The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—A Synopsis (continued). Chapter 35—God’s Power in Your Weakness (pages 272-278) Summary God can only use believers who have limitations, which are weaknesses that the believer inherited or has no power to change, such as a physical (chronic illness, natural low energy, disability) or an emotional (trauma scar, hurtful memory, personality quirk, hereditary disposition) or an intellectual limitation. The fact is that no one is born perfect, so God may only use the imperfect in His service. But this is by design, and it pleases Him to do so. But if the believer will not own up to his limitations, and instead develop a position of pride and self-sufficiency, God is unable to use him. God is more than willing to work through a believer’s weakness; but for this to happen, the believer must do the following: 1. Admit his weakness. A believer must be honest and face reality. Instead of pretending he has no limitations, he must own up to his frailties and imperfections. Often it is necessary for God to allow a crisis in a believer’s life in order for the believer to see himself clearly. 2. Accept his weakness. A believer needs to be content with his limitation as a demonstration of faith in God and God’s plan for the believer’s life, which will entail recognition that God has allowed limitations in his life for the following purposes: · To increase his dependence on God. Only through the exercise of faith is God ever able to fully and effectively work through and use His children. · To prevent him from being arrogant and self-reliant. Pride, more than anything else, keeps the power of the Holy Spirit at bay in the believer’s life. · To encourage his fellowship with other believers. When a believer is self-reliant (proud), he needs no one. With this attitude, he only drives others away and makes his ministry ineffective. But when he is weak, he reaches out to others and increases his ministry. · To increase his capacity of sympathy for and ministry to others. A believer’s most effective ministry comes through his personal understanding and experiences of pain and difficulties, which he is then able to transform into empathy for others.   3. Unveil his weakness. When a believer is willing to take the risk of being rejected by becoming vulnerable through the admission of his limitations to other believers, following the example of the Apostle Paul, he will find that instead of repelling others through pretentiousness he will attract others through authenticity. He will also find that by exposing his weakness to other believers, many of them will take courage (be influenced) to also serve in spite of their weaknesses. 4. Delight in his weakness. A believer must learn to take delight in God’s purpose and plan for his life, which includes God’s design of his physical, mental and emotional composition. Instead of showing disappointment before God for limitations, a believer needs to praise God for what He has done and will accomplish through the believer’s limitations. This honors God! Quotes “Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.” (pg. 272) “If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless.” (pg. 273) “God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, He enjoys putting His great power into ordinary containers.” (pg. 273) “If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and know who you are.” (pg. 274) “God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check.” (pg. 274) “While strength breeds an independent spirit (‘I don’t need anyone else’), our limitations show how much we need each other.” (pg. 275) “Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.” (pg. 275) “Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths; rather, it is being honest about your weaknesses.” (pg. 276) “Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.” (pg. 277) “Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus.” (pg. 277) Scriptures 1 Corinthians 13:4; 13:9a; Isaiah 55:9; 1 Corinthians 1:27; Matthew 5:3; 2 Corinthians 12:7; 4:7; Mathew 16:16; Acts 14:15; 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10a; 12:10; 12:7; Numbers 12:3; Judges 6:12; Romans 4:11; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 16:18; Acts 13:22; Hebrews 11:32-34; Romans 7:19; 2 Corinthians 6:11; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 12:5b; Hebrews 4:1a; Romans 8:26a. Conclusion/Comments Only when a believer is willing to sacrifice (false) self-esteem and risk the loss of popularity by admitting to himself and others that he is weak and imperfect is he then able to be properly dependent upon God through the exercise of faith, which will allow God through His Holy Spirit to work through him most effectively. To arrive at this position of self-recognition and submission, he must admit to, accept, unveil and delight in God’s design of his life, which includes his weaknesses (limitations). This process will then take the spotlight off of him and transfer its focus upon God, the real and genuine power in the Christian’s life.