“You have been wonderfully made to perform My calling on your life. You are not formed to do powerful accomplishments in the flesh; anyone can do that. You are created to accomplish mighty works in the Spirit, in places that sometimes only I can see and understand. You may never be appreciated by the world, so accept that and be comfortable with it, or you will never be at peace.

"In your associations, have you not found that the deeper spiritual walk is not attainable by anyone who thrives on having earthly accomplishments? Their need to succeed blinds them from placing value on what I call valuable. You can never be like them because I have called you to a higher purpose. I have called you to function in the heavenlies with Me.

"Over the years, I have trained you to release your worldly desires and crave My Spirit. It is a treasure that few can understand. I have set you free from the distractions that hinder you so that We can be together. I have invited you to learn at My hand, dwell in My peace, and be really comfortable only in My presence. I am forming you to take My presence to your world.”

I Corinthians1:23-29 NIV

23) but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24) but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

26) Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28) He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

29) so that no one may boast before him.

1 Cor. 2:3-5 NIV 

3) I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

4) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

5) so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

None of the world and few in the body of Christ really understand what the full spectrum of faith is. Of course it is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith, however, is also allowing weaknesses and human frailties to be exposed in us so that the power of God is manifested and glorified. It is the assured equipping for service in spite of, more likely because of, our personal inabilities.

The first kind of faith is often used by those who tend to rely on their own strength and abilities as Christians to “stand strong” in every challenge and for every need. It caters to their inability or refusal to surrender fully to the total Lordship of God over their lives. They can control their world by using faith in their own faith.

The second kind of faith appears to be weakness to most who observe it. It is the kind of faith that is willing to express fears and cautions; being scared to death as Paul often was, but flowing in and accomplishing the will of God anyway. It is a depth of faith that is in full acknowledgment, surrender, and submission to the power of God, replacing any worth or wealth in self.  It is Paul’s kind of faith. It is Jesus’ kind of faith. He never relied on His own strength or abilities.

If you choose to walk in the second fully-submitted kind of faith, understand that you will be judged, condemned and scorned, especially by the “strong” in the church. You will be condemned for your “weakness” as you display your total submission to God’s strength for any accomplishment. Few will be able to separate your anointing from your frailties. God, however, will flow through you to those who are wise enough to bypass what is not evident in the flesh. They will give glory to the power of the Holy Spirit Who is at work. Your ripe fruit will feed many.

Wanting Jesus’ kind of weakness,

Jim Corbett