PP0604 DATE
WHY THINGS IN LIFE GO WRONG
II Corinthians 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
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.
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. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever asked, “Why did that happen to me?” Everyone listening to my voice today can relate to what I am saying. All of us have had something go sour before. When it seemed that all was well on the home front or in life something comes crashing down and almost blows you out of the water. We seem to get one loose end in one hand and the other end in the other hand, and then we find that they won’t fit together.
Why does this happen?
Let me assure you first that this is not a personal assault on you; much of the time it is a personal assignment from God. He has a very definite reason in mind and if you will accept it as that you will come out on the other side of the tunnel a much better person. You will be wiser and better for the experience. Much of the time we blame our misfortune on Satan and it may not be him at all – rather God’s way of communicating with us.
Follow me very closely as we dissect these thoughts today.
First, things go wrong in our life:
I. TO DEFUSE US OF PRIDE Vs. 7.
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.
Paul is saying that to keep him from exalting himself above what he should God had given him a thorn in the flesh.
A. God Has Much To Say About Pride. One example of God’s feeling toward pride is found in Lev 26:19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
Noah Webster defines pride:
Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Benjamin Franklin said, “Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.”
Someone else said, “All pride is abject and mean.”
We read about pride in the Book of Daniel, Dan 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (or defuse)
Paul is teaching us that if God had not defused him of his pride, then he would have been “exalted above measure”. Vs. 7
B. The Results Of Pride.
1. Shame - Prov 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
2. Contention - Prov 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
3. Destruction - Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
If you have a prideful spirit, the next step is a great fall. I have known literally scores of situations where this has happened to good families.
They tried to live in a higher fashion of life than they were financially capable of doing. They had to try to impress their peers. The only means of doing so was to use plastic money, or credit cards, and in a few years their world came falling down. Proverbs 16:18 warns us of such a fall.
Hear me today, if you possess pride, you will fall.
4. Breaking - Prov 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
God has a way of breaking your pride.
We used to have some members of this church whose pride would not allow them to attend church in a store front building.
There are those whose pride would not allow them to carry a brown paper sack lunch to work.
ILLUSTRATION: You have heard my story about how my wife and I travel. We would always pack in a grocery sack. I try to find one with the carrying handles so it is easier to carry. I realize that may not be fashionable, but it surely is easy.
Once when my wife and I returned from visiting with our daughter in South Carolina. We spent one night on the road in Jackson, Tennessee. It was a very nice motel. Our room was inside the main complex, and the only entry was to go through the main lobby. We parked in the front of the building, and I got my brown paper travel bag, my favorite pillow, that I always carry with me, and walked right into that motel. Several of the attendants and guests seemed to enjoy observing our entry.
I don’t do that to offend anyone, but we didn’t have a nice set of travel bags. (we have since gotten some) Who needs one when Braums has brown paper bags – with handles.
What I am saying is: To have any other feeling or attitude would be that of pride.
I used to drive a car that the only way it could be started was to jump start it. It is hard to have pride and carry a set of jumper cables in your hand going from car to car asking someone to give you a jump start.
Pride will destroy you.
One of the reasons for Paul’s hardships was to defuse him of his pride.
Notice this thought.
II. TO DRIVE US TO GOD. Vs. 8.
2 Cor 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Paul didn’t like the thorn in the flesh. He had no special feelings of love for the thing that haunted him. He wanted God to rid him of it. It was such a dramatic thing to Paul that three different times he brought it to God hoping that He would rid him of it.
It caused him to go to God.
A. David’s Example. Many of the Psalms were written while David was in exile from Saul. They are in the form of a prayer, seeking God’s deliverance from the sword of his enemy. The thorn in David’s flesh caused him to seek God on a greater level.
B. The Prodigal Son.
His pride drove him to the hog pen, but notice that the hog pen drove him to his father.
Turn to: Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Look at Vs. 17. Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
“And when he came to himself…”
The beginning of repentance is the acknowledging of the mercy of God, which encourages us to hope expectantly. His physical hardship and discomfort drove him back to the father.
The phrase - “And when he came to himself…”- is commonly applied to one who has been deranged, and when he recovers we say he has come to himself. In this place it denotes that the folly of the young man was a kind of derangement--that he was insane. So it is of every person out of the will of God.
He admitted his demise. Before recovery could take place he had to come to himself and admit his problem. When the blinded eyes of the soul are opened no man is content to abide in sin; that is, in destruction.
C. I Think Of Jonah. What an experience he encountered; yet it was all meant to drive him back to God. The experience in the belly of the whale – that was God’s will for Jonah at that moment.
D. The Crisis That You Are Experiencing Right Now May Be To Drive You Back To God. If that be the reason then you should look at it as a blessing from God, and not a hardship.
I know many families that have had to weather this situation in their life. Those who don’t submit to God will come out the loser. God will take all that you have and all that you love and cherish dearly, until you come back to Him. Ask the Prodigal Son. He experienced this.
I wonder how many dads and moms have followed a baby casket to the graveyard simply because God was trying to bring them back to Him?
I wonder how many families have filed bankruptcy because God was drawing them back?
I wonder how many homes have been broken up by divorce simply because they refused to be drawn back to God in His way?
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
This verse has a very simple way of escape for those who are experiencing those hardships. “Draw nigh to God.”
That’s His purpose in allowing the thing to happen in the first place.
Many families have come to God during crisis time; yet many don’t.
III. TO DISPLAY HIS GRACE Vs. 9.
2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
A. Sufficient.
1. That means it is enough.
2. It is adequate. Whatever the situation God’s grace is adequate.
3. He is qualified.
4. Possesses adequate abilities to perform what is needed.
5. When grace is needed, grace is there.
If you have God’s grace you need nothing else.
B. His Grace Is Sufficient For Salvation.
C. His Grace Is Sufficient For Sanctification.
D. His Grace Is Sufficient For Glorification.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin.
No matter how great the storm, His grace is sufficient.
No matter how deep the valley, His grace is sufficient.
No matter how sharp the pain, His grace is sufficient.
No matter how high the mountain, His grace is sufficient.
No matter how sick a loved one may get, His grace is sufficient.
No matter how large the debt may seem, His grace is sufficient.
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
That very thing that you are experiencing this very moment may be so that God can display His grace in your behalf.
IV. TO DISPLAY GOD’S STRENGTH Vs. 9 & 10.
2 Cor 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.
2 Cor 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.
It was more important to Paul to have God’s power upon him than to have physical comfort.
Through Christ you can win the victory.
Through the strength of Christ you can defeat the enemy.
You don’t have to be defeated in every little thing that the devil tosses your way. Paul said, “I take pleasure in infirmities.” I know victory will come with or without the thorn in the flesh. The removal of the thorn was not the avenue to victory – rather to allow God’s will to be done.
The necessities, the persecutions, the distresses that are on me for Christ’s sake only display to me how God’s strength is all that I need.
V. TO DIRECT US TO GOD’S WILL Vs. 10.
2 Cor 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.
Notice these words, “for Christ’s sake”.
Are you willing to do what is necessary “for Christ’s sake?”
Are you willing to be anything and all things, “for Christ’s sake?”
Paul is teaching us that the infirmities;
the reproaches; the necessities;
the persecutions; the distresses; all for the sake of Christ.
Accept everything that comes your way as the will of God for that present moment. If it is a negative then it is present to get you back into the will of God. If it is a positive then it is present to get you to give Him the glory.
When that attitude prevails in your life then you will be in the will of God, performing His work and His will according to His way.
What is His will for you this very moment?
If you are not saved, then His will is that you be saved today.
If you are not serving Him, then His will is that you begin immediately serving Him.
If you are not letting Him use you in reaching others with the Gospel message then His will is that you surrender to that purpose.
What is it today that you need to do to be in the will of God?
Maybe your missions giving is not what it should be. I wonder this – if a person is behind in their giving – should they go on vacation this year? How should that be answered?
Maybe your attendance is lacking.
Maybe your witnessing has fallen short.
If one is out of God’s will then the pressure will continue and it will intensify until the person yields himself to God.
Let close with the question I began with – “Why is this happening to me?” What’s your answer?
INVITATION
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH MINISTRIES
PO BOX 891523
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73189-1523
405-691-8701
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