The Grace of Yielding | Clip 1
The journey of Christian maturity is defined not by how much an individual can achieve or claim, but by a profound willingness to yield—to God, to circumstances, and especially to the weaknesses of others. This concept, termed “the grace of yielding,” is a crucial mark of spiritual strength and maturity, often leading believers to a place where they recognize the limitations of their own ability, even in divinely appointed ministry.
True spiritual strength is measured by the ability to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves.
1. Defining and Applying the Grace of Yielding
The sources clarify that yielding is a selective act. Believers must never yield to Satan (“Resist the devil and he will flee from you”) or yield their members to sin (Romans 6). However, there are many circumstances and situations in life that are only resolved when we learn how to yield.
Spiritual Strength vs. Personal Ability
It is often satisfying to be strong in one’s own ability, experience, or ministry, but the scripture measures spiritual strength in proportion to the amount we are able to support and bear the weaknesses of other people.
The Un-Christian Attitude
The concept of yielding stands in direct opposition to the self-centered spirit of the age, which encourages people to “get what you can for yourself” and “let the weak take care of themselves”. When personal preference or what “suits us” becomes the measure of what is right, the path quickly leads downward to negative outcomes. The Christian answer is not to write off the weak, the sick, or the incapacitated; rather, these individuals are the test of our spiritual strength.
2. Denying the Self Daily: The Requirement for Following Christ
Every Christian who seeks to live effectively for God must begin by denying the self.
The Denial of Self
The ultimate denial is saying “no” to the ego, which constantly asserts itself with phrases like “I want,” “I wish,” or “I feel”. It is impossible to be a self-pleaser and a Christ-pleaser simultaneously.
Jesus declared: “If any man will come after me… let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The first decision required to follow Jesus is self-denial.
The Cross: Where Wills Cross
The opportunity to take up the cross presents itself every day. Your cross is defined as where your will and the will of God cross. This is the place where one can lay down one’s life by making the decision not to please oneself. Blessing follows the right decision in this inner struggle. If a person is pleasing themselves, they cannot minister effectively, as the ego has “nothing to give to anybody”.
3. The Paradox of Weakness and the Spirit of Christ
God’s Strength in Weakness
The way God operates is often diametrically opposed to the way the natural mind thinks. The sources quote 1 Corinthians 1:25: “the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men”. This weakness and foolishness found their full expression in the Cross, where God triumphed over all the strength and wisdom of the world. God asks believers to learn this kind of weakness and foolishness, which can take us further than personal strength alone.
The Mark of the Spirit of Christ
The true distinctive mark that makes someone a child of God is having the spirit of Christ. This spirit is characterized by meekness, humility, gentleness, and is certainly not arrogant, self-assertive, or self-pleasing.
While prosperity and health are rights of the new creation, they are often abrogated by the “old man” and his selfish purposes. Asserting one’s rights (“just claim it”) can often be an expression of an arrogant ego rather than the spirit of Christ. True strength is the ability to bear the infirmities of the weak, not merely what one possesses or can demonstrate.
4. Jesus: The Supreme Example of Yielding
Jesus provides the supreme example of yielding. Although He was “in the form of God,” He did not regard “equality with God something to be grasped at” (Philippians 2:6, NASB). This stands in specific contrast to Lucifer, who grasped at equality with God and fell.
The ability to discern between true and false ministries, especially within spiritual movements, rests not on miracles, but on the presence of the spirit of Christ. A future move of God is anticipated to be orderly, disciplined, Christ-honoring, and will promote humility, brotherly love, and mutual esteem.