-Strength for Today- "The Sufficiency of Grace." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Being empowered by grace, is to experience God’s “divine infusion of power.” In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 7, Paul is dealing with what he calls, a “thorn in the flesh.” The Greek word for “thorn,” “`akavoa” refers to anything pointed. So, since it says there were messengers of Satan, there were probably people irritating Paul, who constantly travel behind him undermining him, and he couldn't get rid of them whether it was a:
· Person,
· Place, or
· Thing,
Maybe you're living with a “thorn” in the flesh,” I don't know, but wherever you’re facing an irritating situation that won't leave you alone, it’ll drive you crazy. Maybe it's an:
· Emotional thing, or a
· Financial debt that won't go away, but left unattended, it’ll drive you “bananas.”
Not only is Paul saying he has a “thorn,” he says this “thorn” came from the devil. He says it's a messenger of Satan. It’s a satanic “prick” that he’s experiencing, watch this, “that was allowed” by God.” But listen, the devil can’t do anything to you that God doesn’t allow. Verse 8 says, “…I besought the Lord three times that it might depart from me,” that is he prayed seeking deliverance. Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but right now the devil’s irritant was contentiously annoying, he needed help.
Sometimes, an answer to our prayers seem to go unanswered. But when we wait faithfully on the Lord:
· There it is,
· There is your answer!
Verse 9 says, “And he has said to me…." you’ve hit fullness when you hear God's voice, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” – v. 10. The key is you’re hearing the voice of God! The problem is most people aren't listening for it. That’s why the pulpit should never lie to you and tell you God's going to always fix it. You see:
· That's not true,
· It’s illustrated here.
God said, "No, but I'm going to do one better for you, I'm going to give you My grace," and with grace, you’ll have power in your weakness!
So, the first thing is to pray until you hear God's voice. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,” (even when facing difficult trials), “without doubting”. Now watch this. Paul says, “…I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak then I am strong” -2 Corinthians 12:10.
Grace That Is Greater
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe!
Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD