FIVE EXHORTATIONS (PART 4)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“...be strong.”

1 Corinthians 16:13d

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

"Be courageous.”

This was the exhortation we looked at in yesterday’s message, the third in this five part series based on closing commands given to the Corinthian church by the Apostle Paul as he closed his first letter to them.

You’ll remember in part 3 of this series that we examined the Old Testament scriptures, specifically as they told the story of the Israelites getting ready to enter unknown territory filled with equally unknown dangers and challenges. As they and their leadership, namely Joshua, prepared to inhabit the land God had promised to them, we find the Lord reminding them over and over again that He was with them and would be with them. Because of this assurance, God demanded that they be “strong and courageous” (Deuteronomy 31:6 and 7b-8 and 23, Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, and 18 and 10:25). There was no need to fear because the God who was for them had no rival and there was no power on earth that stood a chance against Him. In other words, you wouldn’t want any other force on your team.

Through God, we find the courage to withstand whatever life brings our way and Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to remember this as the fledgling church worked to not just survive but thrive in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Today, we look at the other part of God’s command to His people, the command to be strong, the same command Paul shares at the end of verse 13 of chapter 16.

To be strong is a different calling than to be courageous. We will go through many matters in life where we don’t necessarily need to have courage but we sure need strength to persevere and get by. Too often, we look within ourselves for that strength only to find that we fall short.

Why?

Because we are limited in our power. Our Lord designed us that way so we would learn to rely on Him, the One who possesses limitless strength and power. The Apostle Paul learned this as he wrote these words, the secret to why he could be content, no matter his circumstances.

Do you remember what he said?

Her confessed and professed the following:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Did you catch that?

Paul didn’t say he could do some things through Christ who strengthens him. No, he said he could do all things. He came to understand that indeed, nothing is impossible with the Lord when He gives us His strength. It’s the only way that we can truly “be strong”.

Feeling like you’re in the midst of weakness?

Turn to the Lord to get recharged. He will never leave you void. The prophet Isaiah validated this truth with these words from the fortieth chapter of the Old Testament book bearing his name:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard?”

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Vv. 28-31

These are powerful reminders of how the Lord is there for us in our times of need, always ready and able to renew our strength and help us soar on wings like eagles.

If this is true for individuals, then it also is true for the church collective. Too often the church tries to operate on its own strength and power, forgetting the Lord by which the church stands. Perhaps we would have more churches saved and less fail if the congregants got down on their knees and placed their full hope in the Lord, petitioning Him to help them run and not grow weary, to walk and not grow strength, to increase their power in the midst of their weariness and weakness.

This was Paul’s urging to the Corinthian church, to be strong not by their own merit but rather through the endless, perpetual power of the Lord they served. For if they did, then they would be an immovable force in Him.

Tomorrow, we finish this series by seeing how love needed to be an integral part of the church in Corinth as well.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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