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Strength & Power

Power from God's Oil!

1. God's strength vs. your strength:

A. God is infinitely more powerful than weak man:

Psa.8:3,4 - When I consider Thy heavens... the moon & the stars, which Thou hast [made]...what is man?
Isa.40:15,17, 22 - All nations before Him are as nothing...as a drop of a bucket... less than nothing
Dan.4:35 - All the inhabitants of earth are reputed as nothing, none can stay His hand
1Cor.1:25 - [Even] the weakness of God is stronger than men
(See also 2Chr.20:6; Psa.89:6.)

B. An honest view of man & his strength:

Job 14:1,2 - Man...is of few days...he cometh forth like a flower, & is cut down (See also Job 7:1)
Isa.40:6-8 - All flesh is grass...the grass withereth (See also Psa.90:5b,6; 103:15,16; Jam.1:10,11; 1Pet.1:24,25.)
Job 8:9 - We know nothing...our days upon earth are a shadow
Psa.39:5,6 - Every man at his best state is altogether vanity
Psa.144:3,4 - What is man? Man is vanity: his days are as a shadow (See also 1Chr.29:15; Psa.62:9; 90:10; Eccl.6:12.)
Psa.78:39 - He remembered they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away (See also Isa.2:22; Jam.4:14,15.)
Psa.103:14 - He knoweth our frame...remembereth that we are dust (See also Gen.18:27; Isa.29:5,6.)
Job 25:6 - Man is a worm
Isa.40:22 - The inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers
(See also Job 4:18-20; Rom.7:18.)

C. God is able to do absolutely anything:

Jer.32:27 - I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me? (See also Gen.18:14)
Job 42:2 - I know that Thou canst do everything
Psa.62:11 - Power belongeth unto God
Mat.19:26 - With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible
Mat.28:18 - All power is given unto Me in Heaven & in earth

D. God has total power over man:

Job 12:10 - In (His) hand is the soul of every living thing, & the breath of all mankind (See also Dan.5:23)
Job 12:13-25 - With Him is strength...He increaseth the nations, & destroyeth them (See Psa.75:6,7; 107:33-40.)
Isa.43:13 - There is none that can deliver out of My hand
Psa.115:3 - God...hath done whatsoever He hath pleased
Isa.64:8 - We are the clay, & Thou our potter; we all are the work of Thy hand (See also Isa.45:9)
(See also 1Chr.29:12; 2Chr.20:6; Job 9:4; Psa.104:29, 30; Isa.40:23,25.)

2. Trust in the Lord, not your own strength:

A. Let God strengthen you with His strength:

Eph.6:10 - Be strong in the Lord, & in the power of His might
2Chr.20:12 - We have no might against this great company...neither know we what to do: our eyes are upon Thee
Psa.20:7,8 - Some trust in chariots, & some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God
Psa.84:5 - Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee
Psa.105:4 - Seek the Lord & His strength: seek His face evermore
Isa.26:4 - Trust in the Lord, in the Lord is everlasting strength
2Cor.3:4,5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...but our sufficiency is of God
Phi.3:3 - We worship God...& have no confidence in the flesh
(See also Exo.15:2; 2Sam.22:33; Psa.27:1; 68:28,35; 118:8; 147:10,11.)

B. He can do what you can't do:

Zech.4:6 - Not by (your) might, nor by power, but by My Spirit
1Sam.2:9b - By [your own] strength shall no man prevail
Psa.60:11 - Give us help from trouble: vain is the help of man
Psa.127:1 - Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it
Jn.15:5 - Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Job 9:19a; Psa.33:16,17.)

C. Do what you can, but success depends on God:

Pro.21:31 - The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord
Neh.4:14 - Be not ye afraid of them: [but] remember the Lord great & terrible, & fight for your brethren

3. Our weakness causes us to depend upon God:

A. God's strength is manifest in our weakness:

2Cor.4:7 - We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the... power may be of God, & not of us
Isa.40:29 - He giveth power to the faint; & to them that have no might He increaseth strength
Psa.8:2 - Out of mouth of babes...hast Thou ordained strength
Psa.37:39 - The Lord...is their strength in the time of trouble
Psa.73:26 - My flesh & my heart faileth: but God is [my] strength
Isa.25:4 - Thou (art) a strength to...the needy in his distress
Isa.41:10 - I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee
2Cor.1:8,9 - We were pressed out of measure, above strength...but we (do) not trust in ourselves, but in God
2Cor.12:9,10 - "My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness"... When I am weak, then am I strong
2Cor.13:4 - We are weak in Him, but we shall live...by power of God
Heb.11:34 - [Bible saints:] Out of weakness were made strong
(See Psa.94:17,18)

B. When you have no other help, He'll strengthen you:

Psa.72:12 - He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, & him that hath no helper
Lk.22:43,45 - [Jesus' disciples slept, but] an angel (came) from Heaven, strengthening Him
2Tim.4:16,17 - No man stood with me, but all men forsook me... the Lord stood with me, & strengthened me
(See also Psa.27:10)

C. He will give strength day by day to keep you going:

Deut.33:25b - As thy days, so shall thy strength be
Mat.6:34 - Take no thought for the morrow...sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof

D. When you have only little strength, the Lord will help you:

Psa.37:24 - Though he fall...the Lord upholdeth him with His hand
Isa.35:4 - Say to them that are of a fearful heart, "Be strong"
Dan.11:34 - When they fall, they shall be holpen with a little help
Rev.3:8 - Thou hast a little strength, & hast kept My Word

4. God can strengthen & use you:

A. How to receive God's power:

Josh.1:5-9 - Only be thou strong & very courageous...observe the (Word)... then thou shalt have good success
2Chr.16:9 - The Lord (shews) Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him
Neh.8:10 - The joy of the Lord is your strength
Psa.138:3 - When I cried Thou...strengthenedst me with strength
Isa.27:5 - Let him take hold of My strength
Isa.30:15 - In quietness & in confidence (faith) shall be your strength
Isa.40:31 - They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength
Dan.11:32 - People that do know God shall be strong, & do exploits
Mic.3:8 - I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord...& of might
Acts 1:8 - Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you
Eph.3:16 - Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man
1Jn.2:14a - Ye are strong [because] the Word of God abideth in you

B. He strengthens you with His power:

Psa.18:29-34 - It is God that girdeth me with strength
Psa.68:28 - Thy God hath commanded thy strength
Psa.68:35 - God...giveth strength & power unto His people
Psa.71:16a - I will go in the strength of the Lord God
Psa.80:17 - Let Thy hand be upon the man...whom Thou madest strong for Thyself
Psa.84:5,7 - Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee...they go from strength to strength
Phi.4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me
Col.1:11 - Strengthened with all might, (by) His glorious power
Mat.10:1,8 - He gave (His disciples) power against unclean spirits
(See also Judg.14:6,19; 15:14,15; Psa.8:2; Lk.10:19.)

C. Praise God for strengthening you:

Psa.28:7,8 - The Lord is my strength...I am helped...with my song will I praise Him

D. Give God the glory for working through you:

Phi.2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you
1Pet.4:11 - Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
Isa.10:13,15 - [Proud] saith, "By (my) strength...I have done it." Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth?
Jer.9:23,24 - Let not...the mighty man glory in his might...but glory in this, that he knoweth Me
Acts 12:21-23 - The angel of the Lord smote (Herod), because he gave not God the glory

E. Sometimes the Lord Himself wants to do the whole thing:

Exo.14:13,14 - Stand still, & see the salvation of the Lord...Lord shall fight for you, & ye shall hold your peace
Judg.7:all - [Gideon & his 300 let God fight the battle His way]
2Chr.20:15 - Be not afraid...the battle is not yours, but God's
2Chr.20:17 - Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: stand ye still, & see the salvation of the Lord
Neh.4:20 - Our God shall fight for us
Psa.18:17 - He delivered me from my strong enemy...for they were too strong for me
Isa.30:7 - Their strength is to sit still

5. Don't trust in yourself:

A. Warnings against trusting in your own strength:

Psa.52:5-7a - God shall destroy...the man that made not God his strength
Psa.118:8,9 - It is better to trust in the Lord than...in man
Psa.146:3 - Put not your trust in...princes, nor in...men, in whom there is no help
Jer.9:23,24 - Let not...the mighty man glory in his might...but glory... that he knoweth Me, that I am the Lord
Jer.17:5 - Cursed be man that trusteth in man, & maketh flesh his arm, & whose heart departeth from the Lord
Jn.15:4,5 - Without Me ye can do nothing
(See also Isa.31:3)

B. What happens when you rely on your own strength & plans:

2Chr.26:16 - When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord
Hos.10:13 - Ye have reaped iniquity...because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men
1Cor.10:12 - Him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
(See also 1Sam.15:1-28; 28:4-25; 31:1-8 re: Saul.)

C. He will deliberately let you fail:

Lev.26:18-20 - If ye will not...hearken...I will break your power...your strength shall be spent in vain
Num.14:41-45 - Go not up, for the Lord is not among you...but they presumed to go up [to battle, & were smitten]
2Chr.16:7 - Because thou relied on the king of Syria, & not on the Lord...the host (is) escaped out of thine hand
(See also 2Chr.25:7,8)

D. Lack of strength often due to sin:

Psa.31:10 - My strength faileth because of mine iniquity
Lev.26:27,36,37 - I will send a faintness into (your) hearts...& ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies
Josh.7:12 - (They) could not stand before their enemies...because they were accursed
Judg.2:13-15 - They forsook the Lord...(His) anger was against Israel...they could not stand before their enemies
(See also Amos 2:13-15)

6. Power when witnessing:

A. Power comes from the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:8 - Ye shall receive power (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: & ye shall be witnesses
Mic.3:8 - I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord...to declare to Israel his sin
Jn.6:63 - It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing
Acts 4:8,13 - Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost...they saw the boldness of Peter
Acts 4:31,33 - They were filled with the Holy Ghost...& with great power gave the apostles witness
1Thes.1:5 - For our gospel came unto you...in power
2Tim.1:7 - God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power

B. No man can stand up to the power of God's Spirit:

Lk.21:15 - I will give you a mouth...which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay (contradict) nor resist
Jer.5:14 - I will make My Words in thy mouth fire, & people wood
Acts 6:10 - They were not able to resist the wisdom & the spirit by which he (Stephen) spake
2Cor.10:4 - The weapons of our warfare are... mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds

C. It has to be by God's power:

1Cor.1:18 - The preaching of the cross...is the power of God
1Cor.2:4,5 - My preaching was...in...the Spirit & power: That your faith should...stand...in the power of God
1Cor.4:20 - The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power
(See also Lk.4:14)

D. God can use you even when you're weak:

Gal.4:13,14 - [Paul witnessed to & won the Galatians even though suffering infirmity in the flesh]

E. God can take over & powerfully use you:

Exo.4:10-12 - I am not eloquent...I am slow of speech. The Lord said, "I will be with thy mouth, & teach thee"
Jer.1:6-9 - I cannot speak. Lord said, "Whatsoever I command thee...speak. I have put My Words in thy mouth"
Mat.10:20 - For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit...which speaketh in you (See also Mk.13:11; Lk.12:12.)
Acts 4:13 - They...perceived (Peter & John) were...ignorant men, they took knowledge...that they had been with Jesus
(See also 1Sam.10:6)

7. God's power vs. your adversaries' physical power:

A. For your spiritual battles, defending the faith:

Jude 3b - Ye should earnestly contend for the faith
2Cor.10:3-5 - We do not war after (in) the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
(See also 1Cor.10:11)

B. If you must physically defend your loved ones or country:

Lk.11:21 - When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace
Jn.10:11 - The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

C. Fleshly "might" is no match for the power of God:

1Sam.17:45 - Thou (Goliath) comest to me with a sword, & with a spear...but I come to thee in the name of the Lord
2Chr.32:8 - With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord to help us, & to fight our battles
Psa.9:19,20 - Lord, let not man prevail...put them in fear: that (they) may know themselves to be but men
Isa.31:3 - The Egyptians are men & not God...when the Lord shall stretch out His hand...they all shall fail
(See also Hos.1:7)

D. They may seem strong, but their strength has departed:

Num.14:9 - Neither fear the people...for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them
Jer.46:17 - Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed [his time is up]

E. God decides the outcome, not physical, carnal might:

1Sam.2:4 - The bows of the mighty men are broken, [whereas] they that stumbled are girded with strength
2Chr.25:8 - God hath power to help, & to cast down
Psa.33:16 - There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength
Psa.33:17 - An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength
Psa.35:10 - The Lord deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him
Psa.44:3-7 - They got not the land...by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but Thy arm

F. You are not to trust in fleshly might to fight your foes:

2Ki.18:21 - Thou trusteth upon...this bruised reed...on which if a man lean, it will (pierce) his hand
Psa.44:5,6 - Through Thee will we push down our enemies: I will not trust in...my sword (to) save me
Isa.31:1 - Woe to them that go to Egypt for help...because they are very strong; but look not unto...the Lord

G. You are not to fear the power of man:

Deut.3:22 - Ye shall not fear them: the Lord shall fight for you
Psa.27:1-3 - Of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear
Psa.118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Pro.29:25 - The fear of man bringeth a snare
Isa.2:22 - Cease (fearing) man, whose breath is in his nostrils
Isa.51:12,13 - (Why) art thou...afraid of a man that shall die...as grass; & forgettest the Lord thy Maker
Jer.1:8 - Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord
Lk.12:4,5 - Be not afraid of them that kill the body

H. God is on your side & you shall win:

Deut.20:1 - When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, be not afraid...for the Lord thy God is with thee
Deut.20:4 - Lord [will] fight...against your enemies, to save you
Deut.31:8 - The Lord...doth go before thee; He will be with thee
1Sam.17:47 - Battle is the Lord's, He will give you into our hands
Psa.108:13 - Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies
Rom.8:31 - If God be for us, who can be against us?
(See also 2Chr.14:11,12; 20:12-25; Zeph.3:17.)

I. The armies of Heaven are on your side:

2Ki.6:14-17 - [Elisha said,] They that be with us are more than they that be with them
2Chr.32:7,8,21 - [Hezekiah said,] There be more with us than with him
Mat.26:52,53 - [God would] give Me more than 12 legions of angels
(See also Josh.5:13,14; Psa.68:17; 91:11; Isa.37:33-36.)

J. You become far more powerful than your adversaries:

1Jn.4:4 - Greater is He that is in you, than he...in the world
Josh.1:5 - There shall not any man be able to stand before thee
Josh.23:9,10 - One shall chase a thousand, for God fighteth for you
(See also Deut.11:25; 28:7.)

K. God can help you win against overwhelming odds:

1Sam.14:6 - No restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few
2Chr.14:11 - Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power
2Chr.16:8,9a - A huge host...because thou didst rely on the Lord, He delivered them into thine hand

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family International

Request
James Arendt
James Arendt

My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.

On September 24, 2023, I had an accident and broke the bone of the tip of my left elbow. A boy ran in front of my motorbike less than 2 meters from me as I was leaving home. I stopped suddenly and my front tire slid on the sandy concrete road which caused me to fall. I did not hit the boy. On October 18th I had surgery done on my elbow. The doctor put in titanium rods to hold my bones together. The entire procedure including an entire week in the hospital was roughly $4000 USD. This was done in the Philippines where my wife and I have been living since June this year.


X-rays of bone before and after surgery that inserted titanium rods to reinforce my broken bone.

Before and after one week in the hospital.

Undergoing therapy to bend my arm again.
I'm now undergoing therapy to be able to bend my arm again.

It would be a super blessing to us if any of the visitors of this website can help us cover this expense!

You don't need a PayPay account to send me a donation! Just click on the donate button and you will see an option to send through your debit or credit card.


Or if you have a PayPal account, just log into it and send to my PayPal ID:
james.arendt@jamesjpn.net

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