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Life isn’t meant to be ordinary. It should be Super!
God has placed gifts and abilities inside each and everyone of use. Are you walking in that power?

God wants you to have Super Strength

Super Strength is a fairly common Super Power.
Colossus – a mutant with steel skin. He gets the strength from mutant genetics.
Thor – Gets his strength from being a god from another realm. He also wields a hammer only he can pick up.
Juggernaut – Juggernaut is super strong because of the gem of Cyttorak (magic)
Super Strength   Where does your strength come from?
 
God gives a strength that works in every circumstance. You can do all things through Him who gives you strength. (Phil 4:13)

Super Power 2 – Strength
**Bumper Video –
Life isn’t meant to be ordinary. Life is meant to be Super.
Welcome to the 2^nd week of our Super Powers series. My name is Chris Fluitt. I am lead Pastor here at Redemption Church and I glad to be with you. Thank you for tuning in either in person or by podcast.
Last week we told you about the power of vision.
Vision
The ability to see, to sense a need.
If a Hero never sees the need then it doesn’t really matter what super powers they have.
Every Super sees the need and acts. They hear the cry for help and the transform into the true hero they are.
We talked about Nehemiah and how he heard news of Jerusalem’s walls being in ruin and how the city was in danger.

• Nehemiah sat and cried. He really felt and understood the need.
• Then he acted. He went to the King and went to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.
• He did not offer excuses. He did what he could.

Redemption Church, there is a world in need of help! Let’s act! Let’s go. Let’s change the world!
 
This week I want to talk you about Super Strength.  It’s a fairly common Super Power.
Colossus – a mutant with steel skin. He gets the strength from mutant genetics.
Thor – Gets his strength from being a god from another realm. He also wields a hammer only he can pick up.
Juggernaut – Juggernaut is super strong because of mutant power and the gem of Cyttorak (magic)
Super Strength   Where does your strength come from?
Do you have Super Strength? It’s hard for me to relate to Super Strength, but there are occasions of super strength.  Look at someone and tell them “You’re a Super Hero.”
We’ve heard the stories of mother’s who lifted cars to save their kids.
Tiny Meeker set the world record when he bench pressed 1,102 pounds on December 14 2013 in Buena Tx.
Parents who work multiple jobs to provide for their family. That is Super Strength.
The doctor’s report said they would never walk again, but they had a super human tenacity that didn’t stop until they walked again.  Or even if they weren’t able to walk they refused to let that stop them from living a full life.
The student that was so afraid of speaking in public but they found an inner strength to overcome their fear.  Those that found an inner strength to study like they had never had studied before to pass that really hard class.
Those that use Super Strength to overcome their disabilities like dyslexia, autism, depression.  How about those that overcame stereotypes, sexism, racism.
Super strength overcomes past mistakes and regrets.
Those raised in a cycle of poverty and abuse but broke free. Where others chose to remain victims, they stood in strength and became victors.
Super Strength is a strength beyond your normal capacity. There have been times in your life where you have operated in a Strength Beyond.
Look at someone and tell them “You’re a Super Hero.”
There is a strength beyond your normal capacity. God’s strength is always Super Strength.
His Strength Your Strength
There is a big difference between His Strength and our strength.  Even if you have the strength to pick up a car, your strength can’t compare to His strength.  Our strength is weakness compared to His strength.
But we are told in scripture that God’s strength can be your strength.
The Apostle Paul 3 times prayed about a situation or condition that made him weak.  He prayed God would remove this “Thorn in the flesh” ..he called it.
2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(NIV)
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.(NIV)
2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(NIV)
There are some major revelations in this scripture passage.

• Your weakness gives you access to God’s strength.

o   Your weakness doesn’t disqualify you. Instead it puts you in a position to receive REAL strength. His Power is perfectly, completely revealed in weakness.

• The situation changing has nothing to do with your strength.

o   We pray that God will remove the struggle. But our strength isn’t revealed in good conditions. Super Strength is revealed in struggle.
God’s Super Strength means Strength in every situation
Don’t get hung up on situations. We are talking about a strength beyond circumstance!
God has no Kryptonite.  Superman has no power in the presence of Kryptonite, but God’s strength never fails.
In your struggle – there is a strength beyond your capacity.  In your weakness… In your failure…
Strength in every situation
 
Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.(NIV)
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.(NIV)
This scripture was written by someone who had gone through a lot of struggle.  This scripture was written to 1^st century Christians who were facing a lot of struggle.
You can do everything through Him who gives you strength!
Whatever you are facing today – You can do it! (Phil 4:13)
 
God could just take the struggle away… but there is a strength to be found in the struggle. There is strength in every situation.
If God just took away the struggle you might be good for a few weeks, days, hours… but another struggle will come and then you would be in the same shape. You would be needing to pray the same prayer of God take away this thing.. God wants more for you than that.  God wants to give you Strength.
I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. God gives you His strength.
 
Super Heroes with Super Strength have a source.  Their strength comes from something…
 
 
Do you know your Super Strength Source? Whenever these super heroes face problems they make sure to be in contact with the source of their strength.
Here is the problem! When we face problems we run away from our strength. We do this almost every time.

• We trust our feelings or heart rather than God.
• We trust our own thoughts and lean on our own understanding. The Bible warns us not to do this. Prov 3:5
• We trust our shame & guilt and isolate from people who really love us.

It makes no sense but we do it.  It’s like Captain America laying down his shield made of vibranium. It’s like Wonder Woman refusing to wear her bracelets. Iron Man refusing to use his suit or Batman shying away from his utility belt.
It makes no sense to stay away from your strength.

• Are you shying away from your God given gifts and abilities?
• Are you running from God’s strength?
• When problems come do you give up to easily?

 
There is strength in every situation.
“But I’m weak..” I’m not strong as others.. I always seem to fail or fall into temptation..”
2 Corinthians 12:10  For when I am weak, then I am strong.(NIV)
 
God is looking for people to place His strength.  He is looking for someone He can trust with this power.
As Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben would say “With great power comes great responsibility.”
 
Meekness – Not the Hulk but Superman
I want to talk to you about 2 Super Heroes who have some similarities – The Hulk & Superman.  Both have Super Strength. Both have altar-ego identities. Both transform from a normal person into the hero.  Although they share many similarities they are worlds a part.
The Hulk – A.K.A. Bruce Banner was exposed to Gamma Radiation. And when Banner experiences stress or anger transforms violently into the Hulk. As the Hulk he is insanely strong and powerful but he is equally insanely uncontrollable and angry.
“You won’t like me when I’m angry” is his catchphrase.
Superman – A.K.A. Clark Kent is from the Planet Krypton. The Yellow sun of Earth is the source of His power. Superman is like a solar battery, he absorbs the power of the sun. Superman is insanely strong but is in control of his strength.
Meekness – Not the Hulk but Superman
If you want the Strength of God in your life you need to be like Superman not the Hulk.
There is joy in this strength
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.(NIV)
Nehemiah 8:10 …the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
There is Love, not fear in this strength
Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.(NIV)
There is self control in this strength. A strength that won’t harm others.
 
Meekness – Not the Hulk but Superman
Meekness is a misunderstood word. Many think meekness is weakness. It is not!
Meekness is Strength under control.
The Hulk has crazy strength to crush a car with his bare hands. The Hulk would then turn around and crush you. Hulk Smash. His strength is completely out of control.  It doesn’t matter if you are a good guy, bad guy, or random guy. If you are present he will crush you with his out of control strength.
Superman has crazy strength to crush a car with his bare hands. He has as much strength as the Hulk here, but Super man can turn around and shake your hand without crushing your hand. That is meekness – Strength under control.
The Hulk’s power comes from being out of control. The angrier he gets the more power he has.  He is a rage-aholic looking to himself for strength. Superman is always strong because his strength comes from a constant source – the sun.  If your life is erratic then you need to check your strength source. It is likely your source isn’t constant.
 
God is looking for people he can trust with strength. People with meekness who can control their strength.
We have seen Christians who lack meekness.

• Christians who think they are called to attack people.  Like the Hulk these people get their strength from their anger. The angrier they get the stronger they feel.
• Televangelists who use their position and fame to get people to give them money and then turn around and use that money in greedy ways. Make people think God will love them more if they give…
• Pastors and priests who have abused people minors. It’s hard to argue with someone if they convince you they have spiritual strength over you.

It is so important that you know these people are not operating in God’s strength. They are not operating in meekness. They have a strength that is like the hulk. They operate in fear, anger, & greed.
The world needs to see Christians that operate in strength that looks just like Jesus. A strength grounded in love, humility, generosity, and joy!
Musician
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.(NIV)
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.(NIV)
Isaiah 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;(NIV)
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.(NIV)
He gives Strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
God isn’t a Super Villian. Villians want all the strength and power.  They grow stronger and everyone else grows weaker.
God wants everyone to grow stronger. He is giving his strength to anyone who wants it. He is giving His strength to anyone who needs it.
He is looking for someone He can trust with Super Strength.
There is a strength beyond your capacity. His strength is available right now, and you can do everything through God who gives you strength.