Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast

If you’ve ever watched one of the survival shows on television, you will have noticed all the various trials and challenges those on the show have to endure. Perhaps you’ve even criticized their actions and reactions. We may not face those same challenges, but just the fact that we are human means we will be tested by trials even though, given the choice, we would avoid them. The good news is that Jesus has been through trials just as we will go through trials. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). How did He overcome these trials? His key to overcoming His temptations because He was full of the Holy Spirit. Three times Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, but Jesus never gave in. He walked away from each temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, an example we would do well to follow.

In the gospel of John, the author explains how God did something He had never done before. He became human to bring people back to God so they can experience the fullness of God’s grace and truth. We need to learn from the master teacher how to reach people as Jesus, the ultimate rabbi, did. Robert Peek, guest minister, uses the gospel of John and specifically, the fourth chapter of John to show listeners the ways Satan can interfere with our ability to reach others for God. In the story of the woman at the well, we find that prejudice, opposition, fatigue, distraction, and lack of hope, among other factors can weaken our ability to reach people while at the same time causing those we hope to reach to be less receptive. We must learn to expect these interferences and remain persistent in our efforts to reach those in need of a Savior.

What are the characteristics of a strong person? While we may have different definitions of human strength, we have to admit that even the strongest person has weaknesses. In the last of his sermon series Power in Weakness, minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners that when Jesus took on human flesh, He gave up His rights. He chose to be confined in a weak human body. He allowed Himself to be weak so that he could sympathize with our human weaknesses and yet without falling into sin. Jesus knows our losses, our pain, and our weaknesses. Jesus did not exalt Himself, but God raised Him up. In Jesus, who chose to live in human weakness for a time, we can find our salvation. 

We have a tendency to put people we admire on a pedestal. When we do that, however, we risk disappointment, for those people are flawed humans. A Bible character we often put on a pedestal is David, yet David was also a flawed human. In fact, the Bible says he was a "man of blood." Minister Aaron Hill explains to listeners how God was able to use David in spite of his weaknesses. 

In the time of the judges, a famine has occurred. Naomi and her husband Elimelech have moved to another country to find food. There their sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. The unthinkable happens. Naomi’s husband and both her sons die leaving all three women widows. Naomi decides to return to her native land and urges her daughters-in-law to stay in their own country, saying, “May the Lord show hesed, loving-kindness, to you.” Orpah does turn back, but Ruth stays with Naomi. She gives up what she knows to go with an old widow. Even in her weakness, Ruth displays love and loyalty to Naomi, even though she has no expectation of receiving anything in return. Ruth gets Boaz’ attention because of the love and loyalty she has shown to her mother-in-law. God is showing his love and loyalty by sending this man, a kinsman-redeemer. Minister Aaron Hill tells listeners that God will show you that same kind of love and loyalty even though you don’t deserve it. When we show love and loyalty, we will attract the attention of others, also. You receive God’s love even if you don’t have anything to offer.

Throughout the Old Testament, we read stories of God's people, Israel, sinning, getting into trouble, and calling on God to save them. The book of Judges gives many examples. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners of the story of Gideon, an imperfect man, a weak man, whom God uses to save the Israelites. Gideon has doubts, but despite Gideon's doubts, God was able to use him for His purposes. Weakness will not keep God from using us either. All doubt will be proven wrong in Jesus. As we consider Gideon's legacy, we should consider what our own legacies should be. We will all die short of perfection on our own, but God can use us just as He used Gideon, and Christ can be our legacy. 

One of the most exciting yet sometimes confusing times in life comes when a young person graduates from high school and must begin making decisions that will affect the rest of his or her life. Todd Richards shares advice from the Bible for these young people and for the parents and grandparents  who will help them navigate a path through the sea of choices  they will face.

Power in weakness often shows up in unexpected people. Minister Aaron Hill tells listeners about one of those unexpected people as he relates the story of Rahab, a prostitute in the city of Jericho who chooses to be on God's side. She doesn't consider what can happen to her if the city leaders find out she has betrayed them. She selflessly hides the Israelite spies and helps them escape after they promise her that she and her family will be protected when the city falls. Rahab has to have faith that these men will keep their word as she watches their unorthodox siege of Jericho for a week as the Israelites march around the city blowing trumpets. Rahab receives her salvation once the walls fall, but she goes on to be sanctified. She is changed. Rahab transforms from prostitute to a parent in the lineage of Jesus. Just as with Rahab, sanctification is the continuation of salvation in our lives. The life of a Christian is not for us if we do not want to change. 

Abraham is a giant of faith who didn't grow up in church. In fact, he and his family were idol worshippers prior to God's call to him. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners that God called Abraham out of the land of his birth, away from the idol worship with which he had grown up, to go to the land of Canaan. God had other options. He didn't choose the smartest, the richest, the biggest family in the largest and most powerful country to become the father of his people.  He chose Abraham, and Abraham went from being an idol worshipper to a God worshipper wherever he went. God always gave Abraham reasons to trust Him even when Abraham didn't always fully trust God. When Abraham doesn't understand how he can have a future when he has no children, God confirms and reaffirms His promises over and over and ultimately gives Abraham and Sarah the son He promised them even though they are old and past childbearing age. Abraham became the father of many nations just as God had promised. Abraham wasn't special; he wasn't perfect, but God doesn't call perfect people. Rather, he perfects the people whom he calls. Abraham is just one more example of how God's power can manifested in the human weakness.

When we see moral decline and evil surrounding us, and we choose not to participate, we can feel isolated and alone. Minister Aaron Hill tells us that Noah must have felt the same way. Genesis 6:1-8 tells us that God is grieved that man's thoughts and intentions have turned to evil, and God decides to blot out His creation. Noah, however, has found favor in God's sight. Noah's life did not follow the norm of the day. As he viewed the violence and evil going on around him, he must have felt alone and incredibly weak, yet God blesses him in his weakness. God asks him to do something out of the norm, and he obeys. God blesses him because of his faithfulness. We may feel helpless and alone in the face of the violence and evil we see in our own society, but just as it is shown through Noah's example, one person who wants to please God is enough. We are called to be faithful in spite of our weakness!