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Strength Amidst Weakness
March 13, 2016
Christians often feel weak and unworthy. The world hates us and attacks us, things go wrong in lives. We have troubles in our health, finances, family disagreements, and emotional stresses. How are we to overcome the world and these problems? Often, we cannot -- but God can! When we are weak, we realize the power of the Almighty God. He is our strength in times of weakness. - Bernie Parsons
Strength Amidst Weakness
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 03-13-2016
Presented to Load church of Christ on 03-20-2016
We are beset by weaknesses of various sorts in this life. Many of us
feel weak and worthless all of our lives. We forget that true strength
is internal and spiritual.
The Lord told the apostle Paul that His strength is made complete in
weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:7 "And lest 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from
me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when
I am weak, then am I strong."
How can we be strong in the midst of weakness? Our strength derives not
from the flesh, but from God and His spiritual attributes.
1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like
men, be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity."
The apostle Paul teaches three primary things that make us strong.
1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
Faith
gives us strength because we rely upon the might and power of God
Almighty.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me."
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
Mark 4:39 "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have
no faith?"
1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God."
Lack of faith leads to fear, which renders us powerless. Faith overcomes
weakness.
Hope
Hope strengthens us as we look beyond our present distresses to future
glory.
Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what
a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for
it."
1 Peter 1:13 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and
hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ;"
Our hope makes us strong when we might otherwise feel weak and helpless.
Charity
Perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us."
2 Corinthians 13:3 "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the
power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by
the power of God toward you."
Fear robs us of our strength. Love returns strength to us.
We also lean on one another for strength, and so fulfill the law of
Christ.
Romans 15:1 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of
the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us
please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."
Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ."
A War
There is a fight between the powers of darkness and the power of our
God. If we listen to God and prepare ourselves properly for the fight,
we will rest in the power of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting
on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation."
Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints;"
We are weak. That is why that Christ died for us. But, we have the most
powerful being in the universe looking out for those who put their faith
in Him, place their hope in His promises and who walk in the love that
God first demonstrated toward us.
In God, and in His son, Jesus Christ, we will find strength in the midst
of our weakness.
