Aim: To see our faith get stronger—even through difficulties.
Doctrine: Churchmen are strengthened through furnaces of affliction. These include having to weather slanderous reports, which are designed to intimidate us.
Exegesis: How hardship conspire to strengthen believers: when our hearts are exposed to the devil's lies (vv. 5-7), it forces us to respond with God's truth (v. 8), which then revives us in the church's mission (v. 9).
Further application: Why trials are sometimes necessary in order to strengthen the church: since we are naturally inclined toward complacency, we need whatever it takes to make us resort to Christ, by faith.
Key verse: v. 9 ''For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, 'Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.' Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.''
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Rev. Mark Henninger received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and he has been Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years.