In the Power of His Might

LESSON 1 When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong

We have learned that a strong house needs a solid foundation.

But some people never advance beyond building the foundation.

Jesus said they failed because they did not consider the cost of their undertaking.

Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

It is one thing to begin, and quite another to finish. Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Paul is one of the few people in the Bible who ran his race to completion:

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

He finished because he counted the cost.

He finished because he counted the cost. Philippians 3:7-8 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

This tower is a metaphor for the thing you want to achieve in your life. Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Having the DESIRE to finish does not make you ABLE to finish. Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Many Christians will fail to complete their life s mission for the same reason they do not have sufficient to finish. Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

But how can this be when God has promised to supply our every need?

But how can this be when God has promised to supply our every need? 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

But how can this be when God has promised to supply our every need? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The problem could be our definition of need. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We think we need things that were invented six months ago. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The question is not WILL God supply? The question is WHAT will God supply? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What do you NEED and what has been PROVIDED so that you can finish the race that has been set before you? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Before anyone sets out to work for God, it is good to know this:

Before anyone sets out to work for God, it is good to know this: What do YOU bring to the table?

Before anyone sets out to work for God, it is good to know this: What do YOU bring to the table? What qualities does God look for in his servants?

The answer might not be what you want to hear!

The answer might not be what you want to hear! 1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

The answer might not be what you want to hear! 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

And why is this so?

And why is this so? 1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Paul learned a valuable lesson from his encounter with the LORD:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The opposite is just as true: When I am strong in myself, I am weak in the LORD.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

The teachings of Christ affirm this:

John 15:4-6 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Jesus said, Without me ye can do nothing.

Paul said, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).

The difference is where you put your trust. In a walk of faith, self-reliance is a curse.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Living in God s strength and with his sufficiency is the only way to fight a good fight and finish your course.

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 1. Why did the builder fail to finish his tower?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 1. Why did the builder fail to finish his tower? 2. What are some of the qualities in the people God chooses?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 1. Why did the builder fail to finish his tower? 2. What are some of the qualities in the people God chooses? 3. What lesson did Paul learn in his adversities?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 1. Why did the builder fail to finish his tower? 2. What are some of the qualities in the people God chooses? 3. What lesson did Paul learn in his adversities? 4. What is the lesson of the vine and the branches? 5. One man s life is like a heath in the desert, another like a tree by a river. What accounts for the difference?