Life Lifters | Lakeshore Community Church

Nov 05 8:34 AM

Play to Your Strengths

Nov 05 8:34 AM

Friday, November 5, 2021

I use this phrase all the time, and I really believe it's true. I believe it's biblical. It's called "playing to your strengths." How do you play to your strengths?

Friday, November 5, 2021

Romans 12:6

I use this phrase all the time, and I really believe it's true. I believe it's biblical. It's called "playing to your strengths." How do you play to your strengths? When you look around you, when you look at your spouse, you look at your kids, you look at your environment, the people that you're with, you realize that you're all so different. I have many friends who, when I will look at them, I realize I have nothing in common with that person. Our interests are so different. For example, I am not a sports person. Many of you know that. I don't like sports. So when this comes up in conversation, I really can't contribute anything. Then, you kind of get this feeling like, "Wow, I really don't have anything in common with some of these people." But the fact is that we're all created this way. It's all intentional that we're all different.

I want to talk about how we play to our strengths. The apostle Paul writes this in Romans 12:6 he says, "We all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." Here's what I love about this verse, I think this is so cool. He says, "we have different gifts," and when we hear the word "different," we understand it's not the same as something else. But the word "different" here in the original text means "more excellent." You see, we all play a very specific role. We have to understand that we don't need to look down on somebody or look differently at someone because they are gifted in a different way than you. In fact, we don't want everyone to be the same, because life would be pretty boring if we were all just like one another. God has created us this way, and it was all intentional according to the grace that He has given to each of us. So let me just encourage you with that today.

Listen, you're gifted in a different way than the people around you. It's supposed to be that way because we build into one another, we strengthen one another, we make each other better. So if you see somebody who's different, don't break them down. Don't beat them up about it. It's supposed to be this way. Let's find that common ground so we can complement one another. Father, I want to thank you again, please help us understand that we are all different and gifted by your grace. Lord, let us understand that we're different. That doesn't just mean "not the same," but it means to be "more excellent," that we have a gift that is more excellent. I pray that we would really hold that true, and if we're struggling with that today, I pray that you would encourage us through it, that we may be able to see how we complement one another. We thank you and we lift this to you in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Brian Pawlowski

May 17 8:00 AM

When Weakness is Strength

May 17 8:00 AM

Monday, May 17, 2021

I want to talk to you today about when weakness is strength. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is be weak.

Monday, May 17, 2021

2 Corinthians 12:9

I want to talk to you today about when weakness is strength. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is be weak. You say that doesn't make sense, but think about it. Sometimes, the strongest thing you could do is not get in a fight. When somebody tries to pick a fight with you, whether it's physically, emotionally, or relationally, sometimes the strongest thing to do is walk away instead of engage in battle. I've been told that when dogs fight each other, when one dogs feels like it is going to lose it will roll over and expose its bottom, making itself vulnerable. It's my understanding that some dogs will quit - probably not a pitbull, but maybe some other breeds will quit, because the weaker dog already surrendered. That is when weakness becomes strength. Instead of getting beat up more, you're making yourself weak, and then you're going to be strong because you won't be beat up.

I get that idea because the Apostle Paul found that weakness was strength too. How did he find that weakness was strength? Well, in 2 Corinthians 12, the Bible says that God gave the Apostle Paul a thorn in the flesh. Nobody knows what the thorn is, but everybody speculates what it is. It could have been Paul's vision getting worse, as he got older, which we know likely happened. It could have been some other physical ailment. We don't know, but whatever it was, God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh. Three times, Paul asked that the thorn in the flesh -whatever this ailment was- be removed from him. God said no, and Paul said these words in Second Corinthians 12:9a, 'Each time, he [God] said to me, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.'

My gracious favor is all you need. Grace is God's divine power. It is undeserved favor. His gracious favor is all you need. God says his power works best in your weakness. That's when weakness is strength. If you want God's power to work best in your life, stop trying to muscle up, stop trying to be strong. When I was in high school, there were three kinds of wrestlers. There were those that stunk, and two types of good wrestlers. There were the guys that were strong, but not really slick with their moves. And then there were those that were slick, and not necessarily strong. Of course, if you had both, you're in good shape. But what do you think was better, strong or slick? Every time slick always beat strong. You don't have to be strong, you have to be slick. If you want to be slick, stop trying to muscle. You can't muscle your way through a wrestling match against the good opponents, and you can't muscle your way through life. You have to be weak. God loves to empower the weak. If you're strong, God says, "Well, you got this" -wink wink- but you really don't. So, sometimes if you want to see God's power in your life, you have to be weak to it and say, "God I can't do it." By the way, we're all really weak. I don't think Paul is saying that we need to decide to be weak. I think we need to acknowledge that we're always weak. When we're always acknowledging our weakness, and always acknowledging God's greatness, God gives us his strength for our weakness, and that's when weakness is strength. Are you trying to be strong, trying to muscle your way through life, when you need to be slick and look to God? Maybe it's time you take a weakness approach. How about that? I'm going to be more weak. Yep. If you're strategically weak and simultaneously looking to God during this strategic decision to be weak, he'll give you his strength. There's nothing better than that. It worked for Paul. Paul said, "I'm going to gladly boast about my weaknesses." That is God's opportunity to show his strength in me.

Father, I pray that you'll help all of us know and learn how to be appropriately weak seek you through our weakness, so that we can experience your strength in our life. Whatever people need, help them to be weak in it, so that you can be strong through them in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jan 04 8:55 AM

Strengths and Weaknesses | Part 1 | God Gives You the Strength

Jan 04 8:55 AM

Monday, January 4, 2021

I want to talk to you about why you have strengths, weaknesses and limitations. Why do you have strengths?

Monday, January 4, 2021

Philippians 4:13

Today, I'm excited to talk to you about a subject that I've talked about a lot here and there. I did some research a number of years ago when I did a series on this topic. I want to talk to you about strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. Every individual has strengths, certain things they're strong in. Every individual also has weaknesses. And every individual has limitations. Why do you have strengths? Why do you have weaknesses? Why do you have limitations?

This week, I want to talk to you about why you have strengths, weaknesses and limitations. I want to focus on those three themes and help you understand them. If you understand why you have strengths, weaknesses and limitations, you're going to understand what God is doing in your life with each one of them. So today, I want to talk to you about strengths. God gives you strengths to cultivate your confidence. Your strengths are the things you do really, really well. You do them with ease, you do them with excellence, you do them with enthusiasm, with energy. People enjoy being around you when you use those strengths.

God gives you strengths to cultivate your confidence. Not your confidence in yourself, but your confidence in Him, because He gave you those strengths from birth. And then He supernaturally charged them when you became a Christian, if you are a Christian. I get that idea from Philippians 4:13, where it says, "I can do everything through Him who gives me the strength." So, God gives you that strength. And He does that to build confidence. See what is says, "I can do all things." Not, I can do all things period. But, I can do all things because I have confidence through Him who gives me the strength. He gives you the strength to do what you do. And you have certain strengths.

Some of you have certain strengths with people, or hospitality, administration, tasks, planning, vision casting, problem solving, etc. Whatever it is, God gives you strengths to build your confidence in Him, to assure you that you're walking hand in hand with Him. When we are not affirmed for our strengths, we can forget that we're walking with the all powerful God of heaven and earth. So, God gives you strengths to cultivate your confidence. You say, "Vince, I don't feel very confident today." Well, one of two things is at work: either you don't know your strengths, or you're not appreciating the strengths that you already know you have. Don't worry about what strengths you have. Just accept the strengths that God has given you, and work with them. The strengths God has given you are the exact strengths that He wants you to have and that you need. And when you are good at something and somebody thanks you, say, "I can do all things through Him who gives me the strength."

Then, you'll have more confidence. Not confidence in yourself, but confidence that God is in you and working through you, because He gave you those gifts. I hope you recognize your strengths. And then when you do, I hope they build confidence in the strength provider, Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, thank You so much, that You've given us all strengths. Some of us are strong in one area, or another area, but we're all strong in at least one or two or three areas. We thank You for that. You've given us the strengths, to build our confidence in You, our confidence that You are working in us. Help us to find our confidence because of Your work in us, through those strengths. Let us not find confidence in what the world does or doesn't say about us, but let us find confidence in our strengths, which are from You. And I asked this through Your strong name, Jesus Christ, amen.

I hope that helps you to realize that you are strong at something. You're a 10 out of 10 at something. Thank God for it, and build confidence often. Tomorrow I'll talk to you about weaknesses. Don't worry, it'll be good. Hope you'll join me!

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

back

Connect with us!

Play to Your Strengths

When Weakness is Strength

Strengths and Weaknesses | Part 1 | God Gives You the Strength

Topics