Know Your Powerlessness and God’s Adequacy!

Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5.

What was the last time you figured out you can’t do it? Maybe it was something beyond your ability. Maybe circumstances block you from doing something you want to do. Maybe your health or financial situation hindered you. However, do you know your inability is not a surprise to God? He knows fully well that you can’t do it. That is why Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

The pandemic called COVID-19 shed the light on this truth. “Apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing.” Without Jesus, in your life, you can do nothing. When bad things hit your life, and it hits often in people’s lives, where do you turn for help?

In Philippians 4:13 Paul wrote from his own life experience, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” The same was echoed by many true Christians throughout the century. The strength to face adversities does not come from you. The courage to face death does not from you. It does not come from your friends or family. Wealth, education, and fame won’t give get it. The strength to face adversities and calamities comes from Jesus Christ, who gives you the needed grace and strength when you need it.

Beloved, at least these days when the whole world is under the grip of fear, we need to learn one of the basic lessons of life. However strong, intelligent and able people may think they are, the truth is they cannot even withstand a small virus. Didn’t we learn this truth these days? Oh, the inadequacy of man apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. True he said, “apart from me you can do nothing! People are inadequate and powerless-apart from Jesus Christ. The source of real strength, hope, help, and deliverance is the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, who is the savior of the world.

I heard Charles Stanly, one of the well known Bible teachers of our time saying this, whatever you are going to accomplish, you would accomplish on your knees.” His mother taught him this lesson from his very early childhood. I believe, for a child of God, it is 100% true. You will accomplish things in your life only by prayer on your knees to God.

Beloved, for some people, admitting their insufficiencies and weakness is a pride issue. God opposes a proud person. You accept the inadequacies and show dependence on God when you kneel in front of him in prayer. He already knows you are inadequate for the task. However, what makes you adequate for the task ahead of you is your dependence on Him. When you admit you are inadequate and weak, God fills in His marvelous grace in you.

Paul felt so weak and discouraged. He even prayed three times. Remember what Jesus said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” You see the power of Jesus becomes perfect for you in your weakness, in your inadequacies. His grace, when He fills in you, you become perfect in divine strength and power. In short, He enables you to do things that you can’t do it by yourself. His powerful grace does it through you when you admit your weakness and inadequacies to Him.

Beloved, Bible says when people were still powerless, God sent His Son Jesus Christ and he died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). Weak as humanity is, God, revealed His power of grace, to save us in and through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. You see, our powerlessness was the divine opportunity to use God’s power of grace. God’s power of grace is still available for those who see themselves are inadequate for the task and depend on Him for help.

“Father in heaven, I know apart from Jesus Christ, Your Son, I can do nothing. Also, I know I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. I need Jesus in my life. I accept my weaknesses and inadequacies and pray for your help and deliverance. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins and His blood can wash away my sins and make me pure again. Please save me and bless me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”