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How Do You Overcome Your Greatest Weaknesses?
- May 6, 2023
- Posted by: Marcel Sanchez
- Category: Developing Spiritual Disciplines Spiritual Life Tenacious Character
We all have weaknesses and sins that we battle. Every person has areas of their lives that are not reflecting the character of Jesus. We would love to have God remove every temptation and struggle with sin. We would love for God to eliminate every weakness, every fear, every stronghold, but God doesn’t always remove every difficulty in one day, one week, or even one year. But God promises to be WITH us through every weakness and sin as He leads you to overcome them. And if you and I submit to His ways, God can eventually help you overcome every weakness and every sin.
As God’s appointed High Priest, Jesus understands us; He gets us. Here’s our main idea for this post.
Jesus is Greater Than Every Weakness
Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus has overcome every weakness and temptation; He remains compassionate toward you. (vs. 14-15)
The writer of the book of Hebrews continues to remind us that Jesus, is not only our high priest, but our great high priest. There is nothing ordinary about Jesus. Jesus came from heaven to earth to show us the way to the Father. Jesus is the way of the Father and the way to the Father.
And as we believe in Jesus as the Son of God, who passed through the heavens to give us eternal life through His death, burial, and resurrection, we will be made right with God. And not only that, but we will also have access to God’s throne 24X7X365. Jesus died on a cross—to pay for your sins—was buried in a tomb, rose from the dead, and passed through the heavens to remain in the Father’s presence in glory.
His human title—Jesus—is a reminder that he understands and cares about the struggles you face in life. His divine title—Son of God—is a reminder that Jesus is equal with God. He is compassionate toward you.
For the nation of Israel, there was one day per year and only one person per year, the High Priest, who could enter the most holiest place, The Holy of Holies. This was the equivalent of entering God’s presence. The High Priest entered to make an atoning sacrifice for his sins, and the sins of the entire nation.
Today, for believers In Christ, every day is a day of unlimited access to God’s presence. Every believer globally can enter God’s presence, because of the sacrifice of Jesus, and have unrestricted access to God the Father. Wow! That is amazing.
In Christ, we don’t have a mediator or a great high priest that is unsympathetic when it comes to our struggles. God is sympathetic as you face personal weaknesses and sins.
Maybe today…
You feel sick and weak – There’s a lingering cough or fatigue that won’t go away. You’re tired of feeling sick. The doctors have told you what you have and what’s required for your treatment. Now you must work through the daily challenges.
You’re depressed – You don’t want to be around people. You’d rather stay alone at home in your room. You don’t laugh like you did in the past. Nothing brings you joy anymore. You can’t move past a recent loss. You cry frequently and spontaneously.
You have little strength – You are constantly tired and out of energy. You struggle to stay awake at work. Your body is constantly hurting, and you can’t lift much weight.
You lack courage – You stop yourself from doing things because you’re weak in courage. You don’t do what’s needed to reach your goals. You stop exercising. You don’t finish important projects, you drop out of courses.
You’re tempted to sin – You’re neglecting your spiritual life. Your temptations are gaining strength. You know what to do to grow in Christ, but you’ve been lazy. You watch what you should not watch and entertain sinful thoughts in silence when no one else is nearby.
You lack clear direction – You make plans and change them. Or you don’t plan, but just go with the flow. If you’re honest, you don’t know where your life is going. Your work nor your education is serving God’s purposes.
You never ask,
- “What does God want me to study?”
- “Who does God want me to date?”
- “Where does God want me to work?” or
- “Where does God want me to live?”
You lack godly wisdom – You have a big decision to make. It has taken over your thoughts and energy. You’re paralyzed with indecision. What should you do next? When should you start? You don’t know, but you know you need God’s help.
You lack hope – You tried saving a relationship, but it did not work. You did your best, but it wasn’t good enough. You feel like a failure and relationally weak. You want to find the person that God has for you, but at this point, you’re not hopeful.
You lack faith – You’ve stopped praying and trusting God. You don’t know what to pray for anymore. It’s not that you’ve stopped believing in what God could do, you’re just too weak to keep praying through until God answers.
Romans 8:26-27, ESV
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
God became a man. Jesus has felt your struggles. He understands your pain and suffering. Jesus knows what it’s like to be lied to, betrayed, abandoned, set up for failure, abused by others, tortured, and even killed. And because Jesus can understand your difficulties, He can have compassion on you and the rest of us.
Jesus was tempted but refused to submit to temptation. He understands the struggle you and all of us have in this area. Don’t make the mistake of adding sin to the mix of your difficulties and struggles. Sin never makes things better. Disobeying God’s Word is never the answer. Jesus was tempted in every possible way, and yet, He did not sin. Jesus resisted temptation rather than flirt with temptation. STOP flirting with temptation and sin!
Jesus quoted God’s Word when tempted rather submit to Satan’s requests. So, if Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away your sins, did not sin, you don’t have to continue to sin either.
Jesus is Greater Than Every Weakness
In every weakness, Jesus is compassionate.
In every temptation, Jesus opens a way of escape.
In every sin, Jesus extends mercy and grace.
In every struggle, Jesus is ready to help you.
Approach God’s presence with confidence
In Christ, you can talk with God directly, openly, and without reservations. You have the privilege and unlimited access to enter God’s presence and ask God for what you need. You don’t need large theological words; you don’t need to repeat the same words 100 times. You can speak from the heart with assurance that God hears you, understands what you’re experiencing, and knows exactly what you need, when you need it, and how much of it you need.
You’re not approaching a God who is deaf or blind or unaware of your needs. Before you even open your mouth, God already knows what you’re about to say. So, say it, ask Him, don’t be afraid to ask God to help you in your weakness. Confidence means “plainness of speech,” “fearlessness,” or “courage.” You should courageously approach God in prayer (Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary).
When you are weak physically or emotionally, your confidence is often negatively affected in the process.
You may not ask God for help because…
- You’re embarrassed that things have turned out a certain way.
- You expected things to get better, but they became worse.
- You’re trying to hold yourself together, keep moving forward—and be the strong person that you’ve always been—but you continue falling apart.
TO YOU, GOD SAYS, DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
When you are spiritually weak because…
- Your prayer life has stopped or drastically slowed down.
- You don’t have energy to pray.
- You don’t make time to pray.
- There are too many things to worry about; and for some reason, you try to solve the problems in your life without praying first.
- You’re profoundly ashamed of your sin—you did it again, and again, and again.
- You’re ashamed of your present situation, or ashamed of your response to others.
TO YOU, GOD SAYS, DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God’s throne is identified as a throne of grace. It’s not a place you have to fear. The myth about God is that He is unapproachable. That is false. God gives us a way to approach Him by faith in Jesus Christ. In Christ, God favors you. God wants you to approach Him. He wants you to draw closer to Him.
The God who created the planets and the heavens, wants you to walk in and meet with Him. You don’t need to download an app or call ahead to make an appointment. In every moment of weakness, you can enter God’s presence, the throne of Grace, and God will be there. Jesus entered the Father’s presence and so should you.
Hebrews 5:7-10, ESV
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
You have been hurting for weeks now about a difficult situation or because of a decision you’ve made. Don’t be afraid to approach your heavenly Father. God’s throne is for God’s people, and His throne is a throne of grace.
Jesus is Greater Than Every Weakness…and He leads you to the throne of Grace.
Receive God’s mercy to strengthen and direct you
You don’t have to raise your hand in agreement, but have you done a good job of making a mess of things? It’s like when you buy a complex piece of equipment or furniture that must be assembled. You look at the picture and say, “I’ve got this. I can do this without any instructions.”
After three hours, you have many screws left over that should have been used in the assembly. When you look at the picture, it looks different than what you have for some reason. One section is not balanced with the other, something looks backwards, and the list of mistakes continue. At times, the best approach is to take everything apart, start over, and follow the plans. Grace is God’s plan for your life.
GRACE is God’s unmerited favor on your life.
GRACE is when God gives you what you do not deserve.
MERCY is different. MERCY is when God doesn’t give you what you deserve.
MERCY is when God sees the mess you created and enters into your world to help you.
Jesus sees the problems created by your weaknesses and sins and chooses to extend His mercy by not giving you what you deserve.
Since God is merciful, He helps you to overcome your weaknesses and sins. As you approach God’s throne you will receive His mercy. You can receive from God what you do not deserve. God’s kindness is present and available to help you out of your mess.
Does that mean that I can make a mess of things and God will rescue me and clean everything up so that I don’t have any more problems with people, pay penalties, or lose more than what I’ve already lost? No, that’s not what it means. God has a part, but so do you. God will help you to work through the problems you’ve created. Be honest with God about your responsibility. Don’t blame others for your mistakes, weaknesses, and sins.
Expect God’s grace to help you move forward
Prayer is HOW you ENTER God’s throne. Prayer is your spiritual passport. It gives you special access to enter God’s presence. And here’s the good news, in Christ, your spiritual passport of prayer NEVER EXPIRES.
- If you’re feeling tired and weak, take out your spiritual passport, and enter God’s throne to receive power.
- If you’re feeling depressed, take out your spiritual passport, and enter God’s throne to receive hope.
- If you’re tempted, take out your spiritual passport, and enter God’s throne to receive protection and perspective.
- If you’re feeling afraid, take out your spiritual passport, and enter God’s throne to receive courage.
Let’s look at Hebrews 4:16 one last time to point out something very important.
Hebrews 4:16: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The phrase “in time of need” means that God is right on time, at the exact time when we need God, when we call out to God for help. God may not give you what you need EARLIER than when you need it, but He will give you what you need at the exact time when you need it most. God will help you at that specific moment.
In your weaknesses and sins, confidently prepare to receive God’s grace at the very moment when you need it.
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