I heard this young man preach last night, just prior to my Sermon from James chapter 4. The Text he used was amazing, from the Old Testament Book of Proverbs. By the way, his name, Pastor Josh Williams.
Today’s Bible Lesson …
Proverbs 24:10, the Text I just mentioned, announces: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Short, but powerful!
Brother Josh of course defined and expounded each word in the Verse. Then he began to give illustrations of NOT fainting through the years.
He thought of Adam and Noah and Abraham … down to New Testament days, Paul the Apostle and of course, Jesus our Saviour!
Those who “did not grow weary in well doing,” quoting Galatians 6:9.
Then he mentioned some things I had forgotten.
Josh is the Grandson of a dear Pastor for whom I have preached many a Revival Meeting. Brother Cecil Williams pastored the Calvary Baptist Church in Tunnel Hill, Georgia for many years. And I suspect I had the honor of preaching for him there fifteen (at least) if not twenty (more than likely) of those years!
Oh, how I want to have a testimony of being “faithful” to my Lord!
My life verse, always the one I use when signing Bibles or writing letters, is 1st Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” What a challenge this verse gives us all!
I noted a minute ago that Brother Josh emphasized the fact that Jesus did not faint …
As in … “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” Hebrews 3:1-2, Jesus never fainted, never quit!
Again Jesus, as in … “Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:3-4 sounds like Jesus is our EXAMPLE when it comes to not fainting!
Oh, now I am thinking of what Job moaned: “Though He (the Lord) slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job never fainted, in that sense.
The “point” of today’s little meditation … let’s ask the Lord to help us stand true, not falter, in these days ahead! Remember, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell