There is a beautiful promise in Scripture about God giving strength to the weary and renewing the strength of those who trustfully wait on the Lord. Expressed in poetic language, they will ‘mount up with wings like eagles’ and soar, carried by the wind (Isaiah 40:31). This is beautiful imagery of soaring above the problems of life and gaining divine strength to face all challenges life brings to us. There’s a promise of God empowering us to move forward and not grow weary or give up. God will give strength to His people and bless them with peace (Psalm 29:11). Trust the God of peace and power.
As they say, ‘life doesn’t get easier, but you get stronger.’ The question is not so much how big the problems are, but how much strength you have to overcome them and how much wisdom you carry to solve them. God has given us a spirit of love and power with the necessary self-control to get through the challenges of life (2 Timothy 1:7–12). God will show us the way and empower us to go all the way. The solutions are always in God’s will; His power and grace are in His will—and the God of Peace empowers us to do His will. He works in and through us.
‘Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.’ Hebrews 13:20–21
The Power to do His Will
At the end of the letter to the Hebrew believers, the author ends with these beautiful words quoted above. Jesus the Shepherd died and was raised to establish the New and eternal covenant by His blood shed on the cross. It was the God of peace who raised Him from the dead. He is the Shepherd of His sheep, the church. The God of peace wants peace, not confusion, among His people (1 Corinthians 14:33). Jesus had promised to leave them His divine peace (John 14:27). In the midst of the challenges of life, He, who overcame the world, gives us peace (John 16:33). God is the God of peace and leads us in peace. He will establish peace for His people (Isaiah 26:12) The purpose of the empowerment by the God of peace is for us to do His will. As we first seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, that is, His will and way of life for us, God will provide for us (Matthew 6:33–34). In His will is His provision!
Earlier in the letter the author encouraged the believers not to throw away their confidence because there’s a great reward in having one’s confidence in God (Hebrews 10:35). Life will continue to have its struggles, but these are maturing us, especially in endurance, of which we have need. But doing the will of God will lead to receiving what God has promised! Don’t lose hope (Hebrews 10:36–39). Keep on doing the right thing (Galatians 6:9–10). Blessed is the person who endures hardships and trials—a crown awaits you! (James 1:12) God is faithful and will provide during difficulties and temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). Keep pursuing His will.
Not only did Jesus die and rise from the dead, He also equips us in every way (Hebrews 13:20–21). God gives us the power to do His will! Paul wrote to Timothy how the inspired Scriptures teach and train us in righteousness and for ‘every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:14–17). The God of peace is equipping us ‘to do His will’ (Hebrews 13:21). God works in us what is pleasing to Him (Philippians 2:13). What is of God will bear the mark of His nature. Whatever God does in us and through us will be in accordance with His will and nature, that ‘which is pleasing in His sight.’ God never works contrary to His will or word. He works everything according to His will and good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
As those who believe in the One who died for our sins and rose for our justification, we also live for Him. We live to do God’s will, following the example of Jesus (John 4:34; 6:38). The author of Hebrews pointed out how Jesus as the sacrifice for sin and atonement was sent by God to do His will (Hebrews 10:5–7). Salvation was God’s will and Christ obeyed in order to provide for it. His obedience made our salvation possible. Obedience is the highest form of sacrifice!
Glory to God who empowers
Paul concluded his last part of exhorting the believers in ancient Rome with the words, ‘Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen’ (Romans 15:33). The God of peace is the same as the One ‘who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,’ and He does so ‘according to the power that works within us.’ God empowers us to do His will and, therefore, the glory be unto Him! (Ephesians 3:20–21). He empowers us from within, through His Spirit: ‘to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man’ (Ephesians 3:16). Paul prayed that we should understand ‘the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe’ (Ephesians 1:19). God is for us. His power works for us.
He is the One who supplies strength and gives gifts by which we serve for His glory; and because He provides them, the glory is His, not ours (1 Peter 4:10–11). The God of peace works in us to do His will for His glory! We give glory to God who empowers us for life and service. We give Him the glory and never claim it for ourselves (see Psalm 115). In service to God, we rely on His strength. Our adequacy comes from Him who empowers to minister by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:4–6). God gives the increase as we serve Him faithfully (1 Corinthians 3:5–7). The Spirit empowers us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and we therefore don’t preach ourselves, but Christ and ‘Him crucified’ (2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2). This message is the Gospel of salvation, the word of truth (Ephesians 1:13–14). This is the ‘word of His grace, which is able to build you up’ (Acts 20:32). God empowers us for His glory!
Prayer and Power
God works within us through His power by prayer. Jude encourages us to pray in the Holy Spirit in order to build ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jude 20). The Spirit in us works what is pleasing to the God of peace watching over us (v 21). Being empowered by His Spirit, we can help others who are struggling without falling ourselves—He will keep us safe (vv 22–25). Praying in the Spirit’s supernatural tongues/languages is edification (1 Corinthians 14:4). We are to pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). The Spirit empowers us in our weakness and gives us words to pray according to God’s will, even the deepest things words often cannot express (Romans 8:26–27). Prayer by God’s Spirit keeps us within His will; and when we pray in His will, we know He hears us and can have confidence that He will answer (1 John 5:14–15).
The God of peace is a powerful God who strengthens and equips us, and, if necessary, He will ‘crush Satan under your feet’! (Romans 16:20) In a world that is sometimes unsafe, God will protect His own (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He empowers us to be strong to withstand the evil planned against us (Ephesians 6:10–18). Life doesn’t always get easier, but we can always get stronger. No matter what war or chaos is going on around you, you can have God’s peace within you—and His peace will keep and empower you to do His will no matter what the circumstances are. Stay faithful and don’t compromise! Remember, ships sink not because of the water around them, but because of the water within them. Don’t allow water into your ship! No matter what storm you might be facing, His peace will keep you.
The right path in life is the one according to God’s will and for God’s glory. The things of this world, its lust and pride, will vanish, but those who do the will of God will live forever (1 John 2:15–17). Jesus lived for the will of God (John 4:34; 6:38) and taught us to pray for the will of God (Matthew 6:9–10). We are to live for His will and glorify our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16). God is glorified and people are blessed when we do God’s will.
Trust the God of peace—He is for you and He will fight for you. Therefore, seek to do His will and trust His provision within His will.
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