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Wimpy, Wimpy, Wimpy vs. Hefty, Hefty, Hefty!

This sermon from 1 Peter 5:10 continues the series by focusing on the word “strengthen.” Pastor Gary Caudill preaches that God does not only repair what is broken and plant what has been restored. He also gives strength where weakness used to rule. The message shows that suffering can expose how little strength we truly have, but the God of all grace uses those very places of weakness to reveal His power.

From Isaiah 40:29, Ephesians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, and Colossians 1:10-11, this sermon explains that God strengthens His people by giving power to the faint, reinforcing the inner man, making weakness a place for grace, and enabling believers to continue in the work with patience, longsuffering, and joyfulness. This message points to the strength God builds into ordinary lives that are yielded to Him.

If you are in Wrens, then you are within Driving Distance of Thomson and we invite you to join us at Washington Heights Baptist Church. Our regular service times are Sunday School 9:30 AM, Sunday Worship 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM, and Wednesday 6:00 PM. Whether you are nearby in east Georgia or listening from farther away, this sermon calls every believer to stop depending on personal strength and learn how strong God is.
Washington Heights Baptist Church

Wimpy Wimpy Wimpy vs Hefty Hefty Hefty

Strengthen: Made Strong Where You Used to Be Weak

A simple follow-along outline for today’s message from 1 Peter 5:10.

Opening, Word Study, and Proposition
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
We have seen God repair what is broken and plant what has been restored. Now we come to the word “strengthen.”
God does not just want you standing in place. He wants you standing with strength.
“Strengthen” carries the idea of making strong, giving strength, and enabling someone to stand with power.
God allows suffering so He can bring His people to the place where they no longer live out of weakness, but are strengthened by His grace to stand, serve, and continue.

1. To "Strengthen" Means God Gives Power Where You Had None

Isaiah 40:29
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
God does not wait until you feel strong to help you. He comes to the faint and gives strength to those who have no might.
The strengthening of God often begins when your natural strength has run out.
God does some of His strongest work in people who have no strength left.

2. To "Strengthen" Means God Reinforces the Inner Man

Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
The strength God gives starts on the inside.
  • Strength for your faith
  • Strength for your courage
  • Strength for your obedience
  • Strength to keep walking with Him
God strengthens you on the inside before He ever changes what is happening on the outside.

3. To "Strengthen" Means Weakness Becomes a Place for Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Weakness does not cancel usefulness. It can become the place where the grace of God rests on you.
God may not remove the weakness, but He can put His strength on it.
You are not strong because you never feel weak. You are strong because the grace of God holds you when weakness comes.

4. To "Strengthen" Means You Can Continue in the Work

Colossians 1:10-11
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
God strengthens His people so they can keep walking and keep working.
  • Patience
  • Longsuffering
  • Joyfulness
  • Fruitfulness
God strengthens you so you can keep going without losing your joy.

Closing and Application

Suffering breaks you. Perfecting repairs you. Stablishing plants you. Strengthening empowers you.
  • Where are you still relying on your own strength?
  • What weakness has God exposed?
  • Where do you need God to strengthen your inner man?
  • Where has your joy been drained?
God is not trying to prove how strong you are. He is teaching you how strong He is.
When God gets finished strengthening you, you will not just be standing where you used to fall. You will be serving with strength you did not have before.
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Questions and Answers

Quick sermon takeaways from 1 Peter 5:10, focused on how God strengthens weak believers by His grace.

What does strengthen mean in 1 Peter 5:10?

In this sermon, Pastor Gary Caudill explains that “strengthen” means God gives strength, confirms in strength, and enables His people to stand with power. 1 Peter 5:10 says, But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. The sermon shows that God does not only restore and plant His people. He empowers them to continue.

How does God strengthen weak believers?

God strengthens weak believers by giving power where human strength has run out. Isaiah 40:29 says, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. The message teaches that God often begins His strongest work when a believer has reached the end of himself.

Why does God strengthen the inner man?

God strengthens the inner man because outward strength is not enough to carry the believer through pressure. Ephesians 3:16 says, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Pastor Caudill emphasizes that God often strengthens the person under the pressure before He changes the pressure itself.

Can weakness become a place where God shows grace?

Yes. The sermon points to 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the Lord says, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Weakness does not mean God is finished with the believer. It can become the very place where God proves His grace is enough.

What kind of strength does God give for Christian service?

God gives strength that helps believers keep walking, keep serving, and keep their joy. Colossians 1:11 speaks of being Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. This sermon teaches that God strengthens His people beyond survival so they can serve Him with patience, fruitfulness, and joy.

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