New Life in Christ – Strong
One of the great benefits of being in Christ is gaining the strength that we need from Him.
Ephesians 6:10 tells us that we can “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
You can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
This strength in the Lord causes hell’s gates to tremble. This is the strength and power that was exercised when Christ was raised from the dead in victory. This is the strength and power that Christ exercised when He defeated death and hell. Through Christ and the power of His blood, we are given His strength, power, and might for daily living. Have you ever said “Something must be wrong… I should be stronger!” God is making us strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. The Lord wants us to rely on Him as the Source of all the strength that we need.
In 2 Samuel 22, David gave praises to the God of his deliverance.
2 Samuel 22:2-3 NKJV And he said: “The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.”
Pay attention to all of the things David said about the Lord. God was the defense and foundation of his life.
2 Samuel 22:4 NKJV I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
When you know what God does for you, you will naturally call upon the Lord in every situation of life.
David faced the same kinds of challenges and distresses you are going through. It is important for us to hear from people who have been through some difficult situations and see what God did for them. In the next several verses, David spoke about the great distresses of his soul and body.
2 Samuel 22:7 NKJV In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.
I am sure you have been through those times in your life when distresses rose up. You were under some kind of attack and felt weak, overwhelmed, and in need of help.
In your distress, you called upon the Lord.
What did you expect would happen when you cried out to your God? David said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.” (Psalms 46:1)
God wants to make you strong.
David said, “The Lord God Jehovah heard my voice when I cried out to Him.” God Almighty has heard your cries in your distresses. He has heard your voice and your cry has entered His ears. There is an immediate sense of relief when you know that the Almighty Sovereign and Immutable God has heard your cry.
Have you ever asked for help and the person you spoke to did not hear? God is not like that, He heard our cry. How do you know God heard?
When the Lord God Almighty heard David’s cry, the Lord was moved to action.
2 Samuel 22:8-10 NKJV Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down…
God is deeply moved by your situation.
You need to know that God is not pleased when His beloved children are under distress and attack. You may never see the earth shake or the foundations of heaven quake at God’s response, but you can know that God is moved to action when He hears your cry.
2 Samuel 22:14 NKJV The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice.
Did you know that the Lord is so moved to action by the cry and prayers of His children? When David cried out to God, the Lord thundered from heaven.
2 Samuel 22:17-20 NKJV He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, …the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
You need to know that the Lord God Almighty is listening to your prayers.
When He hears your cry, He always takes action. He is a faithful Father. He is a powerful Savior. He is the mighty God. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, (Hebrews 7:25).
When we know how the Lord will help us, it gives us confidence and strength to stand.
When David did not have strength to stand against the lion or the bear, the Lord was His strength and defense. In his own strength, David could not stand against Goliath, but God was his strength and defense. He was able to come against the lion, the bear and the giant in the name of the Lord.
How could David stand strong when his enemies encamped around him?
The God who shakes heaven and earth heard him and came to his aid. David made it very clear that the Lord God Almighty was his Strength and Savior. God hears the cry of the righteous and He will reward your faithfulness and blameless life.
Listen as David describes the strength he gained in the Lord his God.
2 Samuel 22:30-32 NKJV For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
David knew that he could stand strong because the Lord was with him. He knew the source of his distress would be defeated because he felt empowered by the Lord his God. He knew the fiery darts of the wicked one would not achieve their purpose, for the Lord was His shield and rock.
2 Samuel 22:33 NKJV God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect.
You need to make that confession.
“The Lord my God is my strength and power…”
You are not facing your distresses in your own strength. You are not facing your enemies with your own devices.
The Lord your God is with you.
He is your strength. David said the Lord helped me and gave me strength. He was not trusting in his own strength or goodness. David was not perfect in all of his ways. He knew that God gave him the ability to stand strong.
2 Samuel 22:34 NKJV He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.
On the sides of mountains, your footing is not sure. When your path seems dangerous and uncertain, God gives such strength and stability that you know that He makes you safe. He secures you when you would fall and gives you the ability to stand strong even in uncertain situations.
2 Samuel 22:35 NKJV He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
When the Apostle Paul spoke about the full armor of God, he said “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” It is God’s power and might that makes us strong. David’s declaration was just as powerful. God’s strength gives us the ability to come out and face the adversary with renewed strength. Even if all of the gates of hell try to prevail against you with all of the vile schemes and power of the adversary, you will keep standing because God is with you.
2 Samuel 22:36 NKJV You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.
Did you ever think of your salvation as a “shield?”
God’s salvation brings blessed assurance. You are covered by the precious and powerful blood of Jesus. You can know that you have been made clean and righteous. You have security behind the shield of God’s salvation.
What does that last phrase mean?
- The NKJV says: “Your gentleness has made me great.”
- The Living Bible says: “Your help has made me great.”
- The Amplified Bible says: “Your condescension and gentleness have made me great.”
- The NIV says: “You stoop down to make me great.”
Each of these translations helps us understand what God is doing for us. God reaches down in gentleness, not wrath, to help us. He could have spoken harshly because of our weakness and failures. The Lord reached down when you were weak and gave the Answer that would save you. He came down to lift us up. He came down to make us strong. He came to keep us from falling.
2 Samuel 22:37 NKJV You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.
Do you see what God has done for you through Jesus Christ?
Because you have been lifted up and strengthened by Christ your Savior, you are made strong.
Ephesians 6:10 “…Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
He said, “be strong.” He said, “Be strengthened with the power of My might.” The Lord Jesus Christ has strengthened you so you can stand against Satan’s schemes. He has given you the ability to stand even in difficult places. You don’t have to fail and fall under the oppressive and distressing attacks of the adversary. God has given you a sturdy and safe place to stand. When you stand with Him, you are mighty through God. He has made a wide path so your feet don’t slip.
What about your distresses and anxiety? What about the unrelenting attacks and Satan’s schemes and the gates of hell? They shall not prevail against you because you are being made more than a conquerer. You are being made mighty through God. You are being made great in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has come down to where you are so He could lift you up into His victory and new life.
I have often thought about little David out there on the battlefield with Goliath.
David was just a lad and his brothers mocked him. The king did not think he could stand against the giant. David did not have a sword in his hand. Goliath scorned and despised him and mocked him and said he would feed his flesh to the birds of the air. David said, “I am not coming to you in weakness.” “I am coming in the name of the Lord of host.” “The Lord will deliver you into my hand.”
This new life in Christ has made you strong.
Don’t let your situation mock you. Don’t let the vile forces of the adversary increase your distress or fear. God has made you strong in Christ Jesus.
