What if Your Weakness is God's Greatest Strength?

Connection

B-Team intro — we know that society celebrates the ones in the spotlight. The ones that get all the attention. But as we learned last week the A-Team needs a B-Team.

B-Team= different role, same value.

Tension

Here’s something I’ve noticed about everyone. We all have something about us that makes us different than others.

Physical features

Emotions

Family situation

Preferences

Have you ever been made to feel like those things about you made you less than the people around you? Like you didn’t belong? Or you couldn’t do the things the other could? Like maybe you’re somehow less equipped that “those” people?

If so then I am glad you’re here today b/c our B-Team player has heard his whole life that he doesn’t fit and something is wrong with him and as we’re going to find out, God uses it for his purposes. He’ll do the same for you today, so let’s jump in.

Word

Give some background to the judges.

After Moses after, Joshua, Before Saul and David.

Judges 3:12 NIV

12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.

This happens over and over again. The Israelites are disobedient and do evil (child sacrifices, worshiping other gods, ect..)

Why the Conflict?

Moab is across the Dead Sea and is often an enemy of ancient Israel.

Moabites descended from Lot.

Related to Israel but not Israel proper, not from Abraham.

Lot had a son (Moab) was the son of Lot via incest (yuck).

Judges 3:13–14 NIV

13 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. 14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.

Yikes 18 Years...

Judges 3:15 NIV

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

Save that, it’s important.

Judges 3:16–19 NIV

16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.

Why would the king of Moab who doesn’t worship the Lord care what the Lord has to say?

He used the word Elohime, general word for God not Yahweh.

Judges 3:20–23 NIV

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

Recap the rest of the story.

Ehud escapes and the king of Moab is dead.

Ehud unites the Isrealites.

Crosses the Jordan and attacks Moab while they have no king.

80 years of peace b/c of Ehud’s bold move.

Application

Ehud was a left-handed man. Why is that important?

Right Hand

In the scriptures and in the ancient world the right hand symbolizes power, authority and strength.

Kings ruled with the scepter in their right hand.

Jesus is noted at being where?

Left Hand

Dirty. wiped your booty with the left hand.

Society viewed the left hand as the weak hand. Everything happened with the right.

Greetings.

Right hand over your heart.

Sword training happened with the right hand, shield in the left.

Being left handed was looked at like a curse more than a blessing.

Let me say it this way.

Society viewed Ehud’s left handedness as a weakness. God used it as a strength.

God can and will use anything to further his kingdom. That’s good news for us b/c that means what culture tells you is a weakness God will use, just to show the world that He’s still in charge.

What you see as a weakness God see as a strength.

Stevie Wonder — follower of Jesus looked at his disability as strength,

God made me this way, I can experience the world in ways other can’t. God gave me life to continue to do things that I would never have Done.

- Stevie Wonder

He makes beautiful music and b/c of his position has had influence on major musicians in the last 20 years, sharing his faith with them.

Maybe you’ve grown up with something that society looks at you and thinks is a disadvantage. Something that makes you think God is done with you or won’t use you.

Or perhaps you compare your skills with that of others, I can’t do what they do. I don’t do what they do. I don’t have the skills, that’s fine. God gave you exactly what you need for what he’s called you to.

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 NIV

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Ok Brandon what do I do? How do I handle this?

Simple prayer.

“Lord, take this and make something great from it.”

Here’s what I know. None of us make it out of this world without feeling inadequate in some way. Each of us have one thing that we wish we could change or something that we view as a hinderance.

What if, God plans to use it for something greater than you could ever imagine?

Here’s the deal, that happens when we surrender to him.

What does surrender look like?

“Lord, take this and make something great from it.”

Left handed

Financial situation?

Physical disability?

Dad situation — give me the opportunity to speak into the lives of the people who have the same issues

Inspiration

How would your life look different if you just gave it over to God?