Being Weak as Jesus Was

In these days, we have been trying to understand God's way. If you think of that verse which says, he will teach the humble his way. And if you understand God's way, that can solve many problems in your life.

Man does not understand God's way by his natural reason. You take this matter of power. The Bible speaks a lot about power.

And Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power. So, how do you expect to feel when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you got power? Do you think you will become like Samson? In the Old Testament, it was like that. But in the New Testament, it is very different.

Because all the power in the Old Testament was outside. It says about Moses, when he was 120 years old, he was just like a young man. He didn't need any glasses.

He could see as clearly as when he was 30 years old. His vision was clear. At the age of 120, he could walk through the desert for 40 years.

Caleb was like that. He could say, at the age of 85, I am as strong as when I was 40. Because it was all physical strength.

The anointing came upon them for outward things. Do outward things like stopping the sun. Splitting the Red Sea.

If you read Hebrews chapter 11, Everything that those Old Testament people did was on the outside. They healed the sick, they raised the dead, Elijah and Elisha. But it is all on the outside.

When Jesus said, the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power. It was another type of power. A power which the world knows nothing about.

Because the world is still seeking for that external power. And even Christians, when they are seeking God for power, they are seeking for this external power. How to heal the sick.

How to do some external miracles. And cast out demons and so many things. All that is good.

But Jesus never did any of these things for 30 years. What? Did he not have any power of the Holy Spirit those 30 years? Was it only for 3 years he had the power of the Holy Spirit? And sometimes we despise that inner working of the Holy Spirit. That's why we think that Holy Spirit's power means a lot of external manifestations, Jumping, shouting, making a lot of noise.

I am not against all that. All I am saying, that is not the power of the Holy Spirit. That's good when we are excited, we all praise the Lord.

And we raise our voice. But that is not the power of the Holy Spirit. Because a lot of people who are not filled with the Holy Spirit can also make a lot of noise.

If you depend on these externals, you will be deceived. Jesus said, it's only by the fruit you will know them. If the Holy Spirit only excites us, but does not change us on the inside, Then that's not really the power of the Holy Spirit.

See, one of the amazing things that happened in the church in Corinth. They did not honor the Apostle Paul. You know why the church in Corinth were full of babies? Why they were fleshly? There were many reasons.

But one reason is, they did not even respect Paul who established that church. They despised him. You know why they despised him? Because he was a very short man.

Paul's height was less than 5 feet. We read that in history. And he had a hooked nose.

He was bald. He did not look like a film star. If he was here, you would have to put the mic somewhere here for him to speak.

He would need a stool or something to stand. Thin man. Because he fasted so much.

He was not at all an impressive person. And the people in Corinth liked smart people. They despised Paul.

When you despise a servant of God like Paul, Who suffers? He doesn't suffer. You suffer. That's why the church in Corinth was full of babies, fleshly.

They used to say to Paul, what do you think you are? You are not so great. Like Korah spoke to Moses. And Paul, he doesn't try to boast, I am a great man.

He says in 2 Corinthians 13, when writing to them, He says this in verse 3. You are seeking for proof that Christ is speaking in me. What foolish people they were. God had used Paul to deliver those people from heathenism and establish a church there.

And he says, now you are seeking proof that Christ is speaking in me. Okay, he says, I will prove it to you. How is he going to prove it? He is not going to do some big miracle and prove.

He says, I will tell you how I will prove it. He says, Jesus Christ, verse 4, was crucified because of weakness. You know that? But he lives by the power of God.

What does it mean, he was crucified because of weakness? If you understand that, you have understood the most important secret in the Christian life. Why was Jesus crucified? I know he died for our sins. But why did he allow himself to be crucified? He told Peter, I can call 72,000 angels right now.

He just has to say one word, come. 72,000 angels will come and finish off all these Roman soldiers. Not only Roman soldiers, Anna's, Caiaphas and the whole lot of Pharisees, they would have wiped out.

But he said, I won't do it. And even the one who tried to take a sword to defend him, he said, no, no, no, put your sword back. That is weakness.

I refuse to fight. I will not let my servants fight for me. I will not ask the angels to fight for me.

I will not even ask God to punish you. That's why he was crucified. He could have asked his father to send lightning at that time.

He was crucified because of weakness. He chose to be weak. And God raised him from the dead.

Have you noticed this one thing? Nowhere in the Bible does it say, Jesus raised himself up from the dead. You read in the New Testament. Never does it say that.

Not even once. Did he have power to raise himself up? Yeah, he said that in John chapter 10. I lay down my life, I have power to lay it down, I have power to take it again.

He had power to do it. But he didn't use it. He had power to turn the stones into bread.

But he didn't use it. You know, one of the great things about Jesus was, He never used his power for himself. He always used it for others.

And he was hungry after 40 days. He had power. The devil told him, you got power, just turn these stones into bread.

You tell me, when you are hungry after 40 days, Is it wrong to use your power to turn stones into bread? You are not cheating anybody. You are not stealing anybody. You are not harming anyone.

You are all alone in the wilderness. You are not even doing it to show off to anybody. You are not even turning it into some cake or something.

Just little bread to eat. And Jesus said no. Why? He was weak.

He made himself weak. That means, I will never use God's power for my own benefit. That is the mark of a weak man.

And Paul said, Jesus was like that. And he says in 2 Corinthians 13 verse 4, We are also like that. You want proof that Christ is speaking in me, right? You are despising me because I am so short and so thin and not so good looking.

Okay. And you want to see whether Christ is speaking in me? Okay, here is the proof. Jesus was weak.

He never used his power for himself. But he used it for others. He used that power to make 5 loaves into 25,000 loaves.

When he was making bread for other people, he used the power. But for himself, never. To make wine for others, he would use the power.

But for himself, never. You know, that is how you distinguish a true servant of God. Today, we have so many preachers going around claiming to be servants of God.

I believe God has given them power. But that doesn't mean they are all godly men. Let me ask you a question.

Do you believe the devil has power or not? Yes or no? Who gave it to him? God gave it to him before he became the devil. Before he became the devil, God gave him power. In Ezekiel 28, we read that he was anointed.

But he lost the anointing. But he didn't lose the power. Do you know there is a difference between anointing and power? Satan was anointed and had power.

Satan was anointed and had power. When he was an angel. Now, the anointing is gone, but he still got the power.

He can still do those things which he did before. But grace and anointing is gone. Now you think of a preacher.

Young man, seeking God, fasting and prayer, 26 years old. Fasting and praying. Really sincere.

God anoints him mightily. He's got power and anointing. He's a humble brother.

He's not interested in money. He's not interested in honor. He's going around serving God.

After sometime, his fame increases. Everybody comes to know of this anointed young man. Gradually, his head becomes bigger and bigger.

He looks at the other preachers around him. He begins to use this power for himself. I can use this power to get money for myself.

I can collect money in my meetings. I can write books and CDs and make money for myself. I hope you know that I don't get one rupee out of all these books and CDs.

Once one brother told me, Brother Zack, you must be living from all the money you get from the books and CDs. Never. Not one rupee.

Whatever you get there, goes back into publishing more books and CDs. But lot of people, those music CDs and all people produce only to make money. And this man begins to use his power for himself.

He gets honor for himself. And he uses the power to buy houses and lands for himself. And God takes away the anointing.

God takes away the grace. But is the power still there? Yes, it's still there. He can still preach powerfully.

He can still heal the sick. He can still heal the sick. Didn't I ask you earlier, does the devil still have power? He has.

Look at all these black magic people. Where do they get power from? From the devil. So also a Christian preacher can lose the anointing and still have power.

And most Christians are so foolish, they can't distinguish between power and grace. When I look at a person, I'm not interested to see whether he has got power. Because if I follow power, one day I'll be following these black magic people also.

I'm looking for grace. Is the fruit of Jesus Christ in his life? Is there humility? Is there brokenness? Is there purity? Is there love? That's what I look for. Not power.

Otherwise you'll follow the devil one day because he's got power. That is why we've got to distinguish between an operation which is only power without grace. Otherwise you'll be deceived in these days.

Paul said, you want to see the power of Christ in me? He said, I'll show you. Not all this spectacular display of power like the world talks about. Here is the power of Christ.

He was crucified in weakness. He was crucified in weakness. He never used this power for himself.

And he says in verse 4, we are also weak in him. He says, I've also got much power and authority as an apostle. I will never use it for myself.

I will never use it to make money. I will never use it to become a big man. I will never use it to get honor from people.

Why? Because I'm weak like Jesus Christ. I will not use my power for myself. Look at some of the elder brothers nowadays.

They use the power as elder for themselves. I've seen sometimes some elder brothers make little young brothers go run around, buy vegetables for them and all types of things. Nothing wrong in that.

But you must also be willing as an elder brother to go and buy vegetables for that person. If you do that, it's alright. But all the time you make him do it, then you're a Maharaja.

I can ask another person's brother to do something for me if I also do it for him. If you don't do it, you can't ask that person to do it for you. So you see, Paul said, I'm a weak person.

And God made him weak. In fact, it says, God gave him a thorn in the flesh and made him weak. So, we see, God's way is to make his servants weak.

If you are a real servant of God, he will make you weak in the eyes of others. Not someone who can assert himself as a servant of God and force his way on people. Come on, I'm telling you to do this.

I'm a servant of God. You know, the only time I tell anyone I'm a servant of God, when I speak to a demon possessed person, that's the only time I say it. I tell that demon, I'm a servant of God, I'm telling you in Jesus' name, get out of here.

I never come to people and say, I'm a servant of God. That is all to frighten people. Jesus never said that.

He always said he was an ordinary man. He was weak. That is God's way.

See for example, look at the pictures Jesus gave of what we are in the world. See Matthew chapter 10 and verse 16. I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Who is stronger there, the wolf or the sheep? Do you know? And who is this servant of God? He is a sheep. And the worldly people? They are wolves. God's people are like sheep.

So when you see some brother behaving like a wolf, or a sister behaving like a wolf, then you know, that is not a disciple of Jesus. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you will not behave like a wolf. Wolves are the ones who show their face hard and show their teeth.

Do you know how wolves are? They show their teeth and show their beastly nature. But a sheep does not show its teeth. A sheep is so helpless.

He said, I send you like sheep in the midst of wolves. That is how God sends us. You know, we look around in the world and we see the Christians are so helpless and weak.

Do you think God could not have made us like wolves? He could have. He does not want to do it like that. That is how the devil's children are like that.

Jesus does not call himself a wolf of God, Lamb of God. We are to follow him. We are to be like sheep.

I want to ask you, my brother and sister. Are you a lamb or a wolf? Shall I ask your wife? Whether you are a lamb or a wolf? What about your sister? Shall I ask your husband? Do you know what Jesus was? Do you know what Jesus was? He was a lamb. But you say, brother, if we have become lambs, everybody will just hit us left, right and center.

That is what they did to Jesus. But on the third day, God raised him up. People may take advantage of you.

Many people have taken advantage of me in 46 years of my Christianity. I have never till today fought back with them. When I was a young man, there was a very godly man in this country called brother Buxing.

I was only 23 years old. He was a 60 year old man at that time. He loved me very much.

He took me up when I was a small baby, two months old and prayed that I would be a servant of God one day. When I grew up, I had a great love for me. He gave me three bits of advice when I was 23 years old.

I have never forgotten it in all these 43 years. One, he said, if ever you have any need in your life, don't tell man, tell God. Financial need, any need.

He was telling me from his own many years of experience, 30 years of experience. I was a new believer. I had been born again only 4 years then.

I am very thankful for that advice. I have followed it all my life. I have never told my needs to anybody.

God has met all my needs. The second thing he said was, live very simply. Don't spend too much money on yourself, on clothes or things for yourself.

I have followed that also. I have followed it always. Always.

Even eating food anywhere, I have tried to live very simply. I believe that is how Jesus lived. That has protected me from getting into death and all types of problems.

It has protected me from being a lover of food, lover of comfort or any such thing. The third thing he said was, if somebody attacks you, don't fight back. That also I have followed all my life.

Ok, you want to hit me? I am a weak person. I don't have power like Jesus to call 72,000 angels. He had that power, I don't have that power.

But I do have power to say, God punished this fellow for treating me like this. I won't say that. Because it says about Jesus, in 1 Peter chapter 2, and it says we must follow his example.

1 Peter chapter 2, it says here that Christ has suffered for us, verse 21, leaving us an example that we must follow in his steps. 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 21, Christ has suffered for you, leaving us an example that you must follow in his steps. What is the example we have to follow? Please read very carefully.

Jesus Christ has left us an example we should follow in his steps. Number one, he did not do any sin. We have to follow in his steps.

Number two, there was no deceit in his mouth. He didn't try to deceive anybody or tell any lie. We must follow him.

And third, when he was reviled, he did not revile in return. People called him bad names, he did not say anything in return. He was called prince of devils.

He said, I am an ordinary man. It's alright, you are forgiven. I don't speak against the Holy Spirit.

He was equal to the Holy Spirit. But he said, no, no, no, speaking against me is ok. While suffering, he did not utter any threats.

You know, when people were spitting on his face, he didn't say, you wait and see, one day when I come back, what God will do to you. No, he never said. He said, Father, forgive them.

They don't know what they are doing. It's really true. How can somebody kill someone and say they don't know what they are doing? You mean, somebody is crucifying Jesus and you say they don't know what they are doing? It's absolutely true.

They did not know that this was the son of God. They did not know that this was the son of God. The Bible says in Zechariah 2 verse 8, We are the apple of God's eye.

If you don't know that verse, you must remember that verse. Remember it. Zechariah 2 verse 8. You are the apple of God's eye.

What does it mean? If you accidentally touch the apple of your eye, you feel a pain immediately. It's not like touching any other part of your body. Even your hand, you can touch any part of your body with your hand, there is no pain.

But as soon as you touch the apple of your eye, you react because it's so sensitive. What does it mean when it says in Zechariah 2 verse 8 that I am the apple of God's eye? See, if somebody touches the apple of my eye, the eye does not do anything. What can the eye do? The eye is helpless.

But the hand will push the other fellow away. So, if I am the apple of God's eye, somebody hits me or touches me, I don't do anything. But my God, He will do something.

He won't actually do anything because He is not allowed to touch me. Because I am the apple of God's eye. Do you know that? If your husband slaps you, I feel sorry for what God will do to your husband.

It will be terrible. It will be so terrible that you will say, God, please, please, don't. Please forgive him.

Please forgive your husband. Please forgive him. It will be so terrible.

He didn't know what he did. He was hitting God's eye like that. When somebody attacks me, I can really say, they don't know what they are doing.

They don't know that they are touching the apple of God's eye. I will do nothing. I will say, Father, forgive them.

They don't know what they are doing. From my side, I will forgive. From God's side, He will not forgive them till they repent.

See, I will give you an example. When Jesus died on the cross, When Jesus died on the cross, The Pharisees who ordered His crucifixion, They said, Father, forgive them. He was not praying for the Roman soldiers.

They did not do any crime. They were only obeying the orders. The Roman soldiers did not do any crime in nailing Jesus to the cross.

They were only obeying their orders. The Pharisees, come on, hit this fellow. The Pharisees standing there at the cross, they were the sinners.

The chief priests. Jesus said, Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing.

They don't know who I am. They think I am an ordinary man. Just because I keep on saying I am an ordinary man, they think I am an ordinary man.

Just because I keep on saying I am an ordinary man, they think I am an ordinary man. They don't know. I mean, people like Peter and all, their eyes were opened.

They knew. They think their eyes are blind. They don't know.

They think I am the prince of devils. That's why they are crucifying me. They don't know.

Forgive them. Okay, let me ask you a question. One day, those Pharisees, Annas and Caiaphas and all will stand at the judgment seat of Christ.

Do you think God will forgive them and take them to heaven? Just because Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them? Definitely not. They will go to hell. You will say, Why do they go to hell? Jesus said, forgive them.

Now you have to understand a very important thing. Whenever you harm another person, that sin has got two dimensions. One, you have sinned against God.

The other, you have sinned against that man. For example, if you come and slap me, there are two dimensions to that sin. One, you have sinned against me.

The other, you have sinned against God, whose child I am. So there are two, like a cross, there are two parts to that sin. So this horizontal part, I can say, okay, Father, forgive them, forget it, I am not charging them.

So, that part of the sin goes away because I have forgiven them. But what about this part? That is still there. That can go only if you repent and ask God to forgive you.

So, when Jesus said, forgive Anna and Kaiaphas, this horizontal part is gone. But they still sinned against God. And that can be forgiven only if they repent and ask God to forgive them.

So, and if they don't repent, when Jesus removed the horizontal part, this part is still there, so they go to hell. So, when somebody does harm to me, my side, I say, forgive him. We don't want to charge that person.

But there is a vertical part, where the Lord says in Romans 12 and verse 19, vengeance is mine, I will repay. He is going to repay. What am I supposed to do? Verse 20, give him some food, if he is thirsty, if my enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink. So, this fellow slapped me, hurt me. He is hungry, I give him some food.

If he is thirsty, I give him a drink. Because the horizontal part, I follow Jesus. But he won't escape.

Because verse 19, God says, I will repay that fellow one day. Sometimes He repays them on the earth itself. Gives them some sickness, or some punishment.

That will be a mercy, if they get their punishment on the earth. Because then they can repent. But if they don't get their punishment on the earth, then it will be terrible for them.

Because that means eternal hell only. I tell you, it is much better if that fellow gets his punishment on earth for harming me. Because there is a chance for him to repent.

But if he does not get a punishment on the earth, that's terrible his fate in eternity. And that is why I say to all of you, if somebody has harmed you, forgive them. We are like lambs.

We don't go fighting with the wolves. They tore off some of my flesh. He is a wolf, that is what he does.

I am not going to bite and take some of his flesh. Why? Because I am not a wolf. I am a lamb.

And if you go and take some of his flesh, he is a wolf and you are also a wolf. So tell me, are you a wolf or a lamb? When a husband shouts at his wife, that's a wolf. When the wife shouts back, what is she? Correct.

So these are two wolves. But Sunday morning, they are coming and praise the lord, hallelujah and all that. You know what Jesus called them? Wolves in lambs clothing on Sunday morning.

We shouldn't be like that. I send you as lambs in the midst of wolves. If somebody is a wolf, let him be a wolf.

You be a wolf, I am a lamb. What do you say? Then they will just keep on eating me. God will never allow you to be tested beyond your ability.

You know that is one of the most wonderful promises in the scripture. When we are helpless, we don't fight back. I know many times God has said this to me.

Because I serve the lord, the devil hates me, hates my family, attacked me, attacked my wife, attacked my children in so many ways. Most of you know nothing about it and I will never talk about it. But I tell you something, attacks have always been from people.

Devil uses people. And when they attack me, the lord has said to me, Do you want to deal with them or will you let me deal with them? I said lord, I pull out of the way, you deal with them. I am not going to deal with them.

I want to say to you, I have been a believer for 46 years and I am giving my testimony. I have never behaved like a wolf to anybody. Not even once.

Many wolves have attacked me. But, God has never allowed me to be tested beyond my ability. Because he knows how much ability I have.

He knows if it becomes too much, I will just get discouraged. He knows if it becomes too much, I may even sin. How much weight can you carry on your head? 10 kilos, 15 kilos, 20 kilos.

After sometime it becomes too much. Will you let your children carry a suitcase that is too heavy for them to carry? Suppose you are travelling in a train or a bus and you tell your 3 year old boy to carry that 30 kilo suitcase. You won't do that.

If you being evil won't let your children carry a heavy weight. Do you think your heavenly father will make you carry a weight on your head that is too much for you? I know. He has never done that with me.

He has only allowed me to carry as much as I can bear. And as my strength has increased, then the weight has become more. That's good.

You know, in these Olympics they have this weight lifting championship. And they are always trying to break the record. I broke the record.

Like that, God also puts little more weight sometimes so that we break the record and become a champion. He won't do that if you are not strong. If you are a small boy, 5 kilos only, lift it.

But as you grow, He will give you more weight so that you become a strong Christian. But you will always be a lamb. See the pictures Jesus used.

Always a picture of weakness. See another picture. Luke chapter 18.

Here He speaks about the church like a widow. A widow who has to go to the judge. Why does she have to go to the judge? She's got no children to help her.

No son, no daughter. If she had a son or daughter, they would have gone to the court. This is a helpless widow, no children, husband has died.

Can you picture a woman like this? You know sometimes some women like this. Husband has died. No children.

She's an old lady. 65 years old. And the neighbor is pushing and taking more and more of her property.

Moving the fence everyday. And this widow doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know any police inspector, nobody.

She has no influence. She's poor. And this neighbor is mighty wrestling champion.

That is the devil. And this is the church. So what is the picture Jesus used here? Devil is a mighty man.

And the church is like a poor widow. See how the picture Jesus uses always. He uses the picture of a lamb or a widow, a weak person.

He does not want to depend on our own strength. He wants us to depend on his strength. We are like this mighty wrestling champion then we don't need God.

Then we can tell the neighbor, come I'll teach you a lesson. The widow can't say that. The widow goes to the judge.

And the judge says, go away. I don't have time for you. He's knocking, knocking, knocking.

Wakes him up at 2 o'clock in the morning. And finally he says, okay, this widow won't let me sleep. Okay, what do you want? Please tell this neighbor to put the fence back to where it was.

This is okay, granted. And Jesus says, if that unrighteous judge will do that for that widow, Luke 18, 7. Don't you think a God will listen to you when you pray to him day and night? What is the other picture Jesus used? They asked him who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He didn't bring one mighty man and say, see this man, this is the man greatest in the heaven.

He says, give me that 6 month old baby. You see this one? He's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. You see the pictures Jesus used? Lambs, widows, 6 month old baby, this is the church.

These are the mighty men of God. Weak, with no strength in themselves. Because God wants them to depend on him.

So, how do you feel? Do you feel like a palvan or do you feel like a widow? Some of you say, oh brother, I'm so weak. Good, you can depend on God. That's exactly the picture God Jesus used.

So, when Paul writes to the Corinthians, he says Jesus also was weak. He did not use his power. They slapped him.

They hit him. He just kept quiet. They killed him.

He said, father, forgive them. Once one brother was complaining about, oh brother, so and so doing so many things to me. They are saying so many false stories about me.

They did this, they did that. I asked him, did they spit on you yet? No. Did they call you the devil yet? No.

Did they slap your face yet? No. Have they whipped your back yet? No. Have they crucified you yet? No.

What are you complaining about? Somebody said some words and you are supposed to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Are you supposed to take up the cross and follow Jesus? You have not suffered nothing. You think of your complaint, sister, brother.

Somebody in the office shouted at you. Is that such a big suffering? Somebody says, brother, they did not give me increment this year. Because I am a Christian.

Oh, how sad. What stupid things we complain about. Jesus was crucified.

We are complaining that I did not get increment this year because I am a Christian. Or some relative said something bad about me. Be weak, brother.

Don't fight back. Go to God. Do what Jesus did.

1 Peter 2, what did he do? He did not say anything back. But it says in verse 23, he kept entrusting himself to him who judges rightly. He kept on doing it, it says.

Father, these people are hurting me. I did not say anything. You are the righteous judge.

You do what you think is right. At the right time. Is your husband hurting you? Some relative cheating you? Do what Jesus did.

I am weak. I don't know any police inspector to help me. I don't know any MLA, MP, nobody.

But you are my father. Why do I need MPs and MLAs? You run the universe. You are my father.

And I am the apple of your eye. I want to be like a lamb. I want to be like a child.

I want to be like a helpless widow. Trusting only in you. Father, do a miracle for me.

I tell you, God will answer that prayer. Whatever your problem is, God will mightily answer that prayer. Trust him.

He makes us weak so we can trust him. That is God's way. God's way is not for you to fight back.

God's way is for you to remain weak and commit your cause to him. I am not telling you theories. I have proved it for 46 years in my life.

God fights for me. People take me to court. God fights for me.

Because I am the apple of God's eye. You can't touch me and God not know about it. You remember when Paul was persecuting all the Christians as Saul? And Jesus from heaven said, Why are you persecuting me? Saul said, I didn't touch you.

Oh yes you did. You touched the apple of my eye over there. You touched my apple of my eye over there.

That was the day Paul got a revelation of the body of Christ. He writes about it in Ephesians afterwards. He saw the head is there but the body is here.

That's the body. The head feels it there. You are the body of Christ.

Remember Jesus feels it when somebody hurts. So commit your cause to him. Let's pray.