to spend some time in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so
that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when
I am weak, then I am strong."
Lessons learned:
1. "To keep me from becoming conceited..."
a. weaknesses are given to us for a reason.
b. conceited- too high an opinion of one's abilities, worth, or
personality; vanity...valuing self and knowing you have
great worth is important but having too high of an opinion leads to ugliness.
2. "There was GIVEN me...."
a. "A man can receive only what is GIVEN him from heaven." John 3:27
b."Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you
did not receive?
1 Corinthians 4:7
c. I am God's creation. He has GIVEN me strengths AND weaknesses.
3. "...a messenger of Satan, to TORMENT me."
a. God allows Satan to have some access to our lives
1. Job 1: 6-12
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also
came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan
answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in
it." Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is
no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and
shuns evil."
"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge of
protection around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed
the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds spread throughout the land.
But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse
you to your face." The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has
is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
2. Luke 22: 31 & 32
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
foryou, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned back, strengthen your brothers."
3. It is Satan who seeks to TORMENT us.
TORMENT- Great mental anguish; a source of harrassment, annoyance, pain; to
annoy or pester
4. Satan and people might be out to harm or torment us, but God is in
control and uses all things for good.
a. Genesis 50:19-21
"But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the SAVING OF MANY LIVES."
b. Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
5. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away.."
a. He didn't pray only once. He didn't stop praying until he heard God
speak to his situation.
b. Life involves/needs a relationship with God and honest, passionate
conversations with him who is the One who can do something about our
pain.
6. "But He said to me.."
a. God speaks to us
b. When was the last time you heard God speak to you?
c. God is aware of our situations and knows what is needed or what is
best.
7. "My GRACE is sufficient(enough, adequate, as much as is needed) for YOU."
a. I don't have to be perfect!!!
b. His unmerited gift of kindness & perfection is enough.
8. "My Power is made PERFECT in weakness."
a. It is all about His Power in our lives
b. "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
9. "I will BOAST (take pride in; be enhanced by) all the more GLADLY about
my weaknesses..."
A. An encounter with God can change the way we look at our situation
b. we can move from being tormented to thanking God and seeing God
10. "...For Christ's sake.."
a. Life is to be lived for Christ
1. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go
on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me." Phillipians 1:21 &
22 .
b. "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus'
sake so that HIS LIFE may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at
work in us, but life is at work in you." 2 Corinthians 4: 11- 12
Ahhh! I'm out of time. Let this be a beginning place to interact with this Word
of God. May it be in your mind and heart all day. May you ask God more questions
about it and may He reveal to you more insight into this great passage of Truth.
May this Scripture somehow lead you to not be knocked down or out by your
weaknesses but rather to turn to God to see what He wants to do in and through
your weaknesses. Blessings from Bombadil. Kristy Link
"I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so
that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on
account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26
