By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY
THEME: “GOD’S FAVOURITE PHRASE: BE STRONG . . . DO NOT FEAR!
SCRIPTURE: Haggai 2:4
“Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
REFLECTIONS
Interestingly, God creates the awareness and the appetite for something better and unique and instantly provides what is needed. Several times, when He picks His people for special assignments and responsibilities, He tells them to be strong. We are weak and need strength, but we do not have it. Strength is not innate in any human being; God gives it. He makes the need apparent so the individual can rely on Him to receive His support. If God wants you to be up to the task, He will give you the strength to become strong.
In Haggai 2:4-5, God exhorts and promises – “[4]Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. [5]‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’” In one verse, God urges, “Be strong” three times. In this passage, God arouses the need for Zerubbabel – Governor of Judah, Joshua – the High Priest, and the remnant people to be strong. To be strong in all dimensions of human life is what God seems to be purporting here – including their faith, conviction, will, and courage.
God comes around to inspire and empower people. You need to be strong to fight the battle involving Satan. You have to be strong to do your work. The Lord says” “be strong . . ., and work;” It does not matter the size of your engagement for God; as long as you go in the power and strength of the Lord Jesus, all obstacles will give way for God’s will to be done (Isaiah 55:11). Very encouraging text indeed – when God had asked the three addressees to be strong, He provided the reason and the source, stating: “for I am with you.” On any occasion that God reminds us He is with us, He means, leave the challenge for me to handle it better than you would. If you are strong enough to trust God, you will be made strong enough to receive every promise of His, fulfilled beyond imagination.
Blessed people! No true believer is a lone ranger. On top of the angels God sends to minister to us, the Father promises to be with us; then Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20); and the Lord says, “so My Spirit remains among you, do not fear!” God’s favorite phrase in the Bible when He encounters human beings is “Be Strong . . . do not fear” – because by grace, anyone who connects to Him receives power and courage to carry out His work. After praying, listen to what God tells you in your obedient ears – “Be strong . . . do not fear . . . I am with you.” Why would your heart be sad and your countenance drop if God revealed His great will for you? To win the battle of faith, you must be strong. God will provide you with strength and His presence.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 74 – “Like a River Glorious”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His timely exhortation and promise; thank God that you will remain strong in His presence; pray to be strong, fearless, and actively working;
– Pray for those who create job opportunities; pray for wisdom and success for genuine investors; pray for the unemployed and job seekers; pray for zeal and commitment by workers;
– Pray for governments and economies that are ailing; pray for leadership to seek strength from God; pray for humanitarian agencies to be strong and supportive;
– Pray for genuine gospel ministers and God’s loving children to be strong; pray for God’s presence with single parents, widows/widowers, orphans, strangers, displaced people, and war victims.
