Step #3: Tap Into God's Grace Series

Tap Into God’s Grace (OR Bitter or Better OR Let it Change You)

2 Cor. 12:7-10 -

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What kind of “thorn” was Paul talking about?

1. Physical problem?

I remember hearing my dad tell a story about my uncle, who fell off the porch of my grandparent’s house. Somehow, he fell in such a way that the pencil he had in his pocket went through the fleshy part of his thigh, and pinned his pants to his leg.

Now THERE’s a thorn in the flesh!

2. People Problem?

You know those kind of people? I call them EGR people – Extra Grace Required.

3. Emotional problem?

Bouts of depression? Discouragement?

Honestly, we don’t really know what Paul’s thorn was. All we know is that it was painful – it was a huge hurt.

The key wasn’t what Paul’s problem was – it was how he handled it! He learned that he could tap into God’s grace.

Grace is 2 things. We sometimes only think of the one, and forget the other:

- Undeserved kindness - he saves us when we don’t deserve it.

- Enabling power - he gives us strength to live like he wants us to.

USE THE PROBLEM TO BE A:

A Preventive to Pride “Lest I should be exalted above measure.”

Paul could’ve been very proud of what he had accomplished. Really, spreading Christianity across much of the known world, without even using e-mail!

A Pressure to Pray “I besought the Lord 3X”

Fire chief answered phone and woman said "send a fire truck". He didn’t know what to do. phone rang, lady said "send a fire truck now!" and hung up. The next time the pnone rang, he was ready. "where’s the fire?" "it’s in the kitchen!" We need to be specific with God.

But what happens when you’re specific with God, and he doesn’t take the problem away?

A Prompt to Prioritize?? “I take pleasure in infirmities...for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I love the Olympics. Something about the power in those athletes. They’ve trained for years for this, and they’re in top shape. I don’t have a television, but the other day when I was at a store, and I saw those gymnasts whipping themselves around on that pommel horse. . . WOW.

You ever notice that our culture glorifies strength? Whether it’s the weightlifting guy, or the gymnast, or swimmer, or Lance Armstrong, it’s always the strongest one who gets the most notice. Even in the business world, it’s the strongest leader, the one who’s tough on the competition.

Did you know that God values weakness?

Now that’s weird! Why would God value weakness? One simple reason:

9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It makes us admit, “I need God.”

One of our major problems as humans is saying, “I can do this on my own.” But what happens when you get hit, and you CAN’T handle it by yourself – your weakness shows up?

Joni Earikson Tada - dove into a river, not realizing it was shallow, and broke her neck. She was paralyzed from the waist down. Now there’s weakness! All of a sudden, you can’t do ANYTHING for yourself! But in that weakness, God has showed himself.

When you decide, “I need God”:

- More than you need to have it your way.

- More than you want your family’s approval.

- More than you want to make your friends happy.

- More than

Then God’s power comes through to you on a whole new level!

You know why? Because then, you can’t say, “Look what I did!” People around you can’t say, “Wow! He’s/She’s amazing!”

Instead, they look at you and say, “Wow. That had to be God, because there’s no way that person could have done that by themselves – not with all their weaknesses!”