My Grace is Sufficient...
2 Corinthians 12:5-10
5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But 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. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- Key thought: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” NRSV
- “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” KJV
Paul’s story:
- He was being challenged by false teachers in the church at Corinth
- The Corinthians Church struggled with purity and spiritual consistency
- The church, and the people there, had found Christ but wanted to still live a carnal lifestyle - a lifestyle that bypassed the cross
Take note of a couple of things here:
- A thorn was given to me - doesn’t matter what it is - it’s something that is troubling to Paul
- It came from Satan but God allowed it to come
- God said “no but…”
- I understand the purpose is to keep me from boasting, that no one will think better of me, to keep me from being elated. In other words, to keep pride from taking over my soul - of thinking of myself more highly than I should.
- I asked for the easy way but God gave me another way - the way of grace sufficient.
- I acknowledge God’s plan, accept it, celebrate it, and testify to it. Whenever I am weak, then through Christ Jesus I am strong.
TODAY'S PREACHER
Randy Reese is Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC