Judges 6:33-7:25: God’s strength through weakness
Outline
- God uses reticent doubters
- God uses tiny armies
Introduction
Paul was troubled by a thorn in the flesh, a deliberate, providential, God permitted thorn which forced Paul to depend upon God more closely and kept him from pride (2 Cor. 12:1-8). Paul prayed three times that the thorn might be removed, but instead of the modern expectation that God works for our comfort and happiness, God said this, 2 Cor. 12:9. ‘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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 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.’
Paul learnt the lesson that God delights to use our weakness as His opportunity to display His glory. When we are weak, then the power that has to bring about the results must be His and He gets the glory for the victory not us. In a day where vanity is an industry, where we Photoshop photographs of ourselves, in our day of practised non-make up selfies as an act of daring; to present ourselves as inadequate and weak and deficient seems contrary to reason. This is the necessary lesson that we learn from Gideon in his famous fleece saga and his first military encounter. God uses the base things of this world that no flesh may glory in His presence, our weaknesses are not reasons for apathy or inactivity but a closer dependence upon God.
Recent Sermons
Psalm 37:1-11: The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth
June 18, 2023
Psalm 77 – Remembering God
June 11, 2023
Philippians 3:1 – 3 True and False Religion
June 11, 2023