IN SPITE OF MY WEAKNESS

Father’s Day

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, June 18, 2023

(1 Corinthians 1:18, NLT) “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” 

“I expect to be amazed by three things when I first arrive in heaven. I will be delighted by those I find are actually there. I will be shocked to note who isn’t there whom I assumed I would see. And then I will be speechless with wonder as I realize that by God’s grace I am there.” -Charles Spurgeon

(1 Corinthians 1:26–31, NLT) “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

1. God united us with Christ Jesus

2. Jesus is our wisdom

3. Jesus has made us right with God

4. Jesus made us pure and holy

5. Jesus freed us from our sin

6. We will boast only about the LORD

(Psalm 73:26, NIV) “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” 

GOD SEES MY HEART

(1 Samuel 16:7, NIV) “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

(2 Corinthians 11:23, NLT) “Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.”

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NLT) “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

BUT GOD EMPOWERS!

(Matthew 19:26, NLT) “But with God everything is possible.”

Dads to love like Jesus. Honor your Dad. (Mark 6:1-5)

Dads to coach like Jesus. Receive from your Dad. (Mark 10:40-41)

GROWTHWORK 

DON’T GIVE UP OR GIVE IN TO SIN

(Galatians 6:9, NLT) “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” 

DREAM AND PRAY

(Romans 10:14, NLT) “And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”