Today we continue the series “Let’s Lose Some Weight”...

 ...taken from Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,” Last week we said we needed to look to Jesus, look to His Word, and to be disciplined. As Christians, as disciples those things should come pretty automatic for us. Sadly, they don’t. So what do we do when there is an area of weakness in our lives that has been there for a long time and we have just assumed “it is what it is”? Today we will discuss the story of the man with the withered hand and how he was healed and how he laid aside his weight. Luke 6:10 (NLT2) “He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! Until we admit, confess, or recognize what our weakness is, there is a really good chance that we will never change. 

1. Our weaknesses are sometimes publicly displayed. So what are we to do when it is obvious to us and to others around us that we have a problem? We can probably do what this man had done several times…leave and go home taking his problem with him. We can cover our problem under a robe of shame or pride. Please, God, let no one see this thing. If you say you absolutely do not have a weakness, your weakness is obviously pride. But, if we are willing, we can hold that weakness out to Jesus and let Him heal it. Why would we do that?

2. Jesus promises to help us in our weakness. Isaiah 40:29 (NCV) “He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak.” God is willing to give power to the weak. The question, are we willing to wait on Him to renew our strength?

3. We need to change our attitude toward our weaknesses. Joel 3:10 (NKJV) “Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' " We must prepare ourselves for battle especially if we perceive we are going through a time of weakness (Covid). There cannot be an attitude of complacency. We must lose the weight. Hear your pastor, what you say about your weakness is so important…Let the weak say, 'I am strong. This is more than just positive confession; this is a statement of faith. 

4. Paul saw weakness as an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated. In your weakness determine to get to know Christ better and to know His sufferings…Him crucified. Acknowledge your dependence is on God’s power not on man’s wisdom. Extend your weakness to the Lord like this man with the withered hand and let Him touch it. Let’s lose the weight!