The chapter titled Strengths and Weaknesses are a Paradox contains these gems: "...At first Moses offered every excuse in the book as to why he couldn't possibly be the one to lead Israel out of bondage. In Exodus 7:1, God ended the debate: 'See, I have made you as God to Pharoah.' True to His word, Pharoah was so bewildered by the power Moses wielded that he didn't know what to do or think...he had...to conclude that Moses was some sort of God...
...Gideon offered the same excuses at first. His self-image was a mess: 'O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house," he said in Judges 6:15. What did God see when He looked at Gideon? Read verse 12: 'the LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!' Obviously, a significant gap existed between who Gideon thought he was, and what the Lord had laid out for him to do...
...A spiritual warrior lives in this strength and weakness paradox. God always puts our weakness together with His strength. He does not ask us to be strong; in fact, our weakness is what attracts Him. He is strong enough for both himself and us. He couples our inability with His provision...
...Magnifying God is not an option; it is an antidote to poor self esteem...
...Living out of the soul is a lower order of engagement because we are the prime focus. When we allow logic and emotion to lead us, fear grips us...
...The Holy Spirit is not interested in what we cannot do; He is interested in what we are willing to do. If our heart is right before God, no present weakness can prevent us from overcoming the challenges before us...
...We cannot build a life by trying to correct weakness. Instead, we build our life by defining and refining the gifts, strengths, and revelation God has given us...
...When we focus on our weaknesses, we cannot make a difference in a critical moment...
...No one can inherit or possess a gift from God when they focus on on their weakness. Every believer already possesses the things they need to both get free and stay free. It's already in us, put there by God Himself. We simply need to take inventory of our gifts and use that arsenal God has given us. In Acts 3, Peter did not dwell on his weakness when confronted with a crippled man at the Gate Beautiful. Instead, he gave out of the strength God had put in him: 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,' (verse 6). The same principle was echoed by Paul twice in Philippians 4: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (verse 13), and 'And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus," (verse 19). When we pour out the blessing God has given us, another door opens for us in Heaven. We do not live out of a finite pool of anointing; God has more than enough to give us...
...Prosperity then is about giving, not receiving. When we sow, God gives us both a massive harvest to reap and more seed with which to plant...
...Mature Christians know both what God is doing in them, and what He is doing through them. They do not confuse the two. What our souls see as crisis is actually an opportunity for expansion. It may have to come in a strange way or a difficult time, but it is always an opportunity. Will we allow our soul to dominate in this time, or our spirit? Will we resolve to live from the right place? Are we determined to stand fast and rest in the Lord? These are the questions we will face over and over again in our lives."
PREACH IT, Graham!
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