When the Strong Become Weak

Introduction:  Some believers are strong and some believers are weak, yet even the strongest can and will have times of weakness.  The Bible admonishes us, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)  The bottom line is that every one of us no matter how weak or strong in the faith can fall into times of weakness.  We must guard against those times and be willing to rather draw close to Christ and increase in faith.

1. THE GREATNESS OF JOHN 
1. In the Angels Description (Luke 1:15)
1. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
2. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mothers womb.
2. In His Mothers Womb (Luke 1:39-44)
3. In His Childhood
1. The son of a priest (Luke 1:5)
2. The son of righteous parents (Luke 1:6)
4. In His Purpose (Luke 1:16-17)
1. To turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord
2. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
3. To turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just
4. To make ready a people prepared for the Lord
5. In His Preaching
1. The hardness of Johns preaching (Luke 3:7-9)
2. The stand against sin (Luke 3:18-19)
6. In His Baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:13-17)
7. In His Exaltation of Christ
1. Johns denial of being the Christ (Luke 3:15-17)
2. Johns heart (John 1:25-27)
3. Johns declaration of Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
4. Johns desire to decrease (John 3:30)
8. In the Lords Praise of Him
1. No greater prophet than John born of women (Luke 7:28).
2. None greater than John born of women (Matthew 11:11).
9. In His Death (Matthew 14:1-12)
2. THE WEAKNESS OF JOHN (Luke 7:11-19)
1. The Timing of Johns Weakness
1. On the heels of a great miracle (Luke 7:11-18).
2. Compare to Elijah after the victory over the prophets of Baal, running for his life from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-4).
2. The Severity of Johns Weakness
1. Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? (Luke 7:19)
2. This questioned the ministry to which John had devoted his whole life.  Was he right in his ministry?  Had he wasted his life declaring the presence of the Lamb of God?  These were the questions in his mind.
3. THE CURE FOR JOHN'S WEAKNESS (Luke 7:20-23)
1. The Words of Christ (Luke 7:20-22)
1. The cure for doubt is faith.
2. The acquisition of faith is by hearing the words of God (Romans 10:17).
2. The Rebuke of Christ (Luke 7:23)

Conclusion:  Are you guarding today against the times of weak faith?  Are you constantly questioning your fulfillment of God’s will for your life?  Are you concerned that your life has been wasted in the service of Christ?  If so, put yourself under the hearing of God’s word and allow Him to build your faith in what He has done.