I Will Strengthen Thee; Yea, I Will Help Thee; Yea, I Will Uphold Thee
God helps us in three ways: strengthening, helping, and upholding, and His strength is sufficient for us when we are weak.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes God's promise to strengthen, help, and uphold us in our times of need. He explains that God first strengthens us individually, then adds His strength to ours, and finally upholds us completely when we are at our weakest. This paradox reveals that true strength comes from acknowledging our weaknesses and relying on God's grace. Simpson encourages believers to embrace their infirmities, as it is in our weakness that Christ's power is made perfect. Ultimately, God's grace is sufficient for all who trust in Him.
Text
God has three ways of helping us. First, He says, I will strengthen thee. In other words, He is saying, "I will make you a little stronger yourself." Second, He adds, I will help thee. By that we understand Him to say, "I will add my strength to your strength, but you shall lead and I will help you." Third, He says, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness-or, "I will lift you up bodily and carry you altogether. It will be neither your strength nor My help, but My complete upholding. When we come to the end of our strength, we come to the beginning of His. In Him the weakest are the strongest, and the most helpless the most helped.
He giveth power to the faint, but to them that have no might at all He increaseth strength.
His word forever is, My grace is sufficient for thee. The answer is a paradox of contradictions, and yet the most practical of truths. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. . . . For when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Sermon Outline
- God's Three Ways of Helping Us points: - Strengthening - Helping - Upholding
- Strengthening points: - Making us stronger ourselves - But still dependent on God
- Helping points: - Adding strength to our strength - Leading and helping us
- Upholding points: - Lifting us up bodily and carrying us - No strength or help from us, but from God alone
Key Quotes
“When we come to the end of our strength, we come to the beginning of His.” — A.B. Simpson
“In Him the weakest are the strongest, and the most helpless the most helped.” — A.B. Simpson
“For when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must recognize our dependence on God and acknowledge our weakness.
- We can trust in God's strength and help, even when we are weak.
- God's upholding is a complete and total reliance on Him, with no strength or help from us.