In these days of Covid-19 testing of our faith, I know many believers have asked God for his strength.
So, how do we find God’s strength? How do we know when we have God’s strength?
In Nehemiah 8: 10, Nehemiah proclaimed “The joy of the Lord is my strength”. Nehemiah said this as he and the Jews celebrated after completing the rebuilding of the broken walls around Jerusalem in miraculous time knowing that it was God that made it possible for them to do it.
Knowing it was through God that they were able to rebuilding the wall they knew pleased him and brought him joy which gave them strength knowing the Lord was with them.
Whenever we do the will of God it gives him joy and pleases him seeing us as his children because we obey his will, which Jesus said in:
Matthew 12: 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
As God’s children we find strength knowing that he will always be for us and not against us.
It is important to know our Father’s will and that is to listen to his Son. Jesus is not asking his disciples to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus wants his disciples to build up his body, his church where the Holy Spirit will dwell in the body of believers.
After Jesus left to be with his Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in his apostles instructing them to share the gospel and to gather believers to teach them to be united by having one mind and spirit in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, thus making them his body.
Every believer, who is a disciple of God’s word, need to discern if their church has been true in being united having the one mind and spirit in Jesus.
Jesus said he will hold church leaders responsible to keep his church sincerely devoted to him, to always be a pleasing sacrifice and remain united in him which he said in Matthew 23: 45. There Jesus spoke of the servant who he has put in charge of his servant. These are the overseers, pastors and teachers who will be held responsible to prepare his servant for his return.
I pray I have been keeping you all focused on Jesus as your Lord and head of our church.
Jesus will also judge his servants.
2 Corinthians 5: 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Jesus would judge his servants if they obediently denied themselves, died to their sins and followed his teachings. Those who obey Jesus teaching to please him he sees as his good and faithful servants, and they are strengthen knowing Jesus promise to never leave nor forsake them.
When servant leaders and servants remain united in mind and spirit obeying Jesus teaching his Spirit gives you strength to know he has made his home in you.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Paul describes the strength of God that manifest in those who know and love Jesus as their Lord
Philippians 2: 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
God strength comes to those who find courage being united with Christ, comforted by his love because they are in Christ, they are in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and have God’s tenderness and compassion being his children.
If you have found God’s strength then make his joy complete by being like-minded having the same love for Jesus, being one in spirit and purpose as you serve Jesus as your Lord in his church at East Shore.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn