The document discusses the "backward" wisdom of God, where God's ways are not the same as human ways. It provides examples of how humanity finds freedom through slavery, life through death, and strength through weakness. The document argues that true power comes from realizing one's weakness and dependence on Christ, not natural abilities or self-sufficiency. It outlines how through difficulties, commitment to God and serving others, one can experience Christ's power for salvation and service. In the end, it encourages admitting weakness to Christ to access his power.

1. The “Backward” Wisdom of God

2. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
FOR EXAMPLE:
 Humanity’s solution is a crucified Messiah.
 We become free by becoming slaves.
 We receive by giving.
 We become first by becoming last.
 We find our lives by losing them.

3. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
“My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. As the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8,9
God’s wisdom seems
“backward” to us because our
thinking is so backward!

4. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
“. . . (Uzziah) was greatly helped until
he became powerful. But after Uzziah
became powerful, (this) led to his
downfall . . .”
2 Chronicles 26:15,16

5. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
“. . . Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
David, Samuel and the prophets, who
by faith conquered kingdoms . . . shut
the mouths of lions, quenched the fury
of the flames, and escaped the edge of
the sword, whose weakness was turned
to strength . . .”
Hebrews 11:32-34

6. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
“26 Brothers, think of what you were
when you were called. Not many of you
were wise by human standards; not
many were influential; not many were
of noble birth. 27 But God chose the
foolish things of the world to shame the
wise; God chose the weak things of the
world to shame the strong. 28 He chose
the lowly things of this world and the
despised things—and the things that
are not—to nullify the things that
are, 29 so that no one may boast before
him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

7. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
“God has said to me, „My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.‟ Therefore I will
boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may
rest on me. That is why, for Christ's
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9,10

8. The “Backward” Wisdom of God
What is true power?
What is the
relationship between power
& weakness?

9. Power and Weakness
WORLDLY GOD’S
WISDOM WISDOM
Power requires Power has no
access to correlation to
“natural” “natural”
resources & is resources & is
limited to the few available to all
who trust God
Power requires Power requires
self-sufficiency realizing your
weakness

10. Power and Weakness
WORLDLY GOD’S
WISDOM WISDOM
Powerful people Powerful people
feature their are content with
strengths & hide & boast about
their their weaknesses
weaknesses
God should God allows all
alleviate our kinds of
weaknesses so weaknesses so
we can become we can become
more powerful more powerful

11. Power and Weakness
“It is always upon human weakness
. . . not on human strength and
confidence, that God chooses to build
his kingdom; and he can (do this) not
merely in spite of our ordinariness and
helplessness and disqualifying
infirmities, but precisely because of
them. It is a thrilling discovery to
make, and it can revolutionize
our . . . outlook.”
James S. Stewart, quoted in Oswald Sanders, Dynamic Spiritual Leadership
(Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1999), p. 204.

12. Power and Weakness
THE LOGIC OF GOD’S WISDOM
Christ’s Power
Dependence on Christ
Realization of
Our Weakness
Difficulties

13. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SALVATION
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it
is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes . . .”
Romans 1:16
Forgiveness
Adoption
Eternal Life

14. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SALVATION
The only thing that
keeps us from
the power of salvation
is our self-confidence.

15. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SALVATION
Are you ready to admit your
weakness to Christ so he
can give you the power of
salvation?

16. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
We proclaim him, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so
that we may present everyone perfect
in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling
with all his energy, which so powerfully
works in me.
Colossians 1:28,29

17. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
Commitment to Christ &
Serving Others
Nourishment via
God’s Word,
Prayer & Fellowship
Difficulties

18. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
To keep me from becoming conceited
because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn
in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with
the Lord to take it away from me.
2 Corinthians 12:7,8

19. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
9 But he said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will
boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ‟s power may
rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ‟s
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10

20. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
 Common “thorns”
○ DISTURBANCE
○ DARKNESS
○ DISAPPOINTMENT
○ INEQUALITY

21. Power and Weakness
CHRIST’S POWER FOR SERVICE
How are you
responding to God’s
current “thorns?”

22. Let’s Pray!