July 8 “Strength and Weakness” II Cor. 12:10
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (11 Corinthians 12:10)Top of Form
When it comes to holy living, we all have weaknesses. The apostle Paul shows us how God can use our weaknesses to show His strength. This entire chapter deals with the Apostle Paul’s very peculiar experience. He speaks to his glorious revelations, the unspeakable visions he had seen and he mentions the thorn in the flesh that was designed by God to prevent Paul from glorying too much in Himself. Then, he speaks of the remedy God gave for the affliction. Now many of us would say that we would prefer for God to remove the thorn all together, but Paul was wise enough to see that grace was a far superior remedy and he declared that he is satisfied with God’s remedy..."for when I am weak, then am I strong." Paul’s meaning here is unmistakable. God uses man’s weakness as an opportunity to manifest His divine strength. What you cannot do on your own, God can do through you. Paul makes reference his experienced weaknesses. "When I am weak…” We, as Christians are sometimes, so weak that.......We are unable to do what we ought. As God’s children we are to devote all we are and all we have to Him. God has an undivided claim upon us for every moment we live. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2) How often we neglect our duties to Christ or His church. How often is our will to resist sin so weak that we not only yield to sin but actually enjoy sin, for a Season. We, who pretend to live a perfectly sinless life before are not the same kind of Christian Paul was. He knew he was weak in the flesh and that often he did things he really did not want to do. “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. (Rom. 7:15-21)
We are often so weak that we don’t do that which we genuinely desire and intend to do. Jesus said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Peter warned us of the danger of not watching when he said, "Be sober, be vigilant..." But we are so often like the disciples as Jesus went into the Garden to pray the night before His crucifixion. When we should be praying and watching we are relaxed and sleeping. Oh, it is easy enough to come forward on Sunday full of determination to make a better stand for our Lord. And so we pledge ourselves to fight the good fight of faith and we promise ourselves and our Lord and the brethren and we ask for the prayers of one another that we might earnestly contend for the faith. But on Monday we are exactly like the Apostle Peter in Matthew 26, when he said, "Though all men be offended because of thee, yet will I not be offended…" and when the Lord needed Peter, only a few hours later, where was the devout man? He was following afar off. We are so weak that even our best efforts are riddled with imperfection. So, what does that mean for us? We are going through some unprecedented times and the need to be strong and to be focused on being what God expects us to be is absolutely essential for our survival and for our ability and responsibility to share the Good News with this evil and depraved sinful world! Study Tools I truly love Paul’s declaration of conscious strength when he declares, "When I am weak, then am I strong." When we know we are weak, then we will depend on God for our strength and guidance. When we recognize our weakness and seek help from God then we are made strong. When we know we are weak and know we must depend on God then we also recognize our need to rely on God’s promises. When we are weak and know we are weak then and only then can we draw joy from the wonderful and precious promises of God. Only when we acknowledge our weakness are we made strong enough to pray as we ought, study as we ought, witness as we ought and really enjoy being in the family of God. How then is a Christian made strong? By believing God when He says, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Let us commit to being about the Father’s business! The present circumstances should not dissuade us from our commitment to God and to recognize HIS COMMITMENT TO US!! Remember, we are not controlled by this world and the whims of the popular prevailing political and social thoughts of the day; we operate and answer to a greater and higher authority: ALMIGHTY GOD! Please do not try to appease the world and its evil! Please do not compromise your faith, for this world’s folly! Believer, remember that God has promised to sustain us as we walk in HIM! Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the “Popular Thought,” we are to remain obedient to God’s call and embrace the fact that we are “JUST PASSING THROUGH!” TO GOD BE THE GLORY! What God does with you, depends upon what you do! It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!