Hebrews 11.32-34 32 And what more shall I say? For time
would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel
and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty
in war, put foreign armies to flight. (ESV)
The apostle Paul said: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV) And whoever wrote Hebrews said the members of the
Hall of Faith were made strong out of weakness.
David, Gideon, Samson, Jepthah, Samuel and the prophets
all had not only their moments of weakness but also had their moments of
finding courage and strength in those moments. They stood up when it counted
and they were counted for doing so.
Weakness is the truth: we are capable of little on our
own. We try to fool ourselves that we are so skilled and clever and the truth
is we’re weak. We’re weak, and fallen,
and faulty, and frail…and that is precisely the kind of people God is looking
for: the weak are the ones He can use – they got nothin’ to offer except what He really values: faith.
And weakness is the birthing ground of faith. When we are
weak and powerless is when we have no other place to turn and no other self-strength
to draw from. And God uses the weak and powerless because the strong and
powerful simply lean upon their own resources. The problem with mankind is he stubbornly
thinks he has something to offer; something to bring to the table; and he
usually won’t take “no” for an answer; he simply takes his ball and goes home.
But the weak are those who’ve no place to go except to
the throne of grace where they cry out over and over, “God if You don’t intervene, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m going to die.”
And then they cry out the greatest words in human existence: God, help me! God doesn’t help those who
help themselves, He helps those who’ve no help to offer. He helps those who cry
out to Him for salvation from real-time enemies and real-life issues that are
greater than they are and are going to wipe them out if He doesn’t come to
their aid.
After an all-nighter at my church, this morning, I’m weak
but I still have all day to go. I’m mosquito bitten, stiff from lying wrong, my
ears are wringing, and I need some sleep. But I need God to intervene into my
life today because if He doesn’t, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m dead.
Father, all of
these of whom we’ve had no time to speak, other than to mention their names
were made strong out of weakness. In weakness their faith was born. Some of
their stories are downright embarrassing, but my story is just like theirs, and
my faith is just like theirs, because my need is just like theirs: I need You
God and without You, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m dead. Use me in weakness and use
me often for weakness is where I live and Your strength to succeed is what I
need. I need You God – amen…
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