God's Strength When We're Weak

Introduction

Good morning. Yes I am missing that usual eight hour sleep I get each night because we had a wonderful time in the the Lord in our watch night service last night. The Lord lit the fiber optics up with our’s and other ministries who went virtual last night. The testimonies were awesome. We heard about the power of God and felt the power of God through those testimonies and singing.

Today I want to talk to you about one of the promises of God. And that’s His power. Throughout scriptures we’ve read about the power of God coming to deliver the Israelites and others. One of the most memorable events was when God parted the Red Sea. Today we’re going to look at how God is powerful in our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

PRAYER

I case you didn’t know it already. God has already been in the year 2023. God is an omnipresent God which means He can be everywhere at the same time. There is nothing big enough to hold Him, not even time.

The Thorn - A Messenger of Satan

Paul doesn’t say what kind of thorn he had in his flesh. But we know whatever it was it weakened him in some way. Some scholars believe it was an eye disease, others thought it could be malaria, while others said it could’ve been depression or epilepsy.

When God is using us for His glory, that messenger of Satan will show up and try to weaken us in some way. All of us have some kind of thorn - a bodily or mental weakness that Satan will try to use to stop the will of God in our lives.

These thorns we have come to destroy us, but through the grace of God, He takes these thorns and allow them to humble us.

God can’t work through us when we’re puffed up with pride and full of ourselves.

God endowed Paul with spiritual gifts, knowledge and power as an apostle of the church. Maybe God saw that Paul had the potential to become arrogant and he allowed those thorns to keep him humble.

In what ways do we need to keep ourselves humble?

Satan can cause turmoil in our lives but he can’t send us a thorn without God’s permission.

So don’t complain about your thorn because God will always overcome evil with good to those who love Him.

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

God’s Will During Uncomfortable Times

Now Paul asked the Lord three times to remove the thorn. Jesus sought the Lord three times in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39, 42, 44).

God answered Jesus’ prayer and Paul’s prayer but it wasn’t with a yes.

There are times God will say no to our prayer. But we can be assured that if there is a no, it’s to our benefit.

It is alright to pray and have a thorn removed from us but we must be humble enough to accept God’s answer. Like Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

God’s Strength In Our Weakness

As I said earlier, all of us have or will have some thorns - messengers from Satan.

When we know we have a thorn, pray about it. But if God uses that thorn to humble us - keep us close to Him, we shouldn’t complain. We should accept the trial and say; “Not as I will, but as You will.”

Paul not only endured the thorn, he rejoiced and delights in them. Because the Lord spoke to him and said “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul took pleasure in being afflicted. He said he would rather boast of his infirmities so that the power of Christ may rest on him.

Conclusion

I can just see Paul now. Petitioning the Lord to remove the thorn. Instead God speaks to Him and tells him “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Can’t you see Paul now. Maybe he leaped for joy. Maybe he bowed down. Whatever he did, I am sure he was strengthened to complete the journey.

As I said before. God has already been in the year 2023. When a thorn attaches itself to us, trust and believe God because He will keep His promise and make His strength perfect in our weakness.

During a trial or setback, listen for Jesus to speak these words to you... “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus said “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses