Christ strengthens us to be content in every situation.
Christ strengthens us through suffering and need. God never promises his children that we will go through life without suffering. If we can get through a few hard times we'll be more prone to overcome larger more difficult obstacles. Our faith, intelligence, determination, and spiritual growth will be improved. Example: A natural disaster that takes your home could give you a chance to start over with a new life, but first you must pray, ask for help, find an opportunity, let go of the past, and take all that you can get. The apostle Peter wrote to a group of suffering Christians with words of encouragement. Before God blesses us there come times of trouble, distress, grief and pain. We can rejoice knowing the suffering is for a short time, but out of the suffering comes blessings that cannot be had any other way. You've all suffered, but you all come through eventually right? If not you wouldn't be sitting here right now.
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10).
"After you have suffered for a little," says Peter. The suffering is temporary, in contrast and comparison to the eternal glory that is in store for the believer.
Christ strengthens us through Gospel and prayer.Prayer is God's ordained method to receive the help which comes from the Spirit of Christ. He will strengthen us as we pray and receive. Our bond with Christ will become stronger. Those who do "wait on the Lord" (which includes prayer) are promised strength - Isa 40:28-31. The more you concentrate on others needs in prayer, the more God strengthens you in love and service. Time spent in prayer refreshes, renews, strengthens. We understand here, do we not, that prayer is not merely an opportunity for asking and receiving. Prayer changes us. It changes our understanding. It changes our perspective. That understanding is God's way of strengthening us by letting us see things we've never have before. Through daily repentance the same gospel that created our faith preserves and strengthens our faith. Every Christian will want to be faithful in the use of the means of grace (the gospel in God's Word and the sacraments) because it is through these means that God strengthens and preserves faith so that our assurance of heaven is firm. So pray and read your Bible, even if you don't fully understand it. God will grace you and fill you so that you do.
He also strengthens us through the Holy Spirit. Why else would it be there for? Eph 3:16 - God strengthens us through His Spirit. "The HOLY SPIRIT of the LORD removes the mean pleasures of sin and of the world and fills every man with divine pleasures, divine happiness, divine holiness, and strengthens him with divine power.The LORD blesses the man immensely with consolation and comfort.The LORD helps the man to live a holy life. The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD gives us the power of GOD; He strengthens us with power through HIS Spirit in our inner man(soul). The HOLY SPIRIT of the LORD gives great joy and happiness. The faith is growing more and the love of everyone towards each other is increasing by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD." The Holy Spirit is at work now in the life of the believer. It enters into your soul and fills you with love for your fellow man, understanding of God's word, and gives you intelligence in making Godly decisions. It's the Holy Spirit that gives you that feel good, complete feeling after a good Sunday church service. So keep feeling good and let His Spirit strengthen you.
My last point I can make in this sermonette today is that God strengthens us with our gift of free will. If it were not for that we'd be only good or evil. We would not be able to have both sin and righteousness. We'd be easily swayed. Free will strengthens our rejection of Satan and gives us power to follow our Lord. With free will He is able to see if we would make faithful followers. The Bible also says that we have a free will. God does not force us or cause us to do anything. We are completely responsible for our own actions. If God has foreknowledge of all events that take place within the realm of free will, He still has to let those events transpire. The fact that they do transpire is how He has foreknowledge of them. And there would be no actual free will if God didn't allow those events and choices to take place. If we exercise our use of free will it will be strengthened. When it is strong we can say no to sin and temptations. We can stand up for ourselves easier than without it. If we did not have it Satan could easily come to claim us. We wouldn't have opinions either. So be happy for your gift because it strengthens you.
So the Lord strengthens us through free will, the Holy spirit, suffering and need, and gospel and prayer. If it weren't for the Lord we would be weak. Christ is our King of kings and through him all things are possible. He is the One that blesses us with strength to live.
