Transcript Spiritual Weakness

Spiritual Weakness
Anemia of the Soul
Be Strong in the Lord
• Watch, stand fast in the faith, be
brave, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13
• Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might.
Eph. 6:10
• The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak. Matt. 26:41
• …Uphold the weak… 1 Ths. 5:14
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Spiritual Weakness?
• Weak in faith, Rom. 4:19
• Worldly minded, Rom. 8:1-8
–Ruled by the flesh instead of
by the Spirit
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Reasons for
Spiritual
Weakness
• Immaturity, 1 Cor. 3:1-2
–Undeveloped spiritually
–Unskilled in word; must grow,
Heb. 5:12-13
–Grow by the word of God,
1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Jno. 2:14
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Reasons for
Spiritual
Weakness
• Distractions, Matt. 26:41
–Temptations, Jno. 18:18
• Armor of God, Eph .6:11-13
–Trials, Jas. 1:2-3
• Remain diligent, Heb. 6:9-11
–Error, Gal. 5:1, 7
• Stand in truth, 1 Cor. 16:13
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Reasons for
Spiritual
Weakness
• Overcome by sin, Gal. 6:1
–Sin turns weakness into
spiritual death, Jas. 5:19-20
–Weakness can become an
excuse for sin
–Left unaddressed, weakness
becomes sin!
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Reasons for
Spiritual
Weakness
• Not using God’s word,
1 Cor. 2:12-16
–Spiritual person uses the
“mind of Christ” (revealed
truth) to judge right & wrong
–Failure to do so is weakness,
1 Cor .11:30
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Reasons for
Spiritual
Weakness
• Left alone, weakness
becomes carnality, 1 Co. 3:1-3
–We must choose to be ruled
by the Spirit of God by
obeying truth, Rom. 8:5, 7
–If not, we are choosing the
flesh & spiritual death
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Symptoms of
Spiritual
Weakness
• Weak in resistance
–To temptation, Eph. 6:10,13,17
• “Everyone is weak”
• We can be strong, 1 Jno. 2:14
–To error, Eph. 4:14
• Weakness causes shame & fear
Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 3:15
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Symptoms of
Spiritual
Weakness
• Weak in appetite
–For righteousness, Matt. 5:6;
Jno. 6:26-27
• Appetite for the flesh, but not
for the spirit
• Solid food, 1 Cor. 3:2
• Check priorities, Matt. 6:33
• God’s word, 2 Tim. 2:15
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Symptoms of
Spiritual
Weakness
• Weak in estimating
responsibility & using ability,
Matt. 25:18, 25
–Weakness says, “I can’t”
–Strength says, “I’ll try…I can”
(Phil. 4:13)
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Why is Spiritual Weakness so bad?
• Left alone it becomes willful
sin, Heb. 10:26
• Contagious, Gal. 5:9
–Discourages, Num. 32:6-7
–“No one goes to heaven or
hell by himself.”
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Responses to the Spiritual Weakness
• Support the weak, 1 Ths.5:14
– Do not ignore, excuse or
rationalize spiritual weakness
– “Keep oneself directly opposite
to any one…paying heed”
• Help them grow (Lk. 13:6-9)
• Set good examples (1 Tim. 4:12)
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Responses to the Spiritual Weakness
• Restore fallen, Gal. 6:1-2
–Teach, correct, warn & rebuke
2 Tim. 2:24-26
• Pray for weak, 1 Jno.5:15-16
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Jude 20-25
• Responsibility of weak:
–Grow, 20-21
• Responsibility toward weak:
–In mercy & compassion help
strengthen & save, 22-23
• Rely on God
–He is able, 24-25
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