'Let the Weak Say '˜I Am Strong''
David Wilkerson encourages believers to declare their strength in the Lord despite feelings of weakness and inadequacy.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that feelings of inadequacy and discouragement are common, but they should not lead us to doubt God's love and support. He challenges the notion that self-deprecation is humility, asserting that it actually insults God's work in us. Instead, we are called to rise above self-pity and recognize our identity as loved and chosen by God. Wilkerson encourages believers to recall God's past faithfulness and to declare strength in the face of weakness, as God empowers us to overcome our struggles. Ultimately, he reminds us that true faith endures and is bolstered by God's promises.
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We all are guilty of unbelief at times. Often we face yet another struggle and allow the enemy to discourage us. We might develop feelings of inexplicable loneliness or, experiencing a sense of total inadequacy, we become convinced the Lord does not hear us. A cry erupts from our hearts, "God, where are you? I pray, I fast, I study your Word. Why won't you deliver me from this?"
We go to the secret place of prayer but we don't feel like praying. Our souls are dry, empty, exhausted from our struggles, yet we don't dare accuse the Lord of neglecting us in our condition. So we just weakly approach him in what we perceive as humility. Head down, we say with discouragement, "Lord, I don't blame you. You're good and kind to me. I'm the problem; I've failed you so much."
Wait! That is not humility. On the contrary, it is an outright insult to a Father who adopted us with a covenant promise to love and support us throughout our lifetime. When we tell him how bad we are -- how weak, empty and useless we are to him -- we despise all that he has accomplished in us. This grieves our heavenly Father.
Whenever we become discouraged in our faith, the Holy Spirit will speak to us in no uncertain terms. "Enough of this self-pity. Get up! You are loved, called and chosen, and I have blessed you with my Word." We must discipline ourselves to recall all that God has brought us through. We are to rejoice, knowing he is pleased with what he has done for us.
You may have been tested time after time. Now the time has come for you to make a decision. God wants faith that endures the ultimate test and he gives you his Word to enable you to triumph. If he commands you to do something, he will supply you with the power and strength to obey: "Let the weak say, 'I am strong'" (Joel 3:10). "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding our struggles with unbelief
- Recognizing feelings of inadequacy
- The importance of prayer in times of distress
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II
- The misconception of humility in self-deprecation
- God's promise of love and support
- The impact of our words on God's heart
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III
- The role of the Holy Spirit in our discouragement
- The call to remember God's faithfulness
- Rejoicing in God's blessings
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IV
- The necessity of enduring faith
- God's empowerment for obedience
- Declaring strength in weakness
Key Quotes
“Let the weak say, 'I am strong' (Joel 3:10).” — David Wilkerson
“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).” — David Wilkerson
“Enough of this self-pity. Get up! You are loved, called and chosen.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize and reject self-pity by affirming your identity in Christ.
- Recall past victories to strengthen your faith in current struggles.
- Embrace God's empowerment to act in obedience and declare His strength.