Feeling Weary, Needing Strength?
‘Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.’ -1 Kings 19:5-8
Do you sometimes get worn out by life?
Body aches, brain fog, completely devoid of energy?
Elijah came to this point after his battle with Jezebel and the 400 prophets of Baal. It’s at times like these we need to be strengthened by the Lord.
‘But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.’ -Isaiah 40:31
Jesus says; ‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”’ -Matthew 11:28-30
Who is the strongest person on earth?
Tom Stoltman is the current World’s Strongest Man, having reclaimed the title in 2024. He is one of only seven men to have won the title at least three times.
Who is the strongest man in history?
‘It is safe to state that no one in history has ever lifted a heavier log than Iron Biby and his 230kg world record. It is called a world record for a reason – it exceeds all preceding lifts.’
There are many other men who are considered to be part of a list of the strongest men who have ever lived. But no list could be complete without the mention of Samson.
Samson’s 10 Feats of Strength
- The Killing of a Lion (Judges 14:5-9)
- The Killing of 30 Philistines (Judges 14:19)
- The Burning of the Fields (Judges 15:4-6)
- Another Slaughter of the Philistines (Judges 15:7-8)
- Escape from Ropes to Kill 1000 Philistines (Judges 15:14-17)
- The Gates of Gaza (Judges 16:3)
- Escape from Bowstrings (Judges 16:9)
- Escape from the New Ropes (Judges 16:12)
- Escape from the Loom (Judges 16:14)
- Final Destruction of 3000 Philistines (Judges 16:28-30)
Of those 10 incidents, it is explicitly stated that on at least 3 of those occasions;
‘The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him…’ (Judges 14:6, 14:19, 15:14)
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon you, you will receive strength!
In Need of Physical Strength to Accomplish a Mission from God?
Jesus promises; ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ -Acts 1:8
The same Spirit of the Lord that came powerfully upon Samson is promised to us for the purpose of being Jesus’ witnesses – telling people about Jesus everywhere
“The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us” (see Ephesians 1:18-20 and Romans 6:10-11)
And as the apostle Paul stated, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength’ -Philippians 4:13
The Strength to Endure
Depending on our assignment from God, some of us need special strength to endure…
‘We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.’ -2 Corinthians 4b-5
What have you had to endure?
The apostle Paul relayed some of the things that he endured throughout his ministry;
‘[…] I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.’ -2 Corinthians 11:23b-30
Do you need to rely even more on God’s strength?
The Strength Paradox
‘His power is made perfect in our weakness’
I have just come back from Scotland following Pioneer Mission trip with the team.
I was the sickest I’ve ever been whilst on a mission. Up all through the night, coughing and spluttering and it happened to be minus seven degrees in Glasgow. Physically, it was rough. Plus Paul whose house we were staying at was also very ill.
During the trip I received this message from Mark, another co-worker;
‘The verse I am lead to is Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
(To the end : For when I am weak, then I am strong). 2 Corinthians 12 v9. I will be praying about this for you’
Although physically weak throughout the mission, God did indeed strengthen me inwardly by way of His Spirit and we were able to accomplish all He had for us to do.
Are you counting on your strength to get His work done or are you leaning on His strength?
‘But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us’ – 2 Corinthians 4:7
