Embracing Vulnerability: The Path to Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Vulnerability as a Path to Grace

Recognizing and admitting our weaknesses is the first step towards spiritual growth. This vulnerability opens us to God's grace and allows us to experience true transformation. In moments of profound realization, like those experienced by individuals in recovery programs, we find clarity and vulnerability that are crucial for spiritual growth. When someone in AA introduces themselves as an alcoholic, it signifies a deep journey of struggle, resistance, and ultimately, grace. Similarly, biblical figures like Isaiah and Peter experience a profound awareness of their own shortcomings when they encounter the divine. These encounters highlight the importance of recognizing our own brokenness and the need for divine intervention. [05:57]

Isaiah 6:5 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'"

Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you felt vulnerable. How can you invite God's grace into that vulnerability today?

Day 2: Community as a Sanctuary for Healing

In both faith and recovery, community plays a vital role. By sharing our struggles and supporting one another, we create a space where healing and growth can occur. In community, whether in church or recovery groups, we find strength in shared vulnerability. By openly confessing our inadequacies, we create a space where grace can flow freely. The antidote to denial is identification with others who share similar struggles. Profound honesty about our weaknesses is the key to spiritual growth. [07:39]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today to share your struggles and offer support in theirs?

Day 3: Surrendering the Illusion of Control

We often try to control external circumstances and people, but true change begins with acknowledging our own limitations and surrendering to God's power. The problem is not external; it is within us. We lack the power to become the people we aspire to be, and it is only through God's power that we can find freedom and transformation. This realization is not just an intellectual exercise but a spiritual achievement that needs to be celebrated and ritualized. [09:32]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you are trying to maintain control. What would it look like to surrender this to God today?

Day 4: The Internal Struggle and Divine Intervention

The real issue is not external but internal. We lack the power to become who we want to be, and it is only through God's intervention that we can find freedom. In our daily lives, we often try to control external circumstances and people, but true transformation begins with recognizing our own limitations. Without this acknowledgment, our spiritual journey remains superficial. The Christian faith, like other wisdom traditions, emphasizes the need for a strong foundational step—recognizing our need for God. [10:45]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: What internal struggle are you facing today that you need to bring before God for His intervention?

Day 5: Celebrating the Freedom in Confession

Public confession of our inadequacies is a spiritual achievement that should be celebrated. It breaks the cycle of denial and opens us to God's transformative power. In community, whether in church or recovery groups, we find strength in shared vulnerability. By openly confessing our inadequacies, we create a space where grace can flow freely. The antidote to denial is identification with others who share similar struggles. Profound honesty about our weaknesses is the key to spiritual growth. [12:29]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Consider confessing a personal struggle to a trusted friend or mentor today. How might this act of vulnerability open you to God's transformative power?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we often encounter moments of profound realization, much like those experienced by individuals in recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. These moments of clarity and vulnerability are crucial for spiritual growth. When someone in AA introduces themselves as an alcoholic, it signifies a deep journey of struggle, resistance, and ultimately, grace. Similarly, in the Bible, figures like Isaiah and Peter experience a profound awareness of their own shortcomings when they encounter the divine. Isaiah, upon seeing God, exclaims his unworthiness, and Peter, in the presence of Jesus, acknowledges his sinfulness. These encounters highlight the importance of recognizing our own brokenness and the need for divine intervention.

The first step in any transformative journey, whether in recovery or faith, is acknowledging our powerlessness over our greatest struggles. This is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step towards opening ourselves to God's presence and grace. Without this acknowledgment, our spiritual journey remains superficial. The Christian faith, like other wisdom traditions, emphasizes the need for a strong foundational step—recognizing our need for God.

In our daily lives, we often try to control external circumstances and people, but true transformation begins with recognizing our own limitations. The problem is not external; it is within us. We lack the power to become the people we aspire to be, and it is only through God's power that we can find freedom and transformation. This realization is not just an intellectual exercise but a spiritual achievement that needs to be celebrated and ritualized.

In community, whether in church or recovery groups, we find strength in shared vulnerability. By openly confessing our inadequacies, we create a space where grace can flow freely. The antidote to denial is identification with others who share similar struggles. Profound honesty about our weaknesses is the key to spiritual growth. As we embrace this journey, we find that the worst thing is not having our flaws exposed, but rather, living in denial of them. Step one is about admitting our powerlessness and recognizing that our lives have become unmanageable without God.

Key Takeaways

1. fjQ&t=357s'>[05:57]
2. The Importance of Community: In both faith and recovery, community plays a vital role. By sharing our struggles and supporting one another, we create a space where healing and growth can occur.

3. The Illusion of Control: We often try to control external circumstances and people, but true change begins with acknowledging our own limitations and surrendering to God's power.

4. The Problem Within: The real issue is not external but internal. We lack the power to become who we want to be, and it is only through God's intervention that we can find freedom.

5. Celebrating Confession: Public confession of our inadequacies is a spiritual achievement that should be celebrated. It breaks the cycle of denial and opens us to God's transformative power.

** [05:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:03] - The Journey of Sobriety
[02:50] - Biblical Encounters with God
[03:37] - Realizing Our Sinfulness
[04:24] - The Fellowship of Believers
[05:12] - The Importance of Step One
[06:12] - Identifying Personal Struggles
[07:39] - The Church and AA Meetings
[08:37] - Acknowledging Powerlessness
[09:32] - The Illusion of Control
[10:13] - The Problem Within
[11:16] - Finding Freedom in Powerlessness
[12:12] - Celebrating Confession
[13:32] - Living in the Pain of Step One
[14:37] - Conclusion and Invitation

Sermon Clips

"despair it's very striking if you ever go to an AA meeting when somebody says those words my name is John and I'm an alcoholic you know that's just a word but there is a journey of unspeakable depth behind it an enormous pain and tremendous resistance and then just a flood of Grace coming through to the other side to enable somebody to say those words and part of what's heart is um for a variety of reasons we live in a day when we don't have a word that captures that story or that weight for for that sobriety you might say for people who are not addicts and sinners in our day has gotten so misunderstood so full of baggage so lightened up that it just doesn't do it." [00:01:52]

"you may have noticed when you come to the Bible that there'll be stories of people who encounter God and when they do their experience is very much like somebody uh who is an addict and they realize all of a sudden that they're an addict for Bill W or Dr Bob other folks in the program so Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 6 comes in the presence of God wo is me for I'm a man of unclean lips now think of all the words that come out of your mouth self-promotion deceit ego Pride flattery intimidation I am a man of I am a man of uncleanness and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips that's it infects every statement that we hear all the time and I've seen the living God or Peter when he's with Jesus in Luke I think it's chapter 5 and he becomes aware in a moment of the Staggering power the nature of this man Jesus and his response is not oh I got to have some of that his response is get away from me Lord for I'm a sinful man." [00:02:44]

"Fred H who is a person that has worked for a long time with the Hazel and group addiction recovery 12-step work he talks about uh AA 12 steps as a wisdom tradition our faith my faith the Christian faith is a wisdom tradition it seeks to address like other religious Judaism Buddhism um stoicism ancient Greek philosophy lots of different ways uh that people would try to address what's the right way to live how can I seek to become a different person and Fred made this really interesting observation he said the problem with most wisdom Traditions is they have a wimpy step one they have a wimpy step one so gang no wimpy step one we have to do the hard work of connecting the dots and to say that experience that Isaiah had when he saw God and cried out what was me or that Peter had get away from me or that people had when they were cut to the heart or that Bill W had when he hit bottom they would use that language often a hit bottom step one became indispensable they said it was the only step that we could actually practice perfectly because that's what opens somebody up intensely to the the presence of God and says I will do absolute anything." [00:04:37]

"you might start here if you don't start uh any place else start by asking um what are the struggles in your life that your partner your spouse best friend person closest to you would say you need to work on now that can be helpful because if I just ask you what are your biggest problems you might have to stop and think about it but if if I to ask you what's the person who knows your best think your biggest problems like that person for me is named Nancy and she could furnish a lift list upon a request a written list if you wanted uh very readily we all what are the relational defects and I find for myself these days that more than ever before in my life I'll go back and forth between just moments of Despair we're together over the holidays I wanted to be this kind of dad and I wasn't wanted to be this kind of Grandfather but I wasn't of just despair and then well of course of course I will always do that God I'm gonna need your help I can't change that I have this myth of what but God I need you I need you I need you I need you." [00:06:24]

"a statement that gets made all the time by folks who do the kind of stuff that I do for a living pastors and people that write about faith and so is how come the church can't be more like an AA meeting go to an a meetings just raw honesty um no pretense people just dump it all out the stories are unbelievable deeply messed up people have a sense of power that flows in those kind of meetings why can't Church be more like an a meting there's one whole book that's written that simply has that title and the short answer is it can if those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus will be more more like alcoholics and see now part of our problem is often we're comfortable with talking about being a sinner in a pretty vague term just kind of General confession or I used to have those problems way back there but but what makes a community what makes a fellowship come alive what begins to open me up to God is no God I need you right now I'm a train wreck right now I'm on my knees before you right now I am there my powerlessness over my biggest problems and that my life has become unmanageable without you." [00:07:28]

"take a few moments and think about some things that you are powerless over that are external to you just to remind you that there is a God and he is not you so traffic weather you may have noticed if you're watching these then I'm in a place of great Beauty right now and it is really really good weather um and I have been doing some vacation stuff I will be doing Ministry stuff started tomorrow just to make sure that you don't think poorly of me I'm not in control of the weather I can't control the process of Aging most particularly you can't control other people and now you might think about some people in your life that you've been trying to control what are your relational defects very often in relationships there is a person who's project and a person who's the project manager often in couples I won't mention which spous tends to be which but very often it comes out that way with parents and children there's a book hottest selling book around right now it's called let them I've not read the whole thing I've read bits of it and I think there's some good thoughts in that idea of Honor other people's kingdoms if we do it right allow other people to make their choices don't constantly be grinding at them trying to manipulate control them make them do exactly what I want to you so lots of wisdom there however uh the very first sentence of the book caught my eye and I want to read it to you and then suggest something that I think Cuts deeper if you're struggling to change your life achieve your goals or feel happier I want you to hear this the problem isn't you that's that's the first sentence of the book let them now uh in the Bible the teaching is in the 12 steps of the teaching is the problem is you the problem is me and in particular the problem is power I do not have the power to become the person I want to become and a little group of people discovered there is power available to us not that we can Godlike not that we can have and use that power for whatever we want to do but for a crisis like addiction like alcoholism that I couldn't stop I didn't have the power to there can be the power to have freedom." [00:08:56]

"what are your powerlessness what are you powerless over in your life that keeps messing up your relationship where you're saying I'm not going to do that again I'm not going to gossip again I'm not going to yell at my kids again I'm not going to blow up again I'm not going to go to that website again I'm not going to uh Gamble again whatever it is just think about it for a moment and today your Jobing to try to solve it it's not I'm GNA work harder at being a better person no no no it's just oh God I can't here's the power of this program of this community Kent dunnington has written this wonderful book addiction and virtue and he's talking about this issue of why is there such spiritual power often in AA how could there be for you and me as we're walking through this together and here's what he says what AA has recognized what they have discovered is that the recognition and public confession of personal inadequacy is itself a spiritual achievement that needs to be ritualized and celebrated the recognition and public confession of personal inadequacy is a spiritual achievement that needs to be ritualized hi my name's John I'm a sinner so are you and celebrate hi John the worse your story the warmer you're welcome." [00:11:16]

"the great problem that addicts fa is the same as the great problem that non-addicts if there is such a thing face which is denial I'm not so bad now of course that's exactly what Jesus taught just blindness our blindness to our sin our blindness to our Character defects and that way that we trample relationships here's the sentence the antidote for the Deep symptom of denial was identification I identify with other people who often struggle with powerlessness over their identification marked by open and undemanding narration infused with profound honesty about personal weakness Prof profound honesty about personal weakness that is me that is you now I hope it's coming but not yet not too soon it's living in the pain of step one and step one is not just intellectual it's not just an affirmation uh it is a gift of God when I able able to feel it that's why very often when people are thrust into pain um when there's an open Scandal or an open earthquake in somebody's life it's actually the beginning of spirit we think the worst thing would be to have my horrible uh truths discovered and broken into no no no no no the worst thing is for them not to be step one admit it we were powerless over our greatest problem and our lives have become unmanageable keep coming back it works if you work it." [00:12:12]

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