Bro Gary Wednesday Evening 4/18/12

Bro Gary Wednesday Evening 4/18/12

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

“Thou hast a little strength.”  The Philadelphia church age was a good age for the people of God.  Considering the great job that was to be done they had little strength to get the job done.  They really needed the help of God. 

Needing strength isn’t sinful and it isn’t bad.  The important thing is that we recognize our need of strength and seek the strength from God.

Isa 25:4  For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

There are times when we feel like “Dear God, we are really needy of thy strength.”  We are poor in our self.  We don’t even know to pray as we’d like to pray.  We don’t know what to say.  We feel that we are poor with choosing words.  It is a wonderful thing that God promised strength.

“Strength to the needy in his distress” - We have a real message for those that are in difficulty, God feels their difficulty and wants to help them.  The question is whether they will let Him help them or not.

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

“Everlasting strength” – You and I will run out of strength literally and spiritually.  There is no question about that.  That is not sin and is not wrong.  The important thing is that we know where to go to get strength.

Isa 28:5  In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

Isa 28:6  And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

“Diadem of beauty” - We all face situations that are ugly.  That is a part of life.  There is something that makes a great difference and that is if Jesus Christ comes on board.  His very presence changes the total scene.

“Spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment” - When Judgment comes close, Jesus Christ is right there with us to help us to measure, to see, and understand.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

There are times when we will feel that the very gates of hell are opened against us.  We feel targeted and that the power of the enemy is turned lose against us; we feel the heat of the battle.  That doesn’t mean that we’ve failed God.  It is vital that we know where to go for strength. 

Sometimes we wonder where this battle came from.  We can open the door to the devil if we don’t watch, but all hell is turned lose against the people of God today. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Isa 28:6  And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Through God we can obtain strength to turn the battle to the gate. 

Be stirred to not just get a little recess form the battle but to turn the battle to the gate.  Not to leave the gate partially opened and allow the enemy to continue accusing us and make us uncomfortable but to get the gate completely closed.

Isa 40:28  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.

Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

There are times when we need to climb but we have no strength to climb; we are exhausted.  He is there to give power to the faint and strength to him that has no might.

Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

It is a little shocking how so many people have such a lack of stamina.

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

What our battle and challenge is tonight: The strength to pray and believe.  The thought of having spiritual needs and literal needs met, or to climb Mt Zion a little higher, whatever the needs are, they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

God is pleased when we say that we are waiting on Him and are not going to run ahead of Him.  There are many things in this world that need fixed.  Most will need God to fix them.  Spiritual needs and conditions and minds that have the wrong mindset, all need God to right them.  Many cannot get to God, not because God will not forgive them, but because they have the wrong mind set toward God.

God will help us rise above the storm.

By faith Sarah received strength and had a natural baby.  There are times when you and I need strength to carry that burden for the individual that we are burdened for. 

There is no sin when we cry out to God for strength to hold on.  We have to have strength to believe and that strength comes from God.

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

We were without strength, alienated from God and ungodly; Christ died for us.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

We are blessed to have a source of strength to go to.  We need strength in our soul that can only come from God.

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

There is something about you and me telling God, “I really need you.”  He left us a promise that He’d help us in our hour of need.