Love will Expose Our Weakness

1 Peter 4:7-10; Romans 5:1-8; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; John 13:34-35

Introduction: We continue our series on Love One Another. Last week, we spoke about how we cannot live in fear. I John 4:18, John told the people in Ephesus that there is no fear in Love, but perfect love drives out fear. We used the analogy of a blind spot or blindside as they call it in football. How that fear is always there, ready to provide excuses, hurt, pain, and doubt. We can’t worry about what tomorrow can bring, but John said that if God can prepare us for Judgement, then down here is a piece of cake.

Talk about Darius Car and not having a passenger-side mirror.

Brandon said that we are not going to allow anything to separate us from the Love of God. It is not the doubt that we have never seen God, the fear about Judgment and things of this world, but rather that we will live in confidence to serve God and allow our blind spots to be filled with Love. If God can prepare us for judgment, which is the most important moment we will face, then there is nothing on this earth that we cannot handle.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39

(1 Peter 4:7-11) 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen., 1 Pe 4:7–11.

Covering does not mean ignoring or excusing sin. It means protecting someone while God restores them. Think of Noah’s sons—when he was drunk and exposed, two sons walked backward and covered him out of honor (Genesis 9:23). In contrast, the third son exposed him. That son was cursed. Love covers—it doesn’t gossip, it doesn’t broadcast faults—it brings people to a place of restoration. In order to be in that place, God must show you who you are and what causes your distance and struggles and conflict to carry out my command.

We conclude that Peter cites a proverb in general use to point out that love will forgive or overlook the faults of others in the church and thus is a most valuable virtue in a community that needs to preserve its solidarity in the face of persecution.

( Use Brandon and Emory) Use the example of the love a child has for their parent and how the parent will be willing to do anything for them. We were also exposed that one of our greatest weaknesses is that we have never seen God. We live in a world quick to expose, cancel, and criticize, but the Kingdom of God works differently. God’s love doesn’t ignore sin, but it doesn’t shame either. It confronts in truth and covers in grace. Peter’s letter was written to believers facing hardship, persecution, and conflict. In the middle of that, Peter says, “Above all, love each other deeply.” Why? Because “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” This message dives into the truth that real love, especially the love of Christ, reveals the areas in us that need growth, healing, or surrender. Last week, we spoke about how love has no room for fear and that love drives fear out. Fear is because we have not fully experienced His perfect love.

Love is one of the most powerful forces in existence. But love is not just conforming but it’s also convicting. God’s love, and even genuine human love, has a way of revealing the parts of us that are still broken, selfish, or afraid. Today, we’re going to talk about how love doesn’t just cover our weakness, but it exposes it so that healing can begin.

Point 1: God’s Love Reveals Where We Fall Short

Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace[a] with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

God loved us even at our worst. But His love didn’t ignore our weakness—it addressed it. Love exposes sin not to shame us but to save us. Just like light reveals what darkness hides, love reveals what pride tries to cover.

Example: Think about Peter. Jesus loved him, but that love also revealed Peter’s fear and pride (denying Jesus). After that failure, Jesus restored him in love. Jesus had to show Peter who he really was and that without His love, he would continue to fall short. That restoration led Jesus to give Peter an assignment to show how much He believed in Him. If you love me, then feed my sheep.

Point 2: Human Love Will Test Our Patience and Pride

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 4) Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is patient, kind, not self-seeking. Sounds beautiful—but when you try to live it, it reveals how impatient, unkind, or selfish we can be.

• Real love in marriage, friendship, ministry, or family will show us the areas where we are not like Christ. If your spouse hits the right buttons, I’m going to encourage them to keep doing it. If you roll your eyes when you see this friend calling, then friend, you keep calling. If you have excuses to not be a part of a ministry, it's because you choose not to accept the weakness that needs fixing to keep that ministry going strong. What it boils down to is that God uses love to mature us.

Illustration: A mirror doesn’t make you dirty, angry, bitter, or impatient. It just shows you the truth. Love is that mirror.

Point 3: Love is the Path to Grace and Power( 2 Corinthians 12:6–19 “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

Some new leaders in Corinth had challenged Paul’s authority. Knocked his skills and abilities and infiltrated the church with bad theology and a different Jesus. The false teachers were boasting, and the church was buying it. So, Paul had to respond. Now this whole boasting started back in chapter 10, which makes this round 3 in the first round Paul had to defend His ministry as people thought that he talked a good game, but lived a whole different life. Paul said let the one who boast, boast in the Lord, then in Round 2, Paul took a surprising tactic, so the so called super apostles challenges paul’s speaking and appearance calling him weak and Paul says if I must boast, then I will boast about the things that show my weakness.

So here is a question: If ministry is such a battle, why does God choose the weak? Or why does he not just fix our weaknesses? Heal our elements or remove our problems. After all, from our perspective, our weaknesses and hardships make us less effective at ministry. So what’s the deal?

So, for round 3, we battle about visions and revelations. False teachers love to claim and talk about visions and revelations. God revealed to me that I am the chosen one. I have a vision from God of you giving me all your money. And it's ordained by God. Vision gives them clout and credibility without any real proof. But that’s the tricky part; not all visions are false, and not all teachers with revelations are false teachers. The people are teasing Paul because he was having visions of Jesus and Paul was not using them to be proud but to humble himself. Proverbs 27:2 “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.”

Paul says he will only boast about weakness. He makes it clear there are some things he could boast about and they would be truthful. He had skills and visions, but it was still wrong to boast. Back in verse 6, Paul wants people to judge him by what they see in him and hear from him. People can see if he is genuine, honest and faithful? Paul says in Verse 7 to keep him from becoming conceited because of the vision and revelations he can see, 2 Corinthians 12:7 “even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” This is a phrase that we should pray every day Lord, keep me from becoming conceited. Keep me from becoming pridefule and boastful.

So our vaccination to pride and conceitfulness in our weakness

We don’t know what that thorn was in Paul’s side, but it bugged him relentlessly.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

When love reveals our weakness, God’s grace steps in. It’s not about pretending to be strong but admitting we need Him. Weakness is not the end—it’s the beginning of God’s work in us.

Point 4: The World Will Know Us By Our Love

Scripture: John 13:34–35

• Jesus said the world would know we’re His disciples by our love. When we read this, we automatically think about the things we do for people, and that's part of it,sufficient but the other part means that we are willing to be vulnerable. That means allowing our pride to be broken so His love can flow through us. Love isn’t weakness, but love will expose your weakness so God can replace it with strength.

Grace is enough means we are not lacking anything to get through what we need and that our weakness helps us to stay humble, kind, patient, selfless so that others may see through your weakness the one who makes you perfect

Conclusion:

• Love isn’t just a warm feeling; it’s a refining fire. It will test your motives, your patience, your humility—but only to grow you. Let God’s love expose your weakness, not to break you down but to build you up in His grace.

We haven’t done this in a while. Let’s all stand and form a circle and face each other

• Pray: “Lord, show me the parts of me that love is exposing, and help me to grow in You. Let my weakness be sufficent through your grace.”