“A GREAT MULTITUDE OF ALL NATIONS AND KINDREDS AND PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES” (REV. 7:9). tscnyc.org VOL XII / ISSUE 12 / DECEMBER 2016

Dear Friend, THE NECESSITY OF WEAKNESS I bring Christmas greetings to you, by Carter Conlon mighty warrior! “And I, brethren, when I came to strong-willed, and successful. Right now you’re thinking, “Wow. you, did not come with excellence And so we ask ourselves the Did this ever get mailed to the wrong of speech or of wisdom declaring question: Why, then, when adding address! If they only knew who and to you the testimony of God. For I Christ to all of this, would he now what I am.” determined not to know anything consider himself weak? And why among you except Jesus Christ would he prefer weakness to his Well, perhaps I know more than and Him crucified. I was with you former state? you think. When God is about to do in weakness, in fear, and in much something mighty, He characteristically trembling. And my speech and my n BOASTING IN WEAKNESS searches for vessels who know their preaching were not with persuasive In the book of Second Corinthians, own weaknesses. Those who are strong words of human wisdom, but in Paul speaks of a time when he was in themselves always find that battles demonstration of the Spirit and of caught up to the third heaven—a which can be won only in the Spirit power, that your faith should not place where he heard utterances are beyond the scope of their highest be in the wisdom of men but in the that he could not even put into abilities. That’s what this newsletter power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5). words (see 2 Corinthians 12:2–4). is all about. “And lest I should be exalted above By his own testimony, the Apostle measure by the abundance of the Why don’t you give yourself a great Paul stood among the people in revelations, a thorn in the flesh Christmas present this year by simply weakness. Yet it is arguable that was given to me, a messenger of believing what it will speak to your prior to meeting Christ, in his Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted heart. Remember today that even own natural ability he had stood above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Jesus cried out, “My God, my as the strongest among his peers. In other words, lest it become all God, why have You forsaken me?” He described his former life as about me; lest I become proud in (Mark 15:34). That was on the day very strict—taught by the best my own strength. After all, that of the greatest victory humankind minds of his day, bypassing others is the human condition. The has ever known! It was in His who were striving to advance fallen nature of man wants to weakness that hell bent its knee themselves religiously in the boast in itself. and we were released from its grasp. same way that he was (see Acts And it is through your weakness 22:3, Galatians 1:14). Paul even There is that others will find their Savior said of himself, “Concerning the and freedom in the days ahead. righteousness which is in the law, a strength blameless” (Philippians 3:6). A very, very Merry Christmas to What a phenomenal boast on available in Christ you, indeed! his part! It would be the same that human as somebody without Christ With you in weakness, today claiming, “To the best of my intellect or effort knowledge, I have thought no evil, cannot even Pastor Carter Conlon spoken no evil, and seen no evil. I have done everything the way I begin to touch. believe God would have me do it.” The Bible tells us that this thorn Before his conversion, Paul in his flesh was so grievous to obviously was very determined, Paul that he pleaded with God to THE NECESSITY OF WEAKNESS tscnyc.org

take it away. Yet the Lord replied, the simplicity of faith and wanted to began searching for holes in the “‘My grace is sufficient for you, follow something more visible. They rocks to hide in. They were a type for My strength is made perfect wanted something human that they of Christians in our generation who in weakness.’ Therefore most could take pride in, so they went to find themselves unable to go forward. gladly I [Paul] will rather boast Samuel and essentially said, “We Many are thinking about finding a in my infirmities, that the power of want a king like the other nations safe place to hide where they can Christ may rest upon me. Therefore around us. We have had the divine, ride out the coming storm. “How can I take pleasure in infirmities, in but we want human leadership now. I get by without being persecuted in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, We want to worship something that the marketplace? How can I avoid in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For is visible” (see 1 Samuel 8:4–5). being vilified or fired because I when I am weak, then I am strong” believe in traditional marriage and (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). Whenever it the sanctity of life?”

Paul learned to boast in everything looks as if the All the while, this mammoth, big- that was allowed to come into his people of God mouthed giant was coming out every life that kept him entirely dependent morning and challenging the armies upon God. At one point, he even are up against of Israel, saying, “You are going to testified that “when we were in serve us. There is no chance that Asia we were pressed above strength an enemy they you are going to win this fight!” to the point that we despaired of life” cannot defeat, the (see 1 Samuel 17:8–9). And that (2 Corinthians 1:8). In other words, was true...in the physical realm. we thought we were not going to strength of God is Nobody in his own strength could make it. It was so difficult! revealed through match the power that was standing on the other side of that valley. Perhaps life feels just like that for weakness. Likewise, if you and I try to fight the you these days. It is hard going to darkness of this hour with human the same job and listening to the And so God gave them a king named reasoning and human zeal, we will same gossiping voices all around you. Saul. He was handsome, standing discover that we are no match for it. It is hard coming home to the same head and shoulders above everyone, empty apartment or fighting for the and everybody rejoiced. However, semblance of family that you have what they got was a strategist, not It is not about left. Everything is just so difficult. a seeker. Although Saul started what we can But that is why we must learn, as out with a marginal acceptance of Paul did, that there is a strength spiritual things, ultimately he was a do for God, it available in Christ that human thinker—a self-made man who led is about what God intellect or effort cannot even predominantly by his own reasoning. begin to touch. It is not available can do for Himself to the proud, for “God resists the Of course, Saul did manage to win through us to proud and gives grace to the humble” many great victories. He defeated (see James 4:6). If you are ever going the Amalekites; he had an army that glorify His be used of God, you must first was well-trained. Everything seemed discover this truth. to be going fine until suddenly the own name! Israelites were confronted with n NO MATCH FOR THE ENEMY Goliath—a power that everyone, n THE STRENGTH OF GOD REVEALED Unfortunately, humankind typically including Saul, knew they could The good news is that whenever despises weakness. Throughout not defeat in their own strength. things finally come to the point where history, we see the tendency to it looks as if the people of God are up shun the simplicity of faith and I can just picture the Israelites with against an enemy they cannot defeat, gravitate toward something more all their armor, looking to their king the strength of God is revealed tangible and self-satisfying. standing a foot or so taller than the through weakness. In the case of rest—representing their confidence Saul and his army, the strength of For example, we see that in the in human strength and ingenuity God was revealed through a teenage Old Testament, God Himself was to lead them. However, Saul could boy. One day, young David showed leading the Israelites. Nevertheless, do nothing but tremble with the up in the Israelite camp, sent by his the people got tired of walking in rest of them. Eventually, the people father with some cakes and cheese to tscnyc.org THE NECESSITY OF WEAKNESS

give to his brothers. Now David came own. You could not have escaped strength and our confidence will no as one who had been walking with the prison that you were in; your longer be in ourselves. We see this God—one with incredible passion marriage was dead until you began hold true throughout Paul’s journey. for the honor of His name. That to pray. You could not have endured For example, it was in weakness is what you and I need more than the trial that came into your life had that Paul, in the midst of a storm, anything else! Remember, it is not you not trusted God! was relegated to the belly of the ship about what we can do for God, it is among the slaves and prisoners. It was about what God can do for Himself The Bible tells us that David took certainly not a place of human strength through us to glorify His own name! his staff in his hand and chose for or influence. Yet it was there that Paul himself five smooth stones from found wisdom and power that was Are we constantly the brook. He put the stones in his stronger than the storm all around him. shepherd’s bag, and with a sling Eventually he was called to the deck trying to escape in his hand, he drew near to the of the ship, and he became the voice Philistine. If you look at this picture of authority and encouragement to all the very things that in the natural, it is preposterous to on board (see Acts 27). God has sent to think that this boy would pick up five little stones to go fight a giant! Yet, The Bible also tells us of a time make us strong? suddenly the Spirit of God came when Paul and Silas were taken, upon David, and he began to beaten, and thrown into the inner When he came into the camp, prophesy, “You come to me with prison (see Acts 16:22–23). Yet at David essentially asked, “Why are a sword, with a spear, and with a midnight, in that place of weakness, you all just standing there? Why javelin. But I come to you in the they found the power to sing praises won’t anybody go and fight this name of the Lord of hosts, the God of to God. It was the kind of worship uncircumcised Philistine? How the armies of Israel, whom you have that says, “God, I may not understand dare he defy the armies of the living defied. This day the Lord will deliver everything, but I know that heaven God?” (see 1 Samuel 17:26). That you into my hand, and I will strike is Your throne, and the earth is Your is the kind of passion you and I you and take your head from you. footstool. I know that You are in must have in our hearts. “Who are And this day I will give the carcasses charge of all things.” As they began these principalities that dare defy of the camp of the Philistines to the to praise Him, the prison began to the armies of the living God? What birds of the air and the wild beasts of shake! The doors opened, and all makes them think they can triumph the earth, that all the earth may know the prisoners were set free. Even the over Christ and His Church? Didn’t that there is a God in Israel. Then jailer bent his knee to God and was Jesus say, ‘On this rock I build My all this assembly shall know that the baptized with his whole family. They Church, and the gates of hell will not Lord does not save with sword and had witnessed a strength in Paul and prevail against it’? Isn’t it written in spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and Silas that was greater than anything the Scriptures, ‘I give you power over He will give you into our hands” this world had to offer. serpents and scorpions and over all (1 Samuel 17:45–47). David was the power of the enemy, and nothing able to speak in the Spirit because shall by any means hurt you’?” he was fighting in the Spirit. And in Do not be (see Matthew 16:18, Luke 10:19). his weakness, he was empowered to surprised when defeat this great enemy. When David offered to fight the the devil tries to giant, Saul took his armor and put n PAUL’S JOURNEY TO STRENGTH convince you that it on David. Imagine how ridiculous If you and I expect to experience that must have looked! And so David this power of the Holy Spirit, we you are finished. essentially said to Saul, “I am sorry, must learn to rejoice in those things but I cannot fight with this; I have that God allows in our lives to keep On another occasion, the “Jews not proven this! You see, I have us dependent on Him. Yet I cannot from Antioch and Iconium came lived by faith since I was young, help but wonder: Are we there yet? there; and having persuaded the and I have experienced the strength Or are we constantly trying to escape multitudes, they stoned Paul and of God. I know what He can do!” the very things that God has sent to dragged him out of the city, supposing (see 1 Samuel 17:39). Perhaps make us strong? him to be dead. However, when the that is your testimony as well. God disciples gathered around him, has given you victories that you know It is the ultimate of ironies. God he rose up and went into the city. you could not have secured on your must first make us weak so that our And the next day he departed with THE NECESSITY OF WEAKNESS

Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:19–20). So in those moments when you CARTER CONLON It was in weakness that Paul found a feel weak or defeated, take courage, Carter Conlon is senior pastor of divine ability to endure all that hell for you may actually be on the brink Times Square Church, where he could throw against him. Although of the greatest victory that you have has been on the pastoral staff he was stoned and thought to be ever known. Remember, God takes since 1994. dead, a place of complete weakness, the weak to confound those who Paul eventually got up and finished are strong; He takes the foolish to his journey. The Scriptures tell confound those who are standing TIMES SQUARE CHURCH us that he went with Barnabas in their own wisdom. Therefore, Times Square Church was founded to Derbe and strengthened the do not worry about the things that in 1987 by Pastor David Wilkerson, souls of the disciples! come against you in this world. author of “The Cross and the You have a power source within Switchblade.” It is an interdenomina- The end of you that is greater than all of the tional church located in the heart of strength of this world put together. New York City. ourselves is the And one day, like Paul, you are going to testify, “I rejoice in the Tel: beginning of God. difficulties that I have had to 212-541-6300 experience. I rejoice in all the n THE END OF OURSELVES things that have come against In every place of weakness that Paul me. Even though I might stand Fax: found himself, I am sure he had to in weakness and trembling, even 212-541-6415 fight the constant lies of the devil. though there is sometimes a measure So do not be surprised when the of fear in my heart, I know I will devil tries to convince you that you not be defeated. No Goliath, Church Location: are finished. He will try to tell you nothing of evil, no weapon of 237 West 51st Street that you are too weak and there is hell has any authority over me. Between Broadway & 8th Avenue no point in going on. “Why bother The purpose that God has for opening your mouth again? Why my life will be fulfilled!” bother trying to serve God?” But Mailing Address: I am telling you that even when Times Square Church you reach your lowest point, God 1657 Broadway, 4th Floor can cause you to rise up again in Carter Conlon New York, NY 10019 the power of the Spirit. ©2016 Times Square Church

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This newsletter is an edited version of “THE NECESSITY OF WEAKNESS,” a sermon given on September 4, 2016 in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in New York City. Other sermons are available by visiting our website at tscnyc.org. You are welcome tscnyc.org to make additional copies of this sermon for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission existing copyright laws apply. This sermon cannot be posted on any website or webpage without permission from Times Square Church. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the New King James Version.