“My grace is sufficient for you”

I Need Thee Every Hour

2 Cor. 12:1-10 NIV 12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Such a one was caught up to the third heaven: The third heaven doesn't suggest different "levels" of heaven (although this is what some ancient Jewish Rabbis believed). Instead, Paul is using terminology common in that day, which referred to the "blue sky" as the first heaven, the "starry sky" as the second heaven, and the place where God lived and reigned as the third heaven.. "In the sacred writings three heavens only are mentioned. The first is the atmosphere... The second, the starry heaven... And, thirdly, the place of the blessed, or the throne of the Divine glory." (Clarke). So, this one - whom we understand to be Paul himself - was caught up to the heaven where God lives. Paul had a vision or an experience of the throne of God, just as Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) and John (Revelation 4:1-2) did

Paul waited 14 years to say anything about the incident, and when he finally did he said it reluctantly · He did everything he could in relating the story to take the focus off himself (such as writing in the third person) · He doesn't bother at all with breathless descriptions of what he actually experienced. Instead, he says nothing of what he saw, and says only that he heard things not lawful for a man to utter.. So what did Paul hear? We don't know! They were inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. God didn't want us to know, so He didn't give Paul permission to speak.

· Visions and Revelations concerning Angels, Heaven or other things mentioned in the New Testament

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a vision of an angel (Luke 1:8-23)

Jesus' transfiguration is described as a vision for the disciples (Matthew 17:9)

The women who came to visit Jesus’ tomb had a vision of angels (Luke 24:22-24)

Stephen saw a vision of Jesus at his death (Acts 7:55-56)

Ananias experienced a vision telling him to go to Saul (Acts 9:10)

Peter had a vision of the clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:17-29 and Acts 11:5)

Peter had a vision of an angel at his release from prison (Acts 12:9)

John had many visions on Patmos (Rev. 1:1)

Paul had a revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6-11 and Acts 26:12-20)

Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia, asking Him to come to that region to help (Acts 16:9-10)

Paul had an encouraging vision while in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11)

Paul had a vision of an angel on the ship that was About to be wrecked (Acts 27:23- 25)

Why are these things written? That we might know the mind of God Concerning His “Common Salvation” Jude 3 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints We need to read and teach the things which were written!! 2 Tim. 4:2-4

Let us consider these things:

Illustrations of our needs and God’s grace supplying…. 1.When a sickness strikes, the Lord’s grace is expedient enough to heal and prolonged enough to demand a dependence on Him that was never before seen. PRAY FERVENTLY FOR THE SICK! I THESS. 5:17 2. When resources are scarce, the Lord’s grace is sufficient and He will provide. Phil. 4:19 3. When faced with a conflict, the Lord’s grace is potent enough to see you through it so long as you realize that at the foot of His cross, all conflict has already found its resolution. I will be with you always. Mtt.28: When uncertainity is tainting your mood, know that the Lord’s grace is the beacon of light that will provide the pathway to a place of prosperity. Matt. 6: When people fail to live up to your expectations, understand that the Lord’s grace is enough even when you have placed your identity in people instead of the One who made people Trust in the Lord. Heb. 13:5,6; Prov. 3:5,6

6.When a dark season befalls your life, realize that the Lord ’ s grace is just as visible there, regardless of your ability to see it. Gal. 2:20 7.When growth is not instantly visible in your ministry, embrace the grace of our Lord because he rewards not the boastful but first those who are faithful. Rev. 2:10 8.When it seems that you are lacking something, boast in that weakness because this is exactly the area in which God will want to display His power and glory. Phil. 4:13 9.When it seems as if though the gospel has stopped spreading, repent of not seeing the Lord ’ s grace as the gospel is producing its fruit in the entire world, including yours. Isa. 55:8-11 Will not return void 10.When it seems as if though you are not accomplishing much, remember what the master says to his servant: “ Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much Mtt. 25:213

The amount of pleasure and satisfaction I get to live in conformity to the Gospel of Christ is connected to my undivided obsession with Jesus. Matt. 6:33 John 14:34,35 By this shall all men know… The more I love Jesus and pursue Him with my whole undivided heart, my entire soul, every fiber of my strength and every area of my mind — the more I understand His grace. The problem is not with our paycheck, our job, our situation in life, our position at work, the church, our spouse or our family. The problem— stems solely from an individual not surrendering his entire life to Jesus. The core of the issue is our inadequate grasp of what the gospel really is. Matt.16:24 The life of a Christian should be to live by the gospel. This life is focused on who Jesus is, what Jesus did and what Jesus continues to do. Jesus is the hero and the ultimate centerpiece of the entire Bible. Jesus should be the hero and the centerpiece of our entire life

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness: Instead of removing the thorn from Paul's life, God gave and would keep giving His grace to Paul. The grace God gave Paul was sufficient to meet his every need.

My grace is sufficient for you "My grace is sufficient for you." Eph. 2:8-10 Whose grace is it? It is the grace of Jesus. Isn't His love, His favor, enough? What will Jesus fail at? Remember too that Jesus suffered thorns, so He cares and He knows.

My grace is sufficient for you My grace is sufficient for you.“ Grace is the favor and love of God in action. It means He loves us and is pleased by us. Can you hear it from God? "My love is enough for you." Isn't it true?

My grace is sufficient for you.“ It is right now. Not that it will be some day, but right now, at this moment, His grace is sufficient. Did You think something had to change before His grace would be enough. Did you think: "His grace was sufficient once, His grace may be sufficient again, but not now, not with what I am going through.“ Despite that feeling, God's word stands. "My grace is sufficient for you." Someone has written:, "It is easy to believe in grace for the past and the future, but to rest in it for the immediate necessity is true faith. Believer, it is now that grace is sufficient: even at this moment it is enough for thee."

My grace is sufficient for you.“ His grace sufficient for little me! The grace of our crucified, risen, exalted, triumphant Saviour, the Lord of all glory, is surely sufficient for me! The Lord said sufficient?“ Knowing that Jesus Christ is with you keeps you working, praying, seeking to live better lives, and NOT GIVING UP!! “I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS!” Matt. 28:18-20

My Grace is sufficient for you v. "My grace is sufficient for you." "My grace is sufficient for Paul the Apostle.“ Is it not sufficient for us!”.

This sufficiency is declared without any limiting words: sufficient to uphold thee, sufficient to strengthen thee, sufficient to comfort thee, sufficient to make thy trouble useful to thee, sufficient to enable thee to triumph over it, sufficient to bring thee out of it, sufficient to bring thee out of ten thousand like it, sufficient to bring thee home to heaven...

I Pleaded with the Lord 3 times!!. I pleaded with the Lord three times: not mean three times. It is the Hebrew figure for ceaselessly, continuously, over and over again." (Morgan). Some say it is unspiritual and evidence of little faith to pray for something more than once. That would be surprising to Paul, who pleaded with the Lord three times, and to Jesus, who prayed with the same words three times in His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:39-41). There was nothing wrong with Paul's prayer. "God respecteth not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; not the rhetoric of our prayers, how neat they are; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they are; nor the music of our prayers, how melodious they are; nor the logic of our prayers, how methodical they are; but the divinity of our prayers, how heart-sprung they are. Not gifts, but graces prevail in prayer." (Trapp)

It worked for Paul!! 2 Tim.4:7,8 Gal. 2:20 I Cor. 2:2 2 Cor. 4:5

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR!! Lord, it is I! Matt. 26:22 Psalm 39:12 12 Hear my prayer, O L ORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears:..

Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. Refrain It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. Not the preacher, nor the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not the preacher, nor the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. Refrain Not my father, nor my mother, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not my father, nor my mother, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. Refrain Not the stranger, nor my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not the stranger, nor my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer.

I Will Be With You Always! Matt. 11:28-30 Matt. 28:18-20 John 14:6 Rev. 2:10

Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

“My grace is sufficient for you”