Old Llantrisant Hill
- Reading 2 Cor 12:7-9
- A wonderful promise - my grace is sufficient for you
- Paul is answering his opponents in Corinth
- He is listing his sufferings
- Quite significant - especially five floggings from the Jews
- It was amazing to see how the Lord sustained him through this
- He talks about his ministry
- His ability to understand and preach the gospel
- Given by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ
- He is showing that he is not inferior in anyway to the false apostles - in sufferings or insights
- He was given a thorn in his flesh to stop him getting conceited
- We do not know what this was
- Perhaps malaria, perhaps poor eye sight
- In his flesh - his body
- He was made weak by this affliction
- Satan can often add to this affliction
- We must recognise his work but not over emphasise his powers
- He uses this thorn for malice
- Perhaps making him question God's purposes
- His intention is to cast us down and misrepresent God
- A messenger to stop him getting to elated in his position
- Consider his wonderful experiences
- Christians are not superior to one another due to their special experiences
- Not to be confident
- We must recognise the work of satan in our sufferings
- Example of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter, Job
- 1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10
- Satan can use particular means
- We have points of vulnerability
- Paul had many sufferings - yet this one thorn in the flesh was a constant experience
- These things are in the hands of God - satan is restrained by God
- In his weakness - he prayed
- He prayed constantly - three specific occasions
- He prayed earnestly / pleaded
- He wanted God to take it away - not lessen it
- He prayed to the Lord
- The prayer was answered - but the thorn was not taken away
- God gave him grace and the strength to cope with the situation
- Example of Vernon Higham - having peace
- Phil 4:6, Isa 55:8-9, Matt 26:36-39
- We can often experience pain
- Paul was determined to boast all the more in Christ
- God will often give us extra grace for the situations we find ourselves in
- Our spiritual health is more important than our physical health
- God does not heal Paul but give him great grace
- God supplies us with as much grace as we need
- Example of Yemen
- God supplies us with the ability to have a right attitude
- Troubles can make us doubt God's grace
- Job 1:10-11
- What do you think of re spiritual maturity?
- God says my power is made perfect in weakness
- Christ dealt with all things
- When Paul was weak, Christ's power rested on him
- Example of brother with MND
- Paul's prayer was wonderfully answered
- Paul was greatly used of God
- His 'secret' was God's power and grace
- "Underneath are the everlasting arms"
- 2 Cor 4:7-12
- Personal example
- It is not always taken away - but there is always sufficient grace given to us
- My grace is sufficient for you and my power made sufficient in weakness