Dear Woodland Hills Family,
A week ago I helped my son-in-law change a tire. Something in my back must not have liked that idea. So I’ve been spending a lot of time since then looking at the ceiling. Weakness. Again. Why?
So far we’ve covered these principles about weakness:
1. Weakness helps you realize your need for God’s strength.
2. Weakness is the canvas that best displays God’s strength.
3. Weakness may be a messenger from Satan to harm you.
Let’s examine further Satan’s role in our weakness. The Apostle Paul said of his weakness — his thorn in the flesh — that it was “a messenger of Satan.” Since Satan wants nothing more than to destroy and devour us (1 Peter 5:8) why would God give Satan such access to His children?
One reason God would allow a messenger from Satan to reach you is for your protection. Paul came to the realization that God was using Satan’s destructive malice to protect him from something. What was it? He tells us: “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself!” (2 Cor 12:7). It was worth saying twice because there is something worse than weakness: pride.
Weakness principle # 4: Weakness helps prevent pride.
Paul had a debilitating weakness. A thorn-in-the-flesh. A messenger from Satan. Totorment him. To keep him from exalting himself. This pride stuff must be serious.
It’s a legitimate question: Lord, have You allowed this weakness because You see pride lurking in me?
Blessings,
