THE ABUNDANT GRACE

"even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NLT

God be praised for another weekend like this, granted through His divine mercy and plenteous grace, enabling us to continue in His plans and not drift away. May God's name be praised forever and ever. Amen.

This morning, we will examine the Word of God through the experience and encounter of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.

This encounter is vital for keeping us aligned with God. We need to examine the phrase "keeping me from being proud." We know that the spirit of pride is a critical tool of the devil. If Satan wants a person to fall away from God's presence, he introduces pride, which eliminates God and replaces Him with carnal glory (resulting in spiritual death).

This was the core issue (pride) that God needed to address to keep Paul aligned with His will, despite Paul's many mouth watering spiritual qualities and possessions.

Further, Paul said, "a messenger from Satan tormented me and kept me from being proud." A vital revelation here is that the devil's plan was to use the thorn as a punishment or a blemish in Paul's life. However, God had a superior plan, allowing the thorn to serve a purpose as a checker to prevent Paul from being swept away by the remarkable, boast-worthy encounters he had with Christ.

God's Response: Grace and Power in Weakness

God's response, "My grace is all you need, and my power works best in weakness," fully explains our discussion. It highlights Grace and the fullness of God's power. Grace manifests when we have no strength; it is about acknowledging and accepting God's help in His divine way.

This means laying down our pride, self-worth, knowledge, wisdom, strength, and abilities for grace to work. God's statement reveals that His power is most effective in our weakness. Thus, the fullness of God's power is made known through His Grace.

Conclusion: Trusting in God's Sustaining Power

Paul's life demonstrates that when we lean on God, He is faithful and powerful enough to sustain us. As stated in 2 Corinthians 4:16, though our life and strength may seem to waste away, and we may lack the worldly achievements others boast about, God's grace is mightily at work when we trust in His power. His power has never failed those who reach out to Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I trust in Your power and the abundance of Your grace. I lay down my crown, my pride, my strength, and my possessions. Please, Lord, come and take control. You are my only hope. Renew Your Spirit within me Amen.