God Takes No Pleasure in Your Legs

A few years ago, I wrote a post called “Can You Outrun the Chariots.” In this story (1 Kings 18), Elijah supernaturally outruns King Ahab’s chariots, escaping from Jezebel who was out to kill him for destroying her prophets of Baal.

Chariots represent the might of armies. Man’s legs represent the power of the individual. “God does not delight in the strength of the horse [chariots]; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man” (Ps. 147:10). In other words, it was neither slow chariots nor fast legs that accomplished God's purposes that day. It was the superhuman power of God working through a mere man.

This story illustrates the divine/human partnership where God operates through weak, humble humans. In these perilous times, with events beyond our control, we certainly cannot rely on our armies, and our legs will surely fail us. No, God wants us to relinquish control to Him who accomplishes all things, “Not by might, not by power, by My Spirit” (Zech. 4:6). Only Spirit-filled legs will hold up in the days ahead.

Infused with Steroids

I promise you (I think) that this will be the last ‘chemo’ comparison I make, but it’s too good to pass up. My cancer-killing chemo treatments are called ‘infusions’ because they are administered intravenously. After my first infusion 2 weeks ago, I had flu-like symptoms for 2 days. My friend Janet told me that as she was praying for me to have a better post-infusion experience, the Lord brought to her mind the words “He restores my soul” (Ps. 23:2)—but not in English; in Spanish, “Me infunde nuevas fuerzas,” which translates “He infuses me with new strength.”

What Janet did not know is that before getting my 2nd chemo infusion, the oncologist gave me a steroid infusion to diminish my symptoms. So Janet’s prayer, “infuse Greg with new strength,” was answered in a tangible way. Making this spiritual event even more interesting is the detail that the English word “steroid” derives from the Greek “sterizo”—meaning “strength.” In answer to Janet’s prayer, I was strengthened both physically and spiritually.

At those moments we are feeling most weak and vulnerable, we tend to reach out to God for new strength! But at a time in Israel’s history when they were vulnerable, they looked to Egypt’s armies for strength rather than God.  So, He patiently reminded them, “In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me], you shall be saved; in quietness and trust [in Me] is your strength” (Is. 30:15). As thankful as I am for man-made steroids, I am thankful for this tangible reminder of His strength. Thus, I am well content with weakness...for when I am weak, I am strong (2 Cor 12:10).

Search and Destroy

After we have received Christ into our hearts and have been forgiven of all sin, there yet remains a process of “putting aside all that remains of wickedness” (James 1:21). For my entire adult life, or so it seems, I have been engaged in getting rid of these ‘remains.’

Having just finished my second week of chemo-therapy—the purpose of which is to annihilate any cancer cells remaining after the surgical removal of my pancreatic tumor—the spiritual analogy is shouting at me. At salvation the sin-centered heart is removed. But afterward, the Holy Spirit uses the chemically-dynamic Word to search and destroy all that remains of the former self.

And even as my chemo therapy is voluntary, so is its spiritual counterpart of “putting aside [putting to death] all that remains of the sinful, earthly things [still] lurking within us” (Col. 3:5). But thank God that while chemo offers no guarantee of success, He does: “After you have suffered a little while, He will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

God’s Ways are Smaller than Ours

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isa 55:8-9 NLT).

As I was reflecting on these verses, it occurred to me that God’s ways are not just different and higher, but smaller. There’s something about fallen humanity that worships “BIG” proportions!—and quality is often sacrificed at the altar of quantity—big is better. But in Deuteronomy, God says “The LORD did not choose you and lavish his love on you because you were larger or greater than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!” (7:7)

This “smaller is better” theme is played out many times in Israel’s history whenever they came up against large enemy armies—but nowhere is it more striking than in the story of Gideon. When it was time to go to war, he gathered 32,000 soldiers. But to make sure they wouldn’t credit the victory to their manpower, God reduced Gideon’s army to a meager 300. And you know the rest of the story.

Here is the principle: God must reduce your strength before He can give you His. “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (1 Cor. 1:27).

Can You Outrun the Chariots?

“Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab's chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:46). In this Old Testament story, Elijah outruns King Ahab’s chariot. Chariots represent the strength of man.

Chariots signify speed, accomplishment, and domination. Yet, Elijah outran the chariots. You may think that Elijah must have really been ‘in the zone’ at that great moment. But the fact is, Elijah was so discouraged and despairing, he was ready to give up. Even though he had just been used by God to defeat and destroy 450 prophets of Baal, he made a 180 degree turn, and ran for his life when Jezebel threatened to kill him. Running to the desert, he sat down and prayed “Lord, I’ve had enough; just let me die.” (I Kings 19:4).

How is it that no matter how much God shows His power in our lives, we, like Elijah, so easily turn away when our feats are followed by defeats, and we say I’ve had enough? These are the times when God simply wants us to relinquish control and believe in His power, having confidence in God's promise “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9). If only we could abide in that truth, we would be able to outrun the chariots.

A Crisis of Belief

In his book “Experiencing God: Knowing and Understanding the Will of God,” Henry Blackaby writes:
"Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes—all the time! It must be that way, for God's glory and kingdom… [And] when God tells you what He wants to do, you will face a “crisis of belief.”

Whenever God calls us to one of our divine assignments, we will face resistance—from within and without. At such a point in his ministry, Paul said “for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9 NASB). Sometimes the voice of the ‘adversary’—the opposition—is not only the voices of others, but the voice of doubt and fear within us.

As anyone who has walked with Jesus for any length of time knows, we will face obstacles at every turn. But these obstacles—adversaries, opponents—are necessary to prove our faith (James 1:3). As the Israelites journeyed through the Wilderness to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, many adversaries told them not to go. And unfortunately, at the moment of their “crisis of belief”—the test of faith—they failed. What crisis of faith are you facing right now? Is God calling you to do something you think you are not able to do? At the moment of his "crisis," Paul said, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13 NKJ).

Are You Proud of Your Weaknesses?

As a male, I have been conditioned by my culture to be strong. When life gets out of my control, I get anxious and agitated. I feel weak; and I don’t like it. Paul tells us that “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, foolish, the base things and despised, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:27-29, paraphrased).

Are these the words you like to hear about yourself—weak, foolish, despised, abased? Yet that is how God stocked the early church! Later, Paul explains how God puts the treasure of Jesus in earthen vessels (humans) so it will be quite evident the power is of Him and not us (2 Cor. 4:7). In a culture that promotes power and independence, it is not natural, or easy, to embrace weakness.

Nonetheless God says to Paul "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” And then Paul replies “most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… I am well content with weaknesses… for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong… If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10; 2 Cor. 11:30). OK—time for a reality check. When is the last time you honestly boasted about your weakness (and not in false modesty or feigned self-deprecation)?

Increasing Strength in God's Gymnasium

In your physical fitness training, you will have to continually increase your resistance if you hope to increase your strength. If you are a body builder, you will need to add weights and repetitions; if you are a runner, you will need to increase speed or distance or incline. So, as a card-carrying member of God’s Gymnasium, you can expect resistance. And the more RESISTANCE you can endure, the greater your spiritual growth.

Here is a biblical principle of spiritual growth:
Whenever you begin to move with God to change things in your life, you will be met by resistance—from within and without! Specifically, your enemy the devil is going to get very upset with you. He will attack you internally by doubt, fear and discouragement. He will attack you externally by slander, ridicule, even threats. One thing is clear: opposition (RESISTANCE) is inevitable.

At times like this you may need a work-out partner. Whenever the devil’s attack comes, don’t try to fight it alone. Find someone to pray with, to join you in the battle; someone to encourage you and keep you working out when you are tempted to give up. (When Elijah was so discouraged he said “Lord, take my life; it’s not worth it; I’m alone,” God sent him Elisha.) And remember: Jesus sent the disciples out in two's.

As you stay in God’s Gymnasium, don’t be surprised when you encounter RESISTANCE. But expect God to send help! “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10).

But of this you can be sure: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

In God's Gymnasium, the Strong become Weaker!

[In yesterday’s post, I spoke of the importance of spiritual exercise, using the metaphor of God’s gymnasium. As a pastor and counselor of 25 years, it grieves me that so many Christians think that this daily discipline is optional.]
In God’s Gymnasium, you will become weaker, not stronger.

The result of exercising yourself in GOD'S GYMNASIUM is the opposite of what will happen to you at 24-Hour Fitness!—where the purpose is to become stronger. In the spiritual realm, God’s training regimen is to make you weaker. Let me explain.

Our natural desire is to become stronger in our in self-esteem, self-confidence, and competence. In secular psychology, this is called EGO-STRENGTH. Ego-strength is considered a ‘good’ thing (by secular psychologists). In God’s Gymnasium our ego-strength is exposed. Conversely, the Holy Spirit shows us how weak and unable we are to live holy lives. The intent of God’s training, then, is to weaken (and ultimately destroy) our self-life, and make us stronger in spirit (God-reliant; God-dependent).

Before his conversion, Paul was a naturally gifted man, esteeming himself highly. But Paul learned that “[God’s] strength is perfected in [our] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). To the self-congratulating Corinthians, Paul says God has “chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things that are strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

If you do not visit God’s Gymnasium regularly, you are in peril of thinking you are stronger than you really are. You are in danger of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Through daily exercising our spirit through Bible study and meditation, we are humbled and broken of self-strength. And we learn how to exchange our strength for His.

Isaiah says:
“He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD [in God’s Gymnasium] will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (40:29-31).

And finally, listen to the words of the prophet Joel (3:10):

“Let the weak say I am Strong."