Restore week 3

“The Purpose of Pain”

Today: How does God use pain in restoring lost years?

Illustration: Playing Basketball

7th to 12th grade

Twisting my ankles and jamming my finger

Talking with the coach

Turning in my uniform

The pain of rejection-

Not good enough

Over looked

Under valued

Comparison

When God says “no”:

Over looked

Under valued

Not good enough

Introduction:

The purpose of 2 Corinthians is to validate apostolic authority.

Paul receives a vision of heaven.

Paul does not use the vision as a validation for authority; rather, he diminishes its importance.

The difference between “granting” something to occur and “giving”.

[2Co 12:7-10 ESV] 7 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 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.”

Sufficient grace in restoration . . .

The journey of restoration often begins in our places of brokenness.

It is in our broken state that we are most acutely aware of our need for God's grace.

God's sufficient grace does not merely patch up the cracks; it remakes us, transforming our wounds into channels through which His love and power flow.

Paul’s response to God’s grace . . .

Restoration requires cooperation with God’s work in our lives.

God’s grace empowers us to take steps of faith, to make choices that align with His will, and to persevere in the face of adversity.

“For the sake of Christ” . . .

The outcome of grace-filled restoration is a life that testifies to the power of God.