February 20, 2022
Facing Trials, Finding Grace! 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

1st Super Natural Encounters With God! 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

2nd The Trial: Called a Thorn in the Flesh!

¬ Called a Thorn in the Flesh –
¬ Called a Messenger From Satan!

Last Week: The Hardships of Paul! 2 Corinthians 11:22-29 –

Daily Pressures –

¬ To Prevent Pride – Flesh Driven, Self Directed

Pride’s Danger – Deuteronomy 8:11-19

¬ You Forget God’s Goodness.
¬ You Think You Are the Reason for your good Fortune.
¬ You Go After other gods.
¬ You Perish.

The Example of Peter: Matthew 26:32-35; 69-75
The Self Righteous: Luke 18:9-14

¬ Un-teachable
¬ Fault Finding/Critical Spirit
¬ Harsh – Speaking of others with contempt
¬ Defensiveness
¬ Presumption before God –
¬ Desperate for Attention!
¬ Neglecting others!

3rd The Proper Response to Your Trial/Thorn!

¬ Pray for Its Removal!

¬ Believe in, Receive and Walk in God’s Grace! Titus 2:11-16

God’s Grace: God’s merciful kindness and Power by which He exerts His holy influence upon your soul that turns you to Christ, Saves You, keeps you, strengthens and Empowers you, to live a Godly, Christ-like life!

Grace Empowers You, Because grace is actually the Power of God!

The Power of God Perfected in Weakness! Titus 2:11-16

1) Sufficient For Salvation! 11 Ephesians 2:1-10
2) Sufficient To Instruct, Train and Discipline us!

¬ To Deny All Ungodliness, Worldly Desires!

Deny – To Refuse! Reject!

Ungodliness: Wickedness. Jude 1:16 – grumblers, fault-finders, lust followers, arrogant speakers, Disingenuous.

Worldly Desires: Kosmos: 1 John 2:15 – world: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of Life!

¬ To Live sensibly, righteously and godly in the sent age!

– Sensible –
– Righteously – What ought to be!
– Godly –

1) Receive God’s Grace! Hebrews 4:14-16

2) Humble Yourself! James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says: God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

3) Boast In Your Weakness. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

For When I am Weak, I am Strong!

Galatians 4:12-15 – Bodily illness:
2 Corinthians 10:10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.

4) Practice Contentment Even In Your Weaknesses! (Lit. Take Pleasure!)

¬ Grace Leads You To Be Spirit Driven, God Directed!