Balance: Strength & weakness
Speaker: Colin Boyd
Notes
Introduction point: both strengths and weaknesses should be taken to God.
Both can get you into trouble. Thank you to Sophie and Anwen for their honest
and original slants on their Dads as compared to the strength of gorillas!
Weaknesses:
Admit weakness exists. Example of Daniel,(Daniel 6), who is most famous for weakest moment of his life in being thrown to the lions (but he handed it all to God, so was it really weakness?)
Weakness is not an excuse for always handing tasks to someone else. God
may expect you to do something about your weakness, or he may give you a
companion who can complement it. Example of Moses and Aaron.
Example of Paul in Corinthian letters emphasizing his weaknesses rather
than his ability. Paul's companions - why did he need them?
Comment to leaders - do not fear working with other leaders whose
strengths are different to your own.
Strengths:
Recognise both source and limitations of strengths. Strength needs to be subjected to the rule and discipline of God. Problem of our pride in our own strength leading to refusal to let God refine it or train us when to use it. Peter's confidence in his strength of loyalty let him down. Jesus can bring your strengths and weaknesses into balance only with your desire and your permission.
Scriptures of Godly men who saw their strength only in God: Phil. 4:12,
Habbakuk 3:19, Isaiah 12:2
Application
2 Chronicles 20. How did Jehosophat turn a position of weakness into
strength? What risk was a king(or any leader perhaps) taking when he said, "We
do not know what to do...." (v12) Are leaders often understandably afraid of
making such an admission? and is an admission of weakness necessarily a "bad
place to be"?
Take a look at the 'weakness' that Simon Peter had with 'impetuosity'.
See Matthew 16:22 and Acts 2:14. The same characteristic was being displayed.
What was the difference?
Pray with each other, both for your 'perceived weaknesses' and your use
of your 'perceived strengths'.
Posted: 6 Jun 2010
