Grace Sufficient for Every Need

TOPIC : GRACE SUFFICIENT FOR EVERY NEED

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Memory Verse Text: 2 Corinthians 8:9

We, as Christians, are always in need of grace – not only ‘dying grace’, but grace to enable us to live to the praise and glory of God.  We may experience that God’s grace is sufficient for our every need, not only to enable us to get through difficult situations but to do so triumphantly!  

There are three main thoughts:

1. THE SUFFERING 

Every Christian experiences trial and testing.  First, because this is the common experience of all members of the human race (Job 5:7); and second, because it is the common experience of all Christians (Philippians 1:29).  

When unpleasant things happen to us we naturally ask   ‘Why has God permitted this?’  In Paul’s case the purpose was revealed to him (verse 7).  He was particularly susceptible to the temptation of pride and conceit because of his very great gifts, and because of his amazing experience at Lystra fourteen years previously – (Acts 14:19-20). 

God gave Paul a ‘thorn’ to keep him humble.  It was purposeful, as are all our trials and tribulations.  Look up John 13:7, and take courage – for the Lord is working out His purpose in your life.

2. THE SUPPLICATION 

In verse 8 we are told that Paul prayed about his infirmity.  Do you pray about yours?  Have you brought your case before the Great Physician?  Look up James 5:13-15, and notice:-

(1) Paul prayed definitely – “…to take it away from me”.   See what the Lord Jesus said in Luke 22:31-32.

(2) Paul prayed earnestly – for he tells us that he “pleaded with the Lord…” probably with tears.

(3) Paul prayed persistently – for he tells us that he made his request “three times” – and yet after praying three times the ‘thorn’ still remained!

But notice, his prayer was answered – not in the way he expected, but in the way God wanted.  When we pray, sometimes the Lord answers our prayers with a YES, sometimes with a NO, sometimes with a WAIT, and sometimes He answers quite DIFFERENTLY from what we expect – as He did here.  What a good thing it is that He does not always answer our prayers in the way we want!

3. THE SUFFICIENCY 

Paul’s prayer was answered in the greatest possible way – by a revelation of the Lord Himself!  With the revelation of Himself the Lord gave the promise of His sufficiency.

(1) It was a Powerful Sufficiency – for the Lord said, “My grace…My power…” 

(2) It was a Personal Sufficiency.  That is very wonderful! – Grace sufficient for you in your need, and grace sufficient for me in my need!

(3) It was a Present Sufficiency.  The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient…”, not ‘will be’.  The grace was already there for Paul to draw upon.  All he had to do was to appropriate, to take, to receive, to experience, and to enjoy!  

(4) It was a Plentiful Sufficiency.  The Lord said, “My grace is enough…”; and as the need increases the grace will increase – 2 Corinthians 9:8

PRAYER NOTE

Father help me to turn all the troubles in my life to you in prayer, and to be satisfied with the lovely response of your grace.

Help the Church to trust more in the sufficiency of the grace of God.