2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
• Albert Einstein, Donald trump, Chuck Norris: what are they known for? In God’s economy, weakness is a positive thing. What seem to be our strengths could also easily become a source of self-reliance.
• Story that Jerry Rankin tells of how difficult church planting is in Japan, but a couple is making significant impact, not because of smarts, ingenuity, money, strength, but PRAYER!
Ch.3 Overview: David addresses the false value of relying on ourselves and how it has impacted the American church.
• We can do so much without God and think we have been successful.
• The American Dream says our greatest asset is in our own abilities. But the Gospel says, “Die to self, believe in God and trust in His power.”
• “The dangerous assumption we unknowingly accept in the American Dream is that our greatest asset is our own ability… in the Gospel, God confronts us with our utter inability to accomplish anything of value apart from Him.” (pg. 46)
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Q. What do you think Jesus means by “you can do nothing”?
Q. How do we stay connected to the vine (JESUS)?
• When our goal is to make much of ourselves = this mirrors the American Dream. When our goal is to make much of GOD, that mirrors the Gospel.
• Jericho story Joshua Ch. 6: God intentionally puts His people in situations where they come face to face with their need for Him. Then He displays His greatness and gets all the glory.
Recap the story of Jericho. Q. What challenges do you think Joshua and God’s people went through as they trusted in God for the victory?
Do God’s directions to Joshua and the Israelites make sense to the rational mind?
At the time, it was thought Jericho had impenetrable walls. And maybe they were in regard to mere man, but not before God. This teaches us that NO obstacle before us, and I mean NO obstacle is so big, so difficult, or so impossible that God cannot overcome it. The lesson for us is how we go about trying to resolve the issue: with our strength, ingenuity, power, resources --- or God’s.
“The power of Jesus’ name is still great” (pg.45 from the brother Raden and witch doctor study)
Q. What did you think of the witch doctor story? Did it surprise you that God would still work in such surprising and powerful ways? Did you notice God SPOKE to Raden?
Q. How do WE tend to deal with spiritual issues/challenges that arise in our lives? Are we trusting in HIS power?
When a friend or loved one is sick or hurting, how do we go about ministering to them? Do we simply say “Hey, I’ll be praying for you.” Or do we ask God how HE wants to address that problem? Do we trust in our understanding and methods, or seek HIS? Do we follow through with HIS directives rather than our own?
Personal example: Story of family member who was going through a terribly dark time and how the power of God intervened. The instructions I gave her (prompted by the Holy Spirit) seemed a bit mystical and unconventional, but God moved powerfully and miraculously!
Story about a friend who was going through demonic oppression and how God delivered him through the power of Jesus’ name and God’s word. God impressed upon me NOT to open the Bible but simply quote every Scripture I knew, calling upon the name of Jesus!
Does anyone have a story they would like to share about how you had to rely on God’s power, and how God showed up and did something only He could do?
Q. Is our church, our Sunday School class, our own personal spiritual lives characterized by a reliance on God’s power? If not, what might it look like to live in such a way that we were radically dependent on and desperate for the power only God can provide? Take some time at home to write down some ideas.
WHO are we trusting in?
Genesis 15-17 The story of Abraham & Ishmael (review it and turn to it): When Sarah gave her handmade Hagar to Abraham as a wife, what or who were they trusting in to resolve their challenge? (do this on the dry-erase board)
The natural vs the Supernatural; the flesh vs the Spirit; what they could see vs what they could not see (FAITH); their wisdom and understanding vs God’s; their timing vs God’s timing; the practical vs God’s supernaturally, impractical power; in their solution vs God’s; in their power vs God’s supernatural power
Q. What were the challenges that provoked Sarah and Abraham to do this? Their age; the long wait; little info to go on; they thought they saw a solution, but it wasn’t God’s solution; the stigma of not having a child prompted desperation.
Q. What are WE most prone to do when God doesn’t answer a prayer to do something, in our timing or in our way or expectation? (take matters into our own hands and accomplish it in the flesh).
Prayer and the power of God: Church-planting story about Calixto in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
In 1984 a small group of people led by Danielle’s dad, Calixto, met for prayer as they were endeavoring to plant a new church. They were asking God for 100 souls to be added by the end of the year (it was April). As they prayed, the group kept asking “Speak, God speak!” over and over. Then the Holy Spirit prompted Calixto to tell everyone to be quiet and to listen. Then God did indeed speak and unveil an amazing vision. Then God told Calixto very specific things to do, after which he yelled out in amazement “Praise the LORD! God has spoken!” God said to go to a specific place on the beach and ask the owner to allow them to set up a revival tent. Then invite/command 4 of Venezuela’s best preachers to come, paying their own way/expenses (because the church had no money), and for them to preach. They were to take only one offering on Sunday, and no other day. So they began to pray, set the tent up in August, and started the new church with 73 souls, and by December there were 103!
When you consider our churches programs, services, worship, ministries, etc., and your own spiritual life, are we mirroring the American Dream or can we honestly say we characterize a desperation for God and His power?
Read quote on pg. 60 “Our greatest need…”
Parting quote from Jim Cymbala in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire:
“That evening, when I was at my lowest, confounded by obstacles, bewildered by darkness that surrounded us, unable even to continue preaching, I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for His power.”
Key lessons:
1.We need to rely on God’s power, not ours, to accomplish things that have eternal worth. In a “me” centered culture, it’ so easy to trust in our own talents, smarts, skills & abilities.
2.God puts us in circumstances and situations where we are challenged to rely on His power. If we do, He will show His greatness and get all the glory.
3.It is possible for our church to carry on many of its activities, and even seem successful, all the while the Holy Spirit of God is virtually absent from the picture.
4.God can and will accomplish His awesome purposes and plans through unlikely churches and people. Remember David and Goliath? Remember that rag-tag collection of fishermen and Galileans (the disciples) that turned the world upside down?
5.The Holy Spirit is the key to God’s power. Don’t miss this is God in person living inside us!
6.We need to die to ourselves and make much of God and trust in His power.
7.Prayer is key. We need to ask God to do what only He can accomplish. We can plan, organize, but all the while we need to be praying, and confessing our need for His provision to accomplish His purposes.
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