Title: The All Sufficient Grace
Text: 2 Cor. 12:7-10
[2Co 12:7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[2Co 12:8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[2Co 12:9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
[2Co 12:10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Introduction
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Last week, we discussed the work of the grace according to Titus 2:11-15
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Salvation
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Denying ungodliness
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Denying worldly lusts
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Live soberly
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Live righteously
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Live godly
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Today, we are looking at the All Sufficient Grace of Jesus Christ and the purpose of that grace.
Main Topic
The thorn in the flesh
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Apostle Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 that a messenger of Satan, a thorn in the flesh was given to him.
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The thorn in the flesh was given to him through the abundance of revelations that he had
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He was caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable things
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He heard from Jesus Christ directly on his way to Damascus
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Clothing from his body was healing the sick
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He raised the dead back to life
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Through revelations, he wrote most of the books of the New Testament… and many more
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To prevent pride from coming in, Paul was put in check by this messenger of Satan
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We do not know for sure what the thorn in the flesh is, but we do know it is not a physical thorn in his flesh.
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Some have speculated that it is sickness
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Some believers have erroneously used this as an excuse to say that it is not in God’s will for them to be healed
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Unless you have revelations similar to that of Paul’s, such argument is invalid
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Some speculated that it was Alexander the coppersmith, who did Paul evil.
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The exact thorn in the flesh does not matter, it is the purpose that matters.
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The purpose was to keep Paul humble enough to finish his race
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Three times he sought the face of the Lord that the thorn might depart.
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He heard, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”
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Was it the will of God for Paul to carry this thorn in the flesh around?
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I think so. It was the will of God for Jesus to die a painful death on the cross to deliver us from darkness into His marvelous light.
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It is the will of God for Paul to be kept humble to finish his race.
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There can be pain in the will of God. However, the end result will be joy
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It is the will of God for us to be fruitful and multiply, but there is pain in giving birth. However, the end result is joy.
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Did the messenger of Satan come from God?
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God will not send a messenger of Satan on an errand, but he can use them for His purpose
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[Rom 8:28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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2 Tim. 4:6-8
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[2Ti 4:6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
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[2Ti 4:7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
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[2Ti 4:8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
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In the end, he finished his race, and the result was not the thorn in the flesh, it was joy.
The All Sufficient Grace
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The purpose of grace is to ensure we make heaven.
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We were saved by grace to make heaven
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We are kept alive by grace to run this race and make heaven
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We are delivered by grace to make heaven
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That grace must sufficient for us to finish well
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Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for thee:”
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We may not have a thorn in the flesh like Paul, but we may have weaknesses, we have shortcomings, we have challenges, we have trials and tribulations, and battles.
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Tell yourself – His grace is sufficient for me
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In my weakness, His grace is sufficient for me
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In my shortcomings, His grace is sufficient for me
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In my challenges, His grace is sufficient for me
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In my trials, His grace is sufficient for me
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In my tribulations, His grace is sufficient for me
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In my battles, His grace is sufficient for me
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Jesus said, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
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Tell yourself – “His strength is made perfect in my weakness”
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In my weakness, His strength is made perfect
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In my shortcomings, His strength is made perfect
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In my challenges, His strength is made perfect
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In my trials, His strength is made perfect
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In my tribulations, His strength is made perfect
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In my battles, His strength is made perfect
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In the end, it will result in joy.
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A time is coming that our challenges will no longer be remembered. We will end this race in joy.
Conclusion
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Look for the strength of Jesus in that situation you are passing through
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His grace is sufficient
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His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses, so that we can finish well in joy.