His Grace is Sufficient

Lonnie Brooks

Living in the Circumstance • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

0 ratings

· 8 views

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

Good morning, I hope you have had a good week, school is getting more and more settled into their routines. Teachers and parents are back in the swing of things…

I want to encourage each of you to pray for each other, especially all those around our schools, pray for them as they work with and help our children. Ask God to bless them as they serve in our schools.

And with school starting back we know that Its that time of year again, fall is almost here and soon we will change seasons again, following the design of God’s own plans...

Its that time of year again, fall is almost here and soon we will change seasons again, following the design of God’s own plans...

Families are settling into the new school year and with all

Why do I mention all of this, to remind us that God is at work. He is at work in this world and in our lives as well.

But what about when life’s challenges come your way… is God still at work?

The testimony of Scripture assures us that the answer is yes, and I believe that He walks with us each day helping us in that particular challenge, strengthening us and yes never leaving us or forsaking us.

To help us illustrate this idea, lets look at the life of Paul as he faced a great challenge in his life.

And through the most difficult of days we know that He can take the us and

Yet, in the midst of this challenge, he was sustained by the Lord in all ways....

So lets take our Bibles and lets look at the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

I hope you brought your bibles with you today...

So lets look at verses 7-10, here in

2 Corinthians 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.

So lets look at this first thought.....

1. A Great Difficulty...

The longer I live; I am constantly aware of Job’s words “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”

I am constantly aware of Job’s words “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”

Why, you might ask? because while life has its good days,days filled with wonderful blessings, we are often overwhelmed by the tragedies of life.

Death, sickness, physical challenges, emotional and so much more....these are just a few things common to our lives..

The same was true of Paul in many ways…

Paul faced hardships along the way of his ministry. Being an apostle, God’s servant didn’t exclude him for suffering and hardships.

His hardships, they started almost immediately, if you remember it wasn’t long after his conversion in , that he had to leave areas he visited including Jerusalem because people sought to kill him because he preached the Gospel about Jesus.

And in this text, Paul speaks about another painful, problematic issue that he faces, a thorn in the flesh, a thorn that troubled him greatly in the course of his days.

Look back at verse 7

2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

Now let me touch briefly on this thought… Paul says to keep him from being conceited, from being prideful concerning the great and wonderful revelations he has seen from the Lord.

Paul without a doubt has seen great things, even caught up into the third heaven, and we have no idea just how wonderful was the scene he witnessed… but this wasn’t for him to share...

And to keep him from having a Spiritual pride welling up in Him, we know that he was given a thorn in the flesh.

What was this thorn… there has been so many thoughts about this, perhaps a physical condition, an ailment if you will, … Paul speaks of a problem in , verses 13-14.

Galatians 4:13–14 ESV

13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

But we are uncertain, there have been so many thoughts from eye issues, epilepsy and even stomach issues… But we do know this, the word thorn speaks to that which is sharp and painful, done for the sake of impaling something into another.

It was indeed painful and hurtful...

But there is something else we need to look at it. Paul says this thorn in the flesh is a messenger of Satan..

What does he mean here?

We know from the story of Job that God does allow Satan to bring ailments upon Job in order to produce greater glory for himself but also to strengthen His servants. Yet no matter the circumstances or who God chooses to use, God is fully in control ....

Has God allowed Satan to inflict pain and suffering in Paul’s life, perhaps..

Yes my friends the situations are often difficult, they are often hard on us.. But know that God can work in them for our good.

I think of James chapter 1

James 1:1–3 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But the end of all suffering has the potential to make us better..

But what of you today?

What difficulties have you faced?

What problems have risen up in your life…?

These circumstances are overwhelming, We do not know what to do or how to respond... but I want to encourage you my friends that God is always in control.

God is control and can sustain us in every situation and battle we face...

He is faithful....

Now lets move on to a second thought today...

2. Sufficient Grace...

I want to encourage you with these words my friends, in the midst of our life storms, our terrible and difficult times, He is there and will sustain us...

Now when you look at His life, we see that Paul was asking God for help, to remove this, to take this problem away.

Remember, we know there was some type of affliction that is leading to Paul’s suffering and in the midst of this He prays three times for God to remove that from Him, to deliver him from this suffering.

But the Lord’s answer is no....

But why? there are times we go through suffering and we pray and pray about it, we ask the Lord for help, and the suffering, that problem does not go away.

Why?

Well before we get to far into us, lets reflect on Paul and what he says about this.

Why does the Lord say no to our

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

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.

, verses 8-9

2 Cor 12:

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 ESV

Paul is suffering, it is debilitating, painful and a true hardship upon his life.. and he as not just prayed, but he says pleaded with the Lord about it.

I love the attention given here, pleaded… to call upon the Lord with emotion. He pleaded for this affliction to be gone...

But God says no...

And listen to what God does say about it… verse 9

Verse 9 ““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”.....”

Paul, I am able to sustain you through all of this… “My grace is sufficient for you...”

Understand the source, The Lord says “My” it is all His power, His presence and His work in Paul’s life. This life giving, resurrection power is at work in Paul, and it is at work in Paul in such a way that there was no confusion, it wasn’t Paul who was making it through when he was crushed,beat down, it was the Lord who was bringing him through these trials.

it was the opportunity for Paul to see who was truly at work in His life and it was not just his existence, his making it trough this life and the difficulties, The the Lord who was at work.

Then this next phrase is important for us to consider… My power is made perfect in weakness...

The phrase “made perfect” means to be brought to completion, or is made fully present. And given the tense here is speaks to something that is continually made better, perfected..

And pulling all of this together, here is what we see. Paul no longer needed to see the thorn as something bad, as an affliction, but he could see it as the way the Lord operates more effectively.

Paul could see clearly how the Lord works, How the Lord empowers us and works through us for His glory...

We my friends are the broken clay jars …

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

We hold the treasure of the Lord in us and through us it is revealed… in our afflictions, in our suffering, we understand truly how dependent we are upon the Lord.

My friends don’t be discouraged as you continue to bear these burdens in life, remember the Lord is faithful and He is at work in and through you...

21`

Now my friends, just one last thought my friends....

The outcome of everything in this life my friends is for His glory!

3. For His Glory....

If there is anything we need to keep in mind my in our life my friends, everything about us, it is for His glory.

Our life, our actions, our final moments are summed up completely for his glory...

Lets go back to our text my friends

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

Listen to this my friends, in the midst of his weaknesses, his discomfort, his sorrow and hurt… he says I will boast all the more about my weaknesses, for in this weakness, the glory and power of Christ will rest upon Him..

Think of the children of Isreal in the Old Testament, they were a powerless people but there in the land, as they camped around the tabernacle the presence of God would be seen in their midst.

And His presence, and His power, in and through them blessed them...

And then John the beloved tell us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…: ...

He rested with and upon us for the sake of His glory being revealed to the nations.

And in our weakness, in our sorrow and brokenness, the power of Christ rests upon us and is working outwardly that God’s power might be seen and known.

Paul rejoices my friends, because in his weakness, the Power of Christ is seen… How wonderful it is...

So take your weakness today, your brokenness that is evident in your life and rejoice for in it the power of Christ is revealed and you are stronger than ever…

So what are you struggling with today? What are you battling, lay it down, stop trying to overcome for your strength isn’t enough, But the power of Christ is powerful enough to help you overcome, to help you find success, to allow you to be a part of God’s most glorious presence in your life.

His grace is sufficient my friends to carry us over and through all things… And God uses you for His glory.

Dont you love that...

Lets pray

Acts 9 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Acts 10 ESV

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

1 Corinthians 6 ESV

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

2 Corinthians 12 ESV

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 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. 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! 14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? 19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Related Media

Related Sermons