Strength in Weakness

Posted on August 11, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Strength In Weakness

Mark 1:9-10, 12

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.Strength in Weakness

The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.

Jesus was by, “The Spirit immediately drove (pushed with force) out into the wilderness.”

The Spirit here is likened to a dove, perhaps the most tender of all God’s creation. To be pushed out with force by a dove? Such a wonderful picture of meekness is to be found in our Lord. How can omnipotent power dwell in the same vessel as such humility? Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah to our God!

Pondering this has caused me to examine myself. I have come to realize that more often than not, I rely on my own strength instead of the power of God. I walk around feeling that “I am a man and no one is going to drive me anywhere.” God created us (men) to be leaders and built us to be strong. It is counter intuitive for us to be weak, and to boast in our weakness seems foolish.

Being weak may seem absurd but we must remember what Proverbs 14:12 tells us; “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

You see my brother, all things must be measured according to the truth of the Holy Scriptures and here is the truth; though it may seem foolish to be weak, we cannot be strong until we are.

Alan Redpath writes “I would that helplessness might be the attitude of all of us…..because conscious weakness is always a prerequisite for heavenly reinforcement.”

We read in 1 Cor 1:20b “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” There are seasons in the life of a Christian that almost everything he thinks is wise is actually foolish and what looks foolish is couched firmly in the will of God. Men, forget what was your worldly wisdom, set aside your great strength and let us cry to the world, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7.

I wonder in our lives how often we do not let the gentle dove (the Spirit of God) drive us out with force to here or there, for a taste of heaven. How often do we miss the blessings He has for us due to our great strength? Pray that you may no longer be so great at being strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.

Rejoice! God knew our obstinacy before we were redeemed and will not give up on us now. As we draw near unto Him our frames of dust and self-dependence will be made more and more apparent. We will grow in grace and as we do we’ll grow in weakness and in weakness in power and when His power rests upon us all things will be possible. – Troy Fink is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves with Chaplain Bill Pruitt at NEW HOPE PHILLY. You can email Troy at tfink916@gmail.com

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 81-83; 1 Peter 1

Think About This: “Pride is the sin of competing with God.” John MacArthur

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8

Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?

Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.

LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories