“God’s Sufficient Grace!”

(2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

The title of this morning’s message is from (v.9) – “My grace is sufficient for you…”

(1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 1:2-4) – Do we believe those words?

Are we satisfied with the measure of grace that God has given us? Is the grace of God in our lives sufficient for us? Are we willing to embrace our weakness (sickness, defect, or inability either in our bodies, our character, our physical or mental capacity…whatever the weakness)? Am I willing to look at that weakness—not as a hindrance to a fulfilled life, but as an opportunity for the Lord to manifest His strength?

I AM going to assume this morning that EVERY ONE US could fill up a page of all the areas of our lives where we fall short! Some might write a book—the title being, “Why I Should Never Have Been Born!”

Have you ever prayed or thought this prayer,

“Lord, why am I like this? What’s wrong with me?” “Were You upset at my parents? Am I an object lesson to show my parents that they should have never had kids?”

IF THAT PRESUPPOSITION IS TRUE…then the question remains, “What do we do with weaknesses?”

I believe that this morning’s text provides an answer to this question, and others as well.

I. The REVELATIONS Paul was given – (12:1-6)

1. The Meaning of these “visions” and “revelations” – (v.1)

· “…visions” – οπτασίας – ‘visions which God causes men to see.’ Used only three other times: (Luke 1:22; 24:23; Acts 26:19)

· “…revelations” – αποκαλύψεις– ‘a disclosure or manifestation.’ Used twenty-six times as a verb and eighteen times as a noun. (Galatians 1:12; 2:2; Ephesians 3:3)

2. The Manner in which he received them – (vv.2-4)

· His inability to know exactly what happened – (vv.2-3)

· The identity of the place where he was “…caught up” – Gk: harpazo – used 18 times – (Acts 8:39; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 12:5)

1) “…the third heaven” – where God dwells

2) “…into paradise” – Used three times: (Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7; 22:2)

3. The Message of those revelations – (v.4) – NKJV/NIV/NASB – “…inexpressible”

With this expression a double lock has been place on the secret:

1) The experience was unspeakable, impossible to utter or describe in human words.

2) It was also forbidden to say – “not lawful for a man to utter.”

(Daniel 12:4, 9; Revelation 10:1-4)

4. The Motive behind it – (vv.5-6)

The GREATNESS of the experience would be worth telling – (v.5a)

The GLORY belongs to the Lord, and His purposes in our lives–including our weaknesses! – (v.5b)

The GOAL is to keep others from thinking more of you than is true – (v.6)

II. The REASON behind his thorn in the flesh – (12:7)

“…so that I would not exalt myself” – he says it twice!

1. The Possibility of pride – (v.7a) – “especially because of the extraordinary revelations.”

2. The Problem he was given - “a thorn in the flesh”

Greek: skolops – refers to a stake used for torturing.

What was this thorn? No one knows for certain: (Galatians 6:11)

3. The Persecution came from Satan – “…a messenger of Satan to torment [buffet] me”

III. The REQUEST he made to the Lord – (12:8)

1. The Repetition of the request shows how serious it was – “…three times”

2. The Removal of the problem is what he wanted – “…that it would leave me.”

NOTE: Interesting how people handle suffering:

(1) Bitterness – Believing you don’t deserve it!

(2) Blame – God and others!

(3) Burden – Trying to endure it!

(4) Belief – That God is going to remove it!

(5) Blessing – God will use it for His glory!

IV. The RESPONSE from the Lord – (12:9a)

1. The Sufficiency of His grace – “My grace is sufficient for you…”

(Philippians 4:11-13)

2. The Strength He will provide – “for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

V. The REALIZATION of the power he needed – (12:9b-10)

Notice three things:

1. The Power comes from the Lord when attitudes are right – (v.9b)

2. The Pleasure we have in our pain comes when we understand how the Lord will use it – (v.10)

“So…” – Greek: dio – “on account of this…”

NOTE: FIRST, not all sickness is the result of specific sin in the life of the believer (John 9:1-3) and SECOND, physical pain should never keep us from Christian service!

The CIRCUMSTANCES of suffering – (v.10)

Physical weakness – “…weaknesses”– “without strength”

Verbal insults – “…insults” – refers to “reproaches”

Personal difficulties – “…hardships” or “needs or necessities”

Bodily harm – “…persecutions”

Emotional stress – “…and in difficulties” – literally means “narrowness of room”

The CAUSE of our suffering - “…for the sake of Christ” – (v.10b)

(1 Peter 4:14-19)

3. The Principle that he learned – (v.10c) – “…For when I am weak, then am I strong.”