TITLE: WEAK BUT WORTH IT
SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 15:1-7
Let me begin this message by asking a few questions. How strong are you?
• Are you strong in spirit or in mind or in both?
• Are you strong in body and spirit but weak in mind, or are you strong in all three?
• Are you weak when it comes to physical temptations and strong when it comes to mental stress?
In our text Paul wants you to know if you are weak in any of these areas that you should not despair, because those that are strong should be stepping in to help. Who are the Strong Paul is referencing? What do the Strong do? How do they help? Paul recounts a list for the strong --
• The strong -- Bear with the failings of the weak
• The strong -- Seek to please for the good of others
• The strong -- Study the scriptures
• The strong -- Have hope and faith
• The strong -- Have a spirit of unity
• The strong -- Encourage fellowship and followship of Jesus
• The strong -- Are accepting of others
• The strong -- Bear with the infirmities of the weak
Paul calls on the strong Christian to bear with the failings of the weak. He calls on you that are strong in the Lord to lift up those around you. It is important we understand there are two types of believers. Hear me Loud and Clear -- BOTH ARE SAVED -
• “STRONG.” “We then that are strong.” Mature in Christ and serving Christ. The Christian life is a personal one as it is our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. In HEBREWS, CHAPTER 5, Paul said, “WHEN FOR THE TIME YE OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS.” Spiritual maturity brings about strength in Christ. This is what God expects from us all!
• “WEAK.” “Infirmities of the weak.” The word “infirmity” is normally used when mentioning sickness, disease, or impotence. Within our context, infirmity is descriptive of the immature child of God who remains in bondage instead of relishing in the liberty that we are to have in Christ
This portion of Scripture is not written to the Pastor alone. The strong speaks of those who --
• Are strong in their personal Faith -- They know they are saved and are servants
• Are strong in the Scriptures -- They can understand and teach the doctrines of the faith
• Are strong in Church -- They are faithful to and serving in the local church
• Are strong in Tribulation -- They are enduring and steadfast when trials come, they don’t easily fall apart
The strong are those who live their lives for Christ and for others, but not self. It is our love for Christ that determines our life lived for Christ. It is our life lived for Christ that counts. We do not have the power, in most instances, to take away the infirmities of the weak. We must do all we can to lift them up.
• Spiritual growth must come from within each of us individually
• Spiritual maturity cannot be forced
• You either want to Grow in the Lord or you don’t
• It is a personal decision each believer must make for themselves
• Spiritual maturity comes with much Responsibility
This text tells the strong to take on the infirmities or the condition of the weaker person. There isn’t any other way around bearing the infirmities of the weak. We must Support – Uphold - Back - Sustain those that are weaker in the faith.
• Not grow Angry with them
• Not grow Frustrated with them
• Not grow Annoyed with them
• Not grow Critical of them
• But Support – Uphold – Back – Sustain – them
• Because we recognize they are Weaker in the Faith
Remember what Paul has told us in I CORINTHIANS 9:22 “TO THE WEAK I BECAME WEAK, TO WIN THE WEAK. I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN SO THAT BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS I MIGHT SAVE SOME.” He took on the infirmities of those around him for the Glory of God and to win people into God’s Kingdom. Which brings up a very important point? When you are talking with people, into which kingdom are you trying to win them?
• You can’t Beat that person into growing Spiritually
• You can’t Criticize that person into growing Spiritually
• You can’t Verbally Abuse that person into growing Spiritually
• Paul said we must learn to become what they need to help them grow
• That means sometimes we have to get off of our High Holy Horse and help meet their need
There are those among us that are simply weak in faith. Literally, they are weak ‘in the faith’ or ‘in their faith. I suspect that both elements are true. That is, the weak are those who have not yet come to the full realization of the freedom and the liberty which is a part of the faith. “AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE” -- ST. JOHN 3:32.
• They are correspondingly weak in their personal faith
• A limited understanding of the nature and extent of Grace limits subjective faith
• The weak are prone to condemn the actions of the strong
• As they have not yet come to understand Christian liberty, they do not accept it in others
• The weak can be immediately recognized by the frown of contempt on their faces, and the “Oh, no!” look in their eyes, always disagreeing with the movement of the Church, the Kingdom of God
The standard this text sets for us – particularly the strong who this is aimed – is quite high.
• How many times have you successfully held your tongue?
• How many times do you let petty slights go without making a big deal of them?
• How many times have you been accused of slighting someone, but you could not even see the slight?
How can we bear it?
• We can bear it when we learn to be led by the Spirit
• We can bear it when we pause and look at them through eyes of love
• We can bear it when we realize that Jesus has forgiven us so much more than that
Whether you have been a Christian for two (2) weeks or 20 years, you should be growing in your relationship with God. Being Weak in the Faith is not an exoneration.
• Spiritual growth is not Automatic
• You must choose to change if you want to grow
• Spiritual growth is like driving that vehicle that has a stick shift
• Anyone ever drive a Stick Shift before?
• As you pick up speed you must manually shift to a higher gear
• Spiritual growth takes that same type of effort on our part
• We have to Shift into Spiritual Maturity
When people first accept the Lord and catch a glimpse of what He says they can be, they are usually eager to change whatever needs to be changed. But as time passes, the process of growth can seem harder or the goal so distant that many are tempted to give up on the process. The result is many people never experience the level of spiritual maturity and victory god wants them to have.
• It has been said that CHANGE IS THE EVIDENCE OF GROWTH
• While that may not be a very scientific definition, spiritually speaking, it is accurate
• Put simply - if you are not changing, you’re not growing
• We begin to say things like “That’s just the way I am”
• We begin to say things like “I have been this way all my life”
• We begin to say things like “I’m too old to change now”
• Saved but Spiritually Immature
We who are strong are challenged to bear the infirmities of the weak. This means to put up with! We have a spiritual obligation to both Longsuffering with and exhortation of the weak. The word “Ought” is the Greek word Opheilo, and it means to be morally obligated or to do something as an obligation. In other words, we are obligated to do this for others. After all the ways people have helped us in our times of need, we are spiritually and morally obligated to do the same for others.
But for Whom Are We To Do This? This verse says we are to do this for those who are feeling overwhelmed with personal “Infirmities.”
• The word “infirmities” is Asthenema, and it describes those who are Weak - Powerless - Struggling in some way, whether physically or emotionally
• The word “weak” is adunatos, which depicts those who are depleted of power due to something they have experienced or gone through that has rendered them weak
• If you recall, Paul knew something about INFIRMITIES
• II CORINTHIANS 12:9 “AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME”
• Paul had a THORN IN THE FLESH an Infirmity that plagued and bothered him, but he learned to give it to the Lord and press forward in ministry
• So I believe he selected this word “Infirmity” and chose it wisely
• He is referencing a Spiritual Infirmity
• That is something that bothers or hinders and keeps us from growing spiritually
The Lord did not wake us up this morning just to allow us to come to Church or to have a good day and enjoy nice Spring Weather. We are blessed with each day that we may do service for others.
• Are you doing something for the good of your neighbor?
• Are the things that you do for the purpose of building them up, or for tearing them down?
If there is ever any doubt, it is always a good idea to stop and ask that very important question, why did I do that?
• What was my purpose in doing that
• What was my purpose in saying that?
• And, if the answer is something other than what Paul says, “EACH OF US SHOULD PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOR FOR HIS GOOD, TO BUILD HIM UP” then we should rethink our actions
To grow Strong or Mature in the Lord first thing we must do is study the scriptures - Paul is advocating scripture memory. He is telling us to study the scripture for our own spiritual and mental health. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.
• How can I be a Christian if I don’t know what a Christian is supposed to do, or how s/he is supposed to act?
• That is what the scriptures are for
• This simple statement is not up for debate, it is straight forward
• The Bible is a teaching tool
• You have to open your Bible more than just during Responsive Reading on Sunday Morning
Let me Footnote here and say I am excited as a Pastor as to how many attend Sunday School and numbers continue to grow every Wednesday for Bible Study. But still, there are too many that don’t attend these teaching opportunities, that’s why they don’t grow spiritually. I'm amazed at how little Christians prioritize their spiritual growth.
• If you treat church as something you do if you feel like it, then don't be surprised if you don't "get fed" at the place you worship
• If you don't intentionally pursue knowledge about God through reading the Bible and of good books and listening to good podcasts, don't be surprised at a lack of spiritual fruit
• If you don't prioritize a study of God's Word - Prayer, and the spiritual disciplines, you will not see continued growth
• You will stay the same
• Yes, you are Saved – but Spiritually Weak
Let me say it again - a weak Christian is a saved Christian, but one who is lacking knowledge about certain things and can thus fall off track easily by little things. When you go see your Doctor for a routine check-up, the first thing your physician will do is check your vital signs.
• Vital signs are indicators of a strong or weak physical condition
• In the same way, we have spiritual vital signs
• Some indicate a strong spirit, but others can reveal a weak spiritual condition
• If left undetected, a weak spirit will prevent you from receiving all that God has for you, and prevent you from living in the fullness of what He desires for you
If your vital signs are weak your Physician will prescribe certain medications or therapy or even recommend surgery to correct the problem.
• Your physician will do what they can to get you to a healthier point in your life
• The Apostle Paul is saying we that are strong in the Lord should have even more compassion for the weaker believer and do all we can to bear their weaknesses in an effort to help them Grow in God’s Grace
As the Strong continue to encounter the weaker believer, we must make sure we always have a welcome attitude and not quarrel over opinions. In other words, be accepting of the weaker brother or sister, and be sure that as you fold them into your life, you keep “divisive questionings” to a minimum.
The strong and weak should welcome each other because God has welcomed us. Paul says in ROMANS 15:7 “WELCOME ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST HAS WELCOMED YOU, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.”
• The great foundation for our forbearance of one another is that God has accepted us in Jesus Christ
• The weak and the strong believe in Christ who died for them
• They are accepted by God in Christ
• We should accept them with all their differences
Why would brothers and sisters in Christ ever become bitter toward one another?
• Don’t we all profess to want nothing more than to please and obey God?
• Don’t we all profess that we don’t want to be those who say, “Lord, Lord” and do not do the things that our Lord says?”
• Don’t we all want to “tremble at the Word of our Lord”?
• Then we must learn how to identify those that are weaker and Love on them even the more
I believe some of the problem in the local churches today is we don’t have enough strong Christians. The problem with most Christians today is that they are “sitting on the premises” instead of “standing on the promises.”
• The world needs to hear the truth
• We are not going to reach the world by opening our church doors for a few hours a week and dishing our sermonettes
• We have to get back to the business of teaching the Body of Christ how to Grow and Mature
We that are strong in the Lord have a great responsibility.
• We must learn how to take it
• We must learn how not to be so thin skinned
• We must learn how to see God working and moving in every situation
• We must learn how to bear the infirmities of those that just don’t get it
• We must learn how to Love them in to Righteousness
--Those that are strong have gone through the scriptures and found the Promises
--Those that are strong have gone through the scriptures and found the Assurances
--Those that are strong have gone through the scriptures and found the Covenants
--But, most importantly, those that are strong have gone through the scriptures and found through Endurance and the Encouragement of the Scriptures we have Hope
--When we are Strong in the Lord we can smile when everything is upside down
--When we are Strong in the Lord, we gain strength through Calvary
--When we are Strong in the Lord, He will Open Up the Windows of Heaven and Pour you out Blessings
--When we are Strong in the Lord, We Know what God can Do
--When we are Strong in the Lord, We recognize no matter what we are going through we don’t go through it alone
--The Strong in the Lord are able to relate the to Words of that old HYMNOLOGIST
o THE LORD IS BLESSING ME RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW!
THE LORD IS BLESSING ME RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW!
HE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING, AND STARTED ME ON MY WAY.
THE LORD IS BLESSING ME RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW!
o HE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING. I WAS CLOTHED IN MY RIGHT MIND.
HE DIDN'T LET ME SLEEP TOO LATE; HE WOKE ME RIGHT ON TIME!
HE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING, AND STARTED ME ON MY WAY.
THE LORD IS BLESSING ME RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW!
