DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 4 May 2022 — Strength in weakness

TOPIC: STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

TEXT: JUDGES 8:1-5

1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

MEMORY VERSE: “And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them” (JUDGES 8:4).

MESSAGE:

Strength in weakness is a paradoxical statement which means we could manifest strength in situations that ordinarily should weaken us, as weakness literally means to be without strength.

Gideon and his army in our text fainted yet continued to pursue their enemies. Gideon was aware of his weakness, yet the determination to conquer and defeat his enemies was uppermost in his heart. God strengthened him, and his strength was made perfect in weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Gideon’s mission was to overthrow the Midianites and put an end to the seven-year oppression. He had few soldiers, but God was with them to achieve their goals. They pursued their enemies to Jordan, fainting, yet pursuing. Gideon’s army disregarded their fainting condition to achieve their victory.

As youths, you can achieve success today in spite of your weakness and seeming difficulties. If you determine to pursue your goal like Gideon and use the strategy of Gideon’s army, you will be successful in life. Pursue your dreams, even though you are fainting. You will triumph after all, because your strength is made perfect in weakness.

QUOTE: Determine to pursue your goal.

CHALLENGE: Pursue your dreams.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to pursue my dreams.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
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)