Strength for All Steadfastness through All Difficulty (Colossians 1:11).Wednesday August 19, 2026
Introduction:
Is it right to pray for power or for patience? Paul prayed for both:
Col 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
2Th 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
The Psalmist prays from strength:
Psa 119:28 My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word.
Scripture never treats prayer as a light switch, but it does show that God delights to strengthen those who look to Him (2Co 12:9–10).
Main Idea: God’s glorious power is continually supplied so that every believer can hold steady in every difficulty for the sake of Christ and the gospel.
1. Steadfastness Requires Nothing Less Than God’s Power
Definition: Hupomone is the capacity to hold one’s position under pressure—endurance, fortitude, perseverance.
This is not a feeling or an adrenaline surge. There is no internal gauge. The evidence is the result: proven character (Rom 5:3–4), usefulness and fruitfulness (2 Pet 1:3–8).
Rom 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
One of the results listed is dokime – “proven character” in NASB. The definition: the experience of going through a test with special reference to the result - standing a test, character.
2Pe 1:3-8
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities [one of which is hupomone] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is simple: are these qualities yours or not?
2. God’s Power Is Glorious and Adequate
The power is “according to His glorious might.” It is the resurrection power toward us (Eph 1:19).
This power removes the excuse “I can’t.” It is sufficient for every circumstance that pressures us.
Where are you currently tempted to quit or take the easier path?
2Co 12:7-10 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. Christ Shows Us What This Power Looks Like
Jesus never relied on His own independent strength. He lived by the Father’s power.
Joh 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
Christ emptied Himself, or denied Himself, the expression of His deity and obeyed the Father. (Phi 2:6-8)
In the wilderness, Gethsemane, and on the cross He never once said, “I quit… I’ve had enough.”
The Father’s power was fitting for every demand—debate, betrayal, beating, the weight of sin, the cry of forsakenness.
By faith, God’s power ready to flow into you and through you.
Because Jesus held steady, we are now empowered to hold steady.
Conclusion
God’s power flows to those who set their hearts to endure in a manner worthy of the Lord.
God promises that He will not tempt you with more than you can bear (1Co 10:13).
By faith in God’s will your inability to stand firm in the midst of hardship will be completely reversed.
Psa 57:1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.
God promises that if you follow His will that He will pour His power into you.
Three clear calls:
1. Look straight at the trial and decide: “As God wills, I will endure this for as long as it takes, in a way that pleases Him.”
2. Reject the path of mere comfort or self-powered grit. That path runs on your own limited strength.
3. Keep looking to Christ, who held steady by the Father’s power so that you could be strengthened by the same power.
There is no internal gauge of power — only the result. |