Embracing Powerlessness: The Path to Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Acknowledging Powerlessness

Acknowledging our powerlessness is the first step toward receiving God's transformative power. Many people struggle with denial, often thinking, "I'm not that bad," which becomes a significant barrier to spiritual growth. Recognizing our need for help opens the door to divine intervention. This acknowledgment is not about admitting defeat but about understanding that self-reliance is insufficient for overcoming our deepest struggles. By admitting our powerlessness, we invite God's strength and grace into our lives, allowing for true transformation. [03:44]

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel powerless? How can you invite God into this area today to begin experiencing His transformative power?

Day 2: The Universal Struggle for Goodness

The Apostle Paul's struggle with doing good reflects a universal human condition. Despite our best intentions, we often fall short, highlighting our need for redemption. This struggle is a call to seek God's grace and strength, as we cannot achieve true goodness on our own. Our fallen nature means that even when we desire to be generous, kind, and loving, we often succumb to self-promotion and gossip. Recognizing this struggle is the first step toward seeking the redemption and rescue that only God can provide. [05:05]

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself struggling to do good despite your intentions? How can you rely on God's grace to help you overcome these struggles today?

Day 3: Living with Purpose and Gratitude

Dallas Willard's reflection on time challenges us to live with purpose and gratitude. By viewing each moment as a gift, we can transform our lives into ones filled with nobility and inspiration. This perspective encourages us to cherish every opportunity, even the challenges, as they are chances for growth and learning. Embracing gratitude allows us to see the value in our time and to use it wisely, aligning our lives with God's purpose and calling. [06:43]

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to view each moment of your day as a gift from God? What practical steps can you take to live with more purpose and gratitude today?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of Gratitude

The story of South African students illustrates the power of gratitude in transforming our perspective. Their appreciation for learning, despite hardships, serves as a reminder to cherish opportunities and redeem our time. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, enabling us to see the abundance in our lives. This transformation of perspective can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life, as we learn to value and make the most of every moment. [08:43]

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can practice gratitude today? How might this shift in perspective change the way you approach your daily challenges?

Day 5: Embracing Weakness to Connect with God

Step One involves admitting our powerlessness and seeking God's help. Andrew Murray emphasizes that our weakness, when accepted, connects us to God. This step is crucial for overcoming our deepest struggles, as it allows us to rely on God's strength rather than our own. Embracing our weakness is not about feeling defeated but about recognizing our need for divine assistance. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and grace. [10:02]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to embrace your weaknesses as a way to connect more deeply with God? What steps can you take today to seek His help in your areas of struggle?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often encounter the notion of powerlessness, a concept deeply rooted in both spiritual and recovery movements. The story of Mike, a young man who succumbed to alcoholism, serves as a poignant reminder of the barriers we create when we refuse to acknowledge our need for help. Many of us, like Mike, resist admitting our struggles, thinking, "I'm not that bad." This denial prevents us from receiving the transformative power that comes from surrendering to God.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, articulates this universal struggle: the desire to do good but the inability to carry it out. This internal conflict is a testament to our fallen nature, a condition that necessitates redemption. We all aspire to be generous, kind, and loving, yet we often fall short, succumbing to self-promotion and gossip. This is why we need to be rescued and redeemed.

Dallas Willard, a profound thinker, once expressed regret over wasting time, despite living a life that seemed full of purpose and redemption. His reflection challenges us to envision a life filled with nobility, inspiration, and self-giving. It begins with receiving each moment as a gift and giving thanks, even for challenges like tests, as they are opportunities for growth.

The story of students in South Africa, who cherish the opportunity to learn despite their impoverished backgrounds, illustrates the power of gratitude. Their perspective contrasts sharply with the entitlement often seen in more privileged settings. This gratitude transforms their time into a precious resource, highlighting the need for us to redeem our time from the "pawn shop of lost souls."

To redeem our time, we must first acknowledge our powerlessness. Andrew Murray, a respected Christian writer, emphasizes that it is our weakness, when accepted and realized, that connects us to God. This is the essence of Step One: admitting our inability to overcome our deepest problems and seeking divine help. Are you ready to take this step? It involves feeling the depth of your powerlessness, understanding the danger of denial, and accepting that self-reliance will never suffice. If you're ready, tell God, "I admit I am powerless over my greatest problems. I need help."

Key Takeaways

1. Acknowledging our powerlessness is the first step toward receiving God's transformative power. Denial, encapsulated in the phrase "I'm not that bad," can be a significant barrier to spiritual growth. Recognizing our need for help opens the door to divine intervention. [03:44]
2. The Apostle Paul's struggle with doing good reflects a universal human condition. Despite our best intentions, we often fall short, highlighting our need for redemption. This struggle is a call to seek God's grace and strength. [05:05]
3. Dallas Willard's reflection on time challenges us to live with purpose and gratitude. By viewing each moment as a gift, we can transform our lives into ones filled with nobility and inspiration. [06:43]
4. The story of South African students illustrates the power of gratitude in transforming our perspective. Their appreciation for learning, despite hardships, serves as a reminder to cherish opportunities and redeem our time. [08:43]
5. Step One involves admitting our powerlessness and seeking God's help. Andrew Murray emphasizes that our weakness, when accepted, connects us to God. This step is crucial for overcoming our deepest struggles. [10:02]
** [10:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:16] - The Story of Mike
[03:58] - The Barrier of Denial
[04:28] - Paul's Universal Struggle
[05:38] - Dallas Willard's Reflection
[06:43] - Redeeming the Time
[07:13] - Receiving Life as a Gift
[08:07] - The Power of Gratitude
[08:57] - Time in the Pawn Shop
[09:30] - Acknowledging Powerlessness
[10:02] - Andrew Murray's Insight
[10:21] - Taking Step One
[10:52] - The Danger of Denial
[11:05] - Seeking Divine Help

Sermon Clips

as you might know in the recovery movement there are a thousand stories that try to bring wisdom home in a real sticky way one of them is a young man named Mike who died from drinking and two of his friends were commiserating about it together and one of them said uh he was only 32 years old he was a great athlete he was in the prime of life he had everything to live for but the drink killed him and his friend asked did he ever try aa oh no he wasn't that bad no no no I'm not that bad like acknowledge my powerlessness engage in a way of life through which I can receive a power beyond myself no no no I'm not going to actually surrender to God and turn my will over to him and do a Fearless inser I'm not that bad um saying that I'm not that bad can actually be one of the great barriers to entering into a life where I'm receiving That Power from God [00:03:05]

I do not understand what I do for what I want to do I do not do but what I hate I do I know that good itself doesn't dwell in me that is in my sinful nature I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out for I do not do the good I want to do but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing what a wretched person I am that's what Paul said and every human being who is honest has to say I want to be generous I want to be kind I want to be loving I want to be joyful I want to create wonderful moments I want to be merciful and forgiving um but I don't do those things and I do things that I hate I self-promote and I gossip and uh this is my Fallen state [00:04:34]

I remember hearing a talk years ago that Dallas Willard gave at Westmont College now I've re listened to that talk over and over there was a phrase that I remember from that talk but I could never hear it listening to it and then his daughter Becky had it on a podcast recently and she actually had this quote she said Dallas had it on a slide but he didn't actually say it that's why you couldn't hear it in the audio and and he was talking about what life could be in fact not long before Dallas died I was with him with a few other people and he was kind of looking off in the distance and he said uh uh I I regret that I've wasted so much of my life and of course all of us around them tried to say no no no you didn't because for cry a lot if Dallas Willard did what hope is there for me this absolutely brilliant human being knew the Bible helped people talked about that um did Roofing constructed stuff loved music I don't think I've ever known anybody who seemed like they were redeeming more minutes than Dallas would but I think what was going on as he explained it to us was he had a vision of what life could be [00:05:35]

redeem the time for the days are evil and it's just we all settle for a life of I'm not that bad I'm not that bad when we're called for from one moment to the next a life that could be filled with nobility and inspiration and purpose and self-giving and sacrifice and joy and empathy and comforting those who are suffering and giving our own suffering to God and he was talking about this Begins by receiving our life as a gift one moment at a time so he said to the Westmont students you might start with this give thanks to God for your next test and there was a bug going around the room because nobody in their right mind thanks God for a test but Dallas was saying you know if you understand it right your Eternal well-being is not a risk with this test ultimately what your grade is what job you get what grad school you get into the blessed life together with God is available before you despite any kind of circumstances so I can thank God this is an opportunity to find out what have I been learning [00:06:49]

I was thinking of Sean aor who's a professor of happiness Harvard University talked about going to a Township in South Africa and speaking to students from situations of desperate poverty and depression and you realized when he was up in front of him the stories that he would tell before Elite privileged students that he often talked to back in the states were not going to connect here so he was trying to think about some way to connect and he thought of a universal problem and he said man how many of you love homework and to is surprised over 95% of the hands shot up and he was expecting of course everybody just a grown nobody likes that he asked somebody why is everybody here so weird and they told him you know these are mostly students from deeply impoverished backgrounds who parents would never in a million years have the opportunity that they have right now and the chance to learn the thought that they could have access to books and study and exercises and problems that would raise their level of knowledge and open doors for them is such a wonderful thing for them uh that they're just grateful for it [00:08:00]

here's the statement that Dallas made your time is already in the pawn shop of lost souls your time mind from one moment to the next is already filled with uh anxiety and darkness and inadequacy and comparison of others and envy and selfishness your time is already in the pawn shop of lost souls so Paul says it's got to be redeemed and I cannot do that I cannot redeem my own time so what do we do well we come before God and we acknowledge our powerlessness and the fact that we're not able to bring enough power so my question for you today is are you ready for step one [00:09:01]

Andrew Murray was a great Christian writer and thinker and this is what he writes again this is just step one it's all over the place it is our weakness heartily accepted and continually realized weakness that enables us to connect with God that enables us to depend on God continually realized heartily accepted so I want to ask you right now are you ready to take step one here's what it involves uh feel at the deepest most painful level that you can that you are powerless over over really serious problems I am unable to defeat the things that keep me from being the person I most want to be understand the meaning and the danger of denial I'm not that bad and then accept that all my efforts of self-management all my willpower all my self-reliance are never going to get it done [00:09:48]

if you're not there right now keep working on step one ask God for willness but if you are just tell them right now God I admit I am powerless over my greatest problems my relational defects my sin I can't do it I need help my life is [00:11:00]

acknowledge my powerlessness engage in a way of life through which I can receive a power beyond myself no no no I'm not going to actually surrender to God and turn my will over to him and do a Fearless inser I'm not that bad um saying that I'm not that bad can actually be one of the great barriers to entering into a life where I'm receiving That Power from God and so Step One is the foundation that's laid over and over again in the Bible in particular right now I want to talk about the words that are written by the Apostle Paul who expressed it maybe as powerfully as anybody ever has it's a universal observation in the ancient Greek World epicus later on ID talked about I see better but I do worse but uh every human being has to come to grips with this problem [00:03:38]

I want to be generous I want to be kind I want to be loving I want to be joyful I want to create wonderful moments I want to be merciful and forgiving um but I don't do those things and I do things that I hate I self-promote and I gossip and uh this is my Fallen state no uh we all need to be rescued from this we all need to be redeemed [00:05:08]

Dallas Willard's reflection on time challenges us to live with purpose and gratitude. By viewing each moment as a gift, we can transform our lives into ones filled with nobility and inspiration. [00:06:43]

The story of South African students illustrates the power of gratitude in transforming our perspective. Their appreciation for learning, despite hardships, serves as a reminder to cherish opportunities and redeem our time. [00:08:43]

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