Strength In Weakness

How strong are you?

(This talk was given by Chris Chorlton on 7th July 2002)

Visual - Some Weights - which Matthew Wiggins lifted for 20 seconds. (Health and Safety!)

Individually We Are Weak

Sometimes as Christians we feel weak but when we are encouraged by others we feel a lot better. Have any of you ever seen two of those big muscle men types (Andy Crump?) who go down to the gym and lift weights together? One will lift and the other will encourage and cheer them on? Then they will swap places. Second go - with encouragement.

I think that is a pretty good picture of what the Bible teaches us that we are to do for one another. The Bible tells us to "carry one another's burdens." Sometimes we may have a friend who is going through some difficult times and needs someone to help carry their burden. Maybe our friend is ill, sad, or lonely. Other times, our friend may need some words of encouragement. They may need for us to say, "You can do it! I believe in you! You can do it!" Those words of encouragement may be all they need.

Heavy burdens

Then, there are times that their burden is so heavy that they may need for us to lift that burden for them. Perhaps they have no money and need food or clothing. We can lift their burden by giving them what they need. Do you remember what the weight lifters did? After one of them helped the other, then they swapped places. The really beautiful part of what the Bible teaches about carrying one another's burdens is that sometimes we are the lifter and sometimes we are the encourager. We must be willing to give help to others as well as to receive it.

Weights are heavy and hard to lift. The more we lift them, the stronger our muscles become. Then we get stronger. But what if I told you the weaker you were, the stronger it made you? Does that make sense? No, it doesn't seem to at first, but that is what the Bible says. Let's read it to understand.

Bible:2 Cor 12:7-10

7 (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. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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.

When we realize we are weak, we rely more on God. God gives us a different kind of strength, a spiritual strength. It means we are stronger in the things that matter to God. He wants us to grow stronger spiritually just as much as he wants us to have healthy, strong bodies. When we let God take charge of our life, we willingly become weak to our own desires so God can do great things through us. If we think we are pretty special and really important, our minds trick us into thinking we are more important than we really are. If we are humble and yield ourselves to God, He can use us to be a loving, caring person for Jesus. Let's decide today that we will get ourselves in shape spiritually and be strong for God. Eg. Go and find someone really strong, a man or woman and bring them up here. Now you try, but say I can't, can you..... Songs

Together We are Strong

We are going to try again in a group. Pass it on when you get tired. Do you think we can manage it for 20 seconds? In a group we are stronger.

Lauren tearing sheet

Now we'll look the other way. Imagine this is you. Here is an enemy. Have some volunteers tear one sheet - easy. Then two sheets... more and more difficult... get someone strong to do it.

Lauren tearing newspaper

All these pages together in the Phone Book are impossible to tear through ... there is strength in being with others in the church. That is why we come to church. Many people feel they can be a Christian in their own way and only 'do' church if they feel like it. Here they are. (one sheet). Others decide that they need others around them in their spiritual life to guide and help and encourage, here they are (phone book). Some decide their problems with God can be sorted out alone.

Chris tearing phoneBook

When in trouble we should be stronger. We are going soon. Some will have tea. What am I missing. Water. In fact, hot water works better. The hot water slowly dissolves the tea. Then you let it "mash/steep/stew."

Teabag in cold water

How are Christians like tea? Well, a true Christian's real strength comes out when they get in hot water! You can tell what a Christian is really made of when they endure trials and troubles that reveal whether Jesus is present in their life. You see, the tea is in the bag, but it's not really too useful until it gets affected by the hot water. Perhaps you are really strong physically but not spiritually. Tea Bag each. Next time you see someone make tea, ask yourself, "is that tea stronger than me?" Saying sorry is no weakness, it is a strength. Asking for help is no weakness, it is a strength. Reading your Bible is no weakness, it is a strength. Talking to God is no weakness, it is a strength.

3 Points (Revision!)

1. Encourage others when weak - together we are stronger.
2. When we are weak, Jesus can become strong in us and do more through us.
3. When we get into hot water - that is the 'real' Christian is shown. How do you deal with crisis?

(Text by Chris Chorlton, kettle by Comet)

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