You Are Not Enough

ENGAGE:

INVICTUS by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms, but the Horror of the Shade,

And yet, the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

Opening Question and Statement:

This poem was written by Willam Ernest Henley, a man who had been through a lot of turmoil and suffering in his day. I know at times, you and we can relate to these words. This poem can be an inspiration for us. This poem tells us that we are enough. It tells us that we are sufficient enough to forgo our struggles and control our destinies. “But seriously, I am enough? On its face, that is not a message of freedom. It’s a message of bondage. “You are enough” is a message that enslaves people to the false idea that they are responsible for being the mastermind of their current circumstances and future realities - even when they feel overwhelmed.” (pg 37, Live Your Truth). Humans are indeed amazing creatures. We can figure out complex issues. We can operate in intellectual spaces that other mammals cannot. Our creator God is amazingly enough. Question. Are we enough in and on our own merit?

Opening Prayer:

Lord, Heavenly Father, let us live by the truth of Your word and not by the lies of the world. Grant unto us, O God, the fullness of your promises. Where we have been weak, grant us your strength; where we have been confused, grant us your guidance; where we have been distraught, grant us your comfort; where we have been dead, grant us your life. Apart from you, O Lord, we are nothing; in and with you, we can do everything. Lord, help us to learn and acknowledge that you are enough. Amen.

Introduction:

The church should care about people, their problems, and their needs. We, as Christians, are called to love everyone and help when needed. Jesus demonstrated this throughout His time on Earth. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, raised people from the dead, and gave life to the dead in spirit. We are called to give testimony about God’s work in our lives. 1 Chronicles 16:8 - Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! I can keep us here for hours, making known God’s deeds toward my family.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will try power through my testimony of how I got to this place in knowing the Christ of the Cross. Listen closely as I point out five points throughout my testimony.

The Illusion Of Self-Sufficiency

Acknowledging Our Limitations

Embracing God’s Grace (The Hinge)

Finding Fulfillment in Christ

Living in Freedom and Abundance

Before we do that, let's dive into the scripture for today. We place the pressure on our own strength to get by. We learn that our way does not work when God is not sought for the strength needed to power through.

SCRIPTURE: Listen carefully as this is the word of the Lord:

2 Corinthians 12:8-10. (Page # ________ ) I will be reading from the ESV.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Word of the Lord thus far – Thanks be to God, Amen!

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HISTORY & TENSION:

This verse is perfect for what we are experiencing today. With all the media attention focused on race, the evil of politics at pimping out the American people to hate one another. When we break down verse eight, the “thorn” proved so tormenting to Paul that he begged the Lord (Jesus) to remove it on three separate occasions. We have thorns that torment us, yet we often don’t know how to manage them. In verses 9-10, we see that Paul’s prayer did not rid him of his thorns. God kept the thorns in place. I feel that God is keeping our thorns in place as well. Even if it hurts, we should still testify about the Goodness of the Lord. In our distress which is inflicted at various times in our lives, in this passage, God promises that we will never lack sufficient grace to come over whatever obstacle we may face. Who honestly wants to suffer? Who wants to be drugged through hardships, not know where your next meal will come from? Who wants to be teased and bullied for lacking material things? Who wants to have a parent or child on drugs and alcohol? Who wants all of these things?