Sermons Notes

Carol Schuller: It's not how you walk that counts, but who walks with you and with whom you walk.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

1. Make God the source of your strength.

When life is tough, we need to know where to look to find strength.

The Lord gives strength to his people. Psalm 29:11

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Your strength will be equal to your days. Deuteronomy 33:25

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Where do you find strength to meet the challenges of your life - in yourself or God?

2. Note the things that drain your strength.

My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. Psalm 38:10

Different people find different things drain their strength.

1. Trust in resources.

   Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord. Isaiah 31:1

2. Toying with temptation.

   Samson: So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazarite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man." Judges 16: 17

3. Prepare to live in the strength of the Lord.

How do we handle life's difficulties?

1. Turn to God.

   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... those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:28-31a

   We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

   Problems give us the opportunity to turn to God or self.

2. Trust God.

   Daniel's vision: "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength. Daniel 12:16-19

   Life knows how to leave us feeling helpless.

   Let God and Let God.

3. Take on Life's Challenges with God.

   Great promises from God give great strength. Explore them. Learn them.

   Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8, 9

   I can do everything through him who give me strength. Philippians 4:13

The New International Version is the translation of the Bible used in today's sermon.