From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Greetings To All
Date: Sunday, November 10, 2002 6:53 AM

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

This is how the Apostle Paul could be content in whatever circumstance he
was in, read again Vs. 11-13.  He also said in
2 Corinthians 12:9, "...Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(Some translations say, 'dwell in me'.)

Vine's "Expository Dictionary" defines rest here: 'to spread a tabernacle
over'.  Isn't that a beautiful picture?
Strong's "Exhaustive Concordance" defines rest here: to tent upon,
(ei. abide with: rest upon).

Our verses today speak of the power of Christ, strength in weakness and
the grace that enables the Believer.  Let's look at what Scripture says of
these things.

Of the power of Christ (these are but a few verses, there are many others):
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth.'"  Matthew 28:18

"And He said to them, 'Where is your faith?'  And they were fearful and
amazed, saying to one another, 'Who then is this, that He commands even
the winds and the water, and they obey Him.'"  Luke 8:25

Of His own life He says, "No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of
Myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This command I have received from My Father."  John 10:18

"...Thou (the Father) hast given Him (Jesus Christ) power over all flesh..."
John 17:2

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy
Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing
all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him."  Acts 10:38

Of strength in weakness:
"From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established
strength..."  Psalm 8:2

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and
God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are
strong."  1 Corinthians 1:27

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness'..."  2 Corinthians 12:9
So Paul can say, "...for when I am weak then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:10  (Weak in Paul, strong in Christ!)

Of the grace that enables the Believer:
"...The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from
those who walk uprightly."  Psalm 84:11

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did
not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the
grace of God with me."  This is Paul speaking in 1 Corinthians 15:10

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

"You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 2:1

I close with this reassuring verse,
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all
sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
2 Corinthians 9:8''

May we always keep our eye on our gracious Lord, Christ Jesus, who is
all sufficient with power and strength to keep His own.  We praise, honor
and glorify Him now and forever.  Amen