Strength Through Weakness – God’s Paradox
This is the deceptive “Me” Philosophy.
I hereby seek to bring to your remembrance a message that I preached (July @ UJ Soweto and August @ TCBC Lagos with power point presentation) on “Making It Through These Last Days”.
If you would remember, amongst other scripts, we zeroed in on the book of 2 Timothy 3: 1-9.
“…perilous times shall come… for men shall be lovers of own selves…”
The “Perilous Times” predicted by the holy apostles is here.
This time period is characterised by the “Me! Me first…Me last (and others) Philosophy”.
This is the Luciferian Deceptive Message to the world of men, his colourful kite hoisted lofty to capture the unsaved and unregenerated men who are otherwise made in God’s image.
It’s all about thinking about You! You are the centre of the world and every matter!
Doesn’t that sound good?
Except that you didn’t notice that you are being nudged to live in the thought that “You are the first, you are the last, it’s really about YOU being the alpha & omega!”
If you are the the “alpha & omega” of your world, where is your creator? I guess you didn’t reason up to that point before you swallowed Oprah Winfrey doctrines.
What Lucifer has been doing through his agents in the talkshow industry, soul motivators, oratory political speakers, certain class of “rights” agitators, etc is to push the human race to mimic his actions that was reported in the book of Isaiah 14: 12-14“…For thou has said in thine heart, I will…I will… I will… I will… I will be like the most High”.
THE NEW MIND SET:
The generality of the human race has been progressively goaded to be on this precipice – The New Age Philosophy.
Men have been made to think that it is both cute and a sign of “self confidence” to believe that “it’s all about Me” !
Yeah, yes “I” can!
What “I” think… what “I” choose to like… what “I” decide that is right for “Me”… what “I” decide is not right for “Me”…
“I” make all the laws…
“I” decide what is morally acceptable or not…
It is “I” and “I” that must be satisfied…
Nothing is no longer absolutely evil and nothing is good except what “I” classify them to be…”
In other words man has taken the title and function of “I am that I am”!
Since “I” like “Me”, then to hell with any differing opinion of anybody – parents, church leaders, community leaders, guardians and mentors (do they even exist again?), the moral society and even God motivated inner consciences!
The New Age Campaign:
Please take time to examine deeply the underlying philosophies of
● The Same-sex Rights Movements,
● The Pro-Abortionists,
● The various Terrorist Groups,
● The Pervert Religious Leaders,
● Corrupt & Selfish Politicians, Judges and Law Enforcement Agents,
● The Internet Fraudsters, Electronic Hackers,
● The Drug & Human Traffickers,
● The Movie Industry and Entertainment Practitioners,
● Pedophiles,
● Armed Robbers,
● Assassins,
● Money launderers,
● serial sex offenders,
● Arms traffickers,
● Youth Cult Groups and Gangs, etc.
It’s all about gradually replacing God with the man!
It is all about projecting IDOLS! Making images and idols that will provoke God’s wrath and judgement.
These are the things to watch out for… what to pray against. .. what to resist from infliterating our minds and souls… pray for the youths!
In your patience, possess ye your souls!
God of Patience:
Romans 15:5
In our enlightened, can-do age, patience is seen as more weakness than virtue: it is for those can’t invent a solution or aren’t physically fit to climb the stairs when the elevator is slow. Patience is for those who can’t get their own way.
But repeatedly the Bible teaches us that God is at once all-powerful and patient. In other words, he is not patient because he has to be, but because he wants to be. In fact if, in his omnipotence, there is anything left to do of all God desires, then we see in that period of waiting the patience of God. As someone has observed, “God charted the course of the universe according to his patience.”
Patience, then, being an attribute of God, is not a weakness but a virtue. It is not only to be exercised because we can’t get our way; it is to be exercised because God is getting his way. God is never anxious, perturbed, or distressed and so we do not need to be either, if we are trusting in him.
Keep Reminding:
1Tim 3: 6-11
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.
We need to remind ourselves of certain truths which due to their very simple nature can easily be trifled, lost or just ignored or discarded like a broken toy.
We must remind ourselves continually that our apparent weakness can be a leverage that allows God’s strength and wisdom to be impacted and operate within us.
The world thinks and acts along certain ways, certain standards and therefore certain principles. However from the Word of God, it is revealed to us that God’s own ways are directly contrary to that of the world and His principles from a totally different standpoint.
Isaiah 55: 8, 9
Isaiah 55: 10 and 11
God’s Standard of Strength and Wisdom versus that of the World
1Cor 1: 22 – 25
Read verse 25 in NLT, MSG and AMP
God’s Wisdom and Strength summed up in two words => Christ Crucified
Contrast between God’s Ways and Man’s Ways reflected in His foreknowledge and therefore plan for the crucifixion.
Acts 2: 22, 23
Revelation 13: 8 “… the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world”
1Cor 2: 6 – 10.
Emphasis on verse 8 (the secret wisdom hidden from the rulers of this world)
The True measure of Strength according to God’s view.
Romans 15: 1
Spiritual strength is measured by God and by the scriptures in proportion to the amount that we are able to support and bear the weakness of other people. Yielding as a Grace.
This contrary to the dictates of The Spirit of The Age.
The Spirit of The Age says ultimately that whatever suits us is what is right – The downward slippery path to the place of horrible mess.
The Correct Christian Attitude:
The care for one another particularly for the hopelessly handicapped, the aged, the sick, the infirm is a must!
Beware of selective consideration
Recall (1) The story of David and his men at Ziglag 1 Sam 30: 11 – 16
(2) The case of Naaman, the Syrian commander 2 Kings 5: 2 – 4
God has not changed in character, attributes and standards.
Deut 10: 18 ; 14: 29 ; 24: 19
Psalm 146: 9
Isaiah 1: 17 ; Jer 7: 6 ; Zechariah 7: 10
Why did God hate and destroyed Amalekites? They have no value for the weak and seemingly unprofitable or productive.
1 Samuel 15: 1 – 3
Deut 25: 17 – 19
Exodus 17: 8 – 16
Be careful of wrong influences like Amalekites and Edomites.
2 Samuel 1: 1 – 16 the test of an Amalekites
How we are to do things differently? Matthew 5: 13 The Salt of the earth
The functions of Salt: (1) Purifies and cleanses
(2) Preserves (retards corruption)
(3) Sweetens (renders food tasty and acceptable)
Exchanging our weaknesses for God’s strength:
The strength that the World recognizes is represented by political, military and material.
The World’s Strength seeks to Master, Control, Subjugate, Dominate, Enforce its own Will and is basically selfish. Essentially the strength of the Jungle and Beasts.
Lion, Leopard, Tiger, etc.
The prophetic preview of the End of the Age = Political Powers represented by wild beast images – Lion, Bear, Leopard, etc.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah = The Lamb as it has been slain!
Rev 5: 5, 6.
God’s exchange:
Isaiah 40: 28 – 31 Natural Strength versus God’s Strength
Soar, Run and Walk
Paul’s experience in 2 Cor 12: 5 – 11
Emphasis on verse 10 “when I am weak, then ….”
The way up is down.
Luke 9: 23, 24
Deny yourself
Take up your cross daily
Follow Jesus
Example of Abraham and Lot; Jacob and the Prince with God.