God Can Make You Strong
God desires us to be strong in righteousness and to serve Him with all our energy, promising to be with us when we do so.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that God can empower us to be strong in our faith and service, as illustrated by the struggles of King Asa and Judah. Despite their weaknesses, they were reminded that God would support them if they remained faithful, contrasting their situation with the consequences faced by those who forsook Him. Spurgeon encourages believers to serve God with full commitment, asserting that true diligence in His work leads to divine rewards. He highlights that halfhearted efforts yield no results, while wholehearted dedication brings prosperity and fulfillment. The sermon serves as a reminder that even in challenging times, we can trust in God's strength to guide us safely through.
Text
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be squeak: for your work shall be rewarded. (2 Chronicles 15:7)
God had done great things for King Asa and Judah, but yet they were a feeble folk. Their feet were very tottering in the ways of the Lord, and their hearts very hesitating, so that they had to be warned that the Lord would be with them while they were with Him, but that if they forsook Him He would leave them. They were also reminded of the sister kingdom, how ill it fared in its rebellion and how the Lord was gracious to it when repentance was shown. The Lord's design was to confirm them in His way and make them strong in righteousness. So ought it to be with us.
God deserves to be served with all the energy of which we are capable.
If the service of God is worth anything, it is worth everything. We shall find our best reward in the Lord's work if we do it with determined diligence. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord, and we know it. Halfhearted work will bring no reward; but when we throw our whole soul into the cause, we shall see prosperity. This text was sent to the author of these notes in a day of terrible storm, and it suggested to him to put on all steam, with the assurance of reaching port in safety with a glorious freight.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Strength in Serving God
- The Reward of Diligent Service
- The Assurance of God's Presence
- God's promise to be with us when we serve Him
- The consequences of forsaking God
Key Quotes
“If the service of God is worth anything, it is worth everything.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Our labor is not in vain in the Lord, and we know it.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should strive to serve God with all our energy and to be fully committed to His work.
- Halfhearted work will not bring the reward we desire, but determined diligence will.
- God's presence is promised to us when we serve Him, but we must not take it for granted.