I Samuel 2:9
God's saints are kept from straying and falling, and can prevail in spiritual conflicts by appropriating God's strength through His Spirit.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the themes of divine protection and strength in his sermon based on I Samuel 2:9. He explains that God keeps the feet of His saints from straying and falling through His Word and Spirit, contrasting this with the fate of the ungodly who are driven by darkness. Smith highlights that the wicked will ultimately be silenced and broken, while true strength comes not from human effort but from the Spirit of God. He encourages believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own resources, reminding them that spiritual victory cannot be achieved through physical or mental might.
Text
HANNAH BARREN, PRAYS, VOWS, ANSWERED, FULFILLED
I. "HE WILL KEEP THE FEET OF HIS SAINTS."
A. From what will He deep the feet of His saints?
1. Straying - "Ps. 37:23 "The steps of a good man."
2. Falling - "Now unto Him who is able to keep..."
B. How does He keep?
1. Through His Word ":...lamp unto my feet." "And you
shall hear a voice behind you saying..." Is. 30:21.
2. Through His Spirit.
C. What about those not His saints?
1. "Not so, the ungodly, not so, like chaff driven by the
wind."
2. Deut. "Their foot shall slide in due time."
3. "Clouds without water, carried by winds. ragins waves
of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering
stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness
forever."
II. "THE WICKED SHALL BE SILENT IN DARKNESS"
A. The saint rejoices while walking in the light.
1. The wicked plodding in darkness, lost, hopeless,
helpless,
silenced through eternity.
2. The law given to stop mouth at all witnesses whole
world directly guilty before God.
B. VS. 10, "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces."
1. It is certain.
2. It will be sudden.
3. It will be irrevocable.
III. "FOR BY STRENGTH SHALL NO MAN PREVAIL."
A. How long before we apprehend this truth?
1. Why do we still struggle?
2. Why do we count our resources? David's sin.
3. Why do we despair?
4. "For it's not by might nor by power but by my Spirit
saith the Lord."
B. Why cannot man prevail by strength?
1. In the spiritual conflict physical strength meaning
less.
a. Last weeks lesson on Sampson.
2. Even mental strength though greater still fails.
a. The power of sin overcomes the strongest minds.
b. You cannot mesmerize to victory.
C. God has granted to us the strength that prevails.
1. Acts 1:8.
2. If we falter or fail it is because we have failed in
appropriating His strength.
Sermon Outline
- He Will Keep the Feet of His Saints points: null
- The Wicked Shall Be Silent in Darkness points: null
- For by Strength Shall No Man Prevail points: null
Key Quotes
“For by strength shall no man prevail.” — Chuck Smith
“The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces.” — Chuck Smith
“It's not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must trust in God's strength and guidance to navigate spiritual conflicts.
- We must recognize the limitations of physical and mental strength in spiritual battles.
- We must appropriate God's strength through faith and trust in His Spirit.