If you’ve ever had a job interview, sometimes they ask questions like, "What are you strengths,” and, “What is your greatest weakness?” We are usually pretty good at the strengths part because we want the job. What about weaknesses? If you have this scenario coming up, here’s great response: “I think I care too much.” Classic lol.

Since we’re talking about it, what is your greatest weakness?

Last week I made a comment that satan will do anything he can to create doubt in your heart. I said the reason he does this is because he wants there to be a weakness in you that he can exploit and attack. So beyond being afraid of spiders or you succumbing to eating the whole box of those Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes, what is your greatest weakness?

Lets get more specific.
Where do you feel the enemy is attacking you the most right now?

Let’s revisit Matthew 4 from last week.

Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Have you ever wondered why satan went for these three temptations?
These were very specific, very calculated attacks.

The first one is easy. Jesus was at the end of a 40 day fast. He was hungry. But there’s more… Satan tries to tempt Jesus with needing bread to live not realizing that he was tempting the Bread of Life.

What about the second one, “God will command angels to help you lest you be harmed.” Jesus knew what was going to happen, and he even knew he could have commanded the angels.

Matthew 26:53-54
53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

What about the third?
Satan really tempted the King of the Universe with earthly dominion, which he already had.

My point is that the enemy will come in and try to attack a weak spot so that he can derail you from your purpose.

So now, with more context: what is your greatest weakness?

Jesus being tempted with commanding the angels, that second temptation, really struck me this week.
It is impossible to fully grasp the pain of the cross. And not just the physical pain, but the weight and results of sin. The worst pain Jesus felt wasn’t physical, it was being separated from his Father. If you can imagine the shame and guilt you feel when you’ve done something bad, and then multiply that by every human who has ever lived, and then multiply that by infinity, then you get a sense of the pain Jesus felt on the cross. And at a moment’s notice he could have commanded the angels to rescue him. With the smallest gasp of air, he could have stopped it all. But in Jesus’ own words, “How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled?”

If you are under attack right now, it is due to a weakness.
It might be a weakness in you.
Maybe sin or unforgiveness. Maybe doubt or the refusal to engage with God. Maybe past hurt or present fears about the future. All still a weakness satan is trying to exploit.

It might be a weakness the enemy is trying to create in you.
He definitely wants to destroy you. He definitely wants to derail you from purpose. He definitely wants to separate you from God.

What is your greatest weakness right now?
Weakness is formed from an old word from the 14th century that meant, “to bend.”

Where is satan trying to bend you? Where is he trying to get you to compromise or loosen your integrity? Where is he trying to attack? And don’t forget that it is rarely an overt, obvious attack. He usually uses what you are thinking, your emotions, others’ actions to attack you.

If you look back to Matthew 4 and the temptations of Jesus, what you’ll find is that the area satan was attacking was either a weakness (physical hunger) or satan trying to create a weakness (sin). Those attacks were specifically designed to stop Jesus in his tracks.

Do you think the enemy acts any differently with you?

If you really took a moment here to think of how the enemy is attacking you the most right now, you might find something interesting. Not only are those attacks designed to derail you and create a weakness, most often, the area of greatest attack in your life is specifically targeting something God has called you to do.

Need another example?
1 Samuel 16:13
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

So how does satan attack David?
1 Samuel 17:38-39
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.

Look at those mind games! “Not only were you anointed king and still herding sheep, this is further proof you are no king. You don’t even fit the armor made for the king.”

Need another example?
Matthew 16:13-20
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So how does satan attack Peter?
Just 10 chapters later, Peter denies Jesus. Peter - a name that means rock - was tempted to become shifting sand.

I know you’re tired of being asked, but where are you being attacked right now? And now that you see satan’s scheme, does the area of attack give you any clue as to God’s purpose for you, whether for now or for your life?

Here it is very clearly:
If God has called you to move the Kingdom through generating finances through your job or business, expect satan to attack you in your finances.

If God has put a drive to evangelize and tell people about Jesus, expect satan to attack your confidence.

If God has moved your heart for missions like Rwanda, expect satan to distract you from engaging with our team there.

If you know God wants you focusing in on raising a godly family, expect satan to create chaos in your home.

All of these are satan sticking with his MO of derailing your purpose and exploiting or creating a weakness in you. He tried this mess with Jesus. He’ll do the same with you. Satan will always try to exploit your weaknesses, so what do we do?

Today, let’s talk through the nuts and bolts of being strong.

1. Identify the weakness or attack
Jesus is our model, so when we are trying to figure out what to do or how to act, Jesus is always the standard. We all want to respond like Jesus did when we face these temptations. How can we respond like Jesus?

Jesus was able to instantly identify the attack from the enemy based on two things:
1. Jesus could recognize the lie because he knew the truth.
Jesus knew he was hungry but that bread was not worth separation by sin. Jesus knew the angels would help him at a finger’s snap but that was not worth aborting his mission. Jesus knew he was king already and that trading worship for something over which he already had dominion was nuts!

Jesus could recognize the attack because of what he knew, not what he didn’t. Knowledge is power! The strength to withstand the attack was borne out of the fact that he knew the truth.

2. Jesus could recognize the lie because he could spot potential weak spots.
Jesus constantly said stuff like, “I only do what my father tells me.” You ever wonder why Jesus talked and thought like that? He’s literally God on earth, so why didn’t he ever just improvise? Jesus never went rogue! He only did what dad said do. It is almost as if Jesus was committed to wise counsel from his father and the Holy Spirit. He knew verses like, “Create in me a clean heart oh God,” and, “There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors.” And beyond this, Jesus could recognize how the enemy might attack based on the time he spent with his Father in prayer. You can never discount the power of prayer in its ability to help you understand what is going on around you simply as a result of time spent with God.

So Jesus was constantly in relationship with his Father, doing only what the Father told him, and that, coupled with the truth that Jesus clearly knew, Jesus was able to identify the lie.

What is your weak spot? Where are you being attacked?
If you don’t know the truth, if you don’t have others enlisted to help you spot weaknesses and attacks, how are you going to succeed?

If rejection is a weak spot for you, how does this work?
You have to understand that if given the chance, you will more often feel rejected than not. Because you naturally lean towards rejection, you can clearly see that if satan is going to attack you, he will use rejection. Because you’ve shared this with your 5, you’ve talked through how the enemy attacks with rejection, and you’ve received encouragement/advice on it. As a result, you know rejection is a weak spot and can guard against it when it comes.

If God’s called you to move the Kingdom financially through your business, how does this work?
You have to understand that if God called you to this, satan is going to attack you in it. Because stress and fear are tools he uses to undermine trust in God, satan will create opportunities to be afraid and stress out, creating doubt ( a weak spot) in you. Because you know this is how the enemy attacks, you can prepare your heart to respond faithfully when the attack comes.

John 8:32
you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

What about you right now?
I’ve talked about attack a lot, but what about that weakness? What truth do you need to embrace concerning that weakness in you? You might start with admitting you have a weak spot that the enemy is exploiting.

Identify that weak spot, that attack. One of the best ways to do that is by knowing the truth.

2. Fight back
Now you see it, it is time to do something about it. You have to have a game plan. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Goodness is this true. If you don’t have a plan for when that weak spot flares up or when the attack from the enemy comes, you are going to fail. How do we fight back?

You fight back with the Word
Need I remind you again this week that Jesus did not fight back with happy thoughts, but with Scripture. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. You shall not put the Lord your God to the test. You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.

Remember, the message today is how to be strong in the midst of weakness or attack. How did Jesus stand strong in the attack? The WORD.

I’ve asked you what is the weakness or attack? Ok, now, what does the Bible say about that weakness or attack? For the sake of clarity, let’s use our two examples again, rejection and financial.

If you know the weak spot is rejection, how do you fight back?
(And remember, you can exchange rejection for whatever it is).
Google: what does the Bible say about rejection?

Results:
- When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
- For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
- What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Charles Spurgeon - The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.

If you know God has called you to move the Kingdom with finances, how do you fight back? You go find every single verse in the Bible about finances and you consume them. Every verse about faithfulness, every verse about his promise to bless you and multiply you. Then you actually do them!

Eric Ludy - The Bible does not stutter.

You fight back with others.
If you are trying to do it alone all by yourself, one of five things has to be happening:
- You are trying to hide something.
- You trust no one.
- You are a masochist who loves pain.
- You are prideful and don’t think you need anyone.
- You’ve never had help and don’t know how to ask or receive help.

What would change in your life if you told someone today about your weak spot or the attack you are under?

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

People can’t help you bear a burden if you are unwilling to let them. And look - the law of Christ. Sharing burdens is what Jesus wants us to do.

3. Focus on strength in weakness/attack
I know this sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. And it also isn’t just putting on a pair of rose colored glasses and ignoring the issue.

There is strength to be found in our weakness and in the attack. But that strength does not come from your resolve or your willpower. It does not find its source in your emotions or ability to endure. Any attempt to overcome your weakness or the attack in your own strength will be met with defeat and always with you as the price paid.

Ephesians 6:10
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

If you want to know where to find the strength in the midst of weakness or attack, there’s only one place to look.

Look at these Bible verses on the subject of weakness:
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Psalm 34:17-20
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I don’t know about you but in the midst of my weakness or in the middle of the attack, I don’t feel very victorious. I feel the failure and the brokenness. I have weak spots like anyone else, and I often feel the weight of them. Beyond things like rejection, I know I am weak in that I let my flesh rule at times and that flesh leads me into sin.

I had a moment on Friday morning when I walked out of the house at like 5:30 am. The moon was huge and I stopped just to take it in. This little voice pops in my ear reminding me of how I’d failed that week. Out loud I said, “Yeah I know exactly who I am. I know I’ve failed.”

That was a moment of weakness. It was a moment of attack. And of course satan wants me focusing on how many times I’ve failed God, failed people, failed myself. Why THAT attack? Because with this building process on the new facility, I often feel like a failure! Lisa and Kevin stopped by to drop off dinner to the crew and at one point she put her hand on my shoulder and said, “This is awesome, Jason. You’re doing so amazing.” I had a hard time receiving it! Why? Because it is easier and more natural to my flesh to focus everything on my failures, on my weakness, on the attack,

But read the verse again:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What was the difference between Paul and you and I?
Paul focused on God’s strength and not his weakness. We focus on our weakness and not God’s strength. And this is why we live defeated.

If we want to live a strong victorious life, we have to respond to weaknesses and attack with the Word, we have to get others involved in helping us, and we have to start focusing on God’s strength in the midst of our weakness and attack.

That’s how we land today.

What is your greatest weakness right now? Where are you being attacked?
Where are you feeling defeated? What is zapping your strength?

I want to redirect you attention today away from the weakness and attack and onto God and his strength.

For those here today who are weak, being attacked, feeling defeated and like a failure, we are going to follow Paul’s leading today and rest in God’s grace and receive his strength and power.

Let’s take a moment and ask the one who doesn’t grow weary or faint, the one who is undefeated, to strengthen us today.

Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Let’s pray.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?

How does he want you to respond?