Our Fall Revival and Church Anniversary theme for this year is “In His Strength”. It is a powerful reminder of our humble dependence on God for our Spiritual energy and survival as His beloved children.
It is Isaiah 40:28-31 partly read, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, The Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He give strength to the weary and tired, and to him who lacks might He increases power. . . Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. . . They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” We can look at this theme from our human tendency of wanting to depend on how our own strength to fight the battle, or on the wisdom of other fellow human being and the technology and firmament we may have mustered. While we may be able to get some help thereby, we all ought to realize and acknowledge that our human strength as well as technology are very limited. Another way we can look at this theme and our life’s challenges, especially in times of desperation is to assume that we are helpless, with no one to turn to, and even tempted to think and conclude that God Himself does not care in our bewilderment. That’s what the preceding verse 27 seems to suggest: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and the Justice due me escapes the notice of my God.” The Psalmist at Chapter 73 was an example of our human predicament when he wrote, “surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Not until the psalmist earnestly sought the face of the Lord did he realize the hidden secret of the ultimate plight of the evil one and that God was still in charge!
As our Revival Preacher exposes us to the truth, I pray that every one of us would humble ourselves by the grace of God. I pray that we realize our human limitation. I pray that our dependence on God’s strength would be renewed in Christ Jesus who said, I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5). I pray God will reawaken in us, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6)