Jehovah Ozi (O^ zee) God my Strength
YHWH (Ya^ way)
The God who is, who exists, who lives and who can be known. And God can be known by you, personally, intimately and deeply. This experience is a growing thing, we grow in our understanding of God and the more we grow, the more intimate we are and the more thrilled we become. I dare you to experience this thrill by experiencing God more deeply. We can know YHWH by the names God gave Himself and by names given Him by people that are recorded by inspiration in the Bible.
Please understand that these names apply to YHWH, the triune God: Father, Son and Spirit, each person of the triune God is YHWH.
This morning, as we welcome in the new year, Jan 1, 2023, we do so around the Communion Table. We are now facing a new year having in many ways, just survived 2022 with all its challenges, difficulties, problems and troubles. Yet the Lord has brought us through. Once again we look into the unknown future, this new year, and we ask God for strength for the next part of our journey. When God is our strength, when God gives us strength and when we develop our own personal strength (remember God calls us to be strong personally) then we can have joy in our journey and can have a song in our hearts.Listen to David’s words in Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart triumphs, and with my song I shall thank Him.”
2 The Lord is my strength YWYH Ozi (O^ zee), Or better yet YWYH Mao^zee -God my strength
Premise: If God is my strength, then why do we find ourselves, at times, more weak than strong? As we look forward into 2023 do we feel weak or strong? Where do I get strength, how do I get strength, how does God give me strength?
To be sure we’re talking of heart strength, inner strength -that is what we need -heart strength
(illus)
The chetah survives on the African plains by running down it’s prey. The big cat can sprint to 70 miles per hour or 112 kilometers per hour(that’s the speed most people drive on Hwy 7 going to Norwood). The chetah can not sustain that speed for long because within it’s long sleek body is a disproportionate small heart. After a short sprint the cat tires quickly, it weakens and loses strength. Loses strength.
Let me repeat the premise: If God is my strength, then why do we find ourselves, at times, more weak than strong? As we look at ourselves today, as we look forward into the future, "Do we feel weak or strong?"
Where do I get strength, how do I get strength, how does God give me strength? Heart strength. Let God’s presence strengthen you, pray to God and your confidence and strength will grow. Psalm 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. -David prayed (called to the Lord) God answered -strength.
3 (illus)
This week I had a scare as I was driving downhill along a 200 foot long driveway which, to my fright, was drifted over halfway down. The drift was deep and high and I ground to a complete stop halfway through the 20 foot long drift. The very next word to enter my mind was LORD. I didn’t feel the need to explain the situation to the Lord or to request deliverance but merely to enter His presence with His name, my plea for strength and wisdom. I have 4 wheel drive so I backed uphill 10 feet and then drove forward. The vehicle wiggled and swerved through and then the next words that I spoke out loud was ‘Thank you lord’.
Psalm 18:32 The God who encircles me with strength, Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self.
Let God’s Word strengthen you- read it -it’s like vitamins to your soul. The Word of God gives perspective and promises like no other source. It gives direction and wisdom. Time with the Lord in His Word settles our spirits and realigns our focus and strengthens our hearts. There is no substitute for it. Read it and listen as God speaks to you and strengthens you.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
4 Let Go of what weakens you.
This is huge. We ask God to strengthen our hearts while at the sametime clinging to what weakens us. What weakens you? Is it social media, particular television shows, computer games, a carnal relationship, fears, worries or bitterness? Ask God to show you what is weaking you and release it.
Let us therefore, seeing that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and sin that so easily besets us, and run with patience the race that is set before us; (Hebrews 12:1).
God can give us extra strength when needed
2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen (you) and protect you from the evil one.
Never ever doubt God’s faithfulness to strengthen you as needed. God has pledged His great might and power to keep you and to see you thru-never ever doubt God.
Grow your own personal strength,-developing strength in ourselves is a good trait to improve and expand-the character quality of inner strength is Godly and admirable so grow it in yourself-remember when God told Joshua ‘Be strong and courageous…’ it was like God was telling him ‘you be strong, have your own personal strength’ God tells us to be strong, to have personal strength, to have some steel in your backbone and some grit in you - have your feet firmly planted and fixed- grow strength yourself
5 It’s that two-sided coin again:
-one side says -God is my strength YHWH O^zee
-the other side is -grow your own strength
As you develop your own strength, which God helps you to develop ,remember to let God be the God, the ruler, of your strength.
David expressed it this way:Psalms 43:2 - For You are the God of my strength:
Mark 12:30 -and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
James 5:8You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
One final thought. Jesus is our primary example of strength, innerstrength. Look to the cross to see this inner strength on display. Jesus hangs there thinking of others, Jesus breaths his last breath after He says It is finished strength, Jesus dies, the Lion of Judah, strength.
Receive strength from God, YWYH O^zee, God my strength
Grow your own strength and subject your strength to God
See Jesus’s strength and then follow Jesus with all your strength
(Pray)
January 1, 2023
