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The All Sufficient Grace

Posted on 01 Aug 2021, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

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

Last week, we discussed the work of the grace according to Titus 2:11-15
- Salvation
- Denying ungodliness
- Denying worldly lusts
- Live soberly
- Live righteously
- Live godly
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

Apostle Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 that a messenger of Satan, a thorn in the flesh was given to him.
The thorn in the flesh was given to him through the abundance of revelations that he had
- He was caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable things
- He heard from Jesus Christ directly on his way to Damascus
- Clothing from his body was healing the sick
- He raised the dead back to life
- Through revelations, he wrote most of the books of the New Testament… and many more
To prevent pride from coming in, Paul was put in check by this messenger of Satan
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.
Some have speculated that it is sickness
- Some believers have erroneously used this as an excuse to say that it is not in God’s will for them to be healed
- Unless you have revelations similar to that of Paul’s, such argument is invalid
Some speculated that it was Alexander the coppersmith, who did Paul evil.
The exact thorn in the flesh does not matter, it is the purpose that matters.
The purpose was to keep Paul humble enough to finish his race
Three times he sought the face of the Lord that the thorn might depart.
He heard, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”
Was it the will of God for Paul to carry this thorn in the flesh around?
- 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.
- It is the will of God for Paul to be kept humble to finish his race.
- There can be pain in the will of God. However, the end result will be joy
- 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.
Did the messenger of Satan come from God?
- God will not send a messenger of Satan on an errand, but he can use them for His purpose
- [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.
- 2 Tim. 4:6-8
  - [2Ti 4:6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  - [2Ti 4:7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
  - [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.
- In the end, he finished his race, and the result was not the thorn in the flesh, it was joy.

The All Sufficient Grace

The purpose of grace is to ensure we make heaven.
- We were saved by grace to make heaven
- We are kept alive by grace to run this race and make heaven
- We are delivered by grace to make heaven
- That grace must sufficient for us to finish well
Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for thee:”
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.
Tell yourself – His grace is sufficient for me
- In my weakness, His grace is sufficient for me
- In my shortcomings, His grace is sufficient for me
- In my challenges, His grace is sufficient for me
- In my trials, His grace is sufficient for me
- In my tribulations, His grace is sufficient for me
- In my battles, His grace is sufficient for me
Jesus said, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Tell yourself – “His strength is made perfect in my weakness”
- In my weakness, His strength is made perfect
- In my shortcomings, His strength is made perfect
- In my challenges, His strength is made perfect
- In my trials, His strength is made perfect
- In my tribulations, His strength is made perfect
- In my battles, His strength is made perfect
In the end, it will result in joy.
A time is coming that our challenges will no longer be remembered. We will end this race in joy.

Conclusion

Look for the strength of Jesus in that situation you are passing through
His grace is sufficient
His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses, so that we can finish well in joy.

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Sermon

The All Sufficient Grace