When I Became Strong, Then I Was Weak.....
My name is Paul, but I am clearly not the Paul of the Bible.....
This night, in December 2004, I was listening to “praise music” I have not heard in years.
It put me in mind of the old days, when I used to listen to it, an praise the LORD along with it.
There suddenly appeared a difference between back then and now, and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me.
What the LORD was saying that, sadly, between that long ago day, and now, I had become “an accomplished carpenter,” and “good at my trade.” My gray hair and beard testified to it, and events unfolded, to witness to my “success.” Not success as others may say, but success never the less.
I found I could lead people, and direct work, “as the LORD had taught me to do,” and things would happen, and work out, that “all should be blessed.”
In my own mind, I became “strong.”
When I was became strong, I was weak.
In my own heart I began to “succeed,” to “accomplish,” to “acquire,” and sadly, even to “get better than others.” To be sure, I knew it all came from God, but suspected “I might be the real author of it.”
All I actually authored was confusion. It is clear to me now, because I have become “weak” again, and so, am strong.
When I became strong, I was weak. Then, in my strength, which was weakness, I thought myself able to do as the LORD directed , not knowing that all He really wanted me to do was Fellowship with Him, not be a good soldier in His army. We all strive for that, in this latter day “church”, which, in its “strength,” wallows in weakness.
There is nothing that the Almighty God need for you to do, to accomplish His Will. But if you will give up your own strengths, and receive weakness, then the almighty power of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, might be expressed in you.
Even so, it will not increase His Love for you. His Love has already been expressed in his Only Begotten Son, Jesus. On the Earth, walking it, He became what we call “weak.”
For He Chose only as He was Bidden, remaining in what we call “weakness”, that the ALL MIGHTY Power of God might come through Him. Praise His Holy Name, I am Glad that He did.
All Power and Authority actually rested In Jesus, but He never walked in it, on the Earth, preferring to defer to the only source and Power that is, God the Father.
Having All Strength, and the Creator of All, Through Whom “Nothing Made That Was Made,” He humbled Himself, and became “weak,” so that the Unconquerable Strength of God Might be expressed at the Resurrection.
He is, the Only Begotten Son of God, the Sacrifice for Our Sins, Jesus.
May this word, written out of weakness, give you His Strength. Paul.
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