Strong in your weakness | Pastor Raph | Sep. 15, 2024

In the forthcoming weeks, your faith will be rigorously tested, challenged, and elevated to unprecedented heights, enabling you to experience a heightened level of favor.

God is not moved by pity, self-defeating and negging words. God's favor and miracles always happen by faith.

Through these experiences, you will be compelled to affirm God's goodness everywhere you go boldly.

Your character and uprightness speak of God's holiness. Your endurance and perseverance amid your suffering speak of God's comfort. However, in the coming weeks, the Lord wants you to testify of His goodness and provision.

Fear and tremble before the Lord's goodness.

Some may ask, "But I am under situations in my life that I have no control over. How can I testify of God's goodness in such a time as this?"

Remember, when we are weak and have no other solution or way out, the Lord will surprise us with His multiplied grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do you know anyone who uses their limitations and disqualification as a "business card." Who will ever use their weakness as part of their resumé? Who thinks that "insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" are some recognition?

Paul presented himself to the Corinthians in this way to be considered qualified to share the truths of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 2:2-3 (ESV) For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

First, you must understand that expression" in fear and much trembling." Paul was trying to speak to a Greek-speaking audience, trying to import an expression from the Hebrew language. Sometimes, when you don't know the right application of an expression, it takes an opposite meaning. An example of that is the American expression "mind-blowing." If you try to use it literally in Spanish or other languages, it can sound very gruesome and even horrifying. But"mind-blowing" is when one is amazed, admired, and roused.

That is what Paul is trying to say. Jeremiah's words inspired him.

Jeremiah 33:9 (ESV) And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

You, like Paul, in weakness and powerlessness, will experience fear and trembling, not because you are afraid or frightened but because "of all the good that the Lord will do" for you.

You must understand that only the weak and humble can experience "fear and tremble before the Lord." Only those who are weak enter this state of ecstatic, amazed and impressed, full of fear and trembling.

The Lord may be leading you to the place of fear and trembling with His goodness. But for that, you must not deny or run from your weakness and powerlessness. It is in that very place that you will find grace.

We are Issacs

Galatians 3:7 (ESV) “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”

Galatians 3:29 (ESV) And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Isaac is a type of the New Covenant believer. He didn’t conquer anything but received everything from his father. He is the symbol of the heir. All things were prepared for him simply because he was a son.

Genesis 26:1-3 (ESV) Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.

Expect the transfer of wealth.

The inheritance is promised to us, even though we do not yet possess it.

God told Isaac that he shouldn’t go to Egypt but stay in the land because it would be his. However, at that time, Abimelech was the king of Gerar, where Isaac lived. This means that, at some point, God would transfer possession of that land with all its wealth to Isaac and his descendants.

The transfer of wealth occurs many times in the Bible and will happen again today.

An excellent example of the transfer of wealth was what happened after the Passover night in Egypt; God transferred Egypt's wealth to Israel.

God’s faithfulness to His people is evident in how He orchestrated the transfer of wealth from Egypt to Israel. Before their departure, the Israelites were instructed to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing.

Exodus 12:35-36 (ESV) The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

The Egyptians willingly gave their riches to the Israelites, fulfilling God’s promise that His people would not leave empty-handed (Exodus 3:21-22). What seemed like an impossible situation became a moment of divine provision, where God ensured that His oppressed people, once impoverished as slaves, left Egypt with the wealth they needed. God’s justice and His ability to provide beyond human expectation is at hand.

The Lord never does anything unfairly or illegally. He doesn’t steal from some people to give to others. God is not Robin Hood. How can He transfer wealth?

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Suppose you have a house and you’ve been away for a long time. When you come back, you find that people have broken into it. You own the house, but others have invaded it, so you can go to court to get it back.

Haggai 2:8, ESV) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.”

There may be hunger outside, but there will always be supply in God’s house.

God owns the land, but others have taken possession of it, yet God is still the owner. He gives it to whom He wants. Usually, times of famine and lack are windows of opportunity for wealth transfer. Here how 

Here are some principles that can make you very prosperous in times of crisis.

1. The blessings are in the right place.

The Lord told Isaac to stay in the land and not go to Egypt.

Genesis 26:2 (ESV) And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

God can only bless us if we stay in the right position. There is a place for your blessings.

Joshua 1:3-4 (ESV) 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

Issac was not meant to leave the place that God had established him.

When we depend on natural resources, we look down, searching for something to rely on. In Egypt, we walk by sight, not by faith.

Colossians 3:2 (ESV) “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

There is an embarrassing situation in this story. Isaac lied. Some say that when you cause a problem, God won’t help you. This is a question we need to have an answer to because there are many problems that we cause ourselves.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God doesn’t say, “What a shame, Isaac, now it is all gone. You frustrated my purpose. You took me by surprise, and there is nothing else I can do for you."

We Are Blessed Despite Our Faults.

Isaac lied, which was wrong, but God still delivered him. Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, could have killed him and taken Rebekah, but instead, he protected them both.

Genesis 26:10-11 (ESV) Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

We’re often confused when God delivers us even though we made the mess, but that’s God’s grace; His blessing is precisely for those who don’t deserve it.

2. Family Agreement is the foundation of blessings.

You can ignore it if you disagree, but it is a matter of women's nature since Eve. Most women's behavior toward marriage relationships has been consistent.

They expect protection. There is a desire to be defended and loved no matter the circumstances.

What do you think Rebekah felt when Isaac said to her, “You’re very beautiful, but the men here might want to kill me to keep you, so tell them you’re my sister”? 

Imagine how she must have felt. Perhaps she thought, “You coward. I can’t believe I tied my future to this. Did I make a mistake marrying him?” Let's be honest, the man couldn’t even protect her. 

If Isaac had said, “Rebekah, my love, you’re so beautiful. I love you so much that no matter what these men would try against me, I would die for you, and no one will touch you, " we know the result could have been entirely different.

Your spouse is not an obstacle or an adversary; instead, God gave you a partner to be your helper. However, this does not mean your spouse should silently agree with everything. 

The Bible's first mention of "help" is when God created a woman to be a helper.

Genesis 2:18 (ESV) 18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Your spouse is meant to be a partner in your journey. When couples face conflict, they may feel entrapped by negative thoughts, believing their spouse is an obstacle. It's essential to recognize and resist these harmful perceptions to maintain a healthy relationship.

We don't know what Isaac did to regain Rebeca's trust. Maybe consistent words of love and care, active listening and empathy. We don't know if it was a commitment to self-improvement with clear and open communication, with acts of affection and clear demonstration of change, not just promises. 

But the Bible says,

Genesis 26:8 (ESV) When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife.

Isaac approached her gently, and soon, the two were in love. 

It was their reconciliation and restoration that saved their lives. Think about it: Abimelech wouldn't have discovered Isaac's lie if they hadn’t loved each other and strengthened their bond. Their decision to mend their marriage made all the difference. Suppose they hadn’t loved each other and strengthened their bond, their family would stay unprotected. Their decision to fix their marriage made all the difference.

Family agreement is the foundation of blessings. When we come together in unity and understanding within our families, we pave the way for prosperity, happiness, and divine favor. Just as a strong foundation supports a sturdy structure, harmonious relationships within the family build a life filled with joy and blessings.

The blessing is withheld if you and your spouse are not in agreement. God has grace and favor for you both, together, in unity. This isn’t because God isn’t gracious but because the blessing depends on agreement.

Matthew 18:18-19 (ESV) Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

God blessed Isaac when he resolved the problem surrounding his marriage. Similarly, we are blessed when we resolve the issues within our marriages. The devil seeks to destroy marriage because he knows that when there is unity of heart, thought, and purpose, whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

You both must agree on projects, plans and the understanding that neither of you is the enemy. Everything should be resolved through prayer on bended knee.

Prayer is what will resolve the issue. And in that prayer, agree: “Your will be done, not mine as a wife, not mine as a husband, but Your will.” When there is agreement that it is God’s will that you both desire, a heavenly ladder is placed in your room, and the angels of God will ascend and descend, manifesting the glory of God.

I’m not suggesting that you or your spouse will become perfect or that everything will be flawless. I’m not saying your home will become an endless bliss. Challenges will still arise. Yet, you will have agreed on one crucial thing: those challenges will be overcome on your knees in prayer. You both will lift your eyes to heaven. That frees you from being like the world, focused on earthly things, and believing the problem lies with your spouse. It does not; your battle is against the devil. But when you pray together, the angels rise and fight on your behalf.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV) 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

No matter how long it takes, no matter how many conversations you have to schedule and set, no matter how many times you have to go back on that conflicting subject, fight for your harmony, togetherness, and unity in agreement. That is the key to opening doors of blessings inside your house.

3. Sow in a time of famine.

Genesis 26:12-16 (ESV) 12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Isaac also prospered because he sowed in the land during famine. The land was dry and lifeless, but because of God’s blessing, he reaped a hundredfold. In times of drought, the price of commodities increases significantly, and it was during such a time that Isaac experienced a super-harvest. He harvested the equivalent of a century’s worth in one year.

Isaac went out with his seed, watching the dust rise from the dry land, yet he sowed in faith, trusting that the Lord would prosper him. In that year of famine, he reaped a hundred times more. 

Remember, we are Abraham’s children, and when the children of faith sow on dry land, they reap a hundredfold. God’s blessing is on you because of Jesus. No matter how educated, skilled, or intelligent you are, prosperity will come as long as the blessing is upon you.

This defies the logic of agronomy, but in spiritual sowing, remember this: sow, even if you think the place is dry; sow even in times of crisis. Crisis periods may not seem appropriate for sowing, but consider Isaac’s situation.

I wonder if he had any advisors with basic knowledge of agronomy who might have told him that drought is not the time to plant and that it’s wiser to wait for rain. Yet, Isaac’s actions demonstrated his faith. God told him, “Stay in the land; don’t go to Egypt. This is where I’m going to bless you.” He believed, and instead of looking to Egypt, he focused on heaven. He continued sowing while others perhaps laughed at him.

But he kept sowing, and the sky rained down on Isaac when everyone least expected it. He alone had sown, but his harvest wasn’t natural—it was supernatural. He reaped a hundredfold.

If you sow, even in a barren place, and believe that the blessing is on your life, you will reap a hundredfold.

If one grain (kernel) of corn is planted, it grows into a single corn stalk, typically producing one to two ears (or heads) of corn, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Each ear of corn can have 1,000 kernels (grains), so the potential yield from a single 2,000 kernel. However, the Bible says that Isaac harvested 100 times more than a typical year.

God’s blessing is all we need. The world values skill and seeks luck, but the children of Abraham have God’s blessing on their lives.

Didn’t Isaac know there was a famine? How could he plant anyway? Simply because he was under God’s blessing.

God’s will is for our prosperity. Do not criticize the prosperity of others while wishing it for yourself. 

The classic NKJV says,

Psalms 35:27 (NKJV): Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

God delights in His children’s prosperity, so don’t be ashamed to seek the best schools for your children. Do not apologize for desiring to have your own house or car. Do not be ashamed of God's favoring your life. Even when, like Isaac, you may have persecution, insults, and even mistreatment.

Isaiah 1:19, ESV: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

Sowing and reaping are God’s methods of making us prosper. When farmers sow, they must depend on God to send rain and make the seed come alive in the soil.

Some might wonder, “Pastor, how can I show when I don’t have enough for myself?” A spiritual principle is at work here: you obviously need seed to sow.

Before you sow, you must experience God’s grace to reap what you never sowed. You become qualified to be a sower only once you realize that everything you have has been given to you graciously, without merit.

In other words, you need a first seed to start planting. And where will this seed come from? It will be given to you freely by God. This first seed is not the fruit of sowing but the simple expression of God’s grace.

No one really gives anything to God; they only give back what they have received because no one can have anything unless it is given to them from heaven (John 3:27).

However, once you have experienced the grace of receiving the seed, you need to plant it. This sowing is already your reward because it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Don’t turn your sowing into a form of bargaining with God.

When you plant and reap, you set aside a portion as seed; the rest is for your sustenance. You then sow again with the portion set aside, creating a cycle of blessing in your life.

2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV) 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

We don’t honestly give anything to God; we only return what we have received. You give back what you have received first.

Perhaps you don’t see the seed right now, but the Spirit will reveal it to you because the Lord is faithful. God provides the seed, the instrument, the channel through which God’s prosperity flows into your life.

We Are Blessed Despite Persecution

The inevitable result of prosperity is that people will envy us. This envy will eventually turn into persecution. 

Did you know that the Pharisees tried to kill Jesus out of envy? Jesus shared the stories of the Old Testament, and the Pharisees were considered rabbis. However, while people felt condemned listening to their stories, they found faith, healing, deliverance, and life when listening to Jesus.

The gospel is your message, your life, leading to good things ahead. The best is yet to come. Do not be discouraged by insults or persecutions because of the favor and anointing flowing from your ministry. Those people who are out of God's blessings might be envious of your favor and prosperity. Unapologetically, raise your hands to God and thank Him for His Amazing Grace overflowing in your life.

The Lord Jesus promised that anyone who gave up something for the love of Him and the gospel would receive a hundredfold. This was the same measure with which Isaac was blessed.

Jesus said, 

Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The Lord doesn’t say we should abandon our fathers, mothers, and children. Instead, He explains that we will receive a hundred times more when we renounce something for His sake. 

Every time I travel and need to be away from my wife and sons, I am given back a hundredfold when I return.

Anything we sacrifice for the Lord’s sake and for the sake of the gospel will be returned to us multiplied a hundredfold.

The Lord doesn’t say that the reward will come only in heaven; He clearly states that it will be in the present. He does not promise that we will receive a hundred spouses, as the promise does not apply to marriage.

God’s will is for us to serve the Lord together as a couple, not renounce our marriage.

We will receive a hundred times more houses and fields than we have sacrificed, sowing for the sake of the Lord and His house. Yet, along with this prosperity, we will face something unavoidable: persecution. Like Isaac, those who prosper will be persecuted. But we should not be discouraged because, in the end, the Lord promises that we can have the best of this world and the world to come.

Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV) 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; Isaiah 61:6-7 (ESV) 6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. 7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.