Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: WEAK (07/22/21)
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TITLE: The Strong Weakling | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
07/28/21 -
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Scripture (1Cor. 1: 18) concedes that without spiritual enablement, the unadulterated Gospel Message can appear to be "foolishness." 1Cor. 2: 14 makes the same point regarding Bible Doctrine.
Accordingly, one should not be surprised when this is the response one experiences when attempting to evangelize or edify others.
In the case of 2Cor.12: 10, human viewpoint would ask, how can one be strong when one is weak.
Paul, I believe, was speaking of Christ's ambassadors appearing to be weak in both the eyes of the world and by those who make use of humans tactics (debates, threats, promises) in order to promote or to defend the Word of God.
Turning the other cheek (Matt. 5: 38 - 42) and doing good for those who hate you (Matt. 5: 44) will make one look weak in the eyes of the world, as they do not have the spiritual insight to perceive the strength it takes to takes to restrain oneself.
Telling it (the Word of God) like it is, but with gentleness and respect (1Pet. 3: 15), will provide listeners with all the necessary warnings and promises that any given situation requires.
It is God the Holy Spirit (not the speaker) that provides the listeners with the ability to understand, affording them the opportunity to be saved and or edified.
It is NOT for us to debate, threaten, promise, or otherwise persuade others via human effort. This temptation can be difficult to resist, especially when one falls into Satan's trap by taking negative responses (Matt.7: 6) personally.
The advancing disciple's part in the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20) is to be prepared (2Pet. 3: 18) and to respond using "gentleness and respect (1Pet. 3: 15) to the opportunities that God arranges for him/or her, to present the unadulterated Gospel Message to spiritually dead individuals, and to present edifying Bible Doctrine to fellow believers.
Spiritually mature believers do not have to go around looking for people to evangelize or edify. God, in HIS timing, will prepare and bring inquirers to you.
Preparing (2Pet. 3: 18) oneself is critical.
Like a runner in a torch relay race, one can NOT be used of God to pass the unadulterated Gospel Message and or accurate Bible doctrine along to someone else until one first has an understanding of such things for himself.
On the other hand, the devil will make use of anyone and anything that he can to promote falsehood. "Blind guides (Matt. 15: 14)" within the Christian Community unwittingly become weapons of mass destruction.
Using an Acts 17: 11 filter and conducting frequent 2Cor. 13: 5 examinations will either reinforce one's existing convictions, or will identify the need for one to make the necessary adjustments in his doctrine or practices in order to continue to spiritually mature.
Keep in mind that we ALL are a work in progress. We all have areas of weakness. These areas of weakness are the result of false doctrine or the lack of willingness to apply the accurate doctrine that we do have.
"For we also once were (just as) foolish ourselves, disobedient, DECEIVED, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another... (Titus 3: 3 NASB parentheses mine)," until God used someone else to evangelize or to edify us.
We all come into this world with bare shelves in our spiritual library that need to be stocked, read, and applied (James 1: 22).
We do not all have the same areas of weakness. What is of great temptation to one person has no appeal at all to another.
But as Romans 3: 23 and James 2: 10 points one out, we all sin and are therefore in the same sinking boat. There is only one lifeboat and one means to climb board (John 14: 6).
One is never more at risk of stunting his or her spiritual growth than when he or she thinks he or she knows it all. Such a believer becomes unteachable. In this the devil is well-pleased.
We are weak in any area where we either do not know or do apply what Scripture has to say.
We will experience weak responses if we attempt to use human powers of persuasion (2Cor. 10: 4) to achieve spiritual objectives (Matt. 28: 19, 20). In some cases, it will be counterproductive, compromising or even eliminating future opportunities.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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You made some points that I did not think of.
Keep up the good work!