Strength-Sappers
July 26, 2020
Proverbs 24:10 (NIV)
If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!
1 Samuel 30:6 (ESV)
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
Ecclesiastes 10:17 (NIV)
Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time — for strength and not for drunkenness.
Strength-Sappers
- Disappointment with God.
Luke 22:45 (NIV)
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Isaiah 40:27-32 (NIV)
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Strength-Sappers
- Bitterness and/or resentment.
Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)
See to it that … no bitter root grows up to cause trouble … .
Job 5:2 (NIV)
“Resentment kills a fool … . ”
Job *18:4 (NIV)*
“You … tear yourself to pieces in your anger … .”
Strength-Sappers
- Guilt.
Psalm 32:1-4 (NIV)
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 32:6 (NIV)
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found … .
Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.