There are two kinds of Christians, and they are the weak and the strong Christians. We all have knowledge, and desire to be perfect in Christ, but only a few have the accessed the power available to obey all the commandments of God. Others are weak, and therefore they keep failing. They all may have good intentions, but all do not live in obedience to the perfect will of God. In 1914, in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, two percent of the members were strong, and ninety-eight percent were weak. The weak members decided to join the army and fight in the war every day, including on the Sabbath.
Strong Christians are faithful. They do missionary work, they read the Bible every day, and pray to God constantly, and they enjoy it. They are happy in living a faithful Christian life.
There are two types of weak Christians. Some weak Christians are content to be unfaithful. They love to gratify their appetite, they watch much television, and they have no interest in helping others and giving Bible Studies. Unless they change their behaviour they will be lost in the end. Then there are weak Christians who are not satisfied with their weakness and are striving to be strong. Although they are gaining strength, they may still have moments of weakness where they fall, yet Christ will gives them strength to rise again.
Peter was weak when he denied his Lord three times. Adam and Eve were weak when they decided to eat of the forbidden tree. Joseph was strong when he was sold as a slave and when he was put to prison. Daniel was strong when he refused to eat the king’s food.
Now, what makes the difference between strong and weak Christians? If we are weak we do not need to remain weak. We can become strong. Peter became strong and was a powerful apostle. Adam and Eve also became strong and will likely be in heaven. How can a weak Christian become strong? Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
“God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:33
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12
“But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgressions, and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3:8
“And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening him.” Luke 22:43
Who also can strengthen us? Jesus said to Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32
We can strengthen each other in the church. “Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19
“Then said he unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
“I saw that the strength of the children of God is in their humility. When they are little in their own eyes, Jesus will be to them their strength and their righteousness and God will prosper their labors.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 307
Love and faith give power. “And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20
“LOVE IS POWER.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 135. Love is a power to do good, and nothing else but good.
We have just covered ten ways to obtain power; there is no need to remain weak. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me..” Philippians 4:13
Paul mentions one more way to become strong. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Strength in weakness—how is this possible?
Jacob was afraid of his brother, Esau, who was coming towards him. Jacob was strong and he was fighting all night, in the morning he was hurt, weak, and helpless; that was when he finally gained the victory. Now limping on his foot, and tired from fighting all night, now he was strong, now he was not afraid of his brother, Esau, any more.
When we realize our weakness, our helpless condition, then we become strong in the Lord. The Lord give us power and the Holy Spirit. The greatness of John the Baptist was his meekness, his humility, when he said, “I must decrease.” Very few people can say this when they are in their best manhood. A strong talented man relies on his own wisdom and strength and therefore God cannot use him; in his own self-reliance he is weak. Often God has to bring in sickness, poverty, rejection, that man would come down from his pedestal and understand his helpless condition, and cast the human glory to the dust.
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Jesus took a weak condition upon Himself, allowing Himself to be crucified, but by this He saved a great multitude of repentant sinners providing for them eternal life.
“For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4
This moment of weakness, when He was falling helpless into the hands of the powers of darkness, became His glory and His greatest victory.
Now He could say, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18
The weakness of Christ brought power to the millions of weak human beings, and now into their hands has God left the work of the salvation of mankind.
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But if God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:26–30
One more source of strength is mentioned in the testimonies. “When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest, and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.” –Testimonies from the Church, vol. 5, p. 136
In the time of apostasy, when many may fall, when many give up their faith, and the company of travelers is small, at that time we must gather warmth from their coldness, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.
We are living in the time as it was in the days of Noah, also our time is similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Everywhere we see selfishness, love of pleasure, jealousy, covetousness, and treason, and from their coldness we must gather warmth.
Paul writes of his experiences, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 1 Corinthians 11:23–28
Having all these trials and difficulties, Paul did not lose his faith.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
With all these trials and sufferings that came upon him, what helped him to keep his faith? “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17
This was the secret that kept Paul strong in faith, love to Jesus.
Sister White had a vision of the time of the end: “As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes; so we slipped them from our feet, and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet.
“We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.
“Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music, and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway.” –Life Sketches, p. 191
The people of Israel had left Egypt and were traveling to the Promised Land. They were a great number of people. “From twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.” Exodus 38:26. How many of these men entered the Promised Land?
“And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. Also the LORD was very angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.” Deuteronomy 1:34–39
Two men of this great company of men were strong in the Lord; the rest of them were weak, and they all perished in the wilderness.
Many depend on others for their faith; when others fall, then they also fall.
From the year 1844, “Those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath,” (Early Writings, p. 285) and those saints who are alive when Jesus comes, will comprise 144,000 people. They are strong in the Lord. That is a small number when you consider the over two billion professing Christians alive today, and the Advent people from the two previous generations.
Let us have the faith of Joshua and Caleb and we will be strong in the Lord and one day be in heaven. May God bless you all. Amen.
Timo Martin