Minister's Sermon

Sermon Text: Matthew 26:36-41
Sermon Title: Strength That Overcomes Your Biggest Weakness

We all have our weaknesses. Pamela Pettier, in her book, The Joy of Stress, shows us that stress can take its toll on us. To help us, she has written out for us The Stress Diet. It goes like this:

Illustration: Stress Diet Breakfast

l/2 grapefruit
1 piece whole-wheat toast
8 oz. Skim milk

Lunch
4 oz. Lean broiled chicken breast
1 cup steamed zucchini
1 Oreo cookie Herb tea

Mid-afternoon snack
Rest of the package of Oreo cookies
1 qt. Rocky road ice cream
1 jar hot fudge

Dinner
2 loaves of garlic bread
Large mushroom and pepperoni pizza
Large pitcher root bear
3 Milky Ways
Entire frozen cheesecake, eaten directly from the freezer.

What a wonderful way to reduce stress. I'm all for this diet. On a more serious note, we all have weaknesses. There are times that temptation just seems to be too great. This is humbling because we are not in control of our lives in the way we would like to be. We just simply are not as strong as we would like to be. This is especially illustrated for us when Jesus and his disciples where in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples found out just how weak they really were.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:36-41

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" He asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

This was a very intense time and Jesus wanted the disciples to watch and pray. He wanted them to be spiritual partners with him during His most difficult time. The disciples found out just how weak they really were.

The King James translation of verse 41 reads, "The spirit is willing, but he flesh is weak. How many times have you felt like this verse was describing you? The good news is that there is strength for those who have Jesus in their heart.

Temptation and weakness are real but so is the power of God. We must realize that spiritual strength does come from God. The prophet Zechariah reminds of this. In Zechariah 4:6 it says:

This is the word of the Lord. . . "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty.

Scripture teaches us that we do need help in living the Christian life. Spiritual strength is available. We must find it and make use of it.

Today, we are going to look at three places where we can find spiritual strength.

1. GOD'S WORD STRENGTHES OUR FAITH PSALM 119:27-30
2. CHRIST STRENGTHENS OUR COMMITMENT
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13
3. THE SPIRIT STRENGTHENS OUR PRAYERS ROMANS 8:26-27

So far we have seen that God's Word strengthens our faith and that Christ strengthens our commitment. Now we see that The Holy Spirit strengthens our prayers.

Poem: From A Confederate Soldier

Many years ago, a confederate soldier wrote a poem that has helped so many. We can see how he was weak but how Christ made him strong.

Poem: By A Confederate Soldier

I asked God for strength, that I mighty achieve;
I was made weak, that I may learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I may do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I may be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
--A Confederate Soldier--

Conclusion
1. Do not let weakness overcome you.

Here was a man who didn't let his biggest weakness get the best of him.

2. Spiritual strength can be yours.

As we go back to our original text in Matthew, we once again look at Jesus words which say, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Weakness caused the disciples to run and scatter as Jesus was arrested. Much later we see that strength caused them to boldly testify about Jesus even after being imprisoned and beaten. When Jesus is in your heart, He brings spiritual strength. Do you have this spiritual strength in your life?