Strength In Powerlessness

Strength In Powerlessness Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Perseverance; Humility; Simplicity; Childlike; Prayer; Forgiveness; God's Mercy / Luke 18:1-17 Introduction In CrossFitness you work to identify weaknesses and then build upon those weaknesses. The more weaknesses you build up into strengths the less likely you will find yourself powerless to achieve feats of strength or fitness when the time comes. It is ludicrous to leave weaknesses or embrace them as a way to find strength. This morning what I believe Luke - ultimately Jesus wants us all to know there is strength for us in times where we are powerless. In Spiritual CrossFitness - we need to see that we have great strength available to us in our powerlessness. We have seen this before as we remember the necessary or fundamental exercise - prayer - Luke 11 when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. This morning Jesus will build upon that fundamental and necessary exercise showing us the secret to finding strength in our powerlessness. Lets read together! Luke 18:1-3 CSB 1 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God or respect people. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' Luke 18:4-6 CSB 4 "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.' " 6 Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. Luke 18:7-9 CSB 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: Luke 18:10-12 CSB 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people-greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' Luke 18:13-14 CSB 13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:15-17 CSB 15 People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Tenacity Luke 18:1-3 CSB 1 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God or respect people. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' Luke 18:4-6 CSB 4 "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.' " 6 Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. Luke 18:7-8 CSB 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Jesus's discussion of the end times and coming judgment (Luke 17:20-37) raises the question of enduring through trials and troubles. How does one make it through tough times in which they are powerless? Luke records here Jesus sharing a parable with His disciples to explain how we find strength when we are powerless. That strength is found in praying with tenacity. Tenacity is defined as holding fast, persistence; the quality of retaining something; the quality or property of holding together firmly - such as the binding of a book. Great strength for times of powerlessness comes from tenacious praying To pray with tenacity means two things • Praying Always • Praying without giving up Praying always can also be said praying at all times - persistently, constantly and consistently. We know we need to pray, sometimes we relegate prayer to the last thing after we try everything else. Many times we dont turn to prayer until we feel we have done all we can do. Many times prayer is the first spiritual exercise that we toss when our time is short or our schedules are full and overwhelming. Jesus is emphasizing the need to pray always - at all times. This isnt always with our head bowed and on our knees hands folded and eyes closed. We must be in the spirit of prayer. When we are in the spirit of prayer we are recognizing that we are powerless and need God's power and strength. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 CSB 17 pray constantly, Luke 21:36 CSB 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man." Pray without giving up - this is praying without losing heart - especially when praying for deliverance in times of testing. This is the hardest especially in the time for the disciples and us today where we are in between the first and the second coming of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:1 CSB 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. 2 Corinthians 4:16 CSB 16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. We often fail in praying because we lose heart and become discouraged. Discouragement in our praying comes from forgetting that it is labor, it is hard work. In Colossians Paul praises a man for his fervent laboring in prayer Colossians 4:12 NKJV 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Prayer involves three aspects of us - our mind, our heart and our will - and usually it is our will by which we labor doggedly. Remember it is easy to lose heart in prayer - when we forget it is spiritual warfare and when we forget (or are never convinced of) the reality of the power of prayer. Jesus shared a parable in order to make an argument from the lesser to the greater for our understanding of the power in praying and the strength we find in our powerlessness. There is a judge in a town who didnt fear God or respect (didnt regard) people - basically saw no one as his superior or above him. There is also a widow who kept coming to him asking for justice against her adversary. The judge for a while was unwilling but later said even though he doesnt fear God or respect people this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice so she doesnt wear me out by her persistent coming. The validity of her case didnt matter to this judge - it was her persistence - described as pestering that made an unwilling judge willing. In fact the original language describes the pestering in boxing terms - its like the boxer who establishes his jab - if he keeps with the jab the opening will come - when the judge said wear me out - original language talks about a black eye - ruining his reputation. Jesus is arguing from the lesser to the greater here - do not misunderstand - it is not a comparison of similarity. The judge is evil and unwilling but still grants justice - God - the greater - is good and not evil and is WILLING! Wont he also grant justice to His elect? Those who cry out day and night? • The judge was unfair - God is fair • The judge had no interest in the widow - God cares for His children who love and petition Him • The judge answered the cry out of self-interest - God loves to bless His people Jesus is not saying pray always and dont lose heart and eventually God will give in - we just have to overcome His reluctance. It is the fact that God isnt reluctant and IS WILLING that should drive us to pray always and not lose heart! The times where we think God is reluctant to answer our prayers we must continue to pray - not because we will change God but because God is changing us. When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? Will Jesus find tenacity like that of the widow? She went to the judge - because she knew he was the one who had the power to help her, there was no where else she could go - she was powerless. She found the strength in her powerlessness - to be persistent enough to get what she needed. Be encouraged to have the tenacious prayers that go out to God day or night. The more we pray to God with tenacity - we embrace our powerlessness and receive His strength in our powerlessness. Attitude Luke 18:9-11 CSB 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people-greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. Luke 18:12-14 CSB 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' 13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus then turns his attention and gives a parable for where your trust is placed. Those who trust in themselves as righteous and looked down on everyone else. Literally despised everyone else or treated them as nothing. Attitude matters in prayer - there is no strength in prayer if our attitude is wrong . Right attitude goes to prayer because of our perceived powerlessness. This is illustrated by prayers offered but focusing on the attitude in which they are offered. The parable illustrates the prayers of two men one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee was standing and praying about himself (other translations might say by himself) - the idea is he is praying to himself. Though he invoked the name of God make no mistake he spoke with himself, not with God. Going through the motions of prayer is not praying or speaking with God God thank you I am not like other people - greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of everything I get. Though he calls out to God he revels instead in his own virtues. Thinking nothing towards God's mercies for him. If you credit yourself for your great and spiritual walk with God, then it is an easy thing to despise another for their supposed low and carnal walk with God. Rabbinical prayer of thanks - thank you God I am a Jew and not a Gentile, that I am a Pharisee and not a common person, that I am a man and not a woman. The only sins he mentions are ones he is not guilty of and the climax of sin is the man next to him. Then he mentions his righteous acts Fasting twice a week - the law only prescribes fasting once a year - Pharisees added two days a week - Mondays and Thursdays. Leviticus 16:29 CSB 29 "This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the alien who resides among you. Numbers 29:7 CSB 7 "You are to hold a sacred assembly on the tenth day of this seventh month and practice self-denial; do not do any work. Tithing (one tenth) of all I get - he tithes on income not off his property The tax-collector standing far off would not even raise his eyes to heaven. He beat his chest repeatedly and repeating over and over again God have mercy on me a sinner! The attitude in this man is different from the Pharisee. Similar to the attitude in Ezra Ezra 9:6 CSB 6 And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward you, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens. God have mercy on me - turn your wrath off of me - A SINNER Original language goes a little deeper - be merciful to me THE SINNER not just a sinner. Pharisees thought of others as sinners, this publican thinks himself alone as the sinner, not of others at all. Have mercy - hilaskomai - is actually the word for atoning sacrifice. This tax-collector prayed "God be merciful to me through your atoning sacrifice for sins, because I am a sinner." Jesus says I tell you this one went down to his house justified rather than the other. The difference was attitude. Both are powerless over sin but only one had the attitude necessary to find strength to overcome sin in his powerlessness for it. The pharisee sought to overcome by his power to be better than or holier than or more righteous than. The tax-collector embraced his powerlessness and sought to humbly beg for mercy instead. Everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled and everyone who humbles themselves will be exalted. 1 Timothy 1:15 CSB 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-and I am the worst of them. Others are not the standard of righteousness - God alone is, and everyone should see themselves falling short of His glory Romans 3:23 CSB 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Upon realization of our powerlessness in the judgment there is only one place to find reprieve from judgment - God Himself. Thats the mercy and grace of God! Romans 6:23 CSB 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 2:17 CSB 17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. Simplicity Luke 18:15-17 CSB 15 People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Might seem unrelated in the context though I believe we will see how important this real-life event illustrates what Jesus is teaching His disciples - and us this morning. The parents of children (my translation says infants) - literally newborns - the parents were bringing them to Jesus that He might touch them - but the disciples rebuked them to stop them. Jesus invited them and rebuked the disciples. Jesus called the children and parents to Himself. He says to them - the infants - belongs the kingdom of God. Whoever doesnt receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Both times paidon - children of various ages - Luke being the doctor he is also used the word for infant - but it can mean child old enough to understand scripture. Children had no status or importance in ancient world - so them coming to Jesus would be a waste or intrusion of His time to the disciples. Jesus instead wanted to make a strong point about those who come to Him - all who come to Him will not be refused. Children can come to Jesus at different ages and we should not keep them or stumble them in that. We want them to understand what commitment they are making - but Jesus simply asks that one trusts in Him. Little children do not need understanding like adults to be saved, but adults need to embrace the simplicity of humble faith like a child in order to enter God's kingdom. 1 Corinthians 14:20 CSB 20 Brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. Receive the kingdom of God like a child • humbly • with expectation and excitement • dependent - knowing they are not self-sufficient • with a capacity for love and trust Children receive the blessing of Jesus without trying to make themselves worthy of it, or pretending they dont need it. We need to receive God's blessing the same way. Conclusion We find great strength in powerlessness - because it should drive us to prayer seeking the one who has all power and all authority over all things. Tenacity in prayers - embracing our powerlessness and it driving us to continue to go to the one who has not only the power but also the will to help His children in need. Enduring prayers - my mom prayed for many years for my salvation What would happen if we stop too soon? Remember if prayer were powerless it would be easy - but since it is not it is instead very laborious. Attitude in our prayers indicates where our trust is Humility in prayer admits our powerlessness and embraces God's mercy and grace - our strength! It is entirely possible to address your words to God but actually pray to yourself - because your focus is on yourself, your passion, your agenda not God's. Your attitude of praise - isnt for God and who He is but for yourself and how great you are. We gain nothing by coming to God with pride in prayer - pray with less words and instead with more meaning and heart. James 4:10 CSB 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Simplicity of a child in praying - trust God for everything because he can nothing else. A child only knows dependence and so its easy for them - we teach our children to be independent But dependence upon God is a strength - especially when we are powerless - depend on God like a child! 1 Peter 2:2 CSB 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, The first area of powerlessness is with sin and judgment - unless we become like children in our acceptance of Christ as savior - begging for mercy and grace - we will remain powerless in sin. If we try to justify ourselves we will remain - but if we accept and trust in Jesus in the simplicity of a child then He will save us John 1:12-13 CSB 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:43 PM January 23, 2021.