I. ESTABLISHING OUR ETERNAL REWARD THROUGH WEAKNESS
2 John 8 “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully” (NIV)
1Cor 3:13-14 the fire will test the quality of each man's work (service, stewardship of one’s life on every level). 14 If what he has
built survives, he will receive his reward. (NIV)
Mark 9:35-36 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first (great reward),
he shall be last of all (meek and humble in attitude) and servant of all (in his works)."
A. We want to be ‘worthy of the gospel’ (Phil 1:27) and receive our ‘full reward’ (2 Jn 8).
B. Jesus showed us the most perfect way to be found ‘perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect’ (Mt 5:48).
C. This way is unpopular, difficult and few find it (Mt 7:14).
D. In Matthew 6 of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches us a fasted lifestyle that will mold us into being like Him in
attitude and action. It’s crucial that we immediately put these practices into action, learn them and teach new believers
the same.
E. This is Christianity 101 and strengthens our heart to display the beatitudes (Mt 5). This is the kind of life that will
endure to the age to come (the precious stones, silver and gold from 1 Cor 3). This lifestyle will establish us in wisdom
and lead us to full reward.
F. The fasted lifestyle works weakness into us for in our weakness He is strong. This can be called ‘voluntary
weakness’. Weakness that we voluntarily pursue and embrace. The fasted lifestyle is so weak that anyone can do it,
but it is so weak that few choose to.
2 Cor 12:9-10 ...My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities
(weaknesses) that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 ... For when I am weak then I am strong.
2 Cor 12:10 The weaker I get, the stronger I become (The Message)
G. Paul received the revelation that ‘godly weakness’ was the way to experience more of God’s power. Jesus
promised Paul that he would experience “strength made perfect” if he embraced weakness. Paul was not referring to
moral weakness, but weakness coming from godly choices.
H. Paul describes two types of godly weaknesses. First, those which are voluntary: prayer, fasting, living simply,
serving and blessing those who offend us (Mt. 6:1-20). Second, those which are involuntary: his thorn in the flesh,
persecution and reproach. When Paul boasts of his weakness (2 Cor. 12:9), he is referring to both the involuntary
weakness of persecution and the voluntary weakness of the fasted lifestyle (2 Cor. 11:23-28).
II. EXPRESSIONS OF GODLY VOLUNTARY WEAKNESS (THE FASTED LIFESTYLE)
A. God chose godly voluntary weakness as the way to run His Kingdom. Jesus embraced it, thus providing us with our
entry into the Kingdom. We embrace it as the lifestyle of the Kingdom.
27 God has chosen the (so-called) foolish things of the world to put to shame the (so-called) wise, and God has chosen
the (so-called) weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are (so-called) mighty…29 that no flesh should
glory in His presence… 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." (1 Cor. 1:27-31)
B. The fasted lifestyle is a call to embrace voluntary weakness to experience more of God’s power. What is the fasted
lifestyle? There are 5 types of “fasting” described in Mt. 6:1-20. We fast food, time, energy, money and words by giving,
serving, praying (with the Word), blessing those who offend us and fasting food as we develop the 8 beatitudes
(Matt. 5:3-12). Each is a form of fasting, in that we are voluntarily embracing weakness by submitting our strengths
into God’s hands and trusting Him to answer us His way, in His time and in His power.
C. In giving, we fast our money (financial strength). In serving and prayer, we are fasting our time and energy,
investing it in others and in prayer. In blessing those who offend us, we fast words and reputation. Fasting from food
is not primarily a call to hunger but to physical weakness. We must embrace “the fasted lifestyle” long term. No one
graduates from this lifestyle.
1. We don’t aim at becoming good ‘fasters’. Our aim is to encounter God in our weakness.
2. Remember, His strength is made perfect in weakness.
III. A FURTHER LOOK
A. Giving: charitable deeds; giving of our time/energy/talent and money; Mt 6:1-4
1Tim 6:18-19 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a
good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1Cor 8:1-4 Now I want to tell you what God in his grace has done for the churches in Macedonia. 2 Though they have
been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their deep poverty, and the
result has been an overflow of giving to others. 3 They gave not only what they could afford but far more; and I can testify
that they did it because they wanted to and not because of nagging on my part. 4 They begged us to take the money
so they could share in the joy of helping the Christians in Jerusalem. (Living Bible)
Acts 10:1-4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household (possessions), who gave alms (charity) generously to
the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God
coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So
he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God (memorial: a structure
established to remind people of a person or event).
1. We want to be radical in giving to others. There is a biblical principle in Luke 6 that teaches we’ll receive to the
measure that we give.
Luke 6:38 Give and it will be given to you... for with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to
you.
2. He’s inviting us to be instruments of radical giving that He might in turn ‘wow’ our hearts with His radical provision.
In this ‘voluntary weakness’ He will prove that His ability (power) in provision is greater than ours. This will lead us into a
more vibrant faith.
3. We can be givers on many different levels; with our money, our time & energy, our skills, and our possessions.
We want to pursue the mindset that we are not our own but God’s sole possession; always willing to be a channel of
giving to others.
4. Our possessions first belong to God, we hold them loosely, not irresponsibly but loosely. We own them instead
of our possessions owning us.
B. Prayer: intercession/devotional/meditation on the Word; Mt 6:5-13
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows
open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God,
as was his custom since early days.
John 6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son
of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort
and convict those who contradict.
Acts 2:42-43 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and
in prayer.
1. A lifestyle of prayer is rooted in great humility. We are acknowledging that man does not survive by his own
natural strengths but by communion with God and His Word.
2. A life of prayer challenges the belief that we are just mere physical beings. A life of prayer trumpets our faith in
the Spirit.
3. It takes time and energy to live a life of prayer. Time and energy that could be spent building our lives in our
own strength.
4. Prayer is the first thing to go when we are distracted/busy. Why? The lust of the flesh, pride, demands that
we don’t need prayer. Pride says it’s a waste of time. Pride demands that the quality of life is dependent upon
our own strength.
5. A look at the model prayer in Mt 6:9-13 (we apply this prayer in our private life several times a week).
C. Forgiving: speaking blessing and praying for our enemies; Mt 6:14-15
Ps 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Matt 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times
seven.
1. The power of forgiving others radically guards our hearts from offense and bitterness. Out of the place of
encountering God’s mercy we are radically freed to show mercy.
2. Our lack of quickly forgiving others shows our lack of receiving God’s forgiveness in our own lives (Mt 18:28).
We are freed to live guilt-free as we rend our heart towards God.
3. We are taught in Mt 5 to bless those who sin against us. The power to forgive from our hearts is easier when
we open our mouths and speak blessing over our offender.