Washington Heights Baptist Church
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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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
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;
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.
Audio Coming Soon
Text Pastor Gary at 601-504-7110 to ask for a notification when the audio is available for listening. :) Should be soon after service today.
Sermon Notes (Password Protected)
Sermon Notes (Password Protected)
Read Opening Verse in Full Context
Visit (or re-visit) Corner Stone Keynotes' Website to Read 1 Peter 5
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.