Difference between revisions of "Changing Our Strength 5"
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| − | + | 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. (Isaiah 40:29-31—NIV) <br><br> | |
| − | + | Has God brought you to a place of weakness as He did the Apostle Paul? Then wait on the Lord. Hope in the Lord. He will renew (change) your strength. You will fly with God. You will be as a burning bush that never is consumed. <br><br> | |
| − | + | In place of your natural strength and wisdom (that of the youth, that fails) you will have the eternal, incorruptible resurrection Life of Jesus Christ in you. <br><br> | |
| − | + | You will change from Adam to a life-giving spirit. <br><br> | |
| − | + | What does Isaiah tell us to do when God intervenes in our life and we are denied that which ordinarily would be earned by us or given to us? <br><br> | |
| − | + | Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; . . . . (Isaiah 54:1—NIV) <br><br> | |
| − | + | Why do we burst into song and shout for joy? <br><br> | |
| − | + | . . . Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:1—NIV) <br><br> | |
| − | + | We who are deprived of that which ordinarily would be ours are to rejoice exceedingly because our barrenness indicates that great things are afoot. <br><br> | |
| − | + | We are to "enlarge the place of our tent." This means we are to get ready in our heart for wonderful, surprising things that the Lord always does for those who patiently wait for Him. <br><br> | |
| − | + | If we, as faithful Abraham, patiently wait for God to fulfill His promise, then our "descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities." We will bring great blessing to the world. We will experience marvelous fruitfulness that never, never could have been ours had we saved our life instead of losing it in God. <br><br> | |
| − | + | Every true Christian has a desire to do something to help our poor world. This is a worthy motive and sometimes God does lead us to perform helpful work of some sort. We should always be zealous of good works, according to the Scriptures. <br><br> | |
| − | + | But we must keep in mind that God has a marvelous plan for solving the problem of Satan and sin. The new Jerusalem is the holy city that will govern the new world. Those who compose the holy city must go through long periods of denial that they may give their strength in exchange for God's strength; their life in exchange for God's Life. <br><br> | |
| − | + | There may be a reproach resting on us now, but in the day that God deems us ready to govern the new world of righteousness we will no longer remember the disgrace of our "widowhood." Once "the child is born" we will remember the pain no longer. <br><br> | |
| − | + | Before any saint is fully reconciled to God there must come a period during which God's anger toward the sin and rebellion in his personality is demonstrated. Thus we of today who are looking to the Lord for all things are going through the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement, of Reconciliation. <br><br> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | [[ | + | ''To be continued'' [[Changing Our Strength 6]] |
Latest revision as of 23:40, 23 May 2018
Changing Our Strength, continued 5
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. (Isaiah 40:29-31—NIV)
Has God brought you to a place of weakness as He did the Apostle Paul? Then wait on the Lord. Hope in the Lord. He will renew (change) your strength. You will fly with God. You will be as a burning bush that never is consumed.
In place of your natural strength and wisdom (that of the youth, that fails) you will have the eternal, incorruptible resurrection Life of Jesus Christ in you.
You will change from Adam to a life-giving spirit.
What does Isaiah tell us to do when God intervenes in our life and we are denied that which ordinarily would be earned by us or given to us?
Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; . . . . (Isaiah 54:1—NIV)
Why do we burst into song and shout for joy?
. . . Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:1—NIV)
We who are deprived of that which ordinarily would be ours are to rejoice exceedingly because our barrenness indicates that great things are afoot.
We are to "enlarge the place of our tent." This means we are to get ready in our heart for wonderful, surprising things that the Lord always does for those who patiently wait for Him.
If we, as faithful Abraham, patiently wait for God to fulfill His promise, then our "descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities." We will bring great blessing to the world. We will experience marvelous fruitfulness that never, never could have been ours had we saved our life instead of losing it in God.
Every true Christian has a desire to do something to help our poor world. This is a worthy motive and sometimes God does lead us to perform helpful work of some sort. We should always be zealous of good works, according to the Scriptures.
But we must keep in mind that God has a marvelous plan for solving the problem of Satan and sin. The new Jerusalem is the holy city that will govern the new world. Those who compose the holy city must go through long periods of denial that they may give their strength in exchange for God's strength; their life in exchange for God's Life.
There may be a reproach resting on us now, but in the day that God deems us ready to govern the new world of righteousness we will no longer remember the disgrace of our "widowhood." Once "the child is born" we will remember the pain no longer.
Before any saint is fully reconciled to God there must come a period during which God's anger toward the sin and rebellion in his personality is demonstrated. Thus we of today who are looking to the Lord for all things are going through the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement, of Reconciliation.
To be continued Changing Our Strength 6