Paul – The Ugliest Apostle

turn your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 1 Corinthians chapter 15 in your Bibles as we are continue our series on the dirty dozen and this is talking about the uh 12 Apostles and and a couple others besides and how God could use men like these to accomplish his purpose in our lives and and and use them in their Ministries as well and so we've gone through the 12 apostles from the gospels and then we talked the the week about maias the one that was chosen by lot and then we're going to talk about one of the Apostle today and that's the Apostle Paul if you look at 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and beginning with verse number one it says moreover Brethren I declare unto you the gospel which I

preached unto you which also you've received and wherein ye stand by which also you are saved you keep in memory what I preached unto you unless you have believed in vain for I delivered unto you first of all that which also received th that Christ died for our sins according to scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures and that he was seen of sephus then of the 12 after that he was seen of uh above 500 Brethren at once of whom the greater part remaineth under this presentent but some are fallen asleep after that he was seen of James then of all the apostles and last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time for I

the least of the Apostles that I'm not meat to be called Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God but by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I deliver labored more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me therefore whether it was it were I or they so we preached and so we believed the Apostle Paul was not one of the traditional Apostles that uh went through jesus' three-year Ministry with him and was chosen directly by him at that time but Apostle Paul was chosen after the resurrection and we'll talk about that a little bit more later on and so he was kind of a as he said here um as one born out

of due time he wasn't Apostle but he wasn't your traditional Apostle and so as I looked at his life and tried to think about how can I present the Apostle Paul one of the things that I came up with is this is that you know when you watch shows like the Chosen and shows about Jesus and the disciples uh all the actors in there are good-look right everybody in there's good-looking people big tall strong muscular full head of hair and all the rest of it but you know Paul he was the ugliest Apostle uh the Bible tells us in in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse number 10 for his letters say they are weighty and Powerful but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible they said Paul

he's kind of a a weak-looking kind of guy he's not very attractive and and even his speech isn't that great and this was the Apostle Paul in fact in a in a historical book called the acts of Paul and theala written about ad200 uh supposedly about a young lady who was uh followed his ministry he was one of his disciples that followed him and uh in that book she describes Paul as a man of small stature with a bald head and crooked legs in a good state of body with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked so he had the uni eyebrow he had a hooked nose he was small and he was bald you know can you imagine that now maybe you can't imagine that so what I thought is I would have ai put a composite

picture together of Paul of what we think he may have looked like based upon what we know and so here's a composite picture of Paul what he possibly look like the ugliest Apostle all right um Paul was an ugly guy he was not goodlooking in in 1st Samuel 16: 7 the bible says but the Lord said unto Samuel look not on his countenance or in the height of his stature because I have refused him for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man lookth on the outward appearance but the Lord lookth on the heart you know what there's hope for you ugly people in the room because God can still use you and I won't name names here but uh uh you know God can use ugly people Paul was not a a handsome strong

muscular kind of guy he was a short baldheaded guy with a un know eyebrow and so who does God use you see beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes to the bone in First Peter 3: 3 and 4 it says who's adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plating the hair and of weing of gold or putting on apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart and that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a Meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price see if you've got good looks praise God that He gave you good looks because you didn't do anything about it God gave it to you but more importantly God says it's not the outward adorning it's not the outward appearance is important

but it's what's in the heart that's important in Proverbs 31 and verse number 30 it says favor is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that fearth the Lord she shall be praised and so we need to realize that our Beauty needs to come from within ourselves and not just in our outward appearance God is Not Looking for Beautiful People outwardly to use he's usually looking for people that are beautiful in their heart you know it's interesting even Jesus when you see him portrayed in movies and TV shows he's This Tall muscular hand handsome kind of guy but listen to what the Bible says in Isaiah 53 and: 2 for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground he

hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him if you had lived in that day and had the opportunity to meet Jesus he wouldn't have stood out in the crowd he wouldn't have been some of you looked and said wow that's a really goodlook guy that's that's somebody that that I really want it wouldn't have been the outward appearance of Christ that would have attracted you it would have been who he was and so sometimes we think well God can't use me because I'm not this big strong muser good-look person God can even use ugly people maybe ugly on the outside but you have a heart for God on the inside see however you look God Made You for a purpose

in Psalms 13 9 verse number 14 it says I will praise thee for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well now let's be honest some are more fearful than wonderful right but you know what God made you as you are he created you through your DNA he knew at the very moment that you were conceived he knew every detail about who you would become and what you would look like your personality all the rest of it God designed Within you and made you for a purpose God has a plan for your life God has a purpose for your life and sometimes we think well I'm not good-look or I'm not strong or I'm not smart or I'm not talented or I'm not this or I'm not

that but God says that's not what I'm looking for I'm not looking at the outward appearance I'm looking at what's in the heart and God says I can use you if you have a heart that's right with me so Paul was kind of a uh he was an ugly guy he's the ugliest Apostle and yet God used him mightily for his service and His glory Not only was Paul ugly but Paul was also mean go over to the book of Acts chapter 7 the book of Acts chap 7 and look at verses 57 and 58 acts chap 7 and verses 57 and 58 this is the stoning of Stephen for his beliefs as a Christian and and it says in verse 57 then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon them with one Accord and cast him out of

the city and stoned him and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul the first time we're introduced to Saul or Paul he's there at the stoning of Ste Steven he's the one that's watching everybody's coats he's agreeing to it he says this is a good thing and he was he was he was there cheering on some somebody being murdered and killed look at Acts chapter 8 Acts chapter 8 beginning with verse number one acts 81 and Saul was consenting unto his death and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judea and Samaria except the apostles and devout men

carried Steven to his burial and made great lamentation over him as for Saul he made Havoc of the church entering to every house and H hauling men and women committing uh hailing men and women committing them to prison therefore they they were scattered brought went everywhere preaching the word now here we see that Paul H after the stoning of stepen after St standing there watching this young man being stoned to death which is a cruel and and horrible way to die and and and and he saw that and said I I want to help kill more people and so then he went out and started out from house to house finding Christians and persecuting them and throwing to prison look at chapter n Acts chapter 9 look

at verses 1 and two and Saul yet breathing out threatenings and Slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord went onto the high priests and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any of this way whether they were men or woman he might bring them bound on Jerusalem I I mean just getting worse he sees this wicked way of dying he sees the people being suffering and it's like I I want more of that uh Paul was a a a mean person a a wicked person in fact Paul says it this way in 1 Timothy chapter 1 and verse1 15 about himself he says this is a faithful saying and worthy of all expectation that Christ Jesus came to the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief he said

you want to talk about people I was one of the worst I was the chief of Sinners I I was having people put to death I was dragging men and women and children to prisons I was separating families out just because of what they believed he was a mean guy in Acts chapter 8 verse one it said that he was he he actually didn't kill Stephen but he was consenting onto their death is what it says you know some of us might think well I I've never murdered anybody but you know what the Bible says in Matthew 5: 21- 22 you've heard that it was said by them of old time Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment but I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother

without cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say to his brother raka shall be in danger of the counsel but whosoever sh shall say thou fool shall be in danger of Hellfire he says maybe you've never murdered anybody but if have you ever you ever been so mad at somebody you wanted to kill him see Paul was a mean guy but you know what the rest of us aren't so good either we're all Sinners the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God maybe you've never murdered anybody maybe you've never dragged somebody away to prison or maybe you've never committed adultery or gotten drunk and and had an accident or something

like that but you know what we're still Sinners look look at Romans chapter 1 turn over to Romans chapter 1 and beginning with verse number 29 Romans chapter 1 and beginning with verse number 29 it says being filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness Covetous maliciousness full of Envy murder debate deceit malignity Whispers backbiters haters of God despite ful proud boasters inventor of evil things disobedient to Parents Without understanding Covenant Breakers without natural affection implacable merciful unmerciful you know there's something in that list that you've done there's not a person this room hasn't broken one and probably many of these Commandments you've disobeyed

your parents when you were growing up you've had evil thoughts you've been proud and both poers and despiteful you know every one of us here is a sinner and if you haven't done those things look at verse number 32 who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them you ever watched the TV program you took pleasure in wickedness you ever been on the internet and took pleasure vicariously in what somebody was doing folks all have sinned and come short of the glory of God there's no exceptions that rule Paul was a very mean person he was a great sinner because of what he did but so are you and so am I

so am I but Paul found Grace go to 1 Timothy chapter 1 1 Timothy chapter 1 and look at verses 12-4 in verse 15 Paul said I'm the chief of Sinners but listen what he says in verses 12-4 and I thank Jesus Jes Christ Jesus our lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the ministry who was before a blasphemer persecutor urious and I obained injurious but I attained Mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus he said I'm the chiefest of Sinners but I also have received the grace of God he found Grace he found forgiveness in God and today you can find that same Grace and

you can find that same forgiveness in Ephesians chap 2 and veres 8 and9 the Bible says for by grace are you saved through faith then not of yourselves it's the gift of God not of works that same man should boast Paul's life changed but it wasn't the change he didn't have to change his life to get saved God saved him and then God changed his life and God wants to give you Grace no matter what you've done in life no matter how bad you have been the grace of God is greater than your sin and Paul found Grace as mean as he was as terrible as he was as wicked as he was he found Grace in Jesus Christ in Acts chap 26: 27- 28 Paul was sharing his testimony with King Agrippa and he's talking about who

Jesus was and how that Jesus had died to save us from our sins and and in verse number 27 it says King Agrippa believest thou the prophets I know that thou believest then Agrippa said unto Paul almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian but not quite and maybe that's you today I'm right there I understand what you're saying I I know that I'm a sinner I know that I need salvation you need the gospel the good news of Jesus Christ that God that Christ was buried died and was buried and rose again to save you from your sins in Romans chap 10: 9- 10 it says that if Thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and Shall Believe in thine heart that God has raised the dead Thou shalt be saved

for with the heart man believeth under the righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation in Romans 10:3 it says whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved if you go back in the book of Acts and read Paul's testimony of how he got saved he was on the road to Damascus going to kill more Christians to throw them in prison and on that road he met Jesus and he called out and said who art thou Lord he says I'm the one you're fighting against and on that day he called out to Jesus and got saved and to today you can call out to him as well for forgiveness of sins for eternal life to call out receive the grace of God that he's offering to you would you call

upon the name of the Lord today you know Paul he loved to share his testimony he was ashamed of what he had done but he was thankful for the grace of God and forgiving him I said in Acts chapter 26 he shared his testimony with King Agrippa in verse 29 is and Paul said I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day would were both almost and all together such as I am except these bonds he said I wish that you knew Jesus like I knew Jesus Paul every opportunity he had he would tell people how Jesus changed his life on that road to Damascus he told him I was the wickedest person you'll ever meet I was terrible but God's grace got a hold of my heart and God changed me

listen today if you're a Christian you ought to love sharing your testimony you ought to love every opportunity you have to tell people how God changed you you say Pastor I got saved as a young child I I wasn't that bad well you were you were still a sinner but here's the thing either God saved you out of sin or God saved you from sin those of you got saved when you were younger thank God that he saved you from the terrible things that many others in this room have to live with Paul for the rest of his life had to live with the fact that he killed Christians that he dragged mothers and fathers away from their children and threw them in jail those memories didn't go away but he also thank God

for the grace that he showed to him the chiefest of Sinners and folks we're coming up to Easter when we celebrate the death the burial the resurrection of Jesus Christ when we celebrate the good news of the Gospel don't be ashamed to share your testimony take time to invite people to church take time to tell them about Jesus take time to share your testimony of what God has done in your life don't be ashamed of it Paul was an ugly guy but God used him for his glory Paul was a mean guy but God changed him through Grace and Paul was weak in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 10 it says therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in Necessities in persecutions in distresses for

Christ's sake for when I am weak then I am strong we you think of Paul as one of the greatest Christians that ever lived and yet the greatest Christian that ever Liv said I'm weak I can only be strong in Jesus Christ because in my flesh in myself there is no strength I I'm weak maybe you're here today as a Christian you think Pastor I want to do what's right I I want to live for the Lord but I'm weak but we can be strong in Christ see Paul was weak physically go to 2 Corinthians chapter 12 2 Corinthians chapter 12 second Corinthians chapter 12 and beginning with verse number six it says for though I would desire to Glory I shall not be a fool for I will say the truth by for but now I forbear

lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be or that he heareth of me and L 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 now let me stop there one of the reasons we believe that Paul was ugly is because of his eyes we believe that this infirmity of the flesh this Thorn In the Flesh was that remember he got saved on the road to Damascus he was traveling down that road and a bright light came and blinded him and that's when he found Jesus and and most Bible scholars believe that after that he never really got his full sight

back later on in one of his letters he dictated most of the letters and one of them he said look here I'm writing this in my own handwriting see how big the letters are because he couldn't see very well and we believe not only could he not see well but probably that was part of the ugliness is his eyes were all all kind of burned and and looked terrible and he prayed God give me back my vision because he wanted to be able to read his Bible he wanted to be able to see it was probably painful as well but go on in that passage there look at verse number nine it says and he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore rather glory

and my infirmities the power of Christ May rest upon me therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches and necessities and persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake when I'm weak then I'm strong he said listen I prayed said God take this away but if you choose not give me your grace there's some of you in this room that are suffering physically maybe you've got some disease or illness or maybe you've got some pains or some issues that you uh having to deal with and you're suffering physically you can pray and ask God to take it away and God is a god of Miracles and I've seen him do that but sometimes he says I'm not going to take it away but my grace is sufficient I tell people

you when you pray you got and say God either change my situation or change me and God chose not to to change Paul's situation but God said Paul I'll change you and in our weakness because it's tough when you suffer I I've suffered with headaches for many many years and and it's tough and I I prayed God take this away but God's not chosen to do that but God's grace is always sufficient and whatever you're going through Paul says listen when you're weak that's when God is strong and you can find your strength in the Lord Paul got tired look at 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians chap 11 2 Corinthians chap 11 look at verses 23- 28 are the M the Ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more see the

they were they were saying well Paul's not really an apostle and we don't have to listen to Paul because he was wasn't with Jesus and they were arguing against him and and he said listen he says I'm going to give you my defense and and labor is more abundant and Stripes above measure and prisons more frequent and deaths off of the Jews five times I receiv received St 40 Stripes save one Thrice I was beaten with rods once I was stoned Thrice I suffered shipwreck um a night in the day I'd been in the deep in Journeys often in Perils of water and Perils of robbers and Perils of my own countrymen in perils by the Heathen and perils in the city and perils in the wilderness and perils in the sea

and perils among false Brethren and weirdness and painfulness and watchings often in hunger and thirst and fastings often in cold and nakedness besides those things that are without that which cometh upon me daily the care of the churches Paul said listen you want to talk about suffering I've had it you know what I believe Paul got tired tired of all the persecution tired of everybody being mad at him all the time even Christians being mad at him he got tired he got worry you know in life we get tired I know it gets hard trying to juggle work and home life and church and all the other things and I know that life gets difficult and challenging and you face opposition and you face persecution

but Paul said listen you you're not even close to where I've been and we get tired Galatians chapter 6 and verse 9 says and let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not I know you get tired I get tired but stay faithful say true to the Lord now sometimes we do need to rest in Mark chapter 6 and: 31 and and he Jesus said unto them Come Ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while for there were many coming and going that no leisure so much as eaten there are times as Christians we need to step back and say you know what I I need to take care of myself for a moment here I need to rest I I need some strength to face what I'm facing and there's

times to rest but don't quit doing what's right don't get worry in well doing Paul got tired Paul got sick in second Corinthians 5:4 for we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that would we be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swalled up of life he said in this life we we groan and we get tired of all that we have to struggle with in our life and and and sometimes you just get tired and you get weary and it's just hard you know I I was sick for three months and I I was like Lord I I'm done with this I don't want to be sick anymore but his grace is sufficient Paul was weak he was at the point he was just ready to give up and go home in Philippians chap

1: 21-23 for me to live as Christ to die as gain but if I live in the flesh this is the fruit of my labor yet what I shall choose I what not for I'm a strength between two having desire depart to be with Christ Which is far better he said I'm at a point I'm just ready to go to heaven but if God chooses to keep me here then I'm going to stay busy for the Lord and I know you get tired and I know you get weary and I know it gets hard in Romans 5: 3-5 Paul PA said not only so but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation work patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope make it not a shame because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which

was given unto us those times we go through those tribulations in our lives we can either let that defeat us or we can let that situation help us to grow stronger and find Hope and Paul found Hope in Jesus Christ and maybe today you're tired maybe today you've been struggling with something in your life and you're just ready to quit and give up don't do it Paul was weak physically but he's also weak spiritually go to Romans chapter 7 Romans chapter 7 Paul was the greatest Christian ever lived a godly man that loved the Lord but he struggled he struggled spiritually he struggled with sin he struggled with temptation in Romans chapter 7 beginning of verse number 15 for that which I do I allow

not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that I do he said listen I try to do the right thing and I struggle with that but I have no problem doing the wrong thing I I I just can't keep seem to get victory over that in verse 16 if I if then I do that which is I would not I consented the law that is good now then is no more I that do it but sin dwelleth in me he's not excusing himself he's just saying I have this sinful flesh I'm made just like you I struggle with temptation I struggle with sin because I'm made of Flesh I'm weak in verse number 18 for I know that is in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for the will is present with me but how to perform that which is good

I find not for the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do have you ever been there have you ever said I'm not going to do this ever again and then the next day you do it have you ever said I'm going to start doing what's I'm to read my Bible every day and two days in a row you don't read your Bible why because this flesh is weak and Paul the greatest apostle that ever lived struggled with those things too but he didn't give up he didn't quit he said I'm going to keep on going I'm going to keep on exercising myself onto godliness he said this flesh is a battle but and I can't win this battle in My Own Strength but I can through the power of God and that's what you

and I need is the power of God to transform Our Lives it's only through God's power that we can have victory in our lives Paul said I'm weak in Matthew 26:41 the Bible says watch and pray that you enter not the temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak some of you this morning when your alarm went off the flesh was saying stay in bed some of you when it's comes time when you said I'm going to have my devotions your flesh says just watch TV some of you when that sin Temptation comes and you you're thinking I I I said I'm not going to do it anymore the flesh says just one more time the spirit is willing I believe that the majority in this room you want to do what's right

that's why you're here but we struggle with that and we need the power of God to defeat that in Galatians 5:17 for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the Flesh and these are the contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you would listen folks I got bad news for you this is a lifetime struggle this last Tuesday my wife and I celebrate our 47th anniversary 47 years together I've had 47 great years my wife's had about 30 maybe but guess what the day before we had an argument 47 years together we're still arguing because we're flesh it's a constant a battle and you can't win this battle this is what Paul is saying you read Romans chapter 67 and 8

what Paul basically says is I tried I tried I tried I tried and I failed every time and I had to learn I can't do it it's only through the power of God that I can actually have the victory I'm doing a one-on-one Bible study in Sunday school and I was telling a couple I was doing a study with you know that I used an illustration one time of a vacuum cleaner I brought it to put up on the platform for church I had to go get it three times and put it back in the platform cuz everybody kept saying oh that vacuum's not supposed to be they kept putting it away and finally I got got him to leave it on the platform and I had the vacuum up here and I said now watch I'm going to clean the floor and I

took the vacuum cleaner I went back and forth on the floor like that now if I do that is that going to clean the floor no cuz it's not plugged in if it's not plugged in it's not going to I could work all day long going like this nothing's going to get cleaned so if I take that vacuum and I plug it into the plug and then go back and forth across the floor is it going to clean the floor not if I don't turn it on you see if you don't have Christ you've got no power Jesus Christ is the power of God in our lives it's the Holy Spirit In Our Lives you got to plug into that power that's getting saved but here's here's the thing a lot of you you're plugged in but you're not turned on you got to put

that power to work there's a burst a word in the Bible it means energy you go down the store to buy an appliance like a refrigerator or a dryer or or stove they're going to have this big yellow sticker on there it's going to say how energy efficient it is what that means is you take this much power and accomplish this much work and the more energy efficient it is the more work it's doing with less power and as Christians we need to learn how to draw upon the power of God because a lot of you you're going back and forth with that vacuum cleaner and you don't have ET turned on and you're not accomplishing any more than the onsa person even though you have the power of God so Paul said I'm weak

I can't do this in My Own Strength I fail every time but through the power of God turn over to Philippians chapter 2 we'll close with these verses Philippians chapter 2 look at verses 12 and 13 wherefore my beloved Brethren as you have always obeyed not not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for as God which work in you both the do and the will of his good pleasure now remember you don't work for your salvation Ephesians 289 for by Grace you Sav through faith not of yourselves to the gift of God not of Works let's say Miss boast you don't work for your salvation but you work out your salvation you take that power of God

and learn how to work it out efficiently in your Christian Life and God wants us to learn how to use his power and this is the thing Paul said when I try to do it My Own Strength I fail every time but when I learn to draw upon the power of God that's what gives me the victory look at Philippians chapter 3 look at veres 9-1 Philippians Chap 3: 9-1 and be founded him not having my own righteousness which is of the law but that which is the Faith of Christ the righteousness which is of god by faith that's salvation it's not my righteousness Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy has saved us he that I'm saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ

now look at verse number 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto death if by any means I might attain onto the resurrection of the Dead not as though had already attained either were're already perfect but I follow after that I may apprehend that for it's also I'm apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren I I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those wi things which behind and reaching forth on those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of High Calling of God in Christ Jesus Paul said listen I'm saved I have the righteousness of Christ but I want the power

of God to work in my life I can't do it in the flesh I can't do it My Own Strength because I'm weak and he willingly admitted that and when you learn that you're weak then you can be strong in the power of God Paul was the ugliest apost Apostle and yet God used him because he had a strength and a beauty that came from within Paul was the meanest Apostle but through the grace of God he found kindness and forgiveness Paul was the weakest Apostle and he learned that I can't do this in my own strength in my own power I need the power of God the strength of God