Tag: power in weakness
Grace sufficient to the trial!
Scripture reading for August 13th: 2nd Corinthians 12, Psalm 11, Proverbs 7
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 12:7-9 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Paul did not live a life a privilege as an apostle of Christ. He faced many trials and in this case, a thorn in his flesh which was from Satan. He shared how he pleaded with the Lord to remove it, but His answer was different than what Paul desired. The Lord promised grace sufficient for the test. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and dependency on Him.
Faith Confession: Lord, I am weak and need Your grace each day to sustain me in the trials of life on earth. Thank You for grace sufficient to each pressing need and satanic trial.
Psalm 11:4-5 “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
Power made perfect in weakness!
Scripture reading for November 29th: 2nd Corinthians 10-13
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15
“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. That’s 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.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test? 2nd Corinthians 13:5
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2nd Corinthians 13:14
These quotes from the last chapters of 2nd Corinthians call us to faith and a trust in the power and grace of Christ’s victory on the cross. We are equipped through Christ for all spiritual conflicts. He has given us divinely powerful weapons that defeat darkness and the stronghold of evil in our present world. These strongholds are thought patterns and schemes of Satan to keep us in darkness.
Along with our own battles, there are false teachers and apostles who masquerade as teachers of light. They will abound in the church of the last days. We must be watchful and test everything by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. False Christians will end up eternally damned!
We must humbly examine where our trust lies. It is not in our own resources, physical or mental strength, or abilities. Christ in us enables us to do all things and win the eternal crown of life. He alone is our hope of glory! His grace alone is sufficient!