Can't give you necessarily a proof text, I didn't even think about it. But guess what? This is it. This is the last of the articles in our confession of faith. It's article number 34. It's entitled The Believer's Strength. It reads like this. The only strength by which the saints are enabled to encounter all oppositions and trials is by Jesus Christ, who is the captain of their salvation, made perfect through sufferings. He has engaged his faithfulness and strength to assist them in all their afflictions, to uphold them in all their temptations, and to preserve them by his power to his everlasting kingdom. There are about five scripture references here. None can say that the Lord is their strength, but those that truly know Jesus Christ as Savior. These must first have received God's sovereign bestowal of everlasting life and then converted to Christ in faith at the hearing of the gospel. Only after this, because I see it all the time, you'll see people that are just, they're lost. and they give glory to God for the things that he's done to prosper them in the world. We see athletes and musicians and dancers and all of these, and some of them will say glory to God for it, and yet there's something wrong, and it's this. Only after this can anyone claim that God really is their strength. God isn't promoting men and women, boys and girls, to live after the flesh. And that's the problem that I see. Until this, men only live after the flesh and in the power of it. But for us to know Christ, he is our strength. He runs to the aid of those that put their trust in him. Look at Hebrews 2, verses 14 through 18. We're not going to be long at all. Very few remarks. Hebrews 2, verse 14. This is among the texts. We just start a little earlier than maybe the reference in a confession of faith. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, the children of God, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy, that is to make without effect, destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil. and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. In all things, it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. And this is the text. We talk about Christ as our strength. Look at what he does. For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted or tried, He is able to succor them that are tempted. Now, the word succor is not used often in scripture. I can't remember, it may have been about four times, but if I recall correctly, it's only translated with the word to succor and to help. But I did find this, and I like to do this, is to go to a dictionary, find out what the word is derived from. And the word sucker comes from the Latin. Suckerer, I'm not sure if I can say it correctly, but it means, and this refers to Christ here, to run up, to run to help, from sub, up, and career to run, so it means relief. Also, aid, help, something, and in this case, someone that furnishes relief. That's a verb here in Hebrews 2.18. Now look at Hebrews chapter four, verses 14 through 16, And we have the noun in verse 16, to help. It looks like a verb, but it's kind of a verbal noun, it's poles, it's translated like that anyway, but it's a noun. And here in Hebrews chapter 4, 14, seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let, this is important, Let us hold fast our profession, and that's what he strengthens us to do. Let us hold fast our profession, for we have not in high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, meaning our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly or with confidence onto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Now what you see here, I don't know how many times all of us read this wonderful section, Portions of Scripture in Hebrews. I bet we refer to this very often, these texts. This is for every Christian, not some. Every Christian, Christ is there to help them in the profession, to maintain a profession of faith. to stand in the faith of Christ, in the doctrines of the truth of Christ by walking in it. He maintains us in that. This is the truth that is for every Christian as long as he is in this present body of weakness. He has need of coming to Christ to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. So what? Come! Come, that's what I like about this. Come with confidence, knowing this. Don't shrink back. Apart from this, there's no other resource for us. Apart from Christ, there's no one else that has the power to help us, that we might continue, not without trouble, but through it, Not without trouble, but through it in the profession of our faith. We're gonna have trouble. And he's there to help us to continue through that trouble in that profession of faith. That's the substance of the Christian life. Apart from Christ, we know full well that we can do nothing of this sort. We can go on and live like the world if we want to, but we don't want to. We want to live as Christ would have us to, so he's there to help us to walk with him. He doesn't save us and just let us go. He saves us and gives us the power to walk. And it may not seem like enough sometimes, but it is sufficient. And that's what we see as we work through. In John 15, verse five, great text, I am the vine, your branches. Remember that? Wonderful text. Another one we frequent, John 15 verse five, I'm the vine, you're the branches. Notice that he's the source from which we draw this power. You're the branches. He that abides in me, remains, continues, tarries, stands, all of those things. He that abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit. Otherwise what? Without me, you can do nothing. Can't do it. You can't do it. You can't love one another without me. You can't bear with one another without me. You can't forgive one another without me. You can't do any of these things without me. And we are to do those things. Wow. And here's what we do sometimes. I'm getting ahead of myself, but we look at ourselves and say, I can't. You're right. We can't. But he can in us. Whether we have little or much, whether we're the least or the greatest, that's not the point. As we abide in him, we can do the will of God. That's what Paul learned. Look at Philippians chapter four, verses 10 to 13. And he's talking about physical things. Paul learned A couple of things he learned that having can be a great distraction, I think, and a hindrance sometimes, to faith as much as maybe lacking things can. Both can be problematic for us. So what'd he say? In verse 10 of chapter four Philippians, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. You sent some things to me to provide what I've needed. I've been without some things, and he's talking about substance, wherein you also were careful, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want, for I've learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. He learned that. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. And how did he do that? He learned us. I could do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. God that calls us by his grace fits us to walk on his highway, on his highway for the task at hand. I use the word highway because look at Psalm chapter 84, and I want to begin with verse five. And we'll read through verse 12. Psalm 84, verse five. Notice this, when we talk about Christ as our strength, he's the strength for all of his people. He's ever been a strength for his people, the elect of God. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways of them, or the highways, thy highways, it might be said that way. Who, passing through the valley of Baca, or weeping, make it a well. It seemed like, I'm not sure if I understand it correctly, but the people of God go through a valley of weeping, much, much weeping, making it a well. The rain also fills the pools, but there's a purpose to all of this. And if I deviate for just a moment, if I could just, in Psalm 126, verse four, he said, turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south, They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps. It just corresponds with what we were talking about in our last study in James. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him to go bear fruit after trial. So we go on in this Psalm 84. They go from strength to strength. Every one of them in Zion appears before God. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer. Give ear, O God of Jacob, Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. I think what he's saying here is don't look at me, but look at the one who stands for me. Look in the face of Christ. You see, he stands for the people of God. Look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts, is better than a thousand. I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. What a privilege it is to be able to be a part of the Lord's church, for the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed are the man that trusteth in thee. In the book of Habakkuk, I'm not sure how to say it, chapter three, beginning at verse 16, here in this book, it's been a long time since I've been in it, so I'm kind of bouncing around a little bit to consider this, but the nation of Israel that become exceeding wicked before the Lord. The nation was filled with, and these were the terms that came, with spoiling and violence, strife and contention. As a judgment for this, the Lord was going to bring an invasion of the Chaldeans. As a result, the nation of Israel and the people of God would come into great destitution. And it's interesting because not only did the people of God, the nation of Israel, come into great destitution, but the nations around them suffered also because of it. How the effects of the people of God, when they will not walk correctly, how that affects others around them is a very bad thing to see. We read that this prophet was greatly disturbed on one hand because he knew that he didn't have sufficient in himself to bear with this great trial that was coming. But he cast himself upon God to provide against the day of trouble. That's how I understand it. So in verse 16 of chapter 3 Habakkuk, he says, you can see his own insufficiency, when I heard My belly trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble. How can I find rest in view of this? When he comes up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although, notice, although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall the fruit be in the vines. The labor of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat. The flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. I think he's personally affected just like others in this nation. He what? Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. I know this defies reason. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places to the chief singer on my stringed instruments." I'm not sure, but I think that actually ended the book. You can't explain it. It defies all logic, but the Lord is my strength, and that's what faith says. Something similar to this was Daniel's experience. Turn to Daniel 10. Daniel's experience, the Lord was going to, the Lord would reveal to Daniel visions which were too much for him to bear. We don't think about that, but that's what this revelation was to Daniel. But with those visions, what we see that occurs is the Lord gave him strength so that he could receive them. And he wrote them, we know that, we have the book. And then he sealed the book for a time, which is our time, I believe. In Daniel 10, verses one through four, first of all, in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel. whose name was Belteshazzar. And the thing was true, but the time appointed was long. And he understood the thing and had understanding of the vision. In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no bread. Neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." That's a long time to be without food and wine or drink of such. And in the fourth and 20th day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hitticle, he goes on, therefore, in verse eight, I'll just break to this, I was left alone because there was a great earthquake. and saw this vision, and there remained no strength in me, for my comeliness, my vigor, my physical strength was turned in me into corruption. I melted away, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words. And when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees, and upon the palms of my hands. So you get this image. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright, for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken his word unto me, I stood trembling. Verse 16. And behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my Lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my Lord, referring to himself, talk with this my Lord, referring to that angel that was there? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Evidently he had completely fainted. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and what? And strengthened me. And said, oh man, greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened and said, let my Lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me. We even receive in the things of the Lord, the revelation of God. We can't even have that without strength from him, the Spirit of God. We need to receive strength of the Lord. He had used this angelic means, if you will, as I understand it, to give him strength, but it was the Lord that was strengthening him. He had sent this messenger to him to cause him to understand and to be able to receive this, and he strengthened him to be able to do that. We have need to receive strength of the Lord to be able to do the will of God. I do not believe that he will strengthen those who will not commit themselves to following after Christ. We should be exercising ourselves in spiritual things. We ought to be applying what we know of the commandments of Christ. If we're not committed to doing that, then what need is there for strength? to continue in our profession of faith. What is there? We should press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are to what? There's so many words, we're to be godly. First Corinthians 16, verse 13. What's this text say? It says, let everything be done with love, grow up. Watch ye. Stand fast in the faith. Continue in the profession of faith. Stand fast in the faith. Quit you like men. Be strong. Grow up. Act like men. Let all things be done with charity. In Ephesians chapter six, verse 10, just as he moves in, the apostle Paul moves into telling us how To be strengthened in so many respects by what? Applying the word of God. He lays out the armor, the Christian armor. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Have him work through you as you apply the word of God. In Hebrews chapter 13, verses five and six, And we're almost finished. Another. Living a godly life. Don't get caught up with the world. Don't be covetous and such. Look, it's simple. 13 verse five of Hebrews. Let your conversation be without covetousness. And be content with such things as you have. For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake thee. So that we may what? Boldly say. The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what men shall do unto me. Put away those things and follow me and I'll strengthen you, I'll give you strength. We will make that kind of a commitment. Like Moses and Caleb who were as strong, it's very interesting, they were as strong in the end of their lives as they were in the beginning. who until the Lord is finished with us, we should go from faith to faith. We believe and we continue. We don't fall back. We don't withdraw. We don't turn back to the ways of the world. In Deuteronomy 34, 7, it says of Moses, Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. He was like that until the Lord was finished with him, and then he weakened and died. Joshua 14, verses 6 through 11. Notice this. I think it speaks of the faith of the elect of God. Undiminishing, always trusting God that he'll strengthen us. It doesn't have to become weakened. In Joshua 14, verse six, then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kizanite, Kenazite, said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses, the man of God, concerning me and thee, in Kedosh, Barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh Barnea to espy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance and thy children's forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since The Lord spake this word unto Moses while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet, I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in. I think that speaks of a faith in the people of God. It doesn't have to diminish to become weakened. Matter of fact, it becomes stronger. It ought to become stronger. We doubt. We doubt this sometimes because we look at our natural inabilities and bodily weaknesses. It's true. We think about serving the Lord, living godly lives. Abraham doubted in the beginning because he was an old man. Moses because he wasn't eloquent and he was of slow tongue, remember that? Gideon because his family was poor and he was the youngest in the family. I can't do this, call me to do. Jephthah because he wasn't of a goodly heritage. And there are many others we could cite. The point is we all have reason not to believe God when we look at ourselves. But we should learn to look to Christ, look to him, he stands for us. Paul was one, though he persecuted the church of God he learned that he had everything that he needed as he looked to Christ, he wasn't any different than us. In 2 Corinthians 12, 9. 2 Corinthians 12, 9. What's going on? Here's his mindset. You can identify with this. I've got this thing, and it's troubling me, and I believe I could serve the Lord better without it. That's not true. And Paul was having a problem with that, evidently. He prayed to the Lord three times at this thing. I think he was persuaded that, I could do better without, if I didn't have this particular thorn in the flesh. Not necessarily knowing what it was, it's unnecessary to actually know it. But I think it speaks to each of us. He was thinking, maybe it was that he was looking at himself rather than to the Lord. But what was the answer from the Lord? The Lord said to him, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength, my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, this is what Paul learned. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, my weaknesses. that the power of Christ may rest or tabernacle upon me. And that speaks of the power of the spirit of God, empowering us to walk after Christ. I don't think he knew everything at once, but learned it as we learn it as we walk with Christ. He learned through experience what God was able to do if we simply yielded ourselves as his servants. Remember that it is God that works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. I want to give this one scripture and close with a completely unrelated topic here at the end here. In Nehemiah 8.10, We have so much that is afforded us in Christ because we are the people of God and we should apply ourselves with our whole heart. And I just want to approach this one text like that, especially because of the way that he ends this, Nehemiah, in verse 10 of chapter eight. Now these guys, had been 70 years exiled in Babylon, and now had come home, and it wasn't as easy as Maybe they thought it should have been. They had a lot of opposition by the nations that were around them. And it didn't seem to let up. And the people of God were struggling. And it got to the point where Nehemiah was outside the gate when he says, you guys come out here one more time. Basically, I'm gonna lay my hands on you. You're not gonna be doing this on the Sabbath day. You're gonna do the right things. You're gonna obey the word of God. And that was the kind of man, he was a strong man, great leader. But it was as if they had their enemies there, they're trying to rebuild Jerusalem, the different parts of it, and their enemies are around them, and so they had to work. Half of the brethren had to carry the sword, and the other half were able to work. And that's how it was, almost like you had a sword in one hand and a shovel in the other. But that's what it's like. It just seems like that in the Christian walk. The world isn't gonna let up and open up a door and say, hey, we'll help ya. No, no, no, no, no. You're gonna have that struggle there with the world, all the trouble that comes with it, plus we're to continue in the faith, steadfast. They're not gonna help you at all. And so here he says, with all that in mind, he tells them, go your way. Eat the fat, that which the Lord provides for you. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared. There are those that have need that you can supply as well. For this day is holy unto our Lord. Neither be you sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So that's my approach, the myriad of approaches you can have to this article. That's my approach. I started one way, I went another, I went another, and here we are. Christ is the believer's strength. And I hope that we can take that much away from this lesson tonight. Trust him. He'll strengthen us if we want to live for him. If we want to live for him. I want to say this. This concludes the series, Through the Confession of Faith. I began this series December 10th, 2018. And I invited Brother King to join with me, which he agreed to do, as you know. And I hope that you have received a blessing from these lessons, that you might be able to refer to them as often as necessary. They're all posted online. The audio and the written notes, I've gotten both of these online. With every audio, there's nearby also you can click and you can get the written notes. They're posted there. They're freely accessible and downloadable 24-7. You wake up one night and you can't sleep, click.