I’ve been meditating all week on embracing my weakness for acquaintance with God’s power and a whole other level of faith. According to the below scripture, God wants our faith not to simply rest on wisdom from men, but on his power:
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. – 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
God wants us to be acquainted with his power. He wants us to know his power so much that it builds our faith.
Faith: Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Strong belief in God or in doctrines of a religion (Google Definition.)
God doesn’t want us staying at the same level as when we came into the faith. He wants us growing stronger and more confident in him. We grow stronger and more confident in the Lord and in our faith through embracing our weaknesses. This is where we give the Holy Spirit room to work.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. – Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
Above, we see when we are too weak to find the right words to pray; the Holy Spirit prays for us, and not only does he pray for us, but he prays God’s will for us being the Spirit of God; he knows the mind of God concerning us. Just like men know the dealings of men.
Paul speaks of the importance of not boasting in himself, but instead boasting in his weaknesses:
2 Corinthians 12:5 – But I will not boast about myself, except my weakness.
Paul continues to speak of refraining from boasting in himself even though he’d be telling the truth about himself. He chooses to boast in his weaknesses so that men do not think more of him than who he really is. By Paul sharing his weaknesses, it allows him to appear human to his followers as he relies on God. This lets his followers know they can also rely on God.
To keep Paul from looking to himself for strength because of his history of revelations; God allowed a thorn in his flesh making him acquainted with his weakness so that he could be acquainted w/God’s strength and power. This, in turn, builds his faith. Paul sees the value in this process and instead of complaining, he embraces his weakness looking for a full manifestation of God’s power and strength.
In conclusion, we see Paul embracing his weakness within himself for God’s greater power. See 2 Corinthians 12:9. He learns to love this process despite the discomfort of his weakness. In the church, there is a facade that to be a real believer; you have to be strong all the time, ignore or simply don’t address weaknesses for an appearance of righteousness and holiness. However, that isn’t it. That’s not the structure God has built up or ordained. Actually, it’s a set up for a break down because none of us are strong enough to stand up strong all of the time unless we are depending on the Holy Spirit’s power to help us where we are weak.
Don’t be deceived or fooled by those who boast in their reputation or strength as if that is the way to proceed. The way to proceed is to embrace the fact that we are weak allowing God to elevate our faith, confidence, and maturity in him through showing his strength and power within our weakest places.
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