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Nov 11, 2018

His Strength Our Weakness

His Strength Our Weakness

Speaker: Jerry Weiss

Series: Other

Category: Sunday Morning

Am I fit to be a vessel for Christ? Learn three truths of submitting our earthen vessels and let our powerful God do what He can do. His strength is made perfect in weakness.

II Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

II Corinthians 12:9-10 The Message and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

 II Corinthians 4:7 NASB But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.

 II Corinthians 4:7 The Message If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.

Am I fit to be a vessel for Christ? Learn three truths from these verses: 

1) God chooses to reveal himself in weakness.

God pours himself out in simple earthen vessels. God used a murderer (Moses), a deceiver (Jacob), an insignificant shepherd boy (David), a man of no form or comeliness (Jesus), a simple, country girl (Mary), and 12 simple business class people (the disciples). God enjoys placing his treasure in earthen vessels.

2) Our weakness is never a limitation for God’s power to work in us.

God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. We attempt to eliminate our weaknesses because as Christians we think we should be perfect. We want to use our best side and not show our ugliness. We ignore or deny our weaknesses. When we use our weakness, God shows up in these earthen clay treasures. God doesn’t need Peter’s swordsmanship, Moses’ eloquent words, or Abraham’s ability to produce a baby. God requires us to bring Him our weaknesses. Paul boasts gladly in weaknesses. My weakness is not an obstacle but an opportunity for God’s power to work in me. He will work faith in the midst of doubt, joy in the midst of sorrow, forgiveness in the midst of the difficulty of forgiving.

3) God’s power is available and in abundance for the weak.

“My grace is sufficient” means it is in abundance. Bring your vessel to God and He will pour out His power and grace in abundance for me in my area of struggle. We question our darkness, our trials, our despair and ask when’s it going to end? God’s answer, “My grace is abundantly present.”

Submit your earthen vessel and let our powerful God do what He can do. Sharing Jesus is not about how much I know, but it’s about sharing the one that I do know, that is, Christ in me.

Why are we shocked when God choses weak vessels like you and me to reveal himself and His glory?

Are you feeling unworthy to witness?

Are you weak in faith with what God wants to do through you? If so, then you are a candidate for God’s awesome power to work in your earthen vessel.