DCLM Daily Manna 6 January 2021 – Weak, Yet Unstoppable!
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (KJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Key Verse: “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3).
MESSAGE:
The Great Reformation of the 16th Century that rocked the world was triggered by Martin Luther in Germany when he published his 95 Theses that challenged the doctrinal errors of the Catholic Church, chiefly the theory of indulgences. He was a loner in the struggle and declared a heretic, fit for the supreme penalty, death. He was isolated, weak and helpless as he faced execution.
But in his frailty, Luther was unyielding, insisting he would stick to God’s word and his conscience. With faith in the Lord, he made the famous declaration: “My conscience is bound by God’s word. Here I stand. I can do no other! God help me, Amen.”
Luther was following the footsteps of Apostle Paul who, writing of his evangelism among the Corinthians, said, “weakness… fear and much trembling”, were his lot in his days at Corinth. He did not possess “excellency of speech” or display “enticing words of man’s wisdom” to win souls. So, renouncing human wisdom, Paul drew from God’s power, not minding his physical shortcomings. This power produced mighty signs and wonders in his ministry as he laboured to win thousands of souls!
When we work for the Lord, He does not expect us to count on our puny, puerile power and possessions, which cannot stand the fierce antics of Satan and his agents. We may possess the best of worldly education and assemble the most eloquent of men, but the word of God warns, “… your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.
Achievement and success in ministry come as we admit our weakness and cede all space to the Lord who alone knows the depth and extent of the challenges we face. We shall also excel in secular work if we put complete trust in Him rather than in our strength and wisdom.
Thought For The Day: Your small frame is a giant in the hand of God.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
