An illusion is a false impression a daydream, that for some people last a lifetime. Many times people associate success with strength. Did you ever hear someone say he's got it all together?
Or she is a strong woman she will get through this. Reverend Incarvite recently taught that true strength can be found in humility.
This type of humility can only be found in God.
There are many examples in the scriptures of men and women who learned the hard way that they really didn't have it all together. That at the end of the day their strength didn't stand up to the task at hand.
Perhaps Samson was physically the strongest man the world had ever known, but, when he needed his strength the most, it departed from him.
He was then humbled, but, not in a godly way. He was beat, humiliated, and shamed by his enemies. And why? Because he broke his vow and dishonored the source of his strength.
Judges 16:16-18 16And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 17That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. 18And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
Even the great Samson was bound and beat when he only had his strength to rely on.
The spirit of pride hides behind many faces and arrogance is one. Arrogance is an over-confidence and many times the source of arrogance comes from relying on our own strength.
The Bible teaches us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
We are only truly strong when we realize that of our selves we are weak. This is an oxymoron however; it's also a great truth in God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The Apostle Paul arguably one of the greatest New Testament apostles himself, knew that if he was going to walk through the pressure and resistance placed on him by the devil he needed something more than his prowess strength and ability.
He needed God's grace and the power of Christ.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
One of the things Paul had to learn to forget was his desire to depend on himself his knowledge, his abilities, and learn to reach forth and depend on Jesus Christ.
Nebuchadnezzar the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive had to learn the hard was that his strength was just an illusion.
Daniel 4:29-30 29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Ezra 5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
You see Nebuchadnezzar had it all wrong. He was under the illusion that his strength and his power got him all he had.
According to Ezra 5 God gave the land and the people to Nebuchadnezzar.
"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" No, God gave it to you to steward.
Daniel 4:29-33 29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself and had forgotten his power and authority came from the God of all creation.
Daniel 4:34-37 34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and learned a valuable lesson. True strength resides in our respect and obedience to the one true God.
Goliath was another example of someone who trusted in their own strength.
1 Samuel 17:40-51 40And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. 48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
True strength starts with humility towards the God of the universe. Continued strength is the result of faithfulness to Him throughout your life.
Where does your strength come from? If it's not the Lord, real as it may seem, it's just an illusion.
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.