We may not like it, but weakness is a fact.

Romans 14:1-2As for the one who is

weak in faith, welcome him, but

not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One

person believes he may eat anything,

while the weak person eats only

vegetables. 

• One who presses his opinion?

The “meat” eater was pressing his

opinion also. Pressing opinion with the WRONG opinion makes one “weak.”

...“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not

discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not

sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much

more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but

he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful

rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline

Work, family, school, health, finances,

church, persecutions…

Maybe a reason to be weak, no excuse

to give up.

Hebrews 12:12-1312 Therefore lift your drooping hands and

strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make

straight paths for your feet, so that what is

lame may not be put out of joint but rather

be healed. 

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull

of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to

teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid

food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness,

since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their

powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline• Weakness in growth, maturityUnskilled,

Lacked practice, training

A milk diet is simply unacceptable

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the

word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe

for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for

what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked

by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit

does not mature. 

Rocks? Like…Schedules

FriendsHabitsDesires

AttitudesEtc., etc.

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline• Weakness in growth, maturity• Weak soil doesn’t produceThey received the word with joy, but heat

killed the plant

Hot sun was not the problem, but too many

rocks

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline• Weakness in growth, maturity• Weak soil doesn’t produceThorns, weeds are the

cares, riches, and pleasures of this life

The blessings of life CAN make us weak

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their

parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control,

brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather

than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such

people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women,

burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline• Weakness in growth, maturity• Weak soil doesn’t produce• Emotionalism is weakness

Emotions are not a weakness,

emotionalism is.

Feelings are motivators not

guides.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual

people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I

fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are

still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of

the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when

one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow

Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

• Pressing a wrong opinion• In context of God’s discipline• Weakness in growth, maturity• Weak soil doesn’t produce• Emotionalism is weakness• Empty worship bring weakness

Trading the spiritual for the carnal is a

mistake

Weakness leads to sickness leads to

death

1 Corinthians 11:30

For anyone who eats and drinks without

discerning the body eats and drinks

judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have

died.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is

weak in the world to shame the strong;

…Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my

weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest

upon me. 10 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.

1. Learn the difference between opinion and truth

2. Endure and grow strong in God’s discipline

3. Practice and exercise self in spiritual things

4. Remove the rocks and control the weeds in life

5. Lead our feelings with truth, not be led by them

We need to grow and mature and strengthen

in Christ