ANB 20, Strength in God

Hello friends. God bless you all. Let's jump right into the Word this week. The Lord
has given me an awesome Word. Receive it, Put your faith on it, then go forth with its
imprint on your life.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Ephesians
6:10

Thirty times God's Word tells God's people to "be strong." Let us look today at what this
means, and how we are to "be strong."

What it means to "be strong."

The word most often used for "strong" is the Hebrew word hazaq. Let us look at this
amazing Word to see what it means to "be strong" as the Lord instructs us to do so.

hazaq - strong, hard, severe, to establish oneself firmly, to encourage, to make repairs, to
really strength, physical and internal strength of character, prevailed, courageous,
constant, fastened, stout.

Looks to me like to be strong in the Lord means to be immovable. Where nothing can
shake you, nothing can cause you to fear. Eight of the thirty times we see "be strong,"
the phrase is "be strong and of good courage." Nine of the thirty times the commandment
to "fear not," or "be not afraid" also is spoken with "be strong." So to "be strong" means
not only to stand your ground no matter what, but it also means to fear nothing. It means
that not only will not fear, but I won't lose my courage and I won't even lose my good
attitude. I will be of "good courage."

You see, Heaven is a place for overcomers. "To him that overcomes will I give to eat of
the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7. The phrase
"him/he that overcometh" is repeated five times in Revelation. See, we are not given the
authority to use Jesus' Name and faith to move mountains merely to have them. We are
given these gifts and this power to work hard for the Lord. While the Lord would have
you blessed beyond all the heathen, the Lord has incredible works for you to do. Why?
He has given us the ability to do all things (Philippians 4:13). It makes perfect sense to
me that God would tell me to do hard things, or to do things that would daunt a normal
human being. He has given me the power and anointing and strength to go do it. God
equipped me, then He sent me. And so it is with you.

God has given you the strength to accomplish great things on this earth. More than any
of the heathen ever could. It may never look that way in the natural, but we fight spiritual
battles. And you wait till you see your spoils of war laid up for you in heaven to see all
you did for the Lord (Matthew 6:20). So we have been given the strength, but we must
develop it. We must learn how to dwell in it. We must learn that no matter what I see
with my physical senses, my God has told me to "be strong," so I will be strong.
So how do I develop and come to realize what it is to "be strong" in the Lord.

Step 1: Get to know the Lord.

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the
people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

You must get to know the Lord your God. How do you do that. "In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1. The Lord
God has poured Himself out on His Book for all to see. You get to know God by
dwelling daily in His Word and learning about Him. Sometimes the Word will talk about
God specifically. "God is love." I John 4:8. Some times the Word indicates what God
likes. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5. Other times,
you see by association. David was the man after God's own heart. (I Samuel 13:14).
So read what David did when acting according to God's will and you will see God's
heart.

Why is this important? So no matter what you see you know God and His
person/presence is more real to you than anything. So that when you are staring the devil
in the face, be it a financial devil, a relationship devil, or any other devil, you know God
said He loves you (Psalms 146:8) and He would never leave you nor forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5). When those truths become real to you, you are getting to know God.
And this knowledge of God will be the most important support for our strength.

Step 2: Spend serious time with the Word of God and do what it says.

"Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye
may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it."
(Deuteronomy 11:8)

Remember, the commandments for the new covenant Christian are two: Love God with
all your heart, soul, mind and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew
22:37-40). But if you are to Love God and know about Him you must truly spend time in
the Word (Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1). You have to get in the whole Bible. You have to
study the whole book of the law. Learn how it started, learn how it ends. Learn your role
to play in it all. So get in that Word, learn about God.

When you spend time reading it, do what it says. "But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22). Do the two commandments.
Love God with all you are. Love your neighbor as yourself. Get in the whole Word to
learn how to carry those out.

Why do that? You get in that Word so that, just like in step one, you are ready with the
Word of God any time anything contrary to it stands against you. You feel sickness, "By
Jesus stripes I was healed in Jesus' Name." I Peter 2:24. You get a demotion. "I'm the
head and not the tail in Jesus' Name." (Deuteronomy 28:13).

See, if you are doing all you are to do, and in the integrity of your heart following
God's commandments, the doors will open. It may not look that way at first. But when it
looks like every door has shut, that's when God swings open the right door. You confess
that Word in the mean time to build your faith. (Romans 10:17). You call on God to
bring that Word to pass.

"The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger
and stronger." Job 17:9.

"Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of
Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and
work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts." Haggai 2:4.

So get to know the Lord. Get to know Him and His Word so well they are your strength,
and you use this strength to overcome every situation by the power of God.

God bless you all, Byron