{"id":3363,"date":"2015-08-05T00:11:20","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T07:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3363"},"modified":"2015-08-05T04:14:52","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T11:14:52","slug":"808-perfected-in-weakness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/08\/05\/808-perfected-in-weakness\/","title":{"rendered":"8\/5: Perfected in Weakness (\u8bd791:1-8 \u6797\u524d1:18-2:5 \u4ee3\u4e0a19:1-22:1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd791:1-8 \u6797\u524d1:18-2:5 \u4ee3\u4e0a19:1-22:1<\/h2>\n

Perfected in Weakness<\/h2>\n
\n

I kept getting these phone calls. They came mostly from church leaders. They were from many different parts of the church. They were always long telephone conversations. They all wanted to know: \u2018How come you get so many people from outside of the church on the course?\u2019 \u2018What exactly is Alpha?\u2019 \u2018How do you run it?\u2019<\/p>\n

I thought perhaps the best solution was to get them all together in one room and tell them all at the same time. As a result we put on our first Alpha Conference in May 1993. To our astonishment a thousand church leaders turned up. I was relatively new to Christian ministry and was extremely daunted at the thought of a thousand church leaders, most of whom were far more experienced in ministry than I was.<\/p>\n

The words of the apostle Paul seemed to sum up exactly how I felt. I read them to the delegates at the start of the conference:<\/p>\n

\u2018When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness <\/em>and fear<\/em>, and with much trembling<\/em>. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God\u2019s power\u2019 (1 Corinthians 2:1\u20135).<\/p>\n

I thought once I had explained what Alpha was to this group of church leaders, I would never have to explain it to anyone again. But in fact, by the end of the conference we had been invited to do many more conferences all over the place. Over the years we have done hundreds of conferences. At every Alpha Conference I start by reading 1 Corinthians 2:1\u20135. It is always what I feel; I always feel nervous. There is always an element of \u2018weakness <\/em>and fear<\/em>, and… muchtrembling<\/em>\u2019. But I thank God that it does not depend on wise and persuasive words but on a demonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power. And God\u2019s power is perfected in weakness<\/em> (2 Corinthians 12:9).<\/p>\n

There is a good side to \u2018weakness\u2019, \u2018fear\u2019 and \u2018trembling\u2019. There is also a bad side. In the passages for today we see both the good and the bad sides of weakness, fear and trembling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1. Fear and faith<\/h2>\n

Psalm 91:1-8<\/a>\u2018Fear nothing\u2019 (v.5, MSG) writes the psalmist. He gives the answer to \u2018fear\u2019 in the bad sense of the word. He writes, \u2018You will not fear <\/em>the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday\u2019 (vv.5\u20136).<\/p>\n

The answer to fear is a close relationship with the Lord \u2013 to dwell \u2018in the shelter of the Most High\u2019 and \u2018rest in the shadow of the Almighty\u2019 (v.1). The opposite of fear is trust <\/em>in God (v.2).<\/p>\n

There is a strong connection between what you think and what you say. What you think will come out in your words. But also your words can affect your thinking. What you say to God can change your thinking. The psalmist tells us to speak aloud about God\u2019s goodness: \u2018Say this<\/em>, \u201cGod you\u2019re my refuge. I trust in you<\/em> and I\u2019m safe!\u201d\u2019 (v.2, MSG).<\/p>\n

He promises to rescue you \u2018from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you \u2013 under them you\u2019re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm\u2019 (vv.3\u20134, MSG).<\/p>\n

Fear can destroy your enjoyment of the present. God raised Jesus from the dead. In doing so, he freed you from the fear of death and all the fears that go with it. You do not need to be afraid about the future and you can enjoy the present without fear<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you that I can dwell in your shelter and rest in your shadow. I say to you today: you are \u2018my refuge and my fortress\u2019 (v.2). I will trust in you. Thank you that under your wings I find refuge and I need not be afraid.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2. Power in weakness<\/h2>\n

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5<\/a>\u2018I was scared to death,\u2019 writes the apostle Paul (2:3, MSG). He felt totally inadequate for the task that God had called him to, \u2018But the Message came through anyway. God\u2019s Spirit and God\u2019s power did it\u2019 (v.4, MSG).<\/p>\n

Moral weakness and cowardice are not virtues. However there is, as we see in this passage, a good side to weakness, fear and trembling.<\/p>\n

God turns things upside down. The cross turned things upside down: \u2018For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God\u2019 (1:18).<\/p>\n

Jesus died as a state criminal. He died on a Roman instrument of torture \u2013 a death reserved for the most degraded and despised in Roman society. The cross did not become the symbol of Christianity for a hundred years. Crucifixion was about weakness, humiliation and defeat.<\/p>\n

At this time Corinth was the intellectual centre of the world. It was the place of debaters, travelling teachers, lecturers and philosophers. The mind and the intellect were highly rated.<\/p>\n

The gospel message that we proclaim seems utterly foolish to many highly intelligent people: that Jesus dying on a cross two thousand years ago can totally transform your life seems \u2018foolishness\u2019 to the intelligentsia and is a \u2018stumbling-block\u2019 (v.23), even to many religious people.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, this simple message saves those who believe: \u2018For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe\u2026 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength\u2019 (vv.21,25).<\/p>\n

As we look around we can see that it is still true today that not many of those in the church are \u2018the brightest and the best\u2019. Not many are \u2018influential\u2019. And not many are \u2018from high-society families\u2019 (v.26, MSG). But it is still true today that God \u2018chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise\u2019. He \u2018chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong\u2019 (v.27).<\/p>\n

Do not be ashamed of speaking a very simple message, which seems foolishness to so many people. There is no need to try and dress it up with \u2018eloquence or superior wisdom\u2019 (2:1). Focus on the message of \u2018Jesus Christ and him crucified\u2019 (v.2). As Eugene Peterson translates, \u2018I deliberately kept it plain and simple; first Jesus and who he is<\/em>; then Jesus and what he did<\/em> \u2013 Jesus crucified\u2019 (v.2, MSG).<\/p>\n

It is normal to experience \u2018weakness and fear, and… much trembling\u2019 (v.3). What matters is not whether you use \u2018wise and persuasive words\u2019 but the \u2018demonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power\u2019 (v.4). And his power is made perfect in our weakness. It is often only when we feel weak that we are willing to rely completely on God. Paul was utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit to speak through him. However inadequate you feel, if you ask for the Holy Spirit to speak through you, he will.<\/p>\n

Lord, thank you for the message of Jesus and him crucified, which is the power of God. Thank you that I do not need eloquence or superior wisdom. Although I speak in weakness and fear, and with much trembling, I pray that you accompany the preaching of that message with a demonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3. Fear and trembling<\/h2>\n

1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1<\/a>\u2018Fear and trembling\u2019 before God is not always wrong. Indeed, it is sometimes appropriate.<\/p>\n

The chronicler makes it clear, in a way that the earlier account did not, that it was \u2018Satan\u2019 who \u2018incited David to take a census\u2019 (21:1). Joab tried to persuade David not to do this (v.3). But David overruled him. \u2018And God was displeased with this (reliance on human resources)\u2019 (v.7, AMP).<\/p>\n

It is not quite clear why this was such a great sin<\/em>, but it obviously was as David said to God, \u2018I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing\u2019 (v.8).<\/p>\n

With what appears to be fear and trembling he says, \u2018I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great\u2019 (v.13).<\/p>\n

When he comes to offer a sacrifice to God he says, \u2018I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing\u2019 (v.24). He called on the Lord and the Lord answered him \u2018with fire from heaven\u2019 (v.26).<\/p>\n

Lord, I come to you today in weakness and with much trembling and ask that your power will be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Pippa Adds<\/h2>\n
\n

1 Corinthians 1:27<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.\u2019<\/p>\n

I definitely fall into the category of weak and foolish. Thank you Lord for choosing me!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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