Spiritual Strength I. Introduction A. What is your goal in Christianity? 1. Heaven? How do you expect to get there? 2. Philippians 2:5-11, 1 John 2:3 B. We all need to strive for spiritual strength to make it! 1. No one wants to be seen as "weak" or "scrawny" 2. We all want to present ourselves as the "strong" C. Since we strive for spiritual strength, it is good to consider it today 1. What is spiritual strength? 2. What are its characteristics? 3. How does one obtain it? 4. How should the "strong" compose themselves? D. Let us consider these today II. What is Spiritual Strength? A. How shall we define spiritual strength? B. Recognition of different aspects as used in the Scriptures 1. "absolute" strength 2. "momentary" strength 3. "relative/doctrinal" strength C. Absolute strength: the state of being mature in the faith 1. Romans 15:1, Hebrews 5:14 2. Presupposes knowledge of the will of God in the Scriptures (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) 3. Faith made manifest in one's work (James 2:14-26) 4. Notice that strength is not defined in terms of "age" but of development D. Momentary strength: the state of having a "high point" in one's relationship with God 1. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 4:12-13 2. Whether weak or strong in "absolute" terms, we all go through high and low points during our walk with God 3. We feel strong during the high points, whether we are strong or weak in absolute terms 4. Such are important and positive times; "momentary" strength, however, should not deceive us into thinking that we are automatically "absolutely" strong! E. Relative/doctrinal strength: having the belief that a given practice may be performed 1. Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8 2. In these passages, the "strong" believe that they have the liberty to perform a given action 3. By despising the "weak" or causing absolutely weak brethren to stumble, however, they do not indicate having "absolute" strength, at least in these aspects of their faith 4. One can be "absolutely strong" in faith but weak in faith regarding a given practice, or "absolutely weak" in faith but strong regarding a given practice 5. Important to remember Romans 14:2-3, 12-13, 1 Corinthians 8:1 in these situations F. For our discussion today, we focus mostly on "absolute" strength G. Recognition of lack of uniformity 1. We ought to recognize, of course, that as in all things, each person has strong and weak areas 2. One can be "absolutely" strong in the faith and yet have some weaknesses which need strengthening 3. We each have our gifts/talents, and must work on cultivating those while not neglecting our "weaker" areas (Matthew 25:14-31, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28) H. We have seen, therefore, what spiritual strength represents III. Characteristics of Spiritual Strength A. What, then, are the characteristics of spiritual strength? How do we obtain it? B. Concepts of "maturity" and "advanced in the faith" are rather vague C. Goal of Spiritual Strength: Jesus of Nazareth 1. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 2:5-10, Matthew 28:18-20 2. Jesus as the ultimate example of spiritual strength 3. To be more like Him is to be spiritually stronger D. Knowledge of God: Matthew 4:1-11, John 7:28-29 1. When tempted by the Devil, Jesus quoted Scripture properly to withstand him 2. Jesus established that He knew the Father 3. Such was only possible by knowing God's will as revealed in the Scriptures 4. The same is true for us-- we can only be strong and stand against the Devil by knowing God's will! 5. Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 E. Doing the Will of God: Matthew 26:39, John 4:34, John 6:38 1. Jesus not only knew God's will, but He came to fulfill God's will 2. Ephesians 3:11, John 19:30: Jesus indeed accomplished that will 3. Jesus was manifest as the Son of God by what He did (Matthew 16:15-17) 4. Jesus always yielded to God's will, even in Gethsemane 4. If we desire to be spiritually strong, we must not do our own will, but the will of God (Romans 6:16-23, 12:1; Galatians 2:20) F. Love: John 13:1, John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:16-21 1. The love of God was manifest through Jesus 2. He acted always out of love for the souls of others 3. In His life and practice He exemplified 1 Corinthians 13 4. If we are to be strong, we must also manifest love toward one another G. Service and Humility: John 13:1-20, Philippians 2:5-10 1. Jesus often demonstrates that the ways of the Kingdom are opposed to man's ways 2. While those who are strong in worldly terms demand to be served and are often arrogant, Jesus was none of these things 3. He served, and was not served 4. He came from lowly origins and was always humble 5. Established the great reversal-- those who were humble would be exalted, those who exalted themselves will be humbled (Matthew 23:12) 6. In the Kingdom, he who would be great must be the servant (Luke 22:25-27) H. Meekness: Matthew 11:29 1. While the term today refers to a pushover-type person, it was not so in the ancient world 2. Meek: a mild person, not by cowardice, but strength under control 3. Exemplified by the cross 4. Matthew 27:38-43, Luke 23:34, John 19:8-11 5. The world demonstrated its power by hanging Jesus on a cross and deriding Him 6. Jesus manifested His strength by not resisting-- even asking for their forgiveness 7. Matthew 28, Philippians 2:5-10: Jesus has the victory by maintaining strength under control 8. The same must be true of us: we cannot use worldly ways of exerting control, but must always be found as "Biblically meek": maintaining strength under control I. We could go through many more characteristics, but such is sufficient for our study to see how one is to be spiritually strong J. Let us always seek to have Christ live through us IV. Responsibilities of Spiritual Strength A. Spiritual strength comes with obligations B. Bearing with the weaknesses of the weak 1. Romans 15:1-3 2. Those who are strong are not to despise the weak in arrogance, but bear with the weak and help to encourage them 3. In fact, as Paul establishes (Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:1-4), the concern of the strong is not him or herself but the neighbor-- the good of others 4. This is parallel with what Jesus did C. Abounding more and more 1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 4:9-10; Philippians 3:12-16 2. We never reach a point of perfection in the flesh; there is always more room to grow 3. To become spiritually strong is not to reach the end of the goal; one must maintain that strength and increase it (2 Peter 3:18) 4. Those who are strong-- mature-- will think this way (Philippians 3:15) D. More is required 1. Luke 12:48, Matthew 25:14-30 2. If we have grown and developed in the faith to maturity, we must recognize that God is going to expect more of us than He did previously 3. We cannot expect to do what we've always done and be found pleasing-- we must put our talents to proper use V. Conclusion A. We have seen the nature of spiritual strength today 1. We have seen the different types of spiritual strength 2. We have seen the characteristics of absolute spiritual strength as exemplified by Jesus 3. We have seen what responsibilities come with spiritual strength B. It should be the goal of every Christian to become spiritually strong or to increase in spiritual strength (2 Peter 3:18, 1 Thessalonians 4)! C. Let each examine him or herself soberly today 1. Romans 12:3, Galatians 6:3-5, James 1:22-25 2. To deceive ourselves into thinking we are strong if we are weak is dangerous indeed! 3. To believe ourselves weak if indeed strong is also counterproductive 4. We must all establish where we are in our walk with God so that we may know where we have been and where we are to go D. Let us consider these matters today, and press on to greater strength in Christ Jesus E. Invitation/songbook