CHRISTMAS UP CLOSE: His Strength In Our Weakness
Luke 2:7 (ESV) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Life will reveal vulnerability, fragility, weakness:
Health
Success
Finances
Business (2-3 best years, suddenly lay off 15 people)
Relationships
Finances (Longview, mill shuts down, whole town reels)
The wellbeing of a child
Life
Weakness, fragility, vulnerability is a FACT of life.
It is a reality that will settle upon you often.
It will often feel like “this thing is hanging by a thread.”
For some:
This is the moment to give in and quit
For people of faith, this is the moment where God shows up
Never more weakness in God’s plan to save man than is Luke 2!
A baby
In a woman’s womb
Born in a world 2000 years ago
During Roman occupation
During a census
People who had to travel
No hospital, no hotel
A manger in a stable
Wrapped in a blanket???
Announcement of a King when there’s no King but Caesar
The decree to exterminate all male children
I would not have forged this plan - it is as fragile as they get
You will live in this tension more often than not.
It can be one of the best places to live.
Weakness Reveals Our Need For Him
I don’t like to feel weak or appear weak.
Especially as a Christian
Too often we live in the power of our own strength
We do strive to do our part, be the best we can be
In limitations, we try to compensate, muscle through
Recognizing our limitations identifies our need for God
This works best when it is formal.
Mark 6:34–44 (ESV) When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
What do you have? “NOT ENOUGHT”
Recognizing my “not enough” invites God to fill that gap
Declaring Weakness Invites His Strength
Jesus could have just performed a miracle
Defining how little they had was a formal declaration
“How bad is it” is important
Matthew 14:18–21 (ESV) And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
He Protects What We Trust Him With
Luke 1:34–38 (ESV) And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The Discomfort Of Weakness Builds Faith If We Lean In
“It’s been great, I haven’t had to trust God for anything lately” might be the worst admission you could ever make.
Trusting doesn’t make you stronger
Trusting strengthens your confidence in Him
The need to trust is a gift