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Let the Weak Say, "I am Strong"

Let the Weak Say, "I am Strong"

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Interactive Teaching Podcast Message Out circumstances can easily cause us to think that we are unable to cope and that we are too weak to face the challenges in our life. This message helps us find the balance of true faith strongly spoken and the reality of our daily difficulties.

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In this transcription, the speaker starts by thanking God and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share and learn from the Word of God. The main focus is on the concept of weakness and how the weak typically speak negatively, focusing on limitations and circumstances. Weakness can lead to discouragement, fear, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. Various factors can contribute to weakness, such as disappointment, negative testimonies, and overwhelming circumstances. However, the scripture is not against recognizing weakness, but rather emphasizes the reality of God's word. The speaker highlights the example of Paul, who found strength in God's grace despite his weaknesses. The scripture in Joel chapter 3 verse 10 encourages the weak to say, "I am strong." The speaker also addresses the feeling of injustice and powerlessness, reminding listeners that God is not unaware or disregarding their situations. God, the everlasting and all-knowing Creator, is a source of wisdom and st Hallelujah. In Jesus name. Father we give you praise and we thank you Lord. Lord we appreciate you in so many ways from our heart and for everything. We say thank you. Even this hour that we have come to share from the world and to be enriched through your word we also thank you for this forum. We thank you for this opportunity. Let me name We open our hearts to receive your word, your teaching from different individuals that we used to speak tonight in this forum and every single one who closed the meeting tonight blessed in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Thank you Lord. So the title comes from a text and that text is Joel chapter 3 verse 10. And from the King James version. We love the book of Joel chapter 2 especially. There's so much about the army of the Lord in chapter 2. Over in chapter 3 we also see some really challenging things. Joel 3 verse 10. Feet your clouches into stores and your pruning hosts into spears and let the weak say I am strong. This is the word I heard in my spirit. And so first of all I think we could really look at what do the weak usually say? How do the weak speak? That would be a good title. How do the weak speak? They speak of their limitations. They speak of their weaknesses. Oh I can't. Oh I'm not strong. They speak negatively. And they speak of the circumstances. Every detail of the impossibilities right? Yes sir. And weakness in our spirit causes discouragement. What else? Causes fear. Yeah. Go ahead man. I would say it causes fear. It causes fear to. What else? Weakness causes what else? Depression. Uh huh. You're not as good as other people feel. So I'm not as good as other people. So I feel inadequate. Inferior. Inferior. Inferiority complex. Even lonely. Hmm. Because I've been isolated and I feel abandoned so much. Hmm. What might cause, what might cause a person to have this weakness of spirit? Maybe disappointment. Okay. Maybe what somebody else said. Yeah. Negative testimony. A fearful testimony. That's true. Overwhelming circumstances. Yes sir. Overwhelming circumstances. That's true. I mean disaster as we were talking about the last two weeks. Just crisis and disaster can cause you to realize your own weakness right? Yes sir. So is the scripture against realizing our own weakness? I don't think so. No. Yeah. However what is the scripture against? The scripture is against us taking our weakness to be the reality of our life. Well said. You said it a good way. Yeah. What is the reality of your life David? The reality of my life is the truth of God's word. What God's word is. What God's word says is the reality of my life. In an area of Paul's weakness. Now what was his response? When I am weak. Go ahead. You got it. When I am weak then I am strong. For his grace is sufficient for me. And his grace is made perfect in weakness. Yes sir. Yeah. 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That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. That's true. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Praise God. What a good, what a good verse to apply to this time. One thing stood out to me in verse 27, and in the King James it's a little more obscure, it's harder to understand. However, in verse 27 it says, Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you speak Israel? My case or my way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice which is due to me is disregarded by my God. Now that's from another version, and it seems to be a lot more clear to me. Have you ever been in an experience where it seems like there is justice due to you, and what's being done is unjust or unjust? And it seems like we are tempted to say God is disregarding us, and that those who are more mighty than me, I am weak, I am powerless, and I have no strength in this issue. This, I believe, is nailing a common feeling right now in many parts of the world, probably including the Nigeria. We are powerless to do this, anything about this oppression and corruption, and Lord, when will justice be served? Can anybody confirm that? Absolutely, Reverend. That's correct. You've heard many people speak like that, right? I mean, we have all, sometimes, even if we don't speak it, but some circumstances make us feel that way. You know, you feel like, Lord, when will justice be served? Why is this happening to me? Why am I not getting the justice I deserve? Lord, have you forgotten me? Lord, remember me? Yes. Yes, sir. And it places us in a powerless state, in a place where we would feel very weak. So, let's see what the weak is saying in this time, and the Lord answers this question. He said, haven't you heard? Don't you know? He everlastingly does. The Lord, the I Am, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He doesn't faint. He doesn't get weary. He doesn't run out of ideas and understanding. He's an endless source of wisdom. So, the first thing I see is God, and when we feel weak, we must remember. What does He say? Haven't, didn't you know? Didn't you already hear how easily we forget in this time? I think we need to be reminded who it is, hallelujah, the beginning and the end, the Creator of the whole earth. Don't you know? Don't you remember? Have you forgotten the everlasting God? Thank you, Jesus. You're concerned for this momentary little time frame where things are terrible, but don't you know that you have an everlasting God, a God whose strength and might, hallelujah. And then verse 29, And He, this everlasting, all-powerful God, gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. Now, even the youth faint and get weary. So, he's saying, God is saying, I understand that even the youth can run out of strength. There's nothing more hopeful and more, with more anticipation than a youth, naive as they are. They go into the wild world with their eyes wide open and smiling at everything until they get knocked down a few times. But even the youth can grow weak. But He increases strength even to the weak, to the youth, and strength to him who has no might. But those who, oh, let's wait on that one. But those who wait on the Lord will regain their strength. So, I was looking at this. He gives power to the weak and increases the strength of him who has no might. And I'm looking at this word might, and I want a definition from the original, from the Hebrew, and I want to understand what he's talking about. So, he gives ability, courage, and strength. Ability, courage, and strength. He gives favor as well. Among the mighty, he raises up the weak to be mighty. He gives ability. So, there's an inner power of strength, might, courage, and ability that causes us not to remain on our faces in weakness. But he comes and he increases the strength of him who has no might. You know, you might say I'm not able to stand before a king or to contend with these politicians and their strong words and their intimidation. But someone anointed by the Holy Spirit can stand before the officials in China and give an answer in wisdom and strength. So, even verse 30 is very tender. He says, I know that even the youth get weary, and I know that even the young men utterly fall. But, I love the word but in the Bible. Two words, but and if in the Bible are so powerful. But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. And they will be like the eagles that mount up upon their wings. They can run without being weary, and they can walk on and on and on without fainting. You know, it's something we can deal with difficulties for one day or one week. But when it's already six months, there's an added something where we need that resilience, the ability to stand up in the face of these crises with a renewed strength. Hallelujah. Make our strength new, Lord God. Yes. But when does that strength come new, Emmanuel? Verse 31. When does our strength get renewed? When we wait upon the Lord. What does it mean, waiting upon the Lord? I would say, in those difficult times, when you're weak, you spend time studying the Word, praying and trusting God for an erection, a way forward. That is what I believe is waiting upon the Lord. Yes. Good. We're standing in His presence before His throne, even as an official, waiting for one word from God. Lord, if you speak, I will run. If you send me, I will go. I know that Luke chapter 2, 3, when the angel came to speak to Zacharias, Gabriel, he was busy during that season. And he came to talk to Zacharias and say, you're going to have a son. His name is going to be John. And Zacharias begins to question the Word of the Lord. And the angel says, I am Gabriel, the one who stands in the presence of God and have come to you with a word from God. I just caught the meaning of that finally at last. Can you imagine? Gabriel just announces to him, I am Gabriel. He wasn't intimidated by Zacharias' doubts, because he had stood in the presence of the King, alertly waiting for a word. And finally the word came. Go to Zacharias and speak to him that about this time, the way of life that you will have a son. Hallelujah. There's something about waiting upon the Lord, standing in His presence. Remember Jeremiah 23, we read two or three weeks ago. Oh, if only my prophets had stood in the counsel of the Lord, I would have given them a word to speak to the people that would have turned their hearts from their wicked ways. Sometimes all we need in this time of weakness is a word from the Lord as we wait upon Him. What are we waiting for? Well, it's not really waiting for, it's waiting upon. Talk to me, what's the difference between waiting for somebody or waiting upon somebody? I like the way Brother Kess puts this, when we share, he will always talk about it. Yes, when you wait upon the Lord, waiting upon is waiting without an expectation, so to say, just waiting to enjoy. When you say waiting upon, it's like I'm enjoying your presence, I'm waiting to hear what you say, I'm just enjoying your presence, your direction. I'm not waiting with my own opinion, with my own idea, with my own interest, I'm just waiting and I'm enjoying the time of fellowship, the time of what you have to say to me. But when I say I'm waiting for, it means, okay, I'm waiting for you, let's do this together, there's a goal, there's an interest, I have my interest. I think waiting upon the Lord is more relaxing, more relaxing, more patient, yes, more relaxing, more patient than waiting for. Waiting for puts us on edge, puts us on our toes, that's why this is a simple thing. So Emmanuel, if you have anything on that one, what's the difference, waiting upon the Lord or waiting for the Lord? Is there a difference? Waiting for the Lord, in truth, they are pretty much similar, but in my own understanding. In our understanding, right. So now, let's go to a scene in a restaurant, you have a waiter or waitress, and what would be the difference of a waiter or waitress who is waiting upon you or somebody who is waiting for you? Well, if they're waiting upon you, they're actively doing something to serve you, right? They're actively serving you at that time they're waiting upon you, that's why they're called a waiter, because they're serving. This is an old English word, and when we understand the meaning of to wait upon, it means to serve, to be attentive to every word and every need, every instruction that comes. To be waiting for, that servant could be in the back shed sleeping, waiting for something to happen. So it's not waiting in that sense at all. There's an expectation that there's going to be an instruction and a command, and that you are in the heart attitude of a servant, in the heart attitude of someone ready to run at the word of the Lord. So now you can understand a little better, first of all, that relationship of prayer, devotion, and worship, that's very important, but also that expectation that God is about to speak. And when he speaks, the power and the ability to obey it is immediately there. Even though you've been sitting for a time, one word from God, and you mount up with the wings as an eagle, immediately when the word comes, you start running because God sent you. Immediately you walk. You don't stop walking in the direction he sent you until you arrive at the destination. You walk on and on without fainting because the word and provision and glory of God empower you. That's how I see it. Hallelujah. Glory to God. There's another term in Hebrew. It's like a three-part chord that's entwined together. So those who are intimately entwined together with the Lord in agreement, and that's another part of the meaning of this, we're waiting upon the Lord. Amen. Anybody got something from that you want to share? Okay, while you're waiting, Bud-in, anytime. I have an example in Daniel, the first chapter. First chapter of Daniel, verse 4. Verse 4. Daniel chapter 1, verse 4. It says, That is the correct verse. You might wonder, what does this have to do with that? Anybody catch what the meaning is? It's using a similar word, the same word, in fact, as it's found in Isaiah 40. It's that word power. And as many as had power and ability in themselves to stand and wait upon the king or to stand in service in the king's palace. It was talking about they were looking for young people who had strength and ability, had power in themselves to stand in service of the king, to take positions in the king's work, in the king's palace. Now, this just further cemented this understanding in my heart of this might, power, ability. You know, Joseph was given ability, first to interpret dreams, to walk righteously, but then also to know what God would want to do about it. Daniel, another one. Oh, Daniel was one of those who had such ability that he rose to the top because of the strength of wisdom, the strength of character, the anointing power and ability of God that was within him. And it says in some place that he had the spirit of the gods within him. This is our mind. Like Daniel, could we have the spirit of the gods within us? The spirit of God's wisdom, the spirit of God's discretion and ability to stand as a nobleman in a place that God would place him. This strength and this ability. You know, it's one thing to admit that we are weak, but it's another thing for the weak to say, I am strong in the power of God. I've been given ability to stand in the place God's called me. Though I'm weak, yet I'm strong. Anybody catching what's being said? Habakkuk chapter 3, verse 19. If anyone has the Amplified Bible or the Passion, it reads beautifully. How is your network? Are you able to connect? Are you able to hear well? Good evening. Good evening, sir. Good evening, everyone. So we acknowledge your presence and welcome you. Thank you very much, sir. Emmanuel, you were wondering that if you have Habakkuk 3, verse 19, and if you have the Amplified Bible, it's great. If not, read from the King James. It's fine. Habakkuk 3, verse 19. The Lord is my strength. And He makes my feet like Hain's feet. And He makes me to walk upon my high places. To the truth of my strength instrument. Okay, then the Amplified version. The Lord is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army. He makes my feet like Hain's feet. And will make me to walk, not to stand still in terror, but to walk. And to make spiritual progress upon my high places. Praise God. Of trouble. And I think the Amplified Classic adds, my high places of trouble, of suffering, or responsibility. This is a verse that has meant so much to me personally. The God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength. And my personal bravery, courage. This power inside comes with courage. Comes with bravery. Oh, the enemy wants to discourage and steal your bravery. Have you been set aside, even in your own spirit? And in shrinking back, rather than pressing forward. Because of fear, because of intimidation, because of circumstances. Because of your own weakness, your own inadequacy. Oh, God help us. Because of temptations and sins which have overcome you in the past. Have you lost your strength, your bravery? He is my personal bravery, and my invincible army. And he makes my feet like the feet of a hind that can... Have you ever watched a mountain goat, mountain deer? Which this word probably means. Jumping from tiny rocks on the side of a steep mountain without fear. Fearless, sure-footed. And they jump, boing, boing, boing. With courage, with strength. Have circumstances brought about depression and fear? And have you lost your bravery? Maybe by what somebody said to accuse you, to blame you. A fault you may have had. No, he said he makes my feet sure-footed. And he makes me to walk without terror. He said I'm not standing still. I'm bravely moving forward. And I'm making spiritual progress upon my high places. High places of trouble, high places of suffering. Spiritual progress in trouble, in suffering, or in responsibility. It takes courage to take a place in the king's palace. And that ability, and that courage, and that strength, God gives. Cry out for it. Ask him for it. Say, God, I'm willing. I don't want to shrink back. Where is it? Hebrews, Hebrews, Hebrews, the fourth chapter. Am I right? Hallelujah. Just give me a second. I know. No, it's the tenth chapter. And it says, now the just shall live by what faith. And if any man shrink back or draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back, who draw back into destruction. So we are, come on everybody, I am of those who believe. I am of the people who believe. Amen. To the saving of my soul, and to the saving of the souls of others. To the working of the kingdom of God. I am of those who believe that God has called me. I am of those who believe that God, when he sends me, he'll provide for me. I'm of those who believe that if he's for me, who can be against me? I'm of those who believe that I'm not called to stand still. I'm not called to shrink back. I'm not called to live in fear, but I'm called to live with the power of God upon me. I understand my weakness. I understand I'm young, or I'm a woman, or I'm this, or I'm that. That people say this, or people say that. Moses said, I'm weak in speech. So therefore, you called the wrong person. Gideon said, what? I'm the least of my family, who's the least of the tribes, and hey, you got the wrong guy. They considered their own weakness. Abraham, however, Abraham, who considered not the weakness of his own flesh, the weakness of his wife's flesh. Oh, come on. I wish I was at a Nigerian church at 100 degrees Fahrenheit preaching this. Hallelujah. Y'all get to preach this one to Nigeria. Come on now. None of those who consider our own weakness. Abraham didn't consider the weakness of his own flesh or that of his wife. He considered that, oh Jesus, how faithful was he who had promised, who also would do it. Oh Jesus. You know, our natural character might be weak. Our natural character might be timid. Our natural character might be a little shy. God's natural character is what? Great courage, valor. I was thinking about David and his men. Let's look at David and his men. David's men, they came unto him, 400 of them. Let's read about them. David, go ahead and read 1 Samuel 22, verse 2. 1 Samuel 22, verse 2. I repeated several times because of the difficulty of the network. 1 Samuel 22, verse 2. And everyone that was in distress and everyone that was in debt and everyone that was discontented gathered themselves unto him. And he became a captain over them. And there were with him about 400 men. So in context, who is he talking about, David? He was talking about David. And David was running himself. And everyone who was in distress and debt, discontented, they gathered around him. And he became a captain over them. How would you like to start with that, Arnie? 400 men. The riffraff, the rejects, the discontented of the land. Let's read then 1 Samuel 23, verse 2 and 3. And we can still see the weakness of this group. 1 Samuel 23. Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite the Philistines, saith Keilah. And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? This 400 men would be afraid. Here in Judah. You know, Saul's after. That's not enough. What are we going to do? Make enemies of the Philistines too? Are you crazy, David? They went. They went. And it says, And the Lord, you can read further down. I think it's verse 4. The Lord gave them. Yes. They rescued Keilah. That was David's concern. He was concerned for the people of Keilah. The Lord. Do you have it there? Go ahead and read. Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand. Hallelujah. Amen. The same people. You know, when they obeyed the Lord, what happened? So they were afraid. They still obeyed upon them. They obeyed while afraid. And nothing happened to them. And they saw the might, the courage, the warfare ability of the Lord come upon them. And they began to trust, not in chariots and not in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God, for he will give us the victory. Hallelujah. Like David, they had tried, and God gave them a victory over the bear. Hallelujah. And he gave them victory over the lion. And God gave them victory over the giant. We grow in our faith. But we grow as we obey, afraid. And we move in that we realize we can depend upon the power of God. So these things became 600. And 2 Samuel chapter 23, just so you can read the eighth verse, the whole rest of the chapter is full of the names of these mighty men and all that they did. These be the names of the mighty men whom David had. The Takumite that sat in the seat. Chief among the captains. The same was Adino, the Ednite. He lifted up his spear against 800 whom he slew at once. And after him was Elisa, the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there, gathered together to battle. And the men of Israel were gone away. Hallelujah. So these killed the giants. There were a number of giant killers in that group. They became those. One of them rescued David when he was about to be slain. Just many, many mighty men that remained with him even as he became king. They became his chiefs and his officers and captain of his guard and over all the army. These were the same men. Hallelujah. Because they did not experience the might of the Lord. And they did not fight according to man. They didn't trust in men. They didn't trust in them. They knew their weakness, and yet they had to learn the strength of the Lord. Amen. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Many, many mighty, mighty persons. We bless the Lord. Man of valor. There's three distinct characteristics of a man of valor, a woman of valor and courage. And one is strength, inner strength that comes from God, a peace and a strength which cannot be shaken by circumstances, that rests upon or waits upon and rests upon the Lord. The second is kasach. Remember that word? That courage, that strength. Strength, courage, and lastly, a passionate vision. You won't fight for something you don't believe in. You don't fight for something with your life which you don't have a vision for. And you don't fight for something which you don't love. May God help us in strength, courage, and a passionate vision to become men and women of valor, giant takers. Hallelujah. He's talking about the strength of God being strong no matter the circumstances in life, whatever you face, the challenges of life. Be strong in the Lord. That's what I understand. So when you look at yourself, Jing, do you feel like you're very strong? Or do you feel like you're somewhat shy, maybe a little weak? How do you look at yourself? I'm not very strong. I'm a little shy and weak. Uh-huh. But I know that inside of you is a powerful Holy Spirit. The Lord showed me that from the very beginning meeting you. I told you there's a tiger inside of you. Using that as a symbol of the strength and the courage and fighting spirit of a lion. And that's not by might and by power. It's by the Spirit of the Lord. And I continue to encourage you. I've mentioned several times this thing. Word to you that there is a mighty power within you. And that you will see God use you in powerful things. And you can allow God to make you more courageous and even outspoken when God speaks to you. Speak out. Obey the Lord and speak out. And you will see how God will use you. I think often you see the need but you don't speak or do something about it. Because you see your own weakness. I believe God will have you speak more and do more when you have a gift to see the need. May God give you the gift with a word from God into that need. Amen. God use you. Amen. Speak the word of strength. You know what it means to feel weak. But can you speak the word of strength and encouragement to someone who is weak as well? And that's a challenge I believe from the Lord tonight. Amen. Begin to speak out of the word of God to you. Amen. Remember everyone in 2 Timothy 1 verse 7. Paul was talking to a young man. And he was pastoring and leading older people, many of them. And he just says, Timothy, God did not give you that spirit of fear. No, he didn't give you that. He gave you power. He gave you love. And the sound of mind. You know, there's so much strength in love. There's so much power of God released. Many speak of faith. I'm telling you, faith works by love. That's a scripture. Faith doesn't work without love. And so even when Paul was praying for his people, he says, I pray that you would be strengthened in the inner man and that you would come to know God's love. I scratched my head about that. And I said, Paul, are you confused? Of course, he's not. But I'm just saying that you would be strengthened with power in the inner man. That's the third chapter of Ephesians, I believe. Like around the 20th verse or so. And before. Let's read that one. Let's start in verse 15 and read through. 15 to 20. Emmanuel, how is your network over there? Is your network better now? Ephesians 3. The whole family is named that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith. And that he being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all sense what is the breath and length and depth and height. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that he might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. Amen. Hallelujah. Unto him be the glory and honor. So there's two places he says that you would be strengthened with power. And that word power is that word dunamis. Dunamis. Like dynamite. Which means strength, power, ability, and even violence. Strength, power, ability, and aggressiveness. Kind of a violent aggressiveness. Kind of like the kingdom of God suffers violence. And the aggressive, violent, strong, powerful will take it by force. That's not a power of man. The power of the Holy Spirit that will take it by force. He wants us to be strengthened with his power. Through his spirit. Where? Inside of us. With Christ dwelling in us. And then he goes straight into love. Like, oh, what are you doing? You're talking all this warfare talk and now it's love. I don't get it. Love is the most powerful weapon in all of the weapons in the kingdom of God. Yes, sir. The weapon against hatred is love. The weapon against rejection is love. The weapon against the lies against God is love. Love and God. Ah. If there's ever a marriage which is in struggle, what's the best weapon, love? Rooted and grounded in love. And then verse 20. Unto him that is able to do this thing in you above what all you could ask or think. Just ask him. Come on, Jane. Ask him. God used me in powerful ways. Give me a word to speak and I will speak it. Even though I'm shy. I will obey you. I make a commitment of my life and my heart to you, God, that I will speak when you give me a word to speak. That I might encourage somebody. We have a director of our office. Her name is Veronica. And for years, she would never speak in public. Anything. Very good accountant. Very faithful. Love God with all her heart. But she would know what to say. She'd have the word of the Lord. She'd have to go share it with Teresa in the side room. And then Teresa would come and speak the word. But now she's found her voice. She's forgotten about herself and her weakness. And she's just begun to be obedient to the Lord. And it is so powerful. I get so excited. Amen. To his power that worketh within us. Amen. Him be the praise and the glory. All right. Well, I hope that this has been an encouragement to you. I hope it's strengthened you. Amen. Hallelujah.

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