The people of God Resilient and Strong

 The people of God Resilient and Strong

 Daniel 11: 32B

“But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits”.

 Introduction:

 If I was standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of a general and panoramic view of the whole human history up to now, and the Almighty said to me, Millicent which age would you like to live in?" I would take a mental flight by Egypt across the Red Sea, through the wilderness on toward the Promised Land. And in spite of its magnificence, I wouldn't stop there. I would go on, even to the great heyday of the Roman Empire. And I would see developments around there, through various emperors and leaders. But I wouldn't stop there. I would even come up to the day of the Renaissance and get a quick picture of all that the Renaissance did for the cultural life of man. But I wouldn't stop there. I would come to the Atlantic slave trade of the 16th century, when enslaved Africans were transported as slaves to Jamaica and other parts of the Americas. To live in the time of Paul Bogle (1820 – 24 October 1865), a Jamaican Baptist deacon; and to join him in the marched for justice and fair treatment for all the people in Jamaica.

Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "I would prefer to live in the here and now. I will be happy." Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nations are sick. Trouble is in the land, confusion all around the world. But I know that only when it is dark enough that you can see the stars. And I see God working today in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding, something is happening in our world.

 

Today I would like to use this phrase, “But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits”.as a challenge to each of us. A challenge for us to become outstanding believers! To rise above our circumstances, our problems, our failures and to do exploits! To be resilient, we must be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Let us examine our relationship with God. To have a relationship with Him we must know Him, not just know about Him. We are living in a world and a time when probably more people know about God than at any other time in our history. It is not enough to know about God. We must spent time with Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. We should looked to Him daily for comfort, advice, and strength; He wants to be our closest friend and confidant.

 People who know God have the courage and strength to oppose wickedness, to face persecution, to triumph through suffering. There's no other way to have that kind of power, except to know God. The character of those who know their God, they are strong. They are not physically strong or strong in numbers. But God's Word says they are strong. Strength comes from knowing God; it takes preparation to grow strong. Consider an athlete who trains with weights. He works his muscles against resistance in order to strengthen them. The Jews in Daniel time had resistance against the enemy of God who was trying to force them to change what they believed. They resisted they were strong. Their strength of character came from their relationship with God.

 Our God is the same today as He was in Daniel’s day, He is the same God that was with Daniel in the lion’s den and with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire. He is the same as He was with David as he stood before the 9 feet giant.  These men knew their God and had confidence in Him, they spent time with Him.  Listen to David’s confidence, he said “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand. David knew the one in whom he put his trust, and he gave Him all the glory. Do you know God today? What about your strength? What about your confidence in Him.

 I believe God gives us resilience when He draws us together in the community of faith.  He gives us the capacity to deal with the storms of life when we band together and find strength in the community of faith!!! May we accept the challenge to be a people who know their God and have the strength to resist the attacks of the enemy! Through our trials, our afflictions, and our resistance, we become stronger and develop character. And then we have confidence in our God and do great exploits.

 May God bless you as you face whatever comes, knowing that your God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you; He is always with you. Be strong, be resilient, and trust in the Lord your God.