GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Proclamation:

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”  2 Corinthians 12:7-9

 Explanation:

While defending himself to the false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles, the Apostle Paul said that he could boast about a number of things but refused to do so.  Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, he chose to boast about The Lord.  In order to keep him humble, Paul said that he was given “a thorn” in his flesh.  The exact nature of the thorn was not identified.  Whether it was a physical ailment, a great trouble or temptation, the devil meant it to take Paul down but God used it to keep him grounded and from thinking to highly of himself.  Paul asked The Lord three times to remove it but He said that His grace would help Paul to deal with it. 

Application:

Sometimes life throws us a curve.  When times are tough and things go wrong, we should not give up or get mad.  We should remember that The Lord said, "My grace is sufficient ..." (2 Corinthians 12:9)  If He brought us to it, He can bring us through it.  The Lord God’s power is demonstrated during our weakness.  All things happen for a reason and even “bad things” can be used for our benefit. (Romans 8:28)  Some things are just tests which can strengthen us. (James 1:3-4)  So, even when life bring us trials and tribulations we should be joyful and count them as a good thing which is preparing us for something better. (James 1:2)  Each of us is still a work in progress.  As with the thorn in Paul's flesh and the trials of James, God is working on us and He is not through with us yet.  So count it all as joy and know that God is always with us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Proclamation:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

In his letter to the believers in Corinth, the Apostle Paul was defending his ministry and boasting of the things he had done and the visions that he had seen. (2 Corinthians 11:1-12:6)  Paul said that the “thorn” in his flesh was to humble him and to keep his focus on The Lord.  The Lord’s reply to his requests to remove the thorn was that God’s power is demonstrated in the face of human weakness.  Then Paul went on to say that now he delights in weaknesses, insults, persecutions, and difficulties because when he is at his weakest, he is made strong with God’s help. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Application:

No matter what it is that we are going through, or dealing with, God's grace is sufficient to get it us through it.  The Lord can demonstrate His strength when we are weak and under duress if we turn whatever it is over to Him.  The Lord does not have to remove the mountain that is in front of us, He can give us the strength to climb over it.  He does not have to calm the storm, He can give us the strength to withstand it.  Sometimes we think too highly of ourselves and our abilities and we don’t give God the credit for enabling us and helping us.  Maybe some of our problems are “thorns” which God lets Satan inflict upon us to keep our focus on The Lord.  Remember, Peter was walking on water in a stormy sea and did not start to sink until he took his eyes off of The Lord. (Matthew 14:22-33)  Let us keep our focus on The Lord and not on our problems.  We serve a big and all powerful God and all of our problems are small and insignificant in comparison.  Our “thorns” in life can just be a humbling experience to remind us that God’s grace is sufficient.

God's Grace Is Sufficient For Us

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me.  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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthian 12:7-9 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, a physical ailment, or a disability, or a personal challenge, which was designed to torment and humble him.  He referred to it as a messenger from Satan, but God used it to keep him from becoming conceited, and to correct his focus.  Three times Paul asked God to remove it, but God told him "My grace is sufficient for you."  God's strength was demonstrated in Paul's weakness.

We each have something in our lives that keeps our feet on the ground and our eyes looking towards heaven.  Something that keeps reminding us that we are dependent upon God. We know that God can heal us, and keep us from all hurt, harm, and danger.  God can also use our afflictions and our situations to keep us on our knees in prayer.  That which makes us cry out unto The Lord can be our thorn in the flesh.  Whatever it is, His grace is sufficient to help us overcome and persevere through it.  In our weakness and limitations, God can demonstrate His strength and power.