Strength in Weakness

May 24, 2015

The Next 37 Days - PrayerThanksgiving prayer service on May 31 @ 5:00 pm

Prayer Fast on June 13 @ 8:00 am

24-hr prayer chain on June 25

“One church family” prayer on June 14 @ 8:30 & 10:15

The Next 37 Days - Fasting

Personal between you and GodConsult your physicianStart with one meal (lunch?)Proceed to a one-day fastThree- & seven-day fast are not for everyone…but may be for you!

The Next 37 Days - FastingSet the date for your one meal fast!

Set the date for your one day fast!

2 Corinthians 12:7-107 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7-108 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2Corinthians 12:7-109 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Corinthians 12:7-1010 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s “Thorn”• Pain in ear or head (Tertullian)• Fleshly lusts (medieval

commentators)• Stammering speech

(MacKnight)• Malarial fever (Ramsay)• Acute eye problems (Farrar and

others)

Paul’s “Thorn”• Persecutions he sufferedChrysostom said: “And so by the “messenger of Satan,” he means those who contend with and fought against him, those that cast him into prison, those that beat him, that led him away to death; for they did Satan’s business. (Homilies 26)

Paul’s “Thorn”

• Why was the thorn given?

2Corinthians 12:7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

Paul’s “Thorn”

• Why was the thorn given?• Lest Paul be exalted above

measure• To buffet him• To keep him humble

Paul’s Revelations• Damascus road (Acts 9)• Jerusalem (Acts 22 & Acts 23)• Troas (Acts 16)• Corinth (Acts 18)• Way to Rome (Acts 27)• Vision of Paradise (2Cor. 12)

Paul’s “Thorn”

• Why was the thorn given?• What was Paul’s reaction?• Wanted to get rid of it!

2 Corinthians 12:8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

Acts 4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Strength in Weakness

•Our weaknesses keep us humble

1Peter 5:6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

Romans 12:3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Strength in WeaknessMoses vs. Pharaoh (Exodus 3-14)

Gideon vs. Midian (Judges 6,7)

David vs. Goliath (1Samuel 17)

Peter and John (Acts 4:13)

Strength in Weakness

•Our weaknesses keep us humble •God’s power through

weakness shows us God is in control, not us

Exodus 14:13,1413 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Matthew 8:23-2723 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.

Matthew 8:23-2725 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:23-2727 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Strength in Weakness•Our weaknesses keep us

humble •God’s power through

weakness shows us God is in control, not us• Shows the world God’s

power

Joshua 2:8-118 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

Joshua 2:8-1110 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

Joshua 2:8-1111 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

Strength in Weakness•Our weaknesses keep us

humble •God’s power through

weakness shows us God is in control, not us• Shows the world God’s

power

Join us tonight for Discipline of the

Believer