JUPITER, FLORIDA – The sanctuary of Grace Immanuel Bible Church was filled with quiet anticipation on Sunday morning, January 4, 2015, as the congregation opened their Bibles to Romans 5:1–11. From those words of hope in Christ, the morning sermon turned the church’s attention to the promises of God found in Psalm 119.
The heart of the message was simple, yet profound: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” For believers, Pastor Jerry Wragg reminded, strength does not come from personal determination or human wisdom. True strength comes from God—and it often shines brightest in seasons of trial.
“Strength is strongest in the valley of the shadow of death,” the pastor said, urging the congregation not to rely on their own understanding. Too often, he explained, people attempt to solve their problems—or even the world’s problems—through sheer effort. But Scripture calls believers to something far greater: to trust the character and promises of God.
Affliction, he pointed out, is not a sign of abandonment but of God’s faithfulness. Reading Psalm 119:75—“I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me”—the pastor explained that trials are intended to build and strengthen the believer. “If you are afflicted, the first and best place to go is God’s character,” he said. “Seek God first, not answers.”
The sermon acknowledged a sobering truth: time and prosperity can be a terrible combination for sinners. By contrast, trials become the classroom of the Christian life, teaching trust, humility, and hope. In affliction, what the believer needs is not explanations, but divine promises.
“Delight in God’s Word. Immerse yourself in His promises,” the congregation was urged. Only by rejecting self-reliance and trusting wholly in God’s strength can new vitality take root. “Distrust the flesh—put no confidence in it,” the pastor said firmly.
The message concluded with a reminder of the glory awaiting those who endure by faith. Quoting Romans 8:18, the pastor declared: “The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is going to be revealed.”
It was a call to rest in God’s promises—not just for personal peace, but as a testimony to a watching world. In every valley, the strength of the believer is not found in themselves, but in Christ alone.
References
Note: The publication date of this article indicates the date of the original sermon for archiving purposes. This article was actually published on September 10, 2025.
Disclaimer: This article is based on sermon notes taken by the author. The reference information for the original sermon is as follows:
“Strength in the Grace of Afflication.” Grace Immanuel Bible Church, video, gibcjupiter.org. Accessed Sept. 10, 2025.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is a project of Bible Hub. Used with permission. The Berean Standard Bible has been released into the public domain.
Photography Credit
The featured image is a screenshot from the online broadcast of the sermon. It is used in keeping with the terms of fair use for review purposes only. Thrive Christian Press makes no claim on this image.
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Copyright © 2025 David Scott Fields II. All Rights Reserved.
