I Got This
“I GOT THIS!”
Scripture: II Cor. 12:1-10
Thesis: Show from Scripture that Christ’s power and grace is best displayed against the backdrop of human weakness.
I. INTRODUCTION
Someone has defined grace as “God’s provision for every need when we need it.” Perhaps you have heard of the acrostic, G. R. A. C. E. – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Grace is the most powerful word in the Bible. It conveys the love of God to a lost humanity. Grace is necessary because of sin. It is Paul’s favorite word throughout his Epistles. The Greek word charis is translated grace over 100 times in the N. T. We get the word charismatic from charis.
The word means favor or goodwill especially shown to an inferior, as a master would to his servant or a king to his subject.
Theologically, it is that, “kindness by which God bestows favor even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of salvation through Christ.” – J. H. Thayer
Three measures of grace:
a) Saving Grace – God’s supernatural power released on our behalf to save us.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
b) Serving Grace – God’s supernatural power released in our lives to enable us to serve in the gifting or capacity He has ordained.
Eph. 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Rom. 12: 6,7 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
c) Standing Grace – God’s supernatural power released in our lives to enable us to persevere during difficult times.
Rom. 5:2 Through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
“Sometimes God meets our needs by substitution, but sometimes He meets our needs through transformation.” – Bible Exposition Commentary
Here in our text, we see God meeting Paul’s need through transformation. Paul has asked God three times to remove a “thorn in the flesh”, a messenger of Satan to buffet him. God’s reply is “My grace is sufficient.” To put it in modern slang, “I got this.”
II. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR EVERY HUMAN EXPERIENCE (SUFFICIENCY OF GRACE)
v. 9…My grace is sufficient for thee…
No matter what your situation or problem, God grace is sufficient. His answer to you and me is “I Got This!”
His grace has always been sufficient.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
The word sufficient is arkei in the Greek. It is translated “be content” three times; “be sufficient” twice; “be enough” once. It means to be adequate in the sense of providing contentment.
I Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Luke 3:14 Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Our problem is not on an equal plane with the grace of God. His grace is far above our problems.
III. GOD’S POWER IS REALIZED AND SEEN IN OUR WEAKNESS (START OF GRACE)
v. 9 …for my strength is made perfect in weakness…
The weaker we become, the more of His power we see and experience.
The word strength here is also power. It is dynamis in the Greek, it where we get the word dynamite. It means inherent power.
Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
v. 9 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Rest here means to spread a tent over.
IV. GOD WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE US WEAK IN OURSELVES SO THAT HE CAN BE GLORIFIED (SOVEREIGNTY OF GRACE)
v. 10
God sovereignly sends weakness our way; He makes us come to the end of ourselves so that He may be glorified.
He ordains human weakness in us so that He can work divine grace through us.
Illus.
Moses had a speech impediment.
God gave Jacob a bad hip.
He put Joseph in a pit and then in prison.
He placed Paul in a Philipian jail so that the Gospel could spread into Europe.
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
God puts grace in to get glory out.
Jonathan Edwards said, “Grace is glory begun and glory is grace perfected.”
V. CONTENTMENT IN OUR WEAKNESS IS WHAT RELEASES HIS
POWER (SATISFACTION OF GRACE)
v. 9 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
v. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities…
The word glory here is boast.
The word pleasure here is also translated content, pleased or satisfied.
It is not enough to simply acknowledge our weaknesses; we are to be content in them! Here is the place God wants us all to be!
VI. CONCLUSION
God is the God of all. 1Pe 5:10.
God is the Giver of. Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17.
God’s throne, the throne of. Heb 4:16.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of. Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29.
Was upon Christ. Lu 2:40; Joh 3:24.
Christ spoke with. Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22.
Christ was full of. Joh 1:14.
Came by Christ. Joh 1:17; Ro 5:15.
Given by Christ. 1Co 1:4.
Saints
a. Are heirs of. 1Pe 3:7.
b. Are under. Ro 6:14.
c. Receive, from Christ. Joh 1:16.
d. Are what they are by. 1Co 15:10; 2Co 1:12.
e. Abound in gifts of. Ac 4:33; 2Co 8:1; 9:8,14.
f. Should be established in. Heb 13:9.
g. Should be strong in. 2Ti 2:1.
h. Should grow in. 2Pe 3:18.
i. Should speak with. Eph 4:29; Col 4:6.
Sufficiency of Grace, Start of Grace, Sovereignty of Grace, Satisfaction of Grace
Remember this: Grace is not God answering you “No”, it is God say to you, “Yes, I got this!” Grace is not a negative, it is a positive. There is absolutely no inadequacy in God’s grace. We experience the full effect of His grace not when we are strong, but when we are weak. God wants us to experience His grace so much until He will make us weak in ourselves so that we can be strong in Him.