Thorns and Grace
Notes
Transcript
Why There Are Thorns?
Why There Are Thorns?
Because Christian “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:8).
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Paul said, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).
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.
Moses was “slow of speech” (Ex. 4:10), yet he was Israel’s strong leader.
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
Peter was impetuous (Matt. 26:33; Jn 18:10), yet he was the apostle that opened the pearly gates of the kingdom (Acts 2).
33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
God will accept our “excuses” for not doing His will, He strengthens us to do His will despite our weaknesses.
Because we are prone to “be exalted above measure” - pride (2 Cor. 12:7).
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.
We’re prone to think we know best and we can do God’s work in our own way (Prov. 16:18).
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Sometimes we need chastening to be reminded it’s not about us (Heb. 12:7-11).
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
The thorns we encounter in live help us stay humble!
Because all the glory belongs to God (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
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.
We are here to serve God, not ourselves (Phil. 2:5; Col. 1:16).
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
We are to work to His glory, not our own (Col. 3:23).
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
As much as Paul did for the church, he only ever wanted it to be for God’s glory (1 Cor. 9:16; 2 Cor. 4:5).
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
God’s Grace Is Sufficient To Overcome The Thorns
God’s Grace Is Sufficient To Overcome The Thorns
It is by the sacrifice of Christ that we overcome the thorn of sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Eph. 2:13).
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
We are made new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
It is in Christ we have every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
It is in Christ we have citizenship in the kingdom of heaven (Acts 2:47; Phil. 3:20).
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
It is in Christ that we have the answer to every problem - every thorn is overcome in Him!
