One and Only Superstar in the universe! Now hear what the website Hymnary.org tells us re the song. ‘In that song, we acknowledge our human inability to live righteously, but we also express awareness of the grace and strength that God gives us in our daily walk. Even such an esteemed saint as the apostle Paul acknowledged his need for this grace: “But he [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” … For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a, 10b ESV)
Yes friends, when Bruh Paul asked the Lord three times to take away the thorn from his flesh, whatever it was, the Lord simply looked at him and calmly told him to ignore the thorn, for His grace was sufficient for him to handle the problem, because our weakness brings out His perfect power and strength. What more could Bruh Paul say to that statement eh, but: ‘Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.’ (2 Cor. 12:9b-10)
Glory be, mih people! That means when we are weak the power of God takes over on our behalf! What could be better than that eh? Nothing really! That’s why the Good Book tells us in Joel: ‘Let the weak say I am strong.’ And I discovered an excellent explanation on that subject by Richard Roberts of the Oral Roberts ministries. He writes: ‘The Lord promises again and again in His Word that He will strengthen us. He knows that, as human beings, we often feel our weakness to the point where we don’t believe we CAN be strong.
In Joel 3:10 we read, “Let the weak say, I am strong.” Notice that strength is first something we confess with our mouths. We SAY to ourselves, “I am strong.” Note, too, that the Bible doesn’t say we were strong or that we will be strong. It says we are to speak to ourselves in the NOW of our circumstances and say, “I AM strong!” What a good word that is to us when we are feeling weak…unable to cope or to bear up under the pressure, to be patient or have courage. In that very moment…in that very circumstance…we can claim, by our faith, the provision of God to us: “I AM STRONG!”
On what is our strength based? Our strength is not in ourselves but in Christ Jesus who lives within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 40:28–29, the prophet said, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”Our strength does not come from our own abilities or power, but from the wisdom and power of God, which is poured into us on a daily basis any time we admit our weakness and ask Him to replace our weakness with His strength.’
I like how he explains that. I hope you do too. Then there’s this further scripture from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians. ‘Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live by the power of God toward you.’ (2 Cor. 13:3-4) Now isn’t that marvellous and very reassuring? Yes, it certainly is. The same power that was with Christ in His weakness, will also be with us in ours! No wonder we worship and glorify Him and call Him Lord and Saviour.
And we’ll let Richard Roberts have today’s last word. (smile) ‘The apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, my brethren, Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10). Take that as God’s word to you today! You can be strong in any situation or circumstance you face today because the Spirit of God is strong within you!’ Much LOVE!
…God plus you…equals Almighty strength…
SCRIP-BITS 