Believers should tap and play into their spiritual strength in Christ Jesus and not to the weaknesses and corruption of the flesh: for in Christ Jesus, they are made stronger that their weaknesses for God has promised not to allow them to be tempted beyond their strength of faith; but in his faithfulness will make a way out of the same temptation to escape, that they may be able to bear. We should therefore focus on what make us strong and to get stronger to overcome our weaknesses – the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that has a clean hand shall be stronger and stronger. Job 17:9.
There comes a time in our lives that we need to grow up and stop saying: I am not saying that I’m perfect; I am just a human being like others, whereof the scriptures says, therefore let us leave the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this will we do, if God permit. If we are nourishing and cherishing whatever weakness in us and be seeing and using them as excuses to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof, we are not living in holiness in all manner of conversation as he which has called us is holy and we are yet to be fully delivered- we are still in our sins, deceiving ourselves. Failure to admit and identify our weaknesses and to deal with them won’t allow us to have a full testimony: worst still, they can destroy and lead us to reap the harvest of death and eternal corruption for sowing to the flesh. We need to cry to God like David did in prayer for total deliverance and solution to personal weakness: search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:24. Job 15:15-16. Except the Lord is our sanctifier and righteousness who enlarges the steps under us that our feet did not slip away (Psalms 18:36) and to lead us each day in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake, to make us to lie down beside the green pasture for strength to live, we cannot stand against the pressures of the flesh, neither of the world, nor from Satan for a second. ‘Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I shall have respect unto thy statutes’. Psalms 119:117. Except we are rooted and grounded in Christ the faithful high priest who can be touched by the feelings of infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, we cannot overcome our weaknesses: but when we go before him to the throne of grace, we shall obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need to triumph over them –for sin, says the scripture, shall not have dominion over us again as people saved by grace and free from the law of sin and death. Hebrews 4:15-16. The weakness of the saint is the unrighteousness (sin) in him that blackens the soul and the defilement of it. It is man natural disposition to sin because he were sharpen in it (Proverbs 10:23) so that he cannot get clear of it by any power of his own; but by the grace of him whose strength is made perfect in man’s weaknesses, he can have power to overcome his sins and become stronger than the weakness that is pulling him down repeatedly in shame. 1 John 5:17. Sometimes we shamefully screwed up, consciously or otherwise, willingly or unwillingly, out of pressure of life or of our negligence or by corrupt company unintentionally fall sideway because we have not sought the Lord to order our steps in his word lest iniquity have dominion over us. Viewpoints of weaknesses are not of physical or natural perspectives but are the spiritual sicknesses and ailments from the un-broken parts of our lives whose root is spiritual to be handled spiritually with the sense of urgency before it breaks us completely in a very bad way. Weaknesses are the burdens and strongholds of sin and of carnality rooted in our foundation and in our blood which should be washed away by the blood of Jesus, uprooted and removed by the fire of his Spirit in order to have glorious experience of total liberty purchased for us by the blood of Christ – if the son shall set you free, you shall be freed indeed. Those who are now made strong by the grace of God through Christ liberty are called upon to help the weak in their infirmities: and none is qualify to remove the speck out of his brother’s eyes, if he has the beam in his own eyes, except if we want to have an outbreak of infectious epidemic infirmities to create prosperous congregations of hypocrites in our churches. Job 15:34. The weaknesses of the saints are the little foxes that spoil the vines, revealing his spiritual vulnerability and imperfection in the place of growing stronger in the spirit and in the grace which is in the Lord Jesus. Songs of Solomon 2:15. This is the reason we are admonished from the scriptures to exercise ourselves unto godliness for an uninterrupted supply of the spirit power for gradual transformation growth unto the image and resemblance of Christ, unto a mature and perfect believer in him. 1Timothy 4:7. Those weaknesses expose the remnant of the Egyptian reproaches and marks (worldly traits) or the idolatrous traces in us (carnality) in the place of the glorious beauty of the inhabitants of Zion achievable through complete spiritual brokenness. Note: not until when every yoke is broken and every burden is removed and every hidden or opened strongholds are pulled down can we clearly see a truly spiritually broken minded believer who is re-moulded, re-shaped and re-formed to live in absolute conformity to Christ death in a crucified life with Christ and resurrected life in him before the world. The manifestation of any moral and spiritual laxity is the signal of un-brokenness in some parts of his life and a reminder that not all the strongholds which ought to be pulled down are actually down in his life. Those open or hidden yokes, burdens and strongholds are the presence and influences of contending evil powers against the full manifestation of the transformational power of godliness and of true holiness, such that it can make a fool out of the believer of a sort that though he ever learns, but never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Not until every thought in him is brought to the obedience of Christ, he shall never attain to be like his master because the disciple is not above his master, but he that is perfect shall be like his master. Luke 6:40. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
The major weakness and spiritual problem of many people from the ages past till date is the mouth or the loose tongue…..and whosoever is able to tame his tongue, the same is a perfect (strong) man, able also to tame his whole body…..In the multitude of words there wanted not sin: but he that refrained (control) his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19. Proverbs 13:3. Matthew 12:36. James 3:1-11. Spiritual maturity is known, seen and determined through the humble service we continually render without ceasing as the labour of love to others and not to be seated as chief to be served at the high table, including the ability to communicate with the tongue of the learned – the tongue of the wise disperse knowledge. Proverbs 15:7. We are warns to control our mouth and tongue and to speak few and edifying words when it is very important to speak, not to speak because we feel like speaking, but to do so because the Spirit of God has put a word in our mouth and people are ready to hear us. Proverbs 25:11. Talkativeness is neither a power nor a gift, but a mental spiritual sickness and moral weakness that should be overcome, if we are not among the fools who think that they shall prevail with their tongue by manipulative words and domineering spirit. To be full of words is a big spiritual problem and bondage, the easiest sign to know a foolish man: the voice of a fool is known through his many words, while the wise and spiritually mature are slow to speak and speak sparingly to instruct and to edify others in the ways and admonition of the Lord. Proverbs 10:21. Proverbs 17:27. Ecclesiastes 5:3. Ecclesiastes 9:17. Ecclesiastes 10:14. Irrelevant and worldly jargon (a strange, outlandish, or barbarous language or dialect) corrupt speaking and foolish jestings which are not convenient will only grieve the indwelling Spirit of God in us. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. Ephesians 4:29-31. Sometimes, we get naughty and rude in speech (2 Corinthians 11:6) because of the little particles of naughtiness and rudeness that is still left over in the heart as it overflows from its abundance: but it is our responsibility to take care that we offend (not to shy away from speaking the truth which is offensive to many people, and not of inappropriate behaviour and impolite manner to others) not with our tongue, and that we improve discourse and converse, as much as may be, for the good of others, speaking few and constructive words from the scriptures in the place of unintelligent and unprofitable words.
It is written that every man should bear rule over his wife and family, but in Adam (Genesis 3:17), King Ahab (1 Kings 21:25) and King Herod (Mark6: 17-29), we see indecisiveness and lack of firmness as their weakness in their in-ability to rule over their wives; but sold themselves out to their spouses who ruled over them to God’s displeasure and to their own destruction. Esther 1:22. Isaiah 3:20.
It is written that wine is a mocker and strong drink is ragging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise, but in Noah (Genesis 9:20-29) Lot (Genesis 19: 30-38) and many prophets of Israelis (Isaiah 28:1-8), we see alcoholic drinks consumption and drunkenness as the weakness to their lack of power and destruction. Proverbs 20:1.
It is written that a man of great wrath shall suffer punishment, if you deliver him, you must need to do it over and over again, but in Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-7) and in Moses (Psalms 106:32-33) we see quick and uncontrollable anger as their weakness that brought curses and destruction to them. Proverbs 19:19
It is written, if we are to be men pleaser we are not qualify to be a servant of God, but in Aaron (Exodus 32: 21-25) and some brethren in Ephesians church (Ephesians 6:6) we see men pleasing spirit and respect of person for admiration as their weakness. Galatians 1:10.
It is written, give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroys kings, but in Samson (Judges 16: 16-20) David (2 Samuel 11) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:6-10), we see lusts and sexual immorality as the weakness to their destruction. Proverbs 31:3.
It is written, for meat, destroy not the works of God, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drinks, but in Esau (Genesis 25:29-34) Isaac (Genesis 27: 19-25) and in the young prophet sent to Bethel (1 Kings 13: 14-24) to prophesy against the altar of Jeroboam: and in majority of the New Testaments servants and children of God (Philippians 3:19) we see their god as their stomach, roasted meat and tasty food as the weakness that caused them troubles and brought destruction into their lives. Romans 14:17.
It is written, God resist the proud and will bring them down, and in queen Vashti (Esther 1:15-20), King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4: 28-35) and the great Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12: 7) we see that pride brought each one of them into different problems and chastening before God. Though hand-join in hand, the proud shall not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5. James 4:4.
It is written to count it all joy when you fall into divers’ temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing, but in Abraham the father of faith, we see impatience as a weakness, to hearken and agree with Sarah to hasten the promise of God to have a child by a surrogate mother (Hagai, their Egyptian housemaid) with the lasting consequence till date as he that was born after the flesh persecutes him that was born after the spirit, even so it is now. Galatians 4: 29. James 1:2-4.
Weakness can be an evil inheritance factor transferred from the parent to their children (like father like son or like mother like daughter repeated moral and spiritual failures and problems) as we see in the life of Moses whose anger was an evil inheritance of moral problem from his parents blood transferred from the intolerable spirit of his grandfather Levi who was cursed for his unjustified and destructive anger by his great grandfather Jacob…..Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will, they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it fierce; and their wrath, it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and will scatter them in Israel…..and there went out a man of the house Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and gave birth to a son (Moses) and when she saw him a goodly child, she hid him three months. Genesis 49: 5-7. Exodus 2:1-2. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth….if we put to death and are no longer manifesting any of those works of the flesh in our daily life and walk (now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:20-25) to walk in the Spirit and to grow increasingly in the fruit of the spirit, then have we come to the full understanding of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ.
In the kingdom of God, there are weak and the strong believers, wise and foolish Christians. The latter are expected to stand up for the weak, if they should make a blunder (sin) and never to rejoice for the error or fall of their weak brothers and sisters in the faith because they could as well be tempted and fall in the same or other error if care is not taken. Galatians 6:1-2. The Lord has provided provision for the weaknesses of his saints (Romans 15:1-3. 1 Thessalonians 5:14. 1 John 1: 8-9) until they become strong in the grace and are able to stand firm in the liberty of Christ, never to be entangled again with any yoke of bondage . The Lord Jesus is not the minister of sin, neither will he condole it, though he make intercession for the transgressors. His work is to redeem us from all our iniquities with power to subdue them and to keep us undefiled in the way. The weaknesses of the saints are the dead flies that cause the ointment of the believer apothecary to send forth a stinking savour –the little folly – little sin. Ecclesiastes 10:1. It is the little leavens that leaven the whole lump, the reproach of sin that tarnishes the name and the person of Christ as we openly or secretly err from the path of light and truth. Our weaknesses serves as an unguarded open door for the enemy as he seeks to take advantage through them to fight and knock us down (Micah 7:8-10) as many times as possible unless we identify and desire a breaking point from them to unlink the link between us and the enemy. We must seek to break away from whatsoever unites us with the enemy in the inner man: be it anger, unforgiving and rebellious spirit, pride or sexual lusts and love of money which are the primary besetting sins in the church today; and from whatever bondage and evil attachment of the past or present little cherished sinin our lives. Sin make us looks like a hypocrite, an idiot and a backslider, but that’s not whom we are as we struggles between flesh and spirit because of our inconsistence love and walk in the spirit. We must take the battle to the gate of the enemy. We must seek the Lord’s strength to fight and win the battle for the soul in a consistent earnest self-deliverance prayer for help and grace to overcome our weaknesses – sin that dwells in us. Weaknesses are our personal Goliath which must be defeated. They are evil strongholds we must pull down and the bondages to break away from by faith and courage as we seek freedom and victory over them through daily and constant renewal of mind in the word of God, and through the power of self control by bringing of our body under subjection through the Holy Spirit that we might live. Romans 8:13.
The sinners have no shame and to rejoice when they do evil. As redeemed believers, we cannot and should not glory or rejoices in our weaknesses because they are shameful and reproachful to the name of Christ…..and of Zachariah and Elizabeth his wife, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (has overcome and dominated all their weaknesses – they were prefect) but of Ananias and Sapphire his wife; their weakness was the deceitful and lying spirit, exaggeration and half truth and praises they sought from men with eye service rooted in the love of money – the root of all evil. We must labour fervently in prayer to be made perfect and complete in all the will of God as we vigorously seek to break loose from our weaknesses or else it shall hinder us from the glorious kingdom of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ – your sin shall find you out. Colossians 4:12. Numbers 32:23. Denying yourself the pleasure of besetting (constantly harassing, attacking, or pressing upon or about) sin. It should be put aside, lest it become a stumbling block to your spiritual growth to perfecting holiness in the fear of God. It is our responsibility in the light of the scriptures and through the witness and conviction of the Holy Spirit to identify our weaknesses, and seriously see to their removal of whatever sizes they are motes, beams, gnat or camels. We cannot be an offence or cause offenses in the kingdom and thought to get to heaven…. woe unto the world because of offences. For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes. Wherefore if your hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if your eye offends thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Numbers32:23. Luke1: 6. Acts5: 1-10. Colossians4:12. Hebrews12:1-4. Matthew7:1-5. Companion of fools shall be destroyed, but whosoever walk with the wise shall be wise: we must separate from the brethren whose spiritual life is shallow and fruitless to seek company among those who are stronger than us, fruitful and are growing in the Lord as good examples that they might draw us along with them in our walks, services, commitments and engagements for the Lord. It is the only way to victory over weakness, if we are not shy, but serious with our walk with Christ and are not reluctant to share and speak about our weaknesses for their supports and prayers, seeking godly counsels to come out of them –whose loves instruction loves knowledge, but he that hates reproof is brutish. Proverbs 13:20. 2 Timothy 2:22.