"Sufficient Grace" | 2 Corinthians 12 | Pastor Israel

Title of tonight's message is Sufficient Grace, Strength in

the thorn. We'll see what that means in a

moment. As you're turning to 2nd

Corinthians 12. Imagine with me for a moment a

butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon as the word I

was after, wings trembling against the tight confines of

this cocoon, and a well meaning child, seeing the struggle,

decides to help out and snips the cocoon open.

But when the butterfly emerges, its wings are shrivelled and now

unfit for flight, doomed to crawl instead of soaring.

The struggle, painful as it was, was actually necessary and

essential for strength. Without it, there is no soaring

in the heavens. This example somewhat captures

the heart of 2nd Corinthians 12 verses 1 to 10.

This evening. I think most of us prefer the

idea of strength being stoic. We admire the capable, the

confident, those that seem to have no qualms, concerns, or

worries. Nothing seems to phase them.

They're competent, we might call them, and we want to be one of

those people holding things together, not the one falling

apart. And yet, in God's Kingdom, the

mathematics of power is reversed.

Strength actually comes through surrender.

Power is made evident in weakness, victory through

vulnerability, life through loss.

That's the paradox that Paul unpacks for us here in this

chapter. He's still addressing, answering

these so called super apostles that had set themselves up in

the church there in Corinth that he's writing to.

And these self promoters boasted about visions and revelations

and insight that they had from God that set them apart, certain

achievements that they might have.

And certainly they set themselves up as being

spiritually superior to the rest of the people, the congregation

there in Corinth and Paul, reluctant and comes through in

his writing, but resolute, strong and firm, steps into

their game for a moment, not to glorify himself, but to now show

what true spiritual authority is all about.

That it in fact it's revealed not in triumphs, but in trials.

Chapter 10. Chapter 11 and 12 are all him

addressing this notion reminds me of when Muhammad Ali the

boxer was told to put his seat belt on when flying in an

aeroplane and he quit. Superman don't need no seat

belt. To which someone quickly

reminded. Superman don't need no aeroplane

either. Paul here in this chapter, he's

answering fools what Proverbs tells us according to their

folly. There's a divine twist in his

writing. And that's why Paul pens what he

does, says what he says. He shares for us this

breathtaking vision of heaven, of a revelation that God had

given to him. But quickly is everything off on

the stage, everything muted? Yeah, OK, so it's me.

But quickly now, having gone from this high sort of vision of

heaven, he'll then explore the depths of this brutal thorn in

the flesh, as he will call it, a messenger of Satan sent to

buffet him. Why?

Well, because both the vision of heaven and the thorn in the

flesh serve the one and the same purpose, to magnify the

sufficiency of God's grace. Grace is something that we talk

about because it appears again and again throughout the

Scriptures. And his thorn, we will see, it's

actually in the Greek, a word that indicates a huge, massive

stakes, I think a, a big kind of tent making stake.

Paul's a tent maker. So that's the imagery that he

had in mind of something that's been driven intensely painful

into his flesh. And in this, this thorn that he

speaks of, actually permitted by God, allowed by God, reveals

this paradox for us, that God's strength actually shines the

brightest in our weakness, in our pain.

So what Paul offers for us in this passage, as we'll read in a

moment or two, startling notices of divine work, of God.

And in Paul's life in an house, a glorious, indescribable

revelation of heaven, yes, of being caught up into paradise,

as he'll say. And then this stubborn, piercing

thorn in the flesh, one seems to lift him up, the other humbles

him. But both, he insists for us

reveal the same truth. God's grace is sufficient.

That'll be our reminder. That'll be our focus for us

tonight. And we'll see this as we look at

3 lessons out of this passage to help us consider what it means

to be a true servant and follower of Jesus Christ.

We'll see the privilege of Revelation and verses one to

six, that God lifts us into his vision.

He, he reveals things for us. But it's not that we'll be

bloated with our own significance and pride filling

our hearts, but rather that we would recognise the call of God

upon us and that we're sent for his purposes and to be busy

about that. We'll see.

Secondly, the purpose of the thorn, that God humbles in that

difficulty so that pride won't ruin us.

We learnt the pride this morning and Paul the Apostle speaks of

this being a needful thing for him lest he become conceited and

filled with pride. And if Paul the Apostle needed

that, then how much more so you and I?

Thirdly, we'll see for us the power of grace, of God's

strength becoming ours in the place in the moments, in the

times of our weakness. So let's begin with the heavenly

part of Paul's story. Verses one through to six I'll

read out of the new King James Version.

He says verse one, It is doubtless not profitable for me

to boast. I will come now to visions and

revelations of the Lord. So in other words, these super

apostles, they keep talking about these grand visions and

revelations God gives to them. All right, I'll play this game.

Let's talk about visions and revelations.

I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body I

do not know. Whether out of the body I do not

know. God knows such a one was caught

up into the 3rd heaven and I know such a man, whether in the

body or out of the body I do not know.

God knows how he was caught up verse 4 into paradise.

This 3rd heaven, this paradise is God's dwelling place.

When we speak of heaven in the Bible, the word heaven's often

used a number of times, translated into English, can

speak of the sky, of the atmosphere, but in this location

it's Speaking of the heavenly realm, God's residence of how

verse 4 caught up into paradise and he heard inexpressible words

which it is not lawful for a man to utter of such a one.

Verse 5. I will boast it of myself.

I'll not boast except in my infirmities, for though I might

desire to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will speak the

truth, but I refrain lest anyone should think of me above what he

sees me to be or hears from me. What is this about?

Well, a point we're going to consider is the privilege of

revelation, that God lifts us into vision, and Paul begins

here almost reluctantly. That comes through in the verses

that we read. I must go on boasting.

Another translation has I'll go on divisions and revelations of

the Lord. Now and then he tells of this

experience, an extraordinary one, but he can't quite fully

explain it. So I don't know whether I was

there physically, but he puts it this way.

I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up in the

3rd heaven into paradise and he heard inexpressible words.

Who is this man in Christ? It's it's actually Paul.

And Paul here is utilising something quite common for the

Greeks back then when arguing and developing a point to

reference themselves in the third person.

And he does that here. And so it's an individual that

he's Speaking of, but we know it to be himself.

And he says that man in Christ, Paul, he's kind of keeping the

details a bit tight. Whether it was me literally,

physically in my body in the heavenly realm, or a vision that

God had granted to me to see, I don't know, but God knows.

But what he does know is that I heard things that can't be

spoken, can't be written down. Now, most scholars, most

commentators suggest that what Paul is referencing here is back

in Acts chapter 14, when some Jews in a a town, a city called

Acts 14 · chapter mention

Lystra, had taken Paul out, dragged him out and stoned him

to death. And whether it was that he had

been concussed or knocked out, or he'd actually died and God

resurrected him, it's not clear in the Scripture.

But many attribute this revelation that he references

here to be of this occasion. We know the story that Paul

comes back and continues and persists preaching and teaching

the very thing that had caused him to be dragged out of the

city. And Lister, it's amazing story

in the book of Acts chapter 14. But this paradise episode that

Acts 14 · chapter mention

he references here, it's not the only supernatural revelation or

vision encounter in Paul's life. And each of the visions that

I'll reference and provide for you in a moment that that Paul

has, that we know from scripture, they each of them

have a specific purpose for Paul.

And this is the point we're going to pull out of what and

what Paul is, is declaring this vision all about.

Because the Super apostles so called in Corinth, we're talking

about these revelations and visions so called that they had,

and they were using it as a reason to have themselves

celebrated, to be elevated above everybody else because of these

revelations, these visions that so called, they've been given.

But Paul says, all right, let me tell you about revelations and

visions and these things and the purpose thereof.

You remember on the road to Damascus there was a revelation,

a vision that Paul had. Paul.

Then Saul was met by the risen Jesus who asked him, Saul, Saul,

why are you persecuting me? And that encounter stopped

literally Paul dead in his tracks, his eyesight.

He was blinded for a season, but it turned him.

It transformed him into the apostle Paul, the sent one on to

the Gentiles. And it wasn't merely instruction

that was given in this revelation by Jesus to him.

It was life transforming. It was commissioning in Paul's

life. That's one revelation. 2nd, we

see a revelation in reference to Paul, the visit of Ananias after

that road experience that Paul had a godly man in Damascus

named Ananias received a vision, directed instructions by God to

go to Saul, who understand at this point in time was a

veritable Hitler as far as the early church was concerned.

And Ananias was told in this vision to go and lay hands on

Saul at that time and to heal him and restore his sight.

And that vision led to Paul's healing.

And that vision led to a public identification for Paul with

Christ's people. A third vision, the Macedonian

call, or a vision in Troas. On time in the night in a city

called Troas, Paul saw a vision of a man from Macedonia saying

come over to Macedonia and help us and what that vision provided

was for Paul mission, strategy, strategy and and launch the

gospel into Europe. There's a time when Paul was

actually in the city of Corinth. We read in the book of Acts an

opposition there. Paul had had become fearful of

it. He's wondering, am I in the

right place? God am I doing and and living

according to your will and I'm so fearful and and the Lord

appeared to him and said do not be afraid and said this I have

many people in this city and that vision strength and Paul to

press on where where human approval had failed and where

fear had gripped his heart. It was a promise, later

appearing in vision form to Paul about what would happen in Rome.

While in prison, Paul received again a vision or a word

confirming that he would in fact testify before Caesar.

And you know what? That promise sustained Paul

through a dangerous sea journey and then his eventual ministry

in Rome. There was another vision.

Paul received an angelic reassurance on the ship on the

journey to Rome when in a storm at sea, an Angel told Paul that

none of those aboard the ship would perish, and this vision

protected and guided him through perilous travel.

Finally, what we read tonight, this paradise vision he mentions

here, this 3rd heaven experience kind of crowns this pattern of

visions if Paul's wanting to boast or to speak of them.

And it's an extraordinary vision of glory.

Paul keeps it quiet. It seems that he's not revealed

this for some 14 years. It's the first time, the first

mention, maybe there's been a select few, but certainly in

writing. And he's sharing it only for the

point of defending his ministry when when others seemingly

flaunted their spiritual credentials above Paul.

And so I want us to Note 2 important observations about

revelations, about how God speaks to us, and in particular

for Paul here always these were given with the purpose of

mission and not promotion. Each vision that I referred us

to, and this vision here that Paul is recounting, it redirects

Paul back into service of the Lord to preach, to go, to

endure. It was always about God's work.

It was always about God's call. It was always about God's will.

It was never about making big of Paul.

And I say that because today in modern Christendom, there are

all sorts of people who will declare certain revelations,

certain dreams, certain maybe heavenly insights that they've

received from God. We've all heard of those near

death experiences where people will recount that I was taken

into into heaven and I saw God. You know what inevitably happens

with many of those? A book comes out and money is

made and TV shows and appearances and all the focus,

all the energy seems to go on to the individual.

There's a stark difference between that and what Paul is

recounting here. All those visions, all of those

revelations were about reorienting Paul and reaffirming

that it's all about me, God. And Paul needed to be reminded

of that here and, and so much more.

I think you and I and, and these visions, they, they never made

Paul proud. They rather made him dependent.

Far from inflating him, the revelation exposed his need for

humility. And the more it seems that he

saw of heaven, the less he boasted in himself.

And so the application for you and I in these verses I want us

to see is this. If God lifts you, if God has

revealed things to you, serve him in that.

And with that, if God has granted you spiritual insight, a

platform or an opportunity, don't treat it as as validation

for pride to fill your heart. Treat it as commissioning for a

deeper service of the Lord and test experience by character.

Revelations, you see, are only valuable if they lead to

humility, holiness, and sacrificial service.

That's what Paul models for us. You know when God shows you

something of His glory, let it make you more like Jesus, not

more inflated with yourself. You know, God will sometimes

lift us so that He can send us. And so I see revelation then as

a privilege with a purpose to equip and to humble.

And that's now really where Paul gets us as we consider the

second point for us tonight, the purpose of the thorn of God

humbling us down. Having recounted this revelatory

experience of being taken into the 3rd heaven, now he reveals

something else. In verse 7 and 8 it says unless

I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the

revelations. I've just recounted a few of

them. No doubt Paul had many more.

A thorn in the flesh. Look at this underliner was

given to me, a messenger of Satan, to buff at me.

Why? Lest I be exalted above measure.

In other words, lest I think more highly of myself than I

ought. Now, unless you think it's some

sort of trivial, insignificant sort of a thing, verse 8 he

goes, no, let me tell you concerning this thing, I pleaded

with the Lord three times. Now the phrasing here pleaded

with the Lord and three times here is in fact eerily similar

in the Greek to the description of Jesus in the Garden of

Gethsemane pleading himself three times.

God, if there'd be any other way past this cup.

And so here's this intensity now of struggle of of painful

experience that Paul is recounting this thorn in the

flesh is a very significant scenario.

Three times that it might depart from me.

So again, Paul shifts from the, excuse me, mountaintop, the

revelation, God in the heavenlies, to now this valley

with a single hard line to keep me from becoming conceited.

Because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was

given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.

As I mentioned already, the word thorn there in the Greek has the

imagery of, again, Paul being a tent maker, a huge sort of

wooden stake, something very sharp.

So it indicates that it's painful, that it's persistent

for him. Paul never specifies the exact

nature of it. And that's caused many people to

speculate about what this is that he's referencing.

And scholars and and and readers have proposed many

possibilities. The main is to indicate that

it's in reference to Paul eyesight on the behalf of Paul

with all of these references through the scriptures of other

churches who would have liked to have given their eyes to him if

they could. A Paul at times saying, look how

big my font is that I'm penning this to you of some sort of a

condition where his eyes were constantly weeping, almost like

he had perpetual pink eye going on.

That's what some suggest. But here's some of the other

suggestions and speculations that it was a form of epilepsy,

some kind of chronic illness, Some spiritualize it, that it's

in reference to spiritual opposition, but I don't

necessarily agree with that. That seems to be more of a

physical thing. Some suggest aggressive critics

and and one Scottish Bible commentator suggested it was in

reference to Paul's wife. I think maybe this guy had

issues with his wife that he's probably putting that up in his

commentary. But whatever it was, it was

painful, it was personal, it was persistent for Paul and, and

here's the point for you and I in that.

And I think the ambiguity in exactly what it was makes this

less and more universal, applicable for you and I because

whatever your thorn, whatever your stake, the principle

applies. So notice these truths about the

thorn that he referenced. The thorn is both demonic and

permitted. Did you see that?

Paul calls it a messenger of Satan, which means that the

enemy used it. Think of Job, the Old Testament

book of Job, right? The story we're introduced to is

Satan comes into the very presence of God Almighty, and

God brings up Job. Job's probably been on earth

when he's experiencing. Why did you mention me?

And God says, have you seen my man, my servant Job?

The challenge comes Satan to God.

He only worships you, God, because you're like a genie in

the bottle to him. You bless him, take away those

things, touch him and he'll curse you to his grave.

So this comes forward through and so on.

But God allowed the point here. God permitted Satan literally to

be used against Job in that story.

This is the idea here that's being brought forward by Paul in

this that that the text reads as a God aloud or gave it so that

Paul would not become conceited. I'll permit God effectively said

in his heavenly throne room of decision making.

I will permit this messenger of Satan to buffet Paul.

I'll allow it and I'll in fact use it.

And Paul says God gave it to me. It sounds paradoxical, but

Scripture here holds these both realities that Satan is

attacking and and God is permitting for Paul's good.

And that blows our minds. But the purpose we need to

understand is, is this. It's protective and formative.

And why? Because at the heart of it is

this great sin of pride. Don't we see again and again of

pride being the downfall, undoing so many leaders and

ruining so many Saints? And so God loved Paul and, and

Paul's ministry so much that he saw fit that Paul needed this.

So that should it not be there, pride could have potentially

filled Paul's heart and bring the downfall to the ministry and

work of Paul that God was using. And the thorn guarded Paul's

heart against spiritual inflation and elevation of

himself, and in fact preserved Paul for the long run.

But Paul pleaded, he begged 3 times for relief.

It says this means that he prayed earnestly.

Oh man, have you ever prayed earnestly?

Fervently and so Paul's petitions here weren't flippant

nor casual. Oh God, could you just kind of

deal with this for me thanks cheers see you next time now

this here it makes the answer then because of the pleading and

the urgency of it then more meaningful from God.

God's no wasn't indifferent here.

It was purposeful. So note the sequence.

Well, Paul's plea, Lord, remove it.

God's purpose. Paul, you need it and God's

promise. But my grace is sufficient for

you. And sometimes God does not

change our circumstances. And this is an area that we need

to be mindful of in our prayers. And I'll give three ways that we

can pray about situations and circumstances.

They come across our path because often our first port of

call when we pray is to pray for escape.

Lord, deliver me from this. And that's often a prayer that

we pray for other people when they explain a situation or a

circumstance that is like a veritable thorn in the flesh.

And I understand that, and we're sympathetic and we're empathetic

towards them. But God here in Paul's

situation, in his circumstance, whatever this steak was,

whatever this thorn in the flesh was, whatever this messenger of

Satan buffeting him was, God said, no, Paul, I'm actually

going to use this. I'm actually going to change

this, and it will benefit you. But Charles Spurgeon put it this

way. He once said, I have learned to

kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.

And it's often true, isn't it, that in difficulty, in intensity

of trial and circumstance, where do we go?

God help. We cling to God so much more.

Paul's thorn was that wave. It hurt, but it drove him closer

to Christ. So I believe every believer

here, you and I tonight has a thorn of some sort.

You're saying a thorn? I've got multiple thorns,

Israel, some pain, some weakness, some limitation.

Maybe God's allowing to humble us, to keep us holy.

Maybe yours is physical, Maybe yours is emotional.

Maybe it's relational, spiritual.

And you've prayed for relief. You've begged 3 times.

I've begged 300 times, but heaven seems silent.

So understand what seems to you and I as unanswered.

Prayer doesn't mean God's neglect.

It may mean God's perfecting work is in progress.

Mr Dahan's book Broken Things illustrates a $5 steel bar he

writes becomes $10 when beaten into horseshoes, becomes $350.00

when broken into medical needles, becomes $250,000 when

broken into watch springs. More valuable is this steel bar

after hammering and polishing. Fawns in our flesh are not about

our lives being comfortable. And that's usually why we're

praying God deliver me for escape.

But God is forging godly character far more valuable in

you and I. So we need to to learn to see as

God's servants that the thorn then is not punishment against

us, but preparation. And so if God humbles you in

this regard, be teachable. And when God allows difficulty,

don't assume you're being rejected.

Ask instead, God, what is this doing in me?

Want me to see your purpose, to understand your plan.

And so learn to pray in these three ways.

Yes, we can pray to escape, and that might be God's deliverance

for us. It's very honest and human for

us to do that. God, help Get Me Out of this.

But failing an answer in that regard, pray then for this.

Pray to endure. God, give me the strength with

this thorn in the flesh, this messenger of Satan buffeting me,

Help me to endure, to stand up against it.

And then thirdly, pray to enlist.

Ask God. God, what is your purpose?

What is your plan that you're allowing that you're permitting

this in my life for see it as, yeah, maybe demonic in origin,

that Satan is trying to use it to attack, but that God has

allowed it, that he has permitted it for some reason,

some purpose for his glory and your good thorn's purpose again,

is not punitive. It's productive, it's

preservative. It keeps us small in the best

possible sense, small enough for God's greatness to fill us.

And this is our Third Point here, verses 9 and 10, The power

of grace. God strengthens us within.

He said to me, Paula prayed 3 times.

God answered him, My grace, grace again, undeserved favour

unmerited. Nothing that you've done Paul,

to deserve it, but I'm giving it to you.

My grace is sufficient, meaning everything that you need is

sufficient for you. Why My strength is made perfect.

That word perfect means complete, full in weakness.

Therefore, Paul replies most gladly, I will rather boast in

my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities.

This is not some macabre sort of mindset.

We'll explain it here in a moment.

In reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for

Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am

strong. And finally, we arrive at the

heart of the passage here. Paul.

He presses for an answer after this third petition.

God, deliver me from this, deliver me from this, deliver me

from this. And God's reply, brief but

eternal. My grace is sufficient for you,

Paul. My power is made perfect in

weakness. What a reply, those short words

but carry the weight of salvation and of ongoing

ministry in Paul's life. 4 words.

My grace is sufficient grace not only a reference to past

forgiveness, but here in this context present provision,

future formation, and hope and promises made being delivered.

The word sufficient implies continuous supply in Paul's

life. God will have enough for today's

needs and tomorrow's and the next days and next weeks and

next months and on. If you're fearful of the future

and what that might hold, may this verse bring courage to your

soul. Tonight.

My power is made perfect in weakness.

And here I understand this. God's power doesn't just

compensate for weakness, it is in fact displayed in it.

Perfect again means complete, means full.

And Paul's response then to that declaration from God, is this

all right? I'm going to rest in your grace.

I'm going to enjoy your grace, God, he says.

Now I'm going to in fact boast all the more gladly of these

weaknesses. I love my thorn in the flesh.

It doesn't become again, masochist here, delighting in

pain for the sake you feel the pain you didn't like have cold

showers and ice baths in the morning.

And he wasn't, you know, embracing that kind of thing.

But rather it's about now him intentionally reframing

suffering where he is weak. He now understands it.

OK, Christ is going to be revealed as strong, and the

thorn now becomes a pulpit for God's power to be preached.

So tonight, rest in grace. It's all sufficient, all you

need. When resources fail, when

reputation fades, when fatigue comes, look for God's

sufficiency rather than your capacity to fix it.

I'll sort it out. I'll solve it, and I'll grind

and I'll make it happen. I'll pull myself up by my

bootstraps and I'll I'll take care of it Both.

Not in your stamina, in your capacity, but in your Saviour.

Make your testimony less about self.

I did this, more about Christ's sustaining power at work in you.

And so to do that, we need to practise dependence, I think

daily. That's why the Bible tells us to

deny ourselves, take up our cross, follow Jesus, to take

those steps that require God's enabling in our lives.

So let prayer be your first resource.

If you've got steak sticking out of all parts of your body

tonight and you haven't been praying, man, can I say pray?

Let prayer be your first resource, not the desperate last

resort, but when pain returns, repeat God's word.

My grace is sufficient. Let the Scripture become like

muscle memory in this way, so that when you're fatigued, when

you're overwhelmed, man, I I'm feeling this way.

I don't know what's going on, but here's what I do know.

The Bible says my grace is sufficient.

Power will become strong in weakness and then use your

weakness, in fact, to serve others.

Many times in our weakness, in our thorns, in the flesh, what

do we do? We withdraw ourselves from

others. We hold pity parties and invite

people over so that they can hear about what we're going

through and how bad it is and what's happening.

You know, what is a good thing to do is to allow the very

weakness, that very maybe area that we're tempted to hide,

become the platform for empathy and ministry, for God to use us

for his power to come through in our weakness.

And so in short, grace doesn't necessarily remove the thorn.

It does remove the thorns ability to rule you and define

you. And don't we know people like

that where they're so defined by the thorn in the flesh?

You know, OK, I'm going to have a conversation with so, so and

so. How long is it going to take

before they bring it up? Oh, you won't believe it Again,

not to diminish that, but rather to suggest that that has become

a means of their identity. And our identity is not that.

Our identity is Christ Jesus. So when you rely on God,

weakness now becomes the stage for Christ's power to come

through. So then this is the the paradox

that Paul presents for us, that I hope through the power of the

Holy Spirit tonight and the word of God will change everything in

yours and my life and us as a fellowship.

Paul has moved from this glorious revelation of the

heavenlies and then back to the grind, back to the thorn in the

flesh, the revelation, the vision, and then the

vulnerability, the thorn. But he says both were gifts for

the same end, to keep Paul dependent on God and to be

fruitful in his service unto him.

He says it plainly, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

So how does this change us tonight as we've read these

verses and we finish now? If God gives you revelation

insight, receive it. Understand it as commissioning

that that comes with a calling, a purpose, not as currency for

pride. Serve more, boast less.

If God allows pain or limitation, ask how it might be

forming you God. What's your purpose in this?

It might be more like God. What's your purpose in this?

That might be how we're praying it.

But pray to enlist it for the Kingdom of God and His purposes

and for His use, rather than a form of escapism.

And if God's grace is the answer, my grace is sufficient.

Let that truth reshape your identity.

You are not ultimately what you do.

You are what Christ is in you so again, many of us, we can pray

like Paul prayed Lord take this away and God sometimes answers

yes, I'll do that. Praise the Lord.

We say Hallelujah. Sometimes Jesus answer is wait,

no, not yet. And sometimes his answer is with

the deeper life changing no, my grace is sufficient.

And we need to learn to hear all those answers and to live

faithfully in each. So tonight, as we close our

Bibles and get ready to pray, wherever you are, on the

mountaintop in the heavenlies, the very throne room of God like

Paul describing, I'm in paradise.

Or in the low valley, I don't know what thorn, what steak,

what messenger of Satan is buffeting you tonight.

May you and I become someone who says, with Paul, I will boast

gladly in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest on

me. You know what happens when you

and I get there. With that we we discover the

strangest and most wonderful thing.

Weakness in our lives will no longer be merely a problem to

solve. It will be the place where God's

greatness is made known.