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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)
With so much happening in the world and in the lives of the people, how we can tap into the supply of strength in Isaiah 40:29-31?
The answer may seem simple but it is the way… we go to our faith. The Lord has decreed in His word of His ability to help us. But do we believe what He says. Are we, as His children, convinced by what He says. Do we rather go to others than to God? There is a relationship between the law and the gospel. There is a relationship between the law, gospel, and with you. If we go to the foundation of our salvation experience what do we see? Hopefully you see the relationship between the law, the gospel and you. You recognize a source that provided you mercy and grace. You see a source that IF you tapped in it becomes transferable to you… by faith.
In the Old Testament, you see the theme connected to the law of God. God speaks that “He who does the things of the law shall live by them.” This means if you keep God’s law, you will earn a life regulated by the outcome of being obedient to the written Word. However, there is also a condition within the text… IF.
IF means:
· in the event that
· allowing that
· on the assumption that
· on condition that
I love the example of if in Leviticus 26:3-4 If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit…. (vs.9) I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. Wow! Do you see that? If we do what God says by following his decrees and obey his commands, we receive. If we tap in, we receive power, purpose, promises fulfilled. The reality is no one has ever been or ever will be saved by keeping the law the law alone. So why does God say do this and live? Sometimes people have no doubts that the law of God is as unchangeable as God; it is always the same, always required to the same standard, and in its entirety. God does not compromise his holiness or law. However, we are encouraged to understand our weakness outside of Christ when attempting to be saved by the law only. Serving religiously rather than being justified through Christ. Galatians 2:19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. If you try to earn favor with God by the law, you will either have a restless conscience, difficulty resting, unhappy, dissatisfied, or even hardened vanities. Hardened vanities is exaggerated self-opinions. This state of thinking causes a person to think of themselves without God, recognizing more the desperateness in life rather than the hope in Christ. We tap out rather than tap into our help.
Are you weary?
Your help is ready for you to tap in. Here the Lord speaking to you today, “Come unto me you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
Where are you? Are you in TRUTH?
In Matthew 4, Jesus was sent into the wilderness by the Spirit. He had fasted 40 days. He was hungry and that is when the enemy appeared. However, nowhere in the text do you hear Jesus speaking about his weak state, talk about his hunger. What you do hear Jesus do is remember the word of the God. He remembers the Law. He answers the enemy with the Word of God. Why, because His vantage point in the wilderness was not on his situation, it was from the vantage point of the Word. It was from the vantage point of God.
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How do we do this today? How do you personally tap into this power source? I know you think that you must be the one to do something to get strong. I know that you believe that because you fast and pray and observe the Sabbath that it should be enough. But the truth is that if you can believe what is promised to you in the Word of God, your will see your struggles as opportunities to reveal to the world that you are more than a conqueror. It has already been decreed that is who you are. You are not a victim, you are more than a conqueror. You are not a failure. You may be faint, but even being faint, if you tap into the Word, you have a promise to tap in to. Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV) says, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. I encourage you to tap in and receive the power of God through the promises of God.
Are you in need of personal prayer? Connect with me by emailing info@brendaalton.com.
