*Anchor* Sis Leah
*Topic:* Being strong
*Text:* 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.16.13.NLT
Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!
1 Corinthians 16:13 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/1co.16.13.AMPC
Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13 CEB
https://bible.com/bible/37/1co.16.13.CEB
Our father in heaven we worship your majesty and honour you for being our God and help. Thank you father for another privilege to share your word and be spoken to through the word, we ask father that you will be glorified through it all in Jesus name amen.
The Topic says "Being strong" the statement is continuous, it didn't just say be strong which may be applicable to a certain time alone but "being strong".
Strength is something we all need each and everyday to actually carry out our physical activity. You may wonder how, if you do not have the strength to sit up from lying in bed you might find it difficult to even transfer from supine to sitting on the edge of the bed.
If you do not have strength to lift a cup of tea and you're asked to carry a 50litres of water you may fall down.
You cannot expect a two year old to have the strength to pull a 🐎 horse, the strength of the horse outweighs that of the child in so many ways.
However if you ask someone who rides the horse🐎🐎 professionally they can pull the horse and direct it, not because of their profession by title but because of years of experience,consistency and tenacity that has made them as strong as they are to control the horse.
When you think of being strong spiritually, it doesn't just come suddenly on a day, it's something you build up, it happens gradually, it's something that you start one day but with daily consistency you discover that you are not thesame as you started.
The world we live in now can make the strongest Man the weakest link if the person is unsure of who they are and where they belong.
Turning on the NEWS on daily basis there is hardly a good news that builds faith and strength it's filled with fear and the judgement of man.
The scripture we are focussing on says " *Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it)."* From the amplified classic version.
I shared three different versions so we can all read and understand the word.
This version breaks it down, the word alert, in you favour, respecting the relationship of man with God.
This speaks volume, there is no how you can continue being strong as a believer without a true relationship with God. Not just that alone you must stand firm and be alert, that means when others are dosing off just like the wise five maidens you will keep your lamp filled with oil and burning because the comfort of sleeping or losing focus or not being at alert should never override the relationship you have with God.
The unwise maiden forgot to fill their lamps with oil and they dosed off they weren't alert when the groom came and that was how they missed it.
Going back to man's relationship with God, when you are on a loving relationship you never want to hurt the person, now imagine relationship with the one who created the entire universe, your strength is divine because you will not think of how limited your strength is in the physical capacity but what God has deposited in you. This deposit only gets better if you are alert and in constant and consistent relationship with God.
The latter part of the verse says, " *Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength* !" It should never be misunderstood that man has a limited capacity when he functions alone but when he functions with God on his side his capacity and capabilities is supernatural.
As long as we are still on this body we will still act like men but the difference is we will do it courageously, that courage isn't based on our finance, our health, our net worth, our degrees and accolades but the strength that comes from Christ, the strength we get from knowing Jesus and having a constant relationship with Him.
In life we may face challenges, we may face tribulations, uncertainty might be the order of the day but this should never pull us down.
We know that our strength is not limited of we tap into that divine strength which is in Christ Jesus.
I don't know what level or stage or phase you are in your life right now, you may be saying, "I have done all I can", "I keep pushing". "Where have I gone wrong?", "But God I serve you why did you allow this?"
No matter what the circumstances is, this message is for you, God wants you to continue to being strong always, build your faith on His word, trust Him to finish it.
He never said we won't pass through trials, His promise is that when we do, He will be with us through the end.
You know the amazing thing is that God is carrying you even when you feel like you are too weak, where you feel like you have exhausted all channels no more power, nothing to turn to.
He that watches over Israel will never leave nor forsake you.
Being strong is not for the weak at heart, being strong is not for those who can't work or walk by faith, being strong is not for those who allow worry, unforgiveness, negative confession consume th. It's for those who know that in all things you give thanks to the alpha and omega, it's for those who know that in Him they live, move and have their being.
Where is that issue today.. Declare I will continue to be strong because it will end in praise in Jesus name amen.
*Let us Pray*
Father thank you for your word that you sent to me this day
Lord thank you for increasing the zeal to trust you and walk in your will in me
Father where worry doubt, unforgivess, lack of hope, lack of faith has lived as parasite in my life let your fire consume them.
Lord in this situation (mention it) help me to be strong even when my physical power fail me
Lord remove whatever has been a barrier to my relationship with you henceforth in Jesus name
*Personal Prayer*
Thank you abba father for answered prayers in Jesus name amen
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