Victory through 'weakness'

Satan says, “I’m going to be the one who has the rulership and authority in both the heavens and the earth—everybody’s going to bow to me and follow my will and what I want done.”

The conflict from Genesis 1 to Revelation 21 is who really ought to be running the show. “Who’s qualified to control, to run, to set the rules?” That’s the issue, explains Richard Jordan.

In Mark 10, Jesus Christ is talking to His disciples about the kingdom and the government He’s going to establish:

[42] But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

In other words, the way the Gentiles run the world is by power. They use authority, mandates. But listen, if you have a persuasive argument and a persuasive cause, you don’t need to force people to follow it.

If you’ve got to force people, you don’t believe your cause is able to persuade people. You don’t believe it’s able to convince people that it’s right.

[43] But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
[44] And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
[45] For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus says, “The way I rule is not by power and mandate, but I rule by weakness. I’m not going to tell you you’ve got to do it—I’m going to be your servant. I’m going to minister.”

Satan’s kingdom works by power, authority, rulership: “You do it and if you don’t, I get you.”

God says, “My kingdom’s going to work by service, by ministering, by taking a position of winning your heart.”

There’s a startling passage in II Corinthians 13: [3] Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
[4] For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Have you ever thought about the crucifixion being the weakness of God? Let’s face it, is God weak? No. But you know what He looked like at the Cross? He surrendered; He served, He GAVE Himself. That appears to be weakness. You don’t see the power until you come to the resurrection.

Romans 1: [4] And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

You know why people love Christmas so much? Because He’s the baby and everybody loves a baby.

Nobody loves a judge. He’s declared to be the judge of all by the resurrection from the dead. The resurrection declares Him to be “God, my judge.”

With a baby, though, you just want to hug them; pick them up and give them a good squeeze. Babies are non-threatening.

The Creator of all things became weak in the arms of His mother. The weakness makes Christmas a holiday everybody can embrace.

I Corinthians 1: [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

He had every right to be claimed as God, but He made Himself of no reputation. He didn’t strut His stuff, as we would say, but He made a choice to become a servant. He was "made lower than the angels." He went right down to the dirt of the earth and became one of us.

His power’s not made known in, “Do what I tell you.” His power’s made known in weakness; the appearance of weakness.

I Corinthians 1: [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
[25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
[27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

You see, God has a unique strategy in the battle for His universe. He was going to gain victory through weakness. His wisdom devised a strategy to win the battle with the Adversary through a wise plan.