How To Make Sense Of Our Weakness?

• Weakness is a reality in our humanity.
• As humans, we all yearn to overcome our weakness.
• Thus, we are captivated by special power that can overcome human weakness. 
• Yet, as much as we love power, we equally identify with weakness.
• Since weakness is an essential quality of human being, trying to appear strong and positive all the time is not the solution.
• The Bible gives essential answers about man’s weakness.
  E.g. Paul was candid about his weakness.

<2 Cor 11:26-30>

26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

<2 Cor 12:7-10>

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Is weakness a sin?

* Strictly speaking, it is not, but it creates opportunity for us to sin.

Our enemy, Satan is always looking for opportunity to test us in our weakness

* The devil tempts us through circumstances where we are susceptible to sin. 

* The devil can also manipulate our weakness, which is embedded in our personality.

It is the sustaining Grace of God that protects us in our weakness

* <Ro 8:34>: … Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

How about weaknesses that is so common and frequent?

* The Objective: To Refine Us

* Struggles of the refining process

* Through prolonged weakness and difficulties, God does His refining work in us uniquely

<Jn 8:5-6>

How do we receive grace in our weakness?

1) Truly acknowledge it’s a weakness

2) Learn to rely fully on God’s grace and strength

* Our self-reliant and self-directed nature often diminishes God’s grace in our lives.

3) Learn to rely on the faith community

* <Eph 6:19>: Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

* <<Php 4:18>: … I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

4) Amazingly at times, our weaknesses are turned to strength through God’s mighty power

* <2 Ti 4:16-18>: 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.