My Grace Is Sufficient For You 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 10-29-95

My Grace Is Sufficient For You 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Paul.....blessed with revelations, dreams, displays of God's power, etc. Jesus appeared to him, spoke/saw healings/wrote scriptures/jail opened. Thorn in the flesh.....eyes, hunchback, speech, accusations of false apostles. Jesus had some literal thorns in his flesh...yet like a sheep that is led to the slaughter, is silent. He opened not his mouth...the purpose of God is the most important thing in life. God works to keep us humble, so that we do not forget who life is about.

Messenger of Satan...ref to Job.

I prayed 3 times. Prayer is the great consolation for the soul. Pray not only for the removal of the affliction, but that God would work his purpose thru it. We pray about things often...rarely about God. We bargain, cajole, throw down the gauntlet. We become victims...children...we want what we want when we want it. God answered the prayer...no. We whine that God won't answer our prayers...maybe he already has...with a no.

That's the bad news...this is the good news. My grace is enough -- it is sufficient. Grace is not always Miracleville...it is not Fantasy Island. Grace..."good will of God toward us. Enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort us, to support our souls and cheer up our spirits in all afflictions and distress."

Mark Twain -- "I have worried about many calamities in my life. But I have dealt with very few." Do not get lost in being a victim. Do not let trouble get you down.

When we are weak, then He can be strong. Only when we are weak, then He can be strong. Focus on the strength of the Lord...He will pull you through. "When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we see ourselves weak in ourselves, then we go out of ourselves to Christ, and receive strength from Him.

Story of the judge and the convict at the altar rail. Grace lifts us up and changes our circumstances. Grace also humbles us so that we can rely on God instead of ourselves.

For those who do not believe, no miracle is enough. For those who do believe, no miracle is necessary. It may not be what we want or expect, but in God's grace there is always a miracle.

Let us seek and receive the grace and strength of the Lord. Let us focus on the person and purpose of God...and rise above our circumstances.

Sermon on the Mount Luke 6:27-36 7-16-95

Sermon on the Mount 7-16-95 Luke 6:27-36

Important Teachings.....I tell you who will hear me....not everyone hears
What is really important in this life???

Jews fixated on OT concept....eye for eye
Jesus reminds them.....love their enemies

Turn the other cheek.....come and slap me
Do not take offense at the wrongs they do to you
who are you anyway, someone who can never be wrong?
difficulty will come to you , but we do not embrace it by being difficult ourselves

If you love only those who love you, what good is that?
people of character win even their enemies

If someone asks for your cloak, give him also your tunic
jacket....tie...shirt
Does it mean exactly what it says????
give me your house.....your car....your pants
maybe its an illustration about things.....
things are not the most important part of life.....people are.

Human existence is a miracle.....
body is a miracle
body of clay combined with a spirit
day will come when the body fails....only the spirit is left

these around you are not merely people, they are spirit beings
deserving of your love & compassion

love your enemies... do good to those who hurt you
live not in the plane of the flesh, but strive to live in the world of the spirit

then your reward will be great, and you will be called sons of he most high God
Amen