Who is Weak?

2. Who is Weak? We may not like it, but weakness is a fact.

3. Who is Weak? • One who presses his opinion? The “meat” eater was pressing his opinion also. Pressing opinion with the WRONG opinion makes one “weak.” Romans 14:1-2 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 

4. Hebrews 12:5-11 ...“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

5. Who is Weak? • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline Hebrews 12:12-13 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.  Work, family, school, health, finances, church, persecutions… Maybe a reason to be weak, no excuse to give up.

6. Hebrews 5:11-14 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil

7. Who is Weak? • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline • Weakness in growth, maturity Unskilled, Lacked practice, training A milk diet is simply unacceptable

8. Luke 8:13-14 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 

9. Who is Weak? • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline • Weakness in growth, maturity • Weak soil doesn’t produce They received the word with joy, but heat killed the plant Hot sun was not the problem, but too many rocks Rocks? Like… Schedules Friends Habits Desires Attitudes Etc., etc.

10. Who is Weak? • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline • Weakness in growth, maturity • Weak soil doesn’t produce Thorns, weeds are the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life The blessings of life CAN make us weak

11. 2 Timothy 3:2-6 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 

12. Who is Weak? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline • Weakness in growth, maturity • Weak soil doesn’t produce • Emotionalism is weakness Emotions are not a weakness, emotionalism is. Feelings are motivators not guides.

13. Who is Weak? 1 Corinthians 11:30 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. • Pressing a wrong opinion • In context of God’s discipline • Weakness in growth, maturity • Weak soil doesn’t produce • Emotionalism is weakness • Empty worship bring weakness Trading the spiritual for the carnal is a mistake Weakness leads to sickness leads to death

14. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

15. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

16. How shall we defeat our weakness? Learn the difference between opinion and truth Endure and grow strong in God’s discipline Practice and exercise self in spiritual things Remove the rocks and control the weeds in life Lead our feelings with truth, not be led by them We need to grow and mature and strengthen in Christ