Weak Spots

``Let me submit to you that all of the offerings in the world would not have been and will not be enough. Jesus has paid this. On the cross, he is the one that became weak to satisfy our end of the bargain. He is the one that restored justice. He is the one that makes us whole where we can't. And we can either keep trying and failing in our own strength or become weak and say, Jesus, I receive what you have given and done for me. That's the gospel, [00:17:15] (31 seconds)  #PaidInFull

Strength comes from power. The cultural lies that strength means winning, controlling, overpowering. But in God's kingdom the truth is that what looks like weakness to the world is often the very place that God releases his power. If you're looking for the power of God for breakthrough it may not be in trying harder and being stronger. It may be in embracing weakness. That is the message of the cross, which is why God desires our surrender, not our strength. [00:11:46] (33 seconds)  #PowerInWeakness

As we talk about what it means to be strong, what if the problem is not that we're too weak, but we are trying too hard to look strong? We're trying so hard that we exhaust ourselves spiritually. We're doing all this more trying. It's not that we're weak. It's that we're trying to look strong. We avoid weak spots. We play to our strengths. We cover up weakness, vulnerability. And when we fake those things, when we do this, we fake it. We spiritual mature we fake spiritual maturity. We resist spiritual disciplines. Why? Because they make us feel weak. We rely on willpower instead of the spirit. I'm just going to try harder. I'm just going to do better. Ultimately we miss the power, the strength that God wants to give us because we're trying to look strong. [00:05:04] (48 seconds)  #StopFakingStrength

In fact, that is why they would do this. It wasn't private. It was very public. The cross was a means to show the strength and superiority, the power of the Roman Empire. And there was a reason why over Jesus' over Jesus' head there was a sign that said, the King of the Jews. It was it was taunting. It was humiliation. It says, you see how weak your kings are? That'll teach you to rise up against true power. [00:10:25] (27 seconds)  #HumilityOverHype

Why? Okay? Why do we need to walk? There's something in this, I think. If we, in the event of an emergency, we all get up and run, what is at the center of our concern right there? Me. Me. Forget you. I am running to the door. You burn, not me. Right? I'm out of here. That's what running is. Getting ahead. Being first. Getting what's yours. Jesus says, I want you to walk humbly with me. But other people are getting ahead. Walk humbly with me. But what if I don't get mine? I've got you. Walk humbly with me. You see where we're going with this? Embracing weakness. Not running and striving and trying to get ahead. She says, I want you to walk with me. [00:20:19] (49 seconds)  #WalkHumbly

There's one of the things that kept me away from the gym. Maybe you're like this too. Is the fear of being exposed as weak, not being strong enough. What's everybody else going to think? That's why Planet Fitness has so much success and this is a judgment free zone. Come on in. That's why we say, Hey, imperfect people allowed. No perfect people. Come on in. We don't want you to try harder around here. Instead we want you to train. It's an invitation to train with Jesus. Being a disciplined person does not mean that you are strong already. [00:28:23] (37 seconds)  #TrainDontPretend

So that you know where the strength actually comes from. So that everyone else can see like a spotlight that reveals what's already there. Weakness clears the stage so that God himself can be seen. God chooses the weak on purpose. Why? So that no one confuses the power source. [00:24:05] (23 seconds)  #SpotlightOnGod

We falsely assume that God chooses the strong. God chooses the impressive. But God chooses the weak. Let's go back to school again. How many of you remember, I don't know if they still do this, but the schoolyard selection process, if you will, right? There's the people that are picked first and of course there are the people that are picked last. Going back to fantasy football, I remember one draft in particular, someone took a kicker in the first round. Maybe that is meaningless to you. It was a lion. It was a lion. But that is just what is not done. Can I tell you why it's not done? Because it's stupid. That's why. It's dumb. It's a bad strategy. Okay? Weakness. No one chooses that. Especially not in the first round. But God does. [00:22:22] (63 seconds)  #GodPicksTheLeastLikely