A study of 2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul’s testimony is pretty common among believers, it seems to me.  He had received a remarkable revelation from God, and was visited by a messenger from Satan.  Blessings and struggles, periods of great joy followed by times of discouragement, and we pray prayers that are answered seemingly before we finish praying and then other times our prayers seem to go unheard.  Yes, in all our Christian experiences, we are like Paul.

1.  The One Who Promises.  Jesus told Paul, “My grace.”  God cannot lie.  Christ will give grace and to those who need it when they need it.  He is God; He is the One in Whom all the fullness of the godhead dwells.  He is the Mediator, the God-Man, the One who knows all too well your weaknesses and problems.  He, Jesus, in the One who walked where you walked and experienced all the ups and downs of life, and He, Jesus, is the also the unchanging God, the One who can supply all your needs.

2.  The Promise.  “Sufficient grace.”  The word “sufficient” really means “more than enough.”  We are recipients of “more than enough” grace. More than enough— 

• To save.  God’s amazing grace is made perfect (complete) in our weakness.  God’s grace saves, forgives and keeps.
• To supply.  God can meet all our needs (Phil. 4:19).  God’s grace is like a mighty river, sufficient to turn any mill, to satisfy every longing of the human heart.
• To support.  God’s grace enables us to bear up under trial or temptation we may face. 
• To overcome.  It slays the power so sin within; it enables us to resist the devil without, and turns the dark shadows of despair and death into the harbingers of glory.

3.  The Result. 

• Delight.  Paul says he “delights” in his weaknesses because they are an excuse to manifest the amazing grace and glory of Christ in his life.  Everything needed is promised and provided by a loving and faithful God, Romans 8:32.
• Power.  Power of Christ resting in Paul because he rejoiced in his weakness; in the weakness that enabled him to lean all the more on Christ’s mighty promise.