DEPENDING ON GOD'S POWER

DEPENDING ON GOD'S POWER

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 1:9

Key Verse: “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” — 2 Corinthians 1:9

Supporting Texts: Zechariah 4:6; Psalm 121:1-2; Isaiah 40:29-31; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13; Jeremiah 32:17; Romans 8:11

Description: Depending on God's power means recognising the limits of human strength and placing complete confidence in the unlimited power of the God who raises the dead.

INTRODUCTION

Human beings naturally want to be independent. We often depend on our education, experience, finances, connections, position, intelligence, physical strength, and abilities to navigate life. These resources are useful, but they are limited. There are situations in which everything we have depended upon can fail, leaving us with the realisation that only God can help us.

Paul experienced such a situation. He said that he and his companions were burdened beyond their strength and even had the sentence of death within themselves. Yet the crisis produced a powerful spiritual lesson: they learned not to trust in themselves, but in God who raises the dead. Their weakness became an opportunity to experience the sufficiency of divine power.

God never intended for His children to live by human strength alone. He wants us to recognise Him as our ultimate source, strength, helper, provider, defender, and deliverer. When we depend upon God's power, we do not become passive; rather, we become vessels through which His supernatural ability can operate. What you cannot accomplish by yourself, God can accomplish through you.

1. RECOGNISE THE LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN STRENGTH

Paul's affliction brought him to the point where his own strength was insufficient. One of the first steps towards depending upon God is acknowledging that human strength has limitations.

a. Human Strength Can Fail (Psalm 33:16-17) — No king is saved merely by the size of his army, and no warrior is delivered simply by his physical strength. Human resources can be exhausted, but God's power never runs dry.

b. Do Not Make Yourself Your Ultimate Source (Jeremiah 17:5) — When people place ultimate confidence in human ability, they eventually discover its limitations. God wants our confidence to rest in Him rather than in ourselves.

c. Admit When You Need God's Help (Psalm 121:1-2) — The psalmist looked beyond the mountains and asked where his help would come from. His answer was clear: his help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

d. Weakness Can Lead You Into God's Strength (2 Corinthians 12:9) — Paul discovered that God's grace was sufficient for him. When human ability reaches its limit, divine strength can become more evident.

Biblical Example: Gideon initially felt inadequate to deliver Israel, but God reduced his army so that Israel would know that the victory came from Him rather than human strength (Judges 7:2-7).

2. DEPEND ON GOD AS YOUR ULTIMATE SOURCE

God is not merely an emergency contact whom we call when every other option has failed. He should be our first and constant source of strength.

a. God Is The Source Of Your Strength (Psalm 28:7) — The Lord is our strength and shield. When we depend upon Him, we receive strength beyond our natural capacity.

b. God Is The Source Of Your Provision (Philippians 4:19) — God is able to supply every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Your circumstances do not determine the limit of God's provision.

c. God Is The Source Of Your Wisdom (James 1:5) — When you lack wisdom, ask God. Depending upon God means recognising that divine wisdom is greater than human understanding.

d. God Is The Source Of Your Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57) — Victory ultimately comes through Jesus Christ. Therefore, do not place your confidence in your own ability to win every battle.

Biblical Example: Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming enemy, but instead of depending upon military strength, he sought the Lord. God gave Judah victory in a way that clearly demonstrated His power (2 Chronicles 20:12, 20-23).

3. GOD'S POWER IS GREATER THAN YOUR IMPOSSIBILITIES

Paul's confidence was in the God who raises the dead. This means that our confidence must be based on what God can do, not merely on what we can see.

a. Nothing Is Too Difficult For God (Jeremiah 32:17) — God created the heavens and the earth by His great power. If He created all things, no situation in your life is beyond His ability to handle.

b. God Can Do What Human Beings Cannot Do (Luke 18:27) — Jesus declared that things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Divine power begins where human impossibility is recognised.

c. God Can Revive Dead Situations (Ezekiel 37:3-6) — The valley of dry bones looked hopeless, but God's power brought life into it. Never conclude that a situation is permanently finished when God has not spoken the final word.

d. God's Power Exceeds Human Imagination (Ephesians 3:20) — God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Biblical Example: Lazarus had been dead for four days, yet Jesus demonstrated that death itself could not limit His power (John 11:39-44).

4. DEPENDING ON GOD REQUIRES FAITH

Dependence upon God is fundamentally an expression of faith. Faith says, “I may not know how God will do it, but I know that He is able.”

a. Trust God Beyond What You See (2 Corinthians 5:7) — Believers are called to walk by faith and not by sight. Circumstances can change, but God's character remains constant.

b. Trust God's Word (Romans 10:17) — Faith grows through hearing the Word of God. The more you know God's promises, the more confidently you can depend upon Him.

c. Trust God's Timing (Habakkuk 2:3) — God's delay is not God's denial. Some answers require patience because God works according to His perfect timing.

d. Refuse To Be Controlled By Fear (Isaiah 41:10) — God repeatedly tells His people not to fear because He is with them. His presence provides the confidence necessary to face uncertain circumstances.

Biblical Example: Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water because he trusted Jesus' word. His success lasted as long as his focus remained on Christ rather than the storm (Matthew 14:28-31).

5. GOD'S POWER WORKS THROUGH WEAK VESSELS

God does not require perfect human strength before He can use someone. He often chooses weak and ordinary people so that His power will receive the glory.

a. God's Power Is Revealed In Weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) — Paul learned that God's power was made perfect in weakness. Your limitations do not disqualify you from being used by God.

b. God Uses Ordinary People (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) — God often chooses what the world considers weak or insignificant. This prevents human beings from boasting in themselves.

c. Do Not Allow Inadequacy To Stop You (Exodus 4:10-12) — Moses felt inadequate because of his speech, but God promised to be with his mouth and teach him what to say.

d. Give God What You Have (John 6:8-13) — A young boy had only five loaves and two fish, but when placed in Jesus' hands, the little became more than enough.

Biblical Example: David was young and inexperienced compared with Goliath, but he depended upon God's power rather than human weapons. He defeated the giant in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

6. DEPEND ON GOD DAILY

Depending on God's power is not a one-time decision. It is a daily lifestyle of prayer, obedience, faith, and surrender.

a. Begin Each Day With God (Psalm 5:3) — David brought his requests before God in the morning and watched expectantly. Starting the day with God establishes the right direction for everything that follows.

b. Pray Before Making Major Decisions (Proverbs 3:5-6) — God wants to direct your paths. Do not depend solely on your own understanding when making important decisions.

c. Remain Connected To Christ (John 15:5) — Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing. Spiritual fruitfulness requires continued dependence upon Christ.

d. Give God The Glory For Every Victory (Psalm 115:1) — When God gives you success, do not take the glory for yourself. Recognise that every good thing ultimately comes from Him.

Biblical Example: Daniel maintained a consistent prayer life even when prayer became dangerous. His dependence upon God brought divine intervention and preservation (Daniel 6:10, 19-23).

CONCLUSION

Depending on God's power begins with recognising that human strength is limited but God's power is unlimited. Paul and his companions reached a point where they could no longer trust in themselves, and that experience redirected their confidence towards the God who raises the dead. Their crisis became a classroom where they learned deeper dependence upon God.

You may be facing a situation that has exhausted your strength, resources, wisdom, or options, but do not despair. The God who sustained Paul is still powerful today. Trust Him with your life, your family, your ministry, your future, and every impossible situation before you. When your strength ends, God's strength begins; when your ability stops, His power continues; and when human hope disappears, God remains your unfailing source.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, deliver me from every form of self-reliance and teach me to depend completely upon Your power, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, become my strength whenever my human strength fails and uphold me by Your mighty hand, in Jesus name.

3. Father, let Your supernatural power operate in every area of my life where human ability is insufficient, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, take over every impossible situation confronting me and demonstrate Your mighty power, in Jesus name.

5. Father, increase my faith and help me to trust You even when I cannot see the way forward, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, breathe life into every seemingly dead situation in my life and cause restoration to spring forth, in Jesus name.

7. Father, let Your power work through my weaknesses and use my life for the advancement of Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, give me divine wisdom, strength, courage, and direction for every responsibility You have entrusted to me, in Jesus name.

9. Father, let every battle that is beyond my ability receive divine intervention and supernatural victory, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my life continually demonstrate that those who depend upon You shall never be put to shame, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall not collapse under the weight of what is beyond your strength, because the power of God shall sustain you.

2. You shall experience divine strength in every area where human ability has failed you.

3. Every impossible situation before you shall encounter the supernatural intervention of the Almighty God.

4. You shall not be stranded for lack of human help, because God Himself shall arise as your Helper and Defender.

5. Every dead situation connected to your life, family, ministry, work, and destiny shall receive the breath of God's resurrection power.

6. You shall receive divine wisdom to overcome every problem that has confused and overwhelmed you.

7. You shall not be defeated by your weaknesses; rather, God's power shall be made manifest through your life.

8. You shall walk in victory over every battle that is greater than your natural capacity.

9. You shall experience God's power in such a remarkable way that your testimony will make it clear that only God could have done it.

10. From this day forward, you shall depend upon God more deeply, walk in His strength, and continually testify that the Lord has been your source and your victory.