Weaknesses are attitudes, traits, schools of thoughts and reactions that have the capacity to frustrate one’s efforts, destroy relationships and even close doors of opportunities.
Weaknesses are the opposite of strengths, natural abilities, gifts and talents. They can be inherited, learnt, unlearnt, imparted and contacted by association. Weaknesses can also be corrected!
Weaknesses can go unnoticed in the life of a man. Though they can appear silent in a man’s life, most weaknesses never stay without an impact. What this means is that, it is possible to have weaknesses and not know. But it is impossible to have weaknesses and not be affected by them.
Funny enough, every human being has weaknesses. Why? Because of the old man, the sinful nature of man. I believe,
“the worse of any weakness is having one and not accepting it is a weakness”
“and the worst of any weakness is the unwillingness to change”
Actually, just as Strengths, Talents and Gifts open doors and bring greatness, weaknesses can destroy the destiny of a man destined for greatness. Weaknesses are like the enemy within, they must be eradicated.
I will show you 3 examples in the Bible where Weaknesses Crippled Destinies and Brought Death
* Samson was great
His greatness is still spoken of in our days. But he had weaknesses. The most powerful man on earth was disobedient, overconfident, rebellious and had an eye for prostitutes. Judges 14:1-3.
* What about Gehazi?
He was destined to carry Elisha’s anointing, at least we can imagine that. But covetousness led him to lie and steal and take a honorarium destined to sink the anointing. 2Kings 5;21-27.
I pray for you today, as long as God lives, no one here will take what sinks men in Jesus name.
See, there are things you must not take. It is not every money that passes by, or even knocks on your door that you take. You will not take garnished evil in Jesus name.
* Then in the New Testament, we see Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-10.
They died before their time. What cut their lives short? One weakness! Their weakness was the love for money! Ananias and Saphira were “christians” as many are today. They were givers but kai, kai, they could not part away with “so much money”. To them, the amount was too much to lay down and give to support the work of God. The love for money led to lies and that led to their death.
Many young Christians today are victims of this weakness. “Give wetin?” “For wetin?” “My hard-earned money?” “Abeg, abeg, comot for road!”
There are so many weaknesses in the lives of people. They are scattered in people depending on family lineage, association, culture, upbringing, economic factors, etc.
* Weaknesses include:Sin, Procrastination, Ingratitude, Greed,
* Selfishness, Pride, Envy, Overestimation of Self
* Insincerity, Overconfidence, Idolatry, Godfatherism
* Ignorance, Backbiting, Lying, Hatred
* Malice, Looking down on others, Deception, Ungodliness, Masturbation.
* Unforgiveness, Immorality, Pornography, Nudity, Love of Money, etc.
Every weakness opens the door for the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. In fact, if as a Christian, you speak in tongues, serve God and you are fervent but still experience demonic oppressions, like addictions, sex in the dreams, etc; it is most likely that, you are yet to overcome weaknesses that opens you up to the enemy. Today is your day of Liberty in Jesus name. You must overcome Personal Weaknesses. It is possible!!!
How do you Overcome Personal Weaknesses?
KJV version of Deut 8:16 says, “Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end”
NIV version says, “He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, *to humble and test you* so that in the end it might go well with you”
NIV version of Heb 5:14 further says, “But solid food is for *the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish* good from evil”
Weaknesses are overcome by Training!!! Weaknesses are overcome by subjecting yourself and your flesh to discipline.
The truth is that, God knows humans have weaknesses. And even after you have given your life to Christ, there are attitudes you must change, experiences you must put behind, thoughts you must forget, addictions you must break away, associations you must truncate, school of thoughts you must unlearn.
This is why Christianity is a journey, a progressive walk. It is not abnormal to discover a weakness in your life. It is, to remain in it. If your own Christianity is truly a progressive journey, you will grow out of that weakness. It is an error to discover you have a weakness and it remains with you!
Weaknesses are often strong addictions, they hardly leave you just by wishing. This is why it takes Training to break away from them
Heb 5:14 says, “But solid food is for *the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish* good from evil” (NIV version)
You must give in to training in order to undo an addiction that can sinks you.
Training takes effort; getting up early, sacrificing pleasures, going hungry, getting on a diet, sweating and going beyond previous limits, in order to enter new achievements.
What weaknesses have you identified in your life? It takes Personal Discipline to overcome Personal Weaknesses. It takes giving in to Training in order to overcome Personal Weaknesses
How Do You Get Trained?
1. Allow the Word of God train you.
Don’t just read the Word of God, constantly use the word and apply the instructions to your life. This will progressively undo the negativities that have shaped you out of destiny over the years. It is not reading the word that changes you, it is applying the word to the grey areas of your life that brings transformation. If you like quote scriptures like fire, you cannot grow unto you “DO” the Word. Train yourself by applying Scriptural instructions to your life, you will grow.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you
A constant walk with the Holy Spirit enforces a progress that will lead you into overcoming weaknesses, thereby unleashing and pruning your strengths.
Rom 8:14 says “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”
Divine Direction is proof of your salvation. Allow the Holy Spirit to run your life
3. Follow God Ordained Leaders
Heb 6:12 says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”
Who you follow determines where you arrive. Who you follow determines what follows you
You cannot be walking in a man’s footsteps and not replicate his feats. Quality Mentorship and Leadership assures you of a progressive life.
I have seen many people call me Mentor, but what is between us is far from a Mentoring relationship. Mentorship is about following in the footsteps of the leader that God has assigned for you. It must show in the life you live
My Father in the LORD, Dr Oyedepo, will say, “It is not how close to the anointing that matter, it is how connected”
The proof that you are following a man is in accepting instructions from him and obeying them. That is how to follow! Distance is not the issue. Heart Connection is the main thing.
When you allow the right people to lead you, and you apply their instructions to your life, you will overcome your present limitations and generate the desired proofs.
You want to overcome personal weaknesses? Follow God ordained leaders.
Hallelujah!!!