Let God Be Strong Where You Are Weak

In the depths of our weaknesses God is stronger than strong. God is an extremely caring God and chooses to hang out with us where we are weak so that he can get known both in our own hearts and in everything. Everything in our lives is meant to bring glory to the living God.

* God's weaknesses are stronger than our biggest strengths. 

* We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

* God's grace is sufficient for us. 

* We must decrease so the Lord can increase. 

*Lord Jesus do what only you can do! 

* May everyone who supposed to come to salvation in Christ come!

"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalms 139:7-18, 23-24 NLT)

The Reset of all Resets

No matter the circumstance of life the truthful answer to these questions is a powerful reset to any day and reason for great joy and thanks! Praise the Lord for his loving kindness to people!

How good is God the Father? 

"He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 NLT)

How significant is Jesus....the Son of God the Father who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins?

"Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-20 NLT)

What power has God the Father demonstrated over your sinful life through his Son Jesus, and this by your faith in him? 

"You were once far away from God. You were his enemy, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. (Colossians 1:19, 21-23 NLT)

What is The Amidah or "The Standing Prayer?"

- The Amidah was composed around 450 BC by the 120 men of the Great Assembly including Ezra and Nehemiah at the time of the rebuilding of the temple. It was to be said while standing three times a day at the hours of prayer: 9 AM, 12 PM and 3PM. 

-  In the books of Acts 3:1-2, we find Peter and John entering the temple at the ninth hour of "the" prayer referring to saying the Amidah. It is literally called the hour of " the prayer" in the literal translations. Peter and John came upon this lame man who was laid at the gate called Beautiful every day by his family members and friends so he could ask for alms from those who were walking into the temple.

- In Acts 3:6-9 , Peter said to this man, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I do have I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth....rise up and walk! He took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up STOOD, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 

- Every Jew would love to be "standing" during the " standing prayer." So here we have the Holy Spirit at the specific time of the Amidah strengthening this man's ankles!

- In Acts 4:22, this man is above 40 years old, and whom a miracle of healing was shown. Yeshua probably walked past this man a minimum of 100 times in the temple and never healed him! The healing happened after Yeshua died at around 33 years of age, and this man who was only seven years older than Yeshua had been lame from his birth. 

- God was waiting for all to be gathered in the temple so at the very moment of the standing prayer, while all Israel was praising God, he would heal this man. It wouldn't be a surprise if the healing happened at the very moment of the healing prayer, that the man started hollering giving God the glory! Shouting, "Look at me everybody. I'm standing during the standing prayer!!! God does heal!!!"

- For 40 years this lame man had heard and even said this prayer, always wondering if it was true! 

- Do you know this was the very prayer they were saying right before the Spirit fell at Pentecost! It was the third hour, the time of the morning prayers! 

- The Amidah was written hundreds of years before Messiah. Read the section on the God of Nature and remember Yeshua had also just risen from the dead at the morning prayer!

The Amidah " The Standing Prayer"

1: A Prayer to the God of History:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the Great, Mighty and Revered God, the Most High God who bestows loving kindnesses, the Creator of all Things, who remembers the good deeds of the patriarchs and in love will bring a redeemer to their children's children for His name's sake. Oh King, Helper, Savior and Shield, blessed are you, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham. 

2: A Prayer to the God of Nature:

You, Oh Lord, are mighty forever, You revive the dead, and You have the power to save. You sustain the living with loving kindness, You revive the dead with great mercy, and You support the falling, heal the sick, set free the bound and keep faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, Oh doer of mighty acts? Who resembles You, a King who puts to death and restores to life, and causes salvation to flourish? And You are certain to revive the dead. Blessed are You, O Lord, who revives the dead.

3: A Prayer to the God who Sanctifies:

We will sanctify Your Name in this world just as it is sanctified in the highest heavens, as it is written by Your profit: "and they call out to one another and say: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." Blessed be the presence of the Lord from His place. In Your holy word it is written, saying, the Lord reigns forever, your God , Oh Zion, throughout all generations.  Hallelujah! Throughout all generations we will declare Your greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim Your Holiness. Your praise, our God, shall never depart from our mouth, for You are a great and holy God and King. Blessed are you, O Lord, the Holy God. You are holy, and Your Name is holy and holy beings praise you daily. Selah. Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God

4. A Prayer for Understanding:

You favor man with all knowledge, and teach mortals understanding. Oh favor us with knowledge, the understanding and the insight that come from You. Blessed are You, O Lord, the Gracious Giver of Knowledge.

5. A Prayer for Repentance:

Bring us back, our Father, to your instruction; draw us near, our King, to your service; and cause us to return to you in perfect repentance. Blessed are you, O Lord, who delights in repentance.

6. A Prayer for Forgiveness:

Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed; for you pardon and forgive. Blessed are you, our Lord, who is merciful and always ready to forgive.

7. A Prayer for Deliverance from Affliction:

Look upon our affliction and plead our cause, and redeem us speedily for your Name's sake, for you are a Mighty Redeemer. Blessed are you, our Lord, the Redeemer of Israel. 

8. A Prayer for Healing:

Heal us, O Lord, and we will be healed; save us and we will be saved. For you are our praise. Oh grant a perfect healing to all our ailments, for you, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are you, O Lord, the healer of the sick of His people Israel.

9. A Prayer for Deliverance from Want:

Bless this year for us, O Lord our God, together with all the varieties of its produce, for our welfare. Bestow dew and rain for your blessing upon the face of the earth. Oh satisfy us with your goodness, and bless our year like the best of years. Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses the years.

10. A Prayer for the Gathering of Exiles: 

Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the sign to gather our exiles, and gather us from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are you, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.

11. A Prayer for the Righteous Reign of God:

Restore our judges as in former times, and our counselors as at the beginning; and remove from us sorrow and sighing. Reign over us, You alone, O Lord, with loving kindness and compassion, and clear us in judgment. Blessed are You, O Lord, the King who loves righteousness and justice.

12. A Prayer for the Righteous and Proselytes:

 May your compassion be stirred,  oh Lord our God, towards the righteous, the pious, the elders of your people the house of Israel, the remnants of their scholars, towards proselytes, and towards us also. Grant a good reward to all who truly trust in your name. Set our lot with them forever so that we may never be put to shame, for we have put our trust in you. Blessed are you, oh Lord, the support and stay of the righteous.

13. A Prayer for the Rebuilding of Jerusalem:

Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised. Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure, and quickly set up in it the throne of David. Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.

14.  A Prayer for the Messianic King:

Speedily cause the offspring of your servant David to flourish, and let him be exalted by your saving power, for we wait all day long for your salvation. Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.

15. A Prayer for the Answering of Prayer:

Hear our voice, oh Lord our God; spare us and have pity on us. Except our prayer and mercy and with favor, for you are a God who hears prayers and supplications. Our King, do not turn us away from your presence empty-handed, for you hear the prayers of your people Israel with compassion. Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayers.

16. A Prayer for the Restoration of Temple Service:

Be pleased, our Lord our God, with your people Israel and with their prayers. Restore the service to the inner sanctuary of your temple, and receiving love and with favor both the fire offerings of Israel and their prayers. May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to you. And Let our eyes behold your return and mercy to Zion. Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.

17. A Prayer of Thanksgiving for God's Unfailing Mercies:

We give thanks to you that you are the Lord our God and the God of our fathers forever and ever. Through every generation you have been the rock of our lives, the shield of our salvation. We will give you thanks and declare your praise for our lives that are committed into your hands, for our souls that are entrusted to you, for your miracles with us, and for your wonders and your benefits that are with us at all times, evening, morning and noon. Oh Beneficent One, your mercies never fail; oh Merciful One, your loving kindness never ceases. We have always put our hope in you. For all these acts may your name be blessed and exalted continually, our King, forever and ever.  Let every living thing give thanks to you and praise your name in truth, oh God, our salvation and our help. Selah.  Blessed are you, O Lord, whose name is the Beneficent One, and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.

18. A Prayer for Peace:

Grant peace, welfare, blessing, Grace, loving kindness and mercy to us and to all Israel your people. Bless us, our father, one and all, with the light of your countenance; for by the light of your countenance you have given us, O Lord our God, a Torah of life, loving kindness and salvation, blessing, mercy, Life and peace. May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times and in every hour with your peace.