Perfect Weakness vs Perfect Power
13/08/06 13:12
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
This was the Lord’s reply to Paul after he asked 3 times to be released from the thorn in his flesh and this is the Lord’s message to you and me for today. We will not escape troubled times in this life simply because we call ourselves Christian. The dark days will come. Depression will get its foothold. Fear will abound at times. We live in desperate times, Beloved! Sin does abound! The powers of darkness run about seeking those that could be devoured and destroyed by weakness of heart. We become easy marks for Satan’s darts when we fail to “walk in the spirit” in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The stage is surely set for us to shrink back in terror. But if we would believe the word of God, we can truly rejoice over the victorious life God offers. When we are at our weakest point, we need only utter “Father” and He rushes to our side, mighty and powerful, and ready to strengthen us to face the opponent that has reared its head against us. Terrible things surround us these days – serial killers, terrorists, criminals, economic stress – and the surrounding stresses affect us personally – our emotions stand ready to react to the tiniest little infraction, alarm buttons go off easily, and hearts ache over the sadness that is present in so many situations in our lives. Isn’t it amazing that it is at these exact times that God’s power is absolutely perfect?! He has the perfect response to the questions of your turmoiled heart, the perfect strength to fill your aching soul! We need only trust, ask, believe! What a mighty God we serve! He heals our body, He touches our unsteady thoughts, He saves us from eternal damnation to eternal life!! Even here on earth when we experience “whatever” it is that is sheer delight to our senses, we say it is “heavenly” or we are in “Heaven” as a way to describe the pleasure. (Think of a soft mattress or pillow, a cream stick, a devils food cake, etc) As close to perfect as you can get! We need only ask God to help us think rightly, pray for the mind of Christ, and we will begin to see in the spiritual realm. And into the heavenly realm of perfection! We’ll see why we need not let our hearts be troubled over anything. For God is at work in you, around you, and for you. He is on your team. Pitching for you, catching for you, batting for you, and running for you. Sounds like a home run to me. Oh I long to be there!!! Be comforted, Saint of God, in knowing that He will be Sufficient, Enough, throughout your day! Be courageous for when you face the darkness, the giant, God’s Perfection rises up and stands in your defense. Who have we to fear? Paul went on to say that he delights in weaknesses, insults, hardships, and difficulties for at those times he is strong through Christ. I don’t know about you but I stand with Paul. And my heart is strengthened beyond my understanding…and I shout unto God with a voice of triumph.
Pastor Jim’s Rib
2 Corinthians 12:9
This was the Lord’s reply to Paul after he asked 3 times to be released from the thorn in his flesh and this is the Lord’s message to you and me for today. We will not escape troubled times in this life simply because we call ourselves Christian. The dark days will come. Depression will get its foothold. Fear will abound at times. We live in desperate times, Beloved! Sin does abound! The powers of darkness run about seeking those that could be devoured and destroyed by weakness of heart. We become easy marks for Satan’s darts when we fail to “walk in the spirit” in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The stage is surely set for us to shrink back in terror. But if we would believe the word of God, we can truly rejoice over the victorious life God offers. When we are at our weakest point, we need only utter “Father” and He rushes to our side, mighty and powerful, and ready to strengthen us to face the opponent that has reared its head against us. Terrible things surround us these days – serial killers, terrorists, criminals, economic stress – and the surrounding stresses affect us personally – our emotions stand ready to react to the tiniest little infraction, alarm buttons go off easily, and hearts ache over the sadness that is present in so many situations in our lives. Isn’t it amazing that it is at these exact times that God’s power is absolutely perfect?! He has the perfect response to the questions of your turmoiled heart, the perfect strength to fill your aching soul! We need only trust, ask, believe! What a mighty God we serve! He heals our body, He touches our unsteady thoughts, He saves us from eternal damnation to eternal life!! Even here on earth when we experience “whatever” it is that is sheer delight to our senses, we say it is “heavenly” or we are in “Heaven” as a way to describe the pleasure. (Think of a soft mattress or pillow, a cream stick, a devils food cake, etc) As close to perfect as you can get! We need only ask God to help us think rightly, pray for the mind of Christ, and we will begin to see in the spiritual realm. And into the heavenly realm of perfection! We’ll see why we need not let our hearts be troubled over anything. For God is at work in you, around you, and for you. He is on your team. Pitching for you, catching for you, batting for you, and running for you. Sounds like a home run to me. Oh I long to be there!!! Be comforted, Saint of God, in knowing that He will be Sufficient, Enough, throughout your day! Be courageous for when you face the darkness, the giant, God’s Perfection rises up and stands in your defense. Who have we to fear? Paul went on to say that he delights in weaknesses, insults, hardships, and difficulties for at those times he is strong through Christ. I don’t know about you but I stand with Paul. And my heart is strengthened beyond my understanding…and I shout unto God with a voice of triumph.
Pastor Jim’s Rib
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