2 Corinthians 12:7-10

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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  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.  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.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (The Amplified Bible)

And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.  Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; but He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!  So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength)

Ephesians 2:1-10

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Take note that in the greetings in Paul’s writing of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philemon are identical.  They say, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  The remaining three Epistles of Paul, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, both minister of the Gospel, have as their greeting, “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Where you find mercy and peace together, they occur in that order (with one exception).  Almost all the other Epistles have the same or a variation of that same greeting.  In addition, most of the New Testament books have a final farewell using the word “grace” in one form or another.

•           Grace describes God’s attitude toward the law breaker and the rebellious.

•           Mercy is a moral attribute of God.  It is His outward manifestation of pity, compassion and is His attitude toward us when we are in distress.

•           Peace is the resulting experience in the heart of man when he/she received the grace and mercy of God. 

Note well:  Grace must go before mercy and peace because only the forgiven can be truly blessed.

• What is your thorn in the flesh?  –  God’s grace is sufficient!
• What gets your motor revved up? – God’s grace is sufficient!
• What punches your anxiety button? – God’s grace is sufficient!
• What wipes you out and drags you low? – God’s grace is sufficient!
• Whatever it is that comes against you – God’s grace is sufficient!

His grace is sufficient:

• In times of sickness
• In times of distress
• In times of turmoil
• In times of trouble
• In the good times
• In the bad times
• All the time

Let not your heart be troubled – His grace is sufficient!

1. God’s grace was evident in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve had sinned
2. God’s grace was sufficient when Jacob deceived his father, but Jacob did his own thing and it caused him to sin.
3. God’s grace was sufficient when Achan stole and hid the spoil from the enemy camp.  He did his own thing and it caused him to sin.
4. God’s grace was sufficient but Samson laid his head in the lap of the harlot.  He did his own thing and it caused him to sin.
5. God’s grace was sufficient when the delights of the flesh tempted David and David did his own thing and it caused him to sin.
6. God’s grace was sufficient when Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter and the Holy Spirit, but they did their own thing and it caused them to sin.
7. God’s grace is sufficient for you and I and we still sometimes do our own thing and it causes us to sin.

Rather than falling prey to sin, its destructive outcome and separation from God, let us remain faithful.  Faithfulness brings the gift of God’s grace to our aid.

1.  God’s grace was sufficient for Joseph.  He was sold into slavery and falsely imprisoned.  He was faithful and God rescued him.
2. God’s grace was sufficient for Daniel when he was thrown into the lion’s den.  He was faithful and God rescued him.
3. God’s grace was sufficient for the three Hebrew children.  They were thrown into a fiery furnace.  They were faithful and God rescued them. 
4. God’s grace was sufficient for Paul when he was shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten.  He was faithful and God rescued him.
5. God’s grace is sufficient for you and me.  God’s grace is sufficient.  God’s grace is sufficient.  Be faithful or do your own thing?  You know the right choice.  Just do it.  God’s grace is truly amazing.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a poor sinner like me.  Once I was lost, but now I’m found, once blind, but now I see.”

• When you are tempted – Rely on God’s grace
• When you are anxious – Rely on God’s grace
• When you are facing the unknown – Rely on God’s grace
• When everything around you is going down – look up and God’s grace will see you through. 

Don’t do what your flesh wants to do.  God’s grace is sufficient.

Every sin can be forgiven except unbelief against the Holy Spirit, but to be truly saved you must also forgive.  To enter into a holy place (heaven) your sins must be forgiven…if you do not also forgive, there will be dreadful consequences.  Unforgiveness will cause the gift of grace to be erased.

We don’t have to fall into sin if we do not want to.  If we do, it is our own choice.  Thank God we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Do not do what your flesh wants to do.  God’s grace is sufficient.

• G – God’s
• R – Riches
• A – at
• C – Christ’s
• E – Expense

• G – God’s
• R – Redeeming
• A – Act
• C – Concerning
• E – Everyone

“The LORD is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”  Psalm 103:8

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 3:3-7

We did not receive His mercy by any works we have done.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 3:18

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

Grace, Grace, God’s grace.  Grace that will pardon my sin and my guilt.

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace.  There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus!!!