sermon 10.23.11
DESCRIPTION
Power Through Weakness 3TRANSCRIPT
The “Backward” Wisdom of God
The “Backward” Wisdom of God
God’s wisdom seems “backward” to us because our
thinking is so backward!
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SALVATION
The only thing that keeps us from
the power of salvation is our self-confidence.
Power and Weakness
The Holy Roman Empire
Power and Weakness
What is the Church?
Why are we here?
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28,29
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
Commitment to Christ & Serving Others
Nourishment via God’s Word,
Prayer & Fellowship
Difficulties
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 2 Corinthians 12:7,8
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE 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. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
Common “thorns”
○DISTURBANCE
○DARKNESS
○DISAPPOINTMENT
○INEQUALITY
The Story of Agnes
The Story of Agnes
Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
How are you responding to God’s
current “thorns?”
Power and Weakness
Jars of Clay
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
Power and Weakness
Jars of Clay 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18