Great Weakness = Great Power (Anointing)

I have seen so many people that have great weakness in their lives. Whether someone's weakness be lying, lust, stealing, addiction, adultery, gambling, pride, covetousness or envy (as well as many more)...every person is weak every day. I have personally been weak (and continue to be) in so many areas of my life that they cannot be counted. I am a former alcohol and drug addict who has habitually lied, usually out of deep desire to gain other's approval. I now see my children lying at times because they desperately want my approval, which I believe I give them liberally. I have been weak in the areas of keeping my word and being a faithful and trustworthy friend. I have been exploding with pride at times and almost crippled with fear at other times. The world might say that I am a "hot mess."

But aren't we all a hot mess if we are being honest with ourselves? Your weaknesses may be different than mine, but the truth is, we are all very weak in our own ways. The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ALL. That includes you (and me). ALL includes world leaders, your children's teachers...ALL means ALL.

With this information, there are a couple of things we could do. We can sit down and just say "it will never be better, I'll always be a mess" or we can go to God and ask Him for wisdom on how our lives might become better, and we might overcome weakness and become stronger.

James 1:5 (KJV)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him."

As we study the scriptures of the Bible, what does God say about our weaknesses?

2 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

"For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."

So we see that in great weakness, Jesus went to the cross to be crucified as the perfect sacrifice to make atonement for all the sins of the world - our weaknesses. He lives now by the power of God that raised Him from the dead, and so, although we are great in weaknesses, we live by the power of God's Spirit living in us and working toward our lives.

1 John 4:9 (KJV)

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

God knew our weakness, the curse of sin in our lives...He knew we couldn't fix our own problems, or become strong through our own will. We needed power from God to overcome our weakness. This power came through God sending His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins, that we might live through Him.

Romans 6:4

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

A few years ago, I was feeling especially frustrated with my own personal weaknesses and the weaknesses of those around me. I was feeling overwhelmed by the work of Satan in my life, and the consequences of sin in my life. I was feeling very heavy and sad, as if I would never overcome these problems. The LORD spoke into my spirit and said:

I want to tell you a secret of the kingdom of God. I want to tell you something that Satan does not want you to know. THE AREA OF YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS IS ALSO THE AREA OF YOUR GREATEST POWER AND ANOINTING.

I thought about what the Lord was speaking to me. This truth settled into my spirit as I began to remember what the Bible says about this:

2 Samuel 3:38-39 (KJV)

"And the king said unto his servants, Know you not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."

Here we see an anointed king of Israel declaring his weakness before God. He then states that the Lord will reward the evildoer - showing God's power to accomplish what the king of Israel could not do! If the king of Israel is weak and relies on God's power to accomplish great things, so should we!

2 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT)

"If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

The Apostle Paul knew this secret of God's kingdom - weakness in our lives allows for God's great power to be shown in us. We are weak, but God is strong enough to overcome all our weakness. In our weakness, the power of Christ shines more brightly through our lives. People come to know that all have sinned, but God's glory is in the lives of His children through Jesus, not by our own works.

I know that you have weakness in your life. I know that you struggle. I do too. We can be sure that God does not look down on us in anger for our weakness, but instead it gives Him an opportunity to show off the great power and glory of His grace working through our lives.

May God bless you upon the hearing of His Word give you knowledge, understanding and wisdom in Jesus name!

Your sister in Christ,

Sarah

Christians and the Second Coming of Christ

I have heard Christians debate the issue of attempting to discern the signs of the times (eschatology). Are we supposed to be trying to know when Jesus will return, or are we just supposed to leave the issue alone and wait patiently? Some Christians really do not believe the second coming of Christ will be during their own lifetime, while others believe that Jesus could come back any second! What should we believe?

Let's look deeper into scripture to find the answers.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (Matthew 24:36 NKJV)

Father God knows when Jesus is coming back, nobody else does.

So is it wrong to discern the signs of the times trying to figure out when He will come?

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:42-44 NKJV)

Answer #1: WATCH for His coming!

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:33-37 NKJV)

Answer #2: While you watch, PRAY!

What happens to those who are not watching and doing God's will?

But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48-51 NKJV)

Some will not be watching and some will...

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV)

With knowledge comes responsibility. We know that God wants Christians to watch, pray and be ready for His sudden return!

Answer #3: God gave us signs to discern that will encourage us to await Jesus' soon return!

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? (Luke 12:54-57 NKJV)

WATCH, PRAY, DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES - BE READY! BE FOUND WHEN HE RETURNS DOING HIS WILL.

How do we do His will? First put your complete faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation that will pay the price and take the judgment for the sin in your life. Cry out in prayer to God and ask for His mercy on you through the sacrifice of Jesus.

But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above ) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:6-11 NKJV)

Second way to do His will - TELL OTHERS about salvation through Jesus Christ. All Christians are called to evangelize and make disciples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19, 20 NKJV)

Be blessed and be ready in Jesus name!

Sarah