All We Need

2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (NLT) - I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. 5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

“Thorn in my side”: a persistent irritation—a person, a condition, whatever, that is troublesome and hard to get rid of.

“Thorn in Our flesh”: something that impacts, pricks at, and enters our everyday lives. Then, in spite of our best Spiritual efforts; doesn’t go away. A constant reminder of a weakness we can’t overcome

When we’ve identified there’s a Thorn in Our Flesh, we have to settle these three things:

1. God IS real

2. He HAS saved you

3. He WILL take care of you

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NLT) - …even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

1 Corinthian 10:13 (ESV) - No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

I’ve given YOU my GRACE, that’s ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER is shown in your weakness…

What does a Thorn In Our Flesh show us?

• His grace: sufficient for whatever we need

• His power: perfected as it works in our weakness

Psalm 138:8 (NLT) - The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.