2 Corinthians 12:1-10 "Paul's High/Low"

Good morning. Happy New Year, happy 2020. I hope these first few days of the year have been good for you. And your family. I am super blessed to be here with you all to worship Lord to get into his word together. It's it's very good to be back home again my family and I have a very good visit to the states of the Christmas Vacation scene how many different friends and family members? It was a huge blessing to see some family that we hadn't seen and in over a decade some some cousins. We had a big family Christmas gathering and that was a quite special for us. We got to introduce some kids that other family members haven't met before we get to meet some new family members that we've only seen in pictures and so that was very special and it was a great great time, but we are very glad to be back here with you all are our church family and I feel like you know, we have our blood family and our church family and you know, it's a pow. Apple Barn in the powerful Connection in when were very glad to be here visitors. I do see some new faces. You may not be new this week, but you've been coming around the last couple weeks, but you do to me. Do you want to welcome you and ask just the opportunity to welcome you and I pray that the Lord ministers to you as you're in this place with us course, I do pray that God blesses all of us today in ministers to us. Well, before we go any further in our time together, let's go in dismiss our elementary-age children to their Sunday School classrooms. Do you want to know kids at you as you make your way out? We had to combine our first through fifth grade class today because we have teachers call in sick multiple teachers call in sick today. And so we had to modify a little bit and so they'll all be in one classroom.

Advocates that have made their way out. I want to take just a minute or so to thank all of you for your support and allowing my family and I got to go back to the States during the Christmas Holiday Inn. We actually figured it out. We pulled out our old passports and and expired ones and figured out how long it had been since we've been back in the States actually been 11 years, since we are last in the States during the Christmas season you a traditionally Christmas is a very busy season for us here at the church and taking time off to visit family in the states is very difficult to do and we wouldn't have been able to do so without the support of the church body here and various people stepping up to serve and to fill a very has holes and needs and my family and I are very grateful. I do what I especially thank those who came to fill the pulpit for me while I'm away. I heard the guest speakers did a great job Alex from Okinawa and Pastor Rich from Food Co in our very own Keegan Davis, I did hear that the server Is were a little shorter than normal que just consider that my Christmas gift to you all day. And don't worry. I'm sure to make up for it soon enough maybe even today as we continue our study Through the Bible and and we actually want to set aside some time with the end of our service together this morning to participate in communion as is our practice. We take time on the first Sunday of each month to just spend some time coming to the Lord's table. And so we're going to be doing that this morning as well as very first Sunday of the year. What a great opportunity just to commune with the Lord. All right. Well, we are going to be picking up our study of the book of 2nd Corinthians. I know it's been a month or so since we were last in the book of 2nd Corinthians, so we will do a little bit of review before we get into our text today. The letter of 2nd Corinthians was written by Paul the Apostle during his third missionary journey to the church and core. And the church in Corinth was a church that Paul had planted and invested over 18 months of his time during his second missionary journey. Paul was a spiritual father to the church in Corinth, but unfortunately some others had made their way into the church in Corinth and we're causing some problems K within the church and specifically causing problems for Paul hej the people that have come to Corinth they came with all sorts of letters of recommendations from Jerusalem to help validate their Ministry and Elevate themselves in the eyes of those in Corinth in the church in Corinth. Unfortunately was that caught their eyes and they were very enamored with them and and all these are these are official in and they're high in and really powerful people in in in a prestigious and and what not answer these Outsiders that had made their way into the church they begin to bring well out. Fruits of accusations against Paul the Apostle accusations against him as an apostle accusations against him in his ministry and that they were caused by stirring up quite a commotion and they tried to tear Paul down while building themselves up and so on the first part of this letter in 2nd Corinthians in chapters 1 through 7 Paul spend a great deal of time defending and explaining his ministry. And then after that Paul dedicated a couple chapters Kate chapters 8 and 9 to the topic of a special collection that was being gathered for the church in Jerusalem and the address a number of issues regarding giving in the church and then in the final section of the letter chapter 10 through 13 Paul specifically addresses these critics of his that have come into the church and they cause all sorts of problems Paul identifies them as false Apostles Katie's false Apostles that have come in pretending to be Ministers of the Lord but really, Just speaking messengers of of Satan really in and just tearing the church down in tearing Paul dinh. We are a little over halfway through with that last section last time we were together in the book of 2nd graders. We finished chapter 11 where Paul reluctantly boasted of his credentials as an apostle and interesting interesting me enough Paul boasted not of his great faith that he didn't boast of his great knowledge of the scriptures. He didn't boast of his great success and planting churches throughout the surrounding regions Nopal boasted in the sufferings that he'd experienced for Christ's sake Paula tested if I must boast I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity Paul viewed his suffering for Christ sake as his ass Apostolic the credentials gave his sufferings were evidence of his commitment to Christ and the sake of the gospel and it was great love for the church now, In our study today through the beginning of chapter 12 Paul's going to continue some of this reluctant boasting that he began in chapter 11. And so if you haven't done so already go ahead and make your way to the book of 2nd Corinthians to the 12 chapter. And then once you are there, I'd like to ask you all to rise to your feet and honor the Lord and his word. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 at the first 10 verses of chapter 12. I'll read our texts from my Bible. I want to encourage you to do your best to follow along in your own Paul continuing his reluctance boasting write the following in verse 1 of chapter 12. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and Revelations of the Lord. I Know a Man in Christ to 14 years ago weather in the body. I do not know or whether out of the body. I do not know God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven and I know such a man weather in the body or out of the body. I do not know God knows how he was caught up into Paradise in her inexpressible words, which is not lawful for a man daughter of such a one I will boast yet of myself. I will not boast except In my infirmities for though I might desire to boast. I will not be a fool for I will speak the truth, but I'll refrain lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me for 7 unless I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations of Thorn In the Flesh was given to me a messenger of Satan to Buffet me lest. I be exalted above measure concerning this thing. I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me 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 therefore I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches in needs and persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake for when I am weak then I am strong. Let's pray father. We thank you for this morning the privilege the blessing that it is to open up your word to hear from you. We thank you that your word is active that it is Living Lord that it is sharper than any two-edged sword and it just cuts down to the marrow and and divides and discerns just our own hearts and intense and so Lord. I just pray that your word woodworking us this morning or is we've opened up our Bibles. I pray that our hearts our minds and our eyes might be open as well to all that your spirit desires to do in us and through US Lord prepare us and speak to us, but I do hope that we come each and everyone of us with an expectation and with great anticipation that you will speak and so Lord. We're here to hear from you. Speak we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. You may have a seat.

My family and I have this thing that we do from time to time as a way of just to open up conversation and then to keep communication going are we called? Kylo and perhaps after a big event or a busy Sivan season or just sometimes at the end of the day around the dinner table. We will ask everyone to share their hi. Hello. Hey could be the high low of you know a season of the hollow of the day, whatever it may be in the basic idea is to share what you like the best K you're high and then and then this year, you're low what you particularly didn't care for and after a trip to the states. I asked some of my family members to share some of their highs and lows of the trip back and you know, the somewhere particular fond of a being able to shoot various types of firearms while out in the Arizona desert for the first time in their life my older boys were just like This voice, you know and how they never never done that before and so and that was really exciting in Arizona. Everybody has a gun and then you can. I was raised in California was a little bit like wow, like a blast the kids enjoyed. It was great. Great time. I think other things mentioned we're just being able to see family playing with cousins surprise my father upon our arrival. My mom didn't want him to know that we were coming. So we kept it a secret from him and then when we arrived he was already in bed, we wouldn't have that Boaz wake him up and say Merry Christmas and just Overjoyed with that. So that was some of the eyes it was a just a good time but there was some loads as well you know I think the travel aspects for the most consistent Lowe's it was much cheaper for a family to travel in and out of Hiroshima and so on our way out way to drive to the airport Hiroshima and then got a plane to Tokyo transfer the international side of the airport from there fly into Los Angeles get a rental car drive through LA traffic case I don't miss that at all okay and then we my parents actually moved out to Arizona its way to drive all the way out to Arizona we didn't arrive in Arizona until 29 hours after we departed our house in Iwakuni and so that was a low tank travel back wasn't as long since we didn't have to drive from Arizona 24 hours to get to our home in Iwakuni you know traveling internationally is rough traveling internationally with seven people in your family including a 6 year old and a 9 month old is only done by the grace of God and so That was like, oh man, we just thank God we got home, you know, and we're all alive still high low report in regarding his experiences as an apostle for Christ was going to reluctantly continue his boasting and he's going to speak of some of the spiritual Hines. He has experience as a follower of a Christ as an apostle of Christ. He also mentioned a low that he had to learn to deal with throughout his ministry. And so the title of our study this morning is quite simply pause high low Saint Paul's high low, for those of you who like to take notes an outline art extra got to be divine art EX up into three different sections this morning. The first section is verses 1 through 6 Dayton. We're going to highlight the boasting by Paul Caleb Osteen by Paul after that. We're going to look at verses 7 & 8 and we're going to note Dean of Paul Caleb of Lena Paul and the last name verses 9 and 10. We're going to learn of the blessing for Palm Cay the blessing for Paws. Let's go Section dealing with the boasting by Paul here. We're going to Note 4 things about Paul's boasting. Let's start by taking a look at our opening verse. Once again verse 1 Paul writes. It is doubtless not profitable for me to post. I will come to visions and Revelations of the lord of House right there here in verse 1. We see that Paul reluctantly posted regarding visions and Revelations of the Lord has an apostle Paul had been given several different visions and Revelations of the Lord and from the Lord something that the false Apostles that had come against Paul probably boasted of themselves and dope all thought it foolish to boast in this manner and and even profitless Noah It would have no lasting good he reluctantly and perhaps we might even suggest I would suggest sarcastically can in in sarcasm towards their own boasting of the false Apostles. He continues his own boasting throughout his years in service to Christ. Paul had been given several different special Revelations and Visions from the Lord Paul. Saw the glorified Christ on the road to Damascus on the day that he was converted to the faith in action chapter 9 verse 3. He saw a vision of a man named ananias coming to minister him and to pray over him that he may receive back his sight and accept 9 verse 12 had a vision from the Lord when he was called to minister to the Gentiles were told about that in Acts chapter 22 verse 17. It was my vision that God Called Paul to Macedonia in Acts chapter 16 verse 9, you know when the ministry seemed Circularly challenging and dangerous in Corinth God encourage Paul by a vision letting him know that God would keep him from harm and that God had many people in the city of Corinth special spiritual Revelations of divine truth as well K Paul mentioned some of these revelations in his letter to the church in Ephesus. It was in Ephesians chapter 3 their Paul writes of how God gave him Revelation concerning the mystery of Christ and the gospel day in his letter to the Galatians Paul wrote of how the gospel be preached to not come from man, but it come to him through the revelation of Jesus Christ and Galatians Chapter 2 Paul speaks of going up by Revelation to the city of Jerusalem to communicate the gospel that he had preached to the Gentiles until Paul have been given all sorts of special insight into God's Redemption plan. Standing here been visited by the Lord on many occasions leading him in his ministry Endeavors and these false Apostles that had come along no doubt proclaiming special Revelations and divine visions of their know of their own. They really couldn't even come close to comparing themselves with Paul and all the visions and all the revelations that God had given to him. But if that weren't enough Paul continues to speak of another Especial experience the Lord had for him and verses two through four read along with me. He says I Know a Man in Christ to 14 years ago weather in the body. I do not know where weather out of the body. I do not know God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven and I know such weather in the body or out of the body do not know God knows how he was caught up into Paradise in heard inexpressible Words, which it is not lawful for a man to other Hear Paul speaks of a man in Christ who 14 years ago had been caught up into the third heaven into a place Paul also called Paradise now based upon the context of these versus it is plain to see that Paul is in fact referring to himself that he is the man in Christ who is given this special visit into the third heaven a place that Paul referred to as paradise. And so we can we see hear that Paul he's boast of this heavenly visitation K. The Experience itself was so powerful. So lifelike that Paul wasn't even sure if it was simply a spiritual vision that he had out of his body or or whether or not Paul's physical body was actually transported into that place. It was so real and so lifelike Paul didn't know God knew but but Paul didn't it was obviously very real to Paul very impacting for him. This event happen some 14 years before writing the book of 2nd Corinthians, which would most likely Fall during the time that Paul had been sent back to Tarsus for safety reasons Acts chapter 9 verse 32 gone down to Jerusalem. He tried to do ministry there and they basically said you need to leave in a in a sentence accessory about I see ultimately said just go back home to Tarsus Paul, you know, we'll come get you later and it wasn't till Acts chapter 11 that Barnabas went up to Tarsus in search of Paul or Saul who would later become Paul the Apostle and so it's probably sometime in between those years of separation. No, just exactly what is meant by Third Heaven in Paradise is debated by some commentators and Bible students about the majority agreed that Paul is speaking of the dwelling place of God has not speaking of various degrees of heaven when mentioning the third heaven King God's Dwelling Place doesn't have different degrees of separation that that we know of scriptures doesn't give us any kind of an indication of that any the first heaven when Paul speaks of the third heaven. It was a way to distinguish from the first two Heavens that we see it and know of today the first Heaven represents our own air pay our own Skies our own atmosphere Katie air that we breathe is guys that you know, many of you fly through the second heaven represents that which is beyond our atmosphere With The Stars in the in the planets resign and the third heaven represents something that even Beyond Outer space can a place beyond what we know and see and and measure, you know based upon man's technology. We've been able to travel back and forth through the first two Heavens, but man is unable to access the third heaven without God's intervention and the word Paradise is actually in Oriental word, which the Greeks borrowed from the Persians among whom it Manta a garden or park or an enclosure full of every beautiful and good thing of the earth. And the Septuagint is actually the Greek translation of the Old Testament actually uses this word to describe the Garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 2 verse 8 other Jews actually use this word to speak of the Abode of the Blessed after their death before Jesus's resurrection. Paradise was believed to be synonymous with what the Bible refers to as Abraham's bosom that's mentioned in Luke chapter 16 verse 23 Jesus used this word to comfort the thief on the cross when he said assuredly I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise later in the Book of Revelation. This words used to refer to the location of the Tree of Life in the midst of the paradise of God, which we believe to be the very Dwelling Place of God or simply we would say heaven. Because those words used in many different ways it can cause some difficulty in understanding the exact location that this word refers to what it would seem based upon the context that what Paul experienced what we saw was having the very Dwelling Place of God, like Isaiah the prophet before him who is permitted to see into the throne room of God and like John who was permitted to see the happenings in heaven of which he wrote about in The Book of Revelation. It would seem that Paul also was granted special access into the variable load of God can the false Apostles make such a claim certainly not caught up into this place Paul hurt amazing incredible things inexpressible Words, which were not lawful for a man to honor. You know, it's interesting that Paul he had this experience some 14U Is it Go and yet only now seems to mention it for the first time. He didn't go around boasting of what God allowed him to see or to hear. He kept it to himself. It was special for Paul in that way. You know, I am always a little leery of those who try to make any sort of claim to have visited heaven and then they come back and they write books about it and they go on speaking engagements and tours all around they go on all the talk shows and

It can't happen on Paul. I believe Paul. It happened for Paul, but some of these things out there. I'm very leery of them. I'm not saying it can't happen. But I'm pretty sure it didn't for them K. But that's just my opinion pollen tested to being given a glimpse into heaven. But he dared not speak of it words were not sufficient words would would not do he did not even attempt to speak of it for anything. He could say would fall so drastically short of the reality of Heaven. You know, our own imaginations are not even able to consider the vastness that awaits those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and God swelling place in heaven. And I don't know about you, but that makes me very excited for what is to come going to be. So amazing ain't so incredible. We don't even have the words to begin to speak of the majesty and the Splendor and the magnificence that awaits Us in heaven. I can't even speak it would be unlawful for me to even attempt to do that. Pause not done Postino take a look at first five as we know it. Would Paul willingly posted up. He says I'm such a one I will boast yet of myself. I will not boast except in my infirmities. The only thing that Paul wanted to boast in an attached his name to was the boasting and his infirmities. Can your Bible translation Macy weaknesses Paul is going to boast and his weaknesses in his inability is getting his own insufficiency. Paul could have boasted of such a one that visited heaven, but he chose not to instead the only thing that he would boast of where his infirmities in this goes right in line with what Paul was saying in the second half of a chapter 11. They how if he must boast he would boast in his infirmities many great things but instead just to identify with his weakness is his infirmities the things that limited him. Those are what he wanted to identify himself with that's what he wanted to post in and where See y later in our texts. Let's continue that will wrap up this first section dealing with the boasting by Paul as we know one last thing regarding Paul's boasting verse 6 for the desire to boast. I will not be a fool for I will speak the truth, but I refrained lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me Paul acknowledges here. They even if you had a desire to boast he knew that it would be foolish for him to do. So instead Paul refrain from posting in order to ensure that all praise all honor all glory went to the Lord Paul didn't want to speak of himself and boast in himself. He didn't want to Rob God of any of the glory that was due him alone. Paul did not look for Honor from men God honor him through the special visions and Revelations and visitations and then the only shared what was necessary for Effective Ministry and bringing people to Christ. Paul knew that it was all a work of God. Hey it was all God that was doing the all these Works in and through him anyways, it wasn't about him Paul would go on to say that he was the least of the Apostles that he was the least of all the saints even going as far as to say that he was the chief of Sinners K the more and more Paul walk with the Lord that we're further and further. He realize just how far he was from the Lord. Paul didn't want to boast in himself. He didn't want himself to get any attention or any fanfare.

Paul wanted everyone to have an honest and fair assessment of himself. He didn't want people to measure him based upon his spiritual experiences his Visions his Revelations his Divine visitation, but rather he wanting people to assess him based upon what they saw firsthand in Paul and what they heard first-hand from Paul. Do you want to be able to have an honest estimate of him and his work he lived he walked he worked and he ministered among those and corn for some 18 months surely there was enough evidence for them to come to their own conclusions regarding Paul without him having to boast about the experiences that God have allowed him to be a part of and yet he had to there's this tension in this we see your he doesn't want to do this but this is how what the church in Corinth was looking for. They're looking at these false Apostles and all of their credentials and all of their boasting and suppose. That's okay. I don't want to go there. I'm not going to give a little bit here but really his emphasis was a pun. His infirmity if you did want to boast himself you wanted to give all glory to God. Well, let's move into our next section dealing with the buffering of Paul where we're going to Note 3 things read the first part of her seven with me as we know the first thing having to do with the buffeting of pauses and lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations a thorn in the flesh was given to me when I was right there Kenneth Thorn In the Flesh was given to him and I want to make a simple Point regarding this Thorn In the Flesh that Paul experience and that This Thorn In the Flesh was a gift from God. K a gift from God a thorn in the flesh was given to Paul who gave it. The lord gave it the lord gave this Thorn In the Flesh De Paul in order to keep him from being exalted above measure by the abundance of Revelations that he experienced if the visions and Revelations and visitations were pause highs for this Thorn In the Flesh would be right there with the least of the lows and yet it was something that was given to him from God knew how easy it would be for Paul to both how easy it would be for him to be filled up with pride and arrogance. And so God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh to make him humble to prevent him from becoming filled with prime. This Thorn In. The Flesh was a constant pain a Relentless irritation for Paul is important to know the word translated Heroes. Thorne isn't talking about, you know, a small rose bush or like a sticker that you get when you're walking through a grassy field of some sort K. Listen. The word here for thorn in the Greek. It's used to describe a tent stake. This wasn't just some Splinter came that that Paul had okay. This was like a temps think that had pierced him through we need to understand that this wasn't just some minor nuisance that Paul had to deal with it an inconvenience for Paul K that he dealt with from time to time. This was something that caused him constant pain and suffering and God gave it to him. You know. Some have the misconception that a life live for Christ is to be one that's free from Pain and and difficulty one that's filled with wealth health and prosperity, but that's not what the Bible teaches us. In fact a life live for God will come with great sacrifice. Life live for God will be a life that experiences seasons of persecution. Even Paul actually wrote to Timothy telling him all who desire to live Godly in Christ. Jesus will suffer persecution. Not might they suffer will if you want to live Godly you're asking for persecution. I know that's not a feel-good message. But that's what the Bible actually teaches Hank. If you want to follow the lord, you must remember that Christ live a life of great sacrifice a life of servitude a life of persecution. Why should we think our lives should be different if we're following Jesus Christ. You see God will bring trials and difficulties our way. He will allow us to experience pain and he will allow us to experience heartache not because he doesn't care but because he knows that the fruit that will come from those seasons of pain and suffering will be used to further his kingdom and then it will be used for good Romans 8:28 promises us that tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose God is working through us his plans his purposes and that means going through the fire sometimes. Maybe you're here this morning. You feel like yeah, I can attest to that. I'm going through the fire. I've been in the fire for a while. I'm looking for a way out talk and you can relate here to Paul.

God's working as means experiencing times a great joy and Times of great sorrow God allows things to come our way because they are all part of his glorious planning purposes and we can take comfort knowing this truth the next time that we're giving one of those special gifts from the Lord whose continue reading again verse 7 as we know a second thing about Paul's buffeting verse 7 says unless I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of Revelations The Thorn In the Flesh was given to me a messenger of Satan to Buffett me lest. I be exalted above measure K Not only was this Thorn In the Flesh a gift from God, but it was also described as a messenger of Satan to Buffett Paul in the word Messengers the Greek word Angelo's it's where we get our word angel from God created the angels to live with him in heaven, but a third of them revolted with Satan and we're cast out of Heaven Satan the Satan's angels are more commonly referred. As demons Paul was tormented by some demonic force that buffeted him that word buffeted. It speaks of striking someone with the fist. It's like a beating they would appear that there was some sort of outside demonic force that was constantly coming against Paul attacking him and trying to get Paul to give in day to throw in the towel. So to say, you know this description it reminds me of the account of Joe. Mini of you're probably familiar with the life of Joe. The account of Joe Joe was a Faithful Servants of the Lord of blameless and upright man. What do you fear God and shun evil in one day when the Heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also that the Lord asked Satan where he had come from and Satan answered that he had been going to and fro on the earth do with Scott asked if Satan had taken notice of his servant job how there was none like him on the Earth. Will you see Satan accuse God of protecting Joe and putting their heads around him and not allow anything bad to happen to him always blessing him immensely. And so the lord gave permission to Satan to come against job's possessions and his family, but even though job she's a child lost it all he did not send North charged wrong against the Lord according to chapter 1 verse 22 and in the same thing would happen. Again Satan came into the presence of the Lord and the Lord once again inquired where he had been insane replied in the same manner saying he had gone to and fro throughout the Earth and again the Lord mentioned Joe how blameless he was even though Satan had tried to incite Jobe against the Lord to which Saint replace skin for skin. He looks a little skin in the game here. Can you stretch out your hand now to bone in his flesh and he will surely curse you to your face. And you guys know the rest of the account how job went through a whirlwind of pain and suffering but in the end God blessed him with even more than what he had previously have. Why bring this account up?

Because it lets us know very important truth about the enemy and his attacks against us. Listen Satan and his demonic forces can never do anything to us without God's knowledge. And without God's permission. God knows how much we can take how much we can handle and how much is enough. He knows the work that he wants to do an S. And he has a plan for us and a great it is a great and glorious plan. We know that God loves us. And he wants what is best for us. And so if we find ourselves experiencing attacks from the enemy. Know that God is aware. Gay that he is in control and that he has a plan and a purpose behind it. All he will be with us through it. All. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He promises us that he will see us through it. So take comfort in that if you find yourself feeling the attacks of the enemy God is a weird God knows it does not go unnoticed and God is still at work or say will know the third and final thing regarding this buffeting of Paul verse 8 and says connect confusing concerning this thing. I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me this buffering of Paul involved a gift from God a messenger from Satan and a plea from Paul De Paul pleaded with the Lord three times that it would depart from him It's Thorn In the Flesh was something that drove Paul II prayer it made him seek the Lord multiple times. Seeking relief seeking to get out of the situation that he was in. You know, this is this is how I believe we often free when we experience difficulties persecutions trials and challenges. We pray Lord get me out of this situation remove the pain remove the financial obstacles remove the person causing all these problems remove the sickness remove the pressure remove the Temptation the fire we get us out of this.

And sometimes God will answer those prayers. But more often than not I found. The God has different plans. We often want to get out of trouble out of difficulties out of Trials. And when we think this way we often fail to get out of those difficulties with the Lord was wanting to work in and through us.

We pray God give me out of this, but we ought to be praying God. What do you want me to get out of this?

What do you want to work in me through this difficulty? What is your desire for me through this trial that uses trials in our lives to mold us to shape us to grow us to mature us K2. Perfect. That's what James actually tells us in his epistle. He says my brother and count it all joy, when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect day or mature is the same word and complete lacking nothing. We must let patience have its perfect work in us. Don't be so quick to try and bail out. Okay. Let's let God's work be done in you and through you as you experienced various trials knowing that it will cause us to grow that it will cause us to mature in our faith and to bring us to the point of being complete and full lacking nothing. Now. I'm not saying that we shouldn't pray to get out of Trials. We can pray and ask God to remove situations and challenges in our lives, but we must follow the example that Christ gave us you guys recall Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane asking God to take the Cup of Wrath away from him. But each time Jesus prayed he concluded his prayers with being yielded to the father's will he said it's not as I will but as you will stayed in a second language is on my father if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it your will be done a third time. Jesus went and prayed the same words. Jesus prayed for the same thing more than once and asked God to remove the challenge before him, but he also has yielded to whatever the father's will was for him. And I think in like men or we can ask the Lord to remove certain obstacles certain trial certain difficulties in our own lives. But at the same time we must be yielded to the will of the father in his plans and purposes for us be open to what God wants you to get out of the trial. What God wants to work in you what is desire and we'll is and then allow him that opportunity to work to mold us to shape Us in the image of his son Jesus Christ. Well, let's make our way into this third final section of our Texas morning dealing with the blessing for Paul and verses 9 and 10 and inverses 9 and 10. I see two blessings that came Paul's way take a look at verse 9 to see the first blessing. Jesus the Lord responded to Paul's prayer member sign in says and he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Pause there for second thing. The first blessing that Paul received was the promise of God's grace Jesus responded to Paul's prayer. He answered Paul's prayer but not in the manner which prophet asked for the thorn to be removed. But Jesus replied my grace is sufficient for you God's grace K. His unearned unmerited favor my word study dictionary defines races absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the Bounty and benevolence of the great Giver. As Believers we know and understand that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, and I think we get that day. I hope we get that. We understand that but listen we need God's grace for more than just salvation K least failed to understand our need for God's grace and everything else. God's grace is able to build us up and in to give us an inheritance among all those were Sanctified according to Acts chapter 20 verse 32. We need God's grace in order to be obedient to the faith. According to Romans chapter 1 verse 5 KJV Romans chapter 5 verse 2 teaches us that is by God's grace that we are made able to stand we can even stand without God's grace. 2nd Corinthians 4:15 tells us that God's grace causes Thanksgiving to a bow down to the glory of God Titus Chapter 2 verses 11 and 12 Proclaim that it is God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly last and to live soberly righteously and godly in the presidents without God's grace. We would not be able to do those things Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28 tells us that it's by God's grace that we may serve God except Ali acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Listen. We need God's grace for nearly every experience in our life. That is how important God's Graces. And you may be thinking that's all I saw a whole lot of Grace that's needed. Which I would reply amen it is. And then I would say God's grace is sufficient.

God's grace is enough. It is sufficient. The promise of God's grace is that it is sufficient. It will meet the need God's grace was enough for Paul and all of his needs and God's Grace will be enough for each of us as well in all of our needs. There is no trial. There is no difficulty. There is no challenge. There is no obstacle no temptation that is greater than the grace of God. It is sufficient for all of our needs. You know many commentators and different teachers and pastors that I was reading through and studying part of this portion strip steak Thorn In the Flesh was Leo. Maybe it was this week. It's been you know, they trying to go to the different cross-purposes and saying that we think it was you know,

I for one am glad that it goes identified. Scriptures about tell us exactly what this Thorn In the Flesh was four and I love that. because if we knew exactly what that thorn in the flesh was we would then be able to compare it to our own particular thorns in the flesh and we may find ourselves saying well, you know God's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was only this But my situation is different. My challenge is greater it stronger or whatever else we may want to say, but I lose his left unnamed because God's grace truly is sufficient for all of our needs. We can claim the promise the lord gave to Paul as our own God's grace is sufficient for each and everyone of us K and it is sufficient for each and every one of our trials and difficulties in persecution and whatever we may face. God's grace is sufficient. It is enough. Is he not only was Paul blessed with the promise of God's grace, but there was another blessing here as well. Take a look at the rest of our texts will see what I'm talking about here verse 9 and continues it says therefore most gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ May rest upon me. Therefore. I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches and needs and persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake for when I am weak then I am strong.