Sermon, Jan.7, 2007--THE POWER OF VOLUNTARY WEAKNESS

Sermon, Jan.7--The Power of Voluntary Weakness

SYNOPSIS
This is the first of three sermons on the THREE GREAT POWERS God has given us to change our lives for the better.

Text: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22--The Baptism of Jesus

An audio file of this sermon may be streamed or downloaded by clicking on http://www.mediafire.com/?5yiqjdli0uj

Jesus, always fully God and fully human, chose voluntarily to stand in line with the other "sinners" who wanted baptism for the repentance of their sins from John the Baptist...i.e. Jesus chose to operate from a position of VOLUNTARY WEAKNESS (I first heard the use of this term at a "Father Loves You" Conference at the Toronto Airport Church http://www.tacf.org/ by Ed Piorek http://www.fatherlovesyou.com/) The apostle Paul confirms this in Philippians 2:5-8:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

When he offered himself in voluntary weakness, then the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove (with power).
The way to receive power from God is to offer ourselves in voluntary weakness.

Remember Jesus' parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector who went to pray in the temple one day? (Luke 18:9-14). The Tax Collector, who in his day, would've been the wealthier, more powerful one, beats his chest and prays in voluntary weakness: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." He goes home justified, not the Pharisee, who is full of himself. "Those who humble themselves will be exalted" says Jesus. Paul reminds us that because Jesus chose to empty himself,
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-11)
Yes, there is power in VOLUNTARY WEAKNESS.

The apostle Paul says in II Corinthians 12:10--"When I am weak, then I am strong."

Three ways in which we can follow Jesus' example of Voluntary Weakness:

#1. FASTING--taken for granted as a spiritual discipline in both the Old (Moses, Elijah) and New Testaments. Jesus, in addition to fasting himself, says in Matthew 6:16: "When you fast", not "if perchance, you may wish to choose the option of fasting" :) In voluntarily weakening our body, we experience the power of God in a way that is not possible otherwise.

#2. TITHING is an act of voluntarily weakening our financial position, yet a certain power of blessing is only experienced when we tithe (as in Malachi 3:8-12)

#3. SOAKING is a time of just being still in the presence of God, in a very relaxed, receiving posture (such as lying down). It is a time to simply receive all that the Holy Spirit wants to give us and allow him to draw us closer in intimacy with the Father, transforming us more and more into the likeness of Jesus (while we play some anointed music in the background.... (http://www.soaking.net/)

From all the reading I've done on those with incredibly anointed healing ministries, it is very clear that spending quiet time with the Father, offering themselves in voluntary weakness, is what allowed the Holy Spirit to fill them with power to minister. For over a year now, I've made a habit of spending at least an hour "soaking"...and know for sure that it has made a big difference to my life and ministry, particularly in the area of healing.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
See yourself standing beside Jesus at the Jordan.
Say to him: "Jesus, I am standing with you in all my weakness."
Pray: "Holy Spirit, fill me with your power in my weakness."
Wait...let the heavens open...let the Holy Spirit clothe you in power.
Hear the Father say: "You are my beloved; in you I am well pleased."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS

1. Can you think of other times in Jesus' life when he displayed "voluntary weakness?" (Hint: toward the end of his life)
2. Are there other "characters" in the Bible who illustrate the power of voluntary weakness?
3. Do you relate to any or all of the three expressions of voluntary weakness mentioned in the sermon? Why? Why not?
4. What other expressions of voluntary weakness do you practise?