How to Find God's Strength to Keep Going

How to Find God's Strength to Keep Going

Title: Strength to Build (How to find God’s Strength to keep going)
Today is the 5th of March, Thursday and the focus word is ‘Strength to Build.’
Through the week, we saw on Monday – ‘Wisdom to Build’, followed by ‘Vision’, then ‘Order’ and today, it is ‘Strength’.
In Revelation 22, we see the tree of life on either banks of the river, and the fruits it bears every month. Similarly, as we focus and mediate on different aspects, those aspects are getting built in the process. God will open a window of grace for all of this to happen.
The focus verse is from Nehemiah 4.6 which says, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half of its height, for the people worked with all their heart.”
One man’s inspiration, mobilization, visualization caused the entire nation to work on the wall of Jerusalem.
Declaration: God gives me strength to build with excellence and endurance; I will not grow weary. (Say it out multiple times in the day)
Strength to build involves:

1.     Building requires more than vision; it requires strength!

Nehemiah had vision. He was working as a trusted chalice bearer under the king in a foreign land. He was highly paid. Some fellow Israelites came to say that Jerusalem did not have boundary walls. Burdened by this news, Nehemiah prayed for four months for the right people to rise up to build the walls of Jerusalem. He received a vision that he was to do it. He must have thought that he was not skilled enough so he prayed that God would raise the right people to build the walls.
Perhaps, it could have been realization or he must have heard God’s voice saying, ‘No, you are that man. You need to do this work.’
Understand therefore, that if you should feel burdened about something; it means that you have a calling and ministry for that burden. Nehemiah received the vision. But vision alone does not raise walls.
At some point, revelation must meet resistance.
Works, constructions always meet resistance. That’s why the Lord said, ‘I will build my church. The gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ Gates of Hades will resist but not destroy the building of the Church.
Resistance demands strength.
As we read the book of Nehemiah, in chapter 4, he is faced with opposition, mockery, threats. So much of resistance yet people continued working day and night.
Isaiah 40.29 -  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
God, Jehovah gives strength because He is strong and mighty.
Eph. 6.10 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”
2 Sam 22.33 says, “It’s God who arms me with strength….”
God does not call you to build without empowering you to endure.
A marathon is not won in the first kilometer. Life is not a sprint but a marathon. It is a long race sustained through discipline and stamina – released at the right time in right proportions.
Strength is sustained obedience over time.
 
2.     Strength is multiplied when hearts are united.

Having the same vision, same agenda, and hearts united; when such come together strength will increase. Just as I say, energy plus energy is synergy ie. joint strength!
Half the wall was built because the whole heart was involved. Divided hearts weaken progress. Many projects in Kerala, post inauguration, laying of foundation stone extend without end in sight for a long time.
Read Eccl. Chapter 4, verses 9 and 10, “Two are better than one.”
Phil 1.27 says, “……. standing firm in the one Spirit, striving together……”
Ps. 133.1 says unity releases blessing. The unity among the people released a great blessing.
So Nehemiah did not build alone. He received the vision, the recommendation letter from the king to pass various kingdoms and collected the materials required for the project. But he did not do it alone. He mobilized the entire nation. Strength increased through shared commitment.
As a child, I found it amusing to see the big trees being chopped down. The woodcutter climbs the tree and uses his handy axe to cut down the branches and finally bring down the gigantic trunk.
In those days, they would use massive coir ropes to tie up the tree and bring it down in pieces. The rope if it were unraveled would reveal short fibres. But when wound as one, it is a strong rope powerful to pull down huge and heavy trees. These very ropes are used to tie the timber and shift using cranes.
A single fibre in the rope when separated can be broken but not the rope itself. The fibres are woven tightly to produce a strong rope.
Similarly, when a group of people come together to work, build and worship; the individual burden lessens and the cumulative results is enormous.

3.     Strength is proven at the halfway point.

The half wall around Jerusalem revealed the strength of the community. Half way through, lack of enthusiasm, exhaustion creeps in, small, small squabbles come in. So half way is often where fatigue speaks the loudest.
The beginning has excitement, the finishing line has anticipation, but the middle point requires character.
Gal 6.9 – do not grow weary in doing good.
Heb 12.11 – discipline produces a harvest later.
At a building project, the structure was complete. So too were the columns. Scaffolding, dust, unfinished work and exposed beams are visible. Not a pretty sight. Building material, rubble dust – that stage does not mean failure. That is progress – from foundation to structure. The work gets easier.
Understand that if you are halfway and tired, this is not weakness. It is growth under pressure.
 
4.     Strength comes from the Lord, not just determination.

Just determination won’t do; God provides strength. Human motivation can fade. But divine empowerment renews and a renewal happens.
Neh 4.14 – do not be afraid. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.
Meditate on God; focus on Him. He will provide strength.
Ps 28.7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield….”
2Cor 12.9 says, “……. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…..”
God is our strength provider.
Isa 41.10 says, “…… I will strengthen you and help you ……”
Use a battery for long and it is drained of charge. But if it is connected to a supply line, it will continually be recharged.
Prayer is that connection to get recharged. Prayer strengthens us. Amidst great turmoil, a moment of prayer in the prayer room releasing all burdens and sickness to Jesus; financial burdens all surrendered and declaring God will release you form it; praying over it repeatedly will cause the situation of the mind to change, His strength invades our weakness, emboldening us – though we went into the prayer room as a mouse; we come out a lion. We receive much  strength to rise up. If you do not receive strength that means the power supply connection is not correct.
Today on, things have to change. Through prayer, recharging happens. Through worship, recharging happens. Reading the Word – recharging happens. Finish only when you are fully charged. Praise God! Things will happen because March is the month of supernatural building. Your career, business, family, ministry will be blessed.
Pray!