Jesus Christ is Stronger!
Ok, here’s the truth. I was a really skinny kid. To look at me now you wouldn’t know it, but my arms were like pipe cleaners and my legs like pick-up sticks. Really. I was embarrassed at swimming parties and felt ashamed to wear my basketball jersey ‘cause my shoulders could barely keep the straps up. I remember going to picnics and participating in tug-o-wars with futility. A close personal friend who was as strong as I was weak could grip my wrists and slap me silly with my own hands. I know the feeling of physical weakness and it is very uncomfortable.
Way back then I could never have admitted what I have just shared with you. I think the reason I can easily do so now is that I have discovered a weakness far more distressing than a physical one; I have observed the weakness of my soul. I am daily less than God instructs me to be and continually miss the mark in what I long to be for Christ. If only I could experience the virtue that my spirit longs to express. I deeply desire to demonstrate more grace and patience. I grieve the absence of holiness and the presence of unchristian thoughts. Things like revenge and recognition, contentment and control, stuff I am not supposed to struggle with, I do. Not like I used to, but still . . . Bottom line: I am growing and changing and making progress but when I see the goal and see myself . . . I am weak.
Do you relate? Ready for some good news? . . .
Jesus Christ is stronger!
Stronger than my fears about the future or my shame over a past that cannot be altered though I wish so much I could do some things differently.
Stronger than my tired prayers with well worn phrases and weary pleas.
Stronger than my need to know now, and have the trial terminated.
Stronger than the enemy of my soul who would discourage me with my own failings and disillusion me with the faults of others.
I had an experience with God last week. A powerful one. I was getting ready to address the convocation at Liberty University. I was on the platform in front of more than 10,000 students and parents. Travis Doucette, one of our young Harvest worship leaders, led a song, a worship chorus from Hillsong I had never heard before. It’s called Stronger. It took me apart. Such a simple truth—Jesus Christ is Stronger. “Stronger than what,” you ask? Stronger than whatever would cause you doubt or discouragement today. I listened to the song again this morning alone in my office at home. The words filled my soul and forced my hands into the air in heartfelt worship. Tears fell on my blotter, as a broad smile filled my face. Jesus Christ is stronger! YES, He is!!
Categorized as: Christian Life, From James
October 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
James
I have chills now as I’m sitting here reading your entry………I get chills AND I cry everytime I listen to your messages anyway…lol. I really do! You truly are anointed and have the gift of speaking to people in a way that is indescribable! I wanted to tell you that one of the first Christian CD’s I ever purchased was by Hillsong….wow, talk about tears and truly being filled with God’s spirit! I cannot listen to them without crying. I am in a huge rut right now, but I do know that Christ is stronger than my problems and does have His “hand on the thermostat” like you said…..See? I DO listen! I am going to start my own weekly Bible study with a close group of girlfriends this week! I love to read and then share God’s word…it takes the pressure off my mind of my “problems” that I know God is already fixing. I truly enjoy your messages and I learn so much from what you have to say and I enjoy the monthly Journey magazines immensely! Thank you for using the gift that God has given you! God bless you and your whole ministry and church!
This message come from Saratoga Springs, NY.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Dear James,
Thank you for be willing to share your weaknesses with me and others. To hear of how you struggle with sin is an encouragement. Thank you for that simple humility that I need to also share with others my failures.
Lastly, thank you for continuing to put Jesus Christ first in your messages and conversations. Right now, family and friends are reminding each other that He is LORD. It has changed our lives. We greatly appreciate you being a servant for the Redeemer.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:22 am
James,
Wow! what an incredible truth! Jesus is bigger than anything that we go through, He’s bigger than the failures that we’ve made and He’s bigger than us!
God’s immensity is amazing but his immanence is almost more so, the fact that the God of the universe cares about all of my life all of me and comes close to me in Jesus..wow! I’m humbled and amazed! I’m also comforted by the fact that He is indeed bigger than any problem or trial that comes my way.
Your post couldn’t have come at a better time, I really needed that reminder this morning!
I’m truly thankful for you James, I listen to Walk In The Word every morning on my way into work and I’m always left encouraged and with a desire to know the Savior more, Thank You!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
October 29th, 2008 at 10:47 am
James,
I used to always say I was a believer. Funny, how that word means something so very different to me now. I have been so blessed to be able to attend Harvest in Elgin the past several years. No matter how faithful my attendance was I always felt like an outsider looking in. Please understand that I have NEVER met anyone at Harvest I didn’t want to bring home and hangout with. Some of the most sincere and wonderful people on the planet. It was only my lack of confidence that caused this to happen. Your preaching has allowed me to have a relationship with Christ. Your words have inspired me to want to share His words with others without feeling like the outsider I thought I was. I have never had the opportunity to speak with you long enough to thank you for your words of truth and your humble spirit to bring comfort to those of us struggling with issues as well. I always thought you could never call yourself a Christian unless you were just like Jesus. You have taught me, thru Him, that I only need to work increasingly everyday and to always work at being more like Him than I was the day before. This was HUGE for me. So thank you for those of us out here that never felt this was possible.
I belong to a womens group thru Harvest that has also become so important to my growth. This has become the single most wonderful time in my life.
I pray that you will get this and know how important your messages are to people like me. I have been to a few wonderful churches in my life, but none that I have returned to like I have at Harvest. It is like being home every Sunday for family gatherings with the Lord and leaving a little brighter than before you arrived. May your day be filled with much joy and blessings as you have filled mine many times with Gods words. I pray your trip to the holy land keeps you all safe and filled with great stories to share with us when you return.
You, Pastor James, are also loved. God bless you and your beautiful family.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
[...] http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=737 « This Momentary Marriage [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 12:04 am
[...] —James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger” [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 10:51 am
[...] —James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger” [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
[...] —James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger” [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am
[...] —James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger” [...]
October 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am
[...] Dr. James MacDonald “Jesus Christ is Stronger!” [...]
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 am
Wow. I can relate. I try and try to be strong and stay true and follow in the footsteps of Jesus but over and over again I fail. I stray onto the path of destruction rather than the path of healing. I need to work on giving it up to Jesus because I am too weak to do it on my own. But Jesus is stronger than my faults and weakness and with him I can overcome any of my shortcomings. Thank you….I needed that.
November 14th, 2008 at 5:04 am
I have chills, this is very powerful, and im listening to “stronger” right now and its amazing how strong God really is. Please keep me in your prayers…
November 14th, 2008 at 6:38 am
[...] —James McDonald, “Jesus Christ is Stronger” [...]
November 17th, 2009 at 6:14 am
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