2 Corinthians 12 - 04.06.23
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my Power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
OBSERVATION:
Paul is writing his second letter to the Corinthian Church to address several concerns. In this passage Paul directly confronts the accusations made by the false teachers who challenged his apostleship. In so doing, Paul opens up about an experience from fourteen years prior where God permitted him entrance into Heaven. Paul heard the ‘language of Paradise” and understood it. A language he was not allowed to repeat upon his return.
God honored Paul with many supernatural experiences—visions, revelations, angel visitations—but being transported into Heaven!!! How does someone begin to comprehend that experience?
In God’s wisdom—to prevent Paul from becoming prideful—Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh”. We don’t know exactly what this thorn was and it is foolish to speculate. What we do know is that it afflicted Paul causing challenges—and he prayed three times for it to be removed.
God’s response… “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my POWER is made PERFECT in weakness.”
APPLICATION:
Embrace—no—BOAST…in your weakness!
God’s POWER is made PERFECT in our weakness.
If God allows a weakness in our lives—a so-called “Thorn in our Flesh” could it be that God desires to DO something miraculous THROUGH us?
God’s POWER is made PERFECT in our weakness.
We can have reason to rejoice—IF we, like Paul, view this as an opportunity for God’s POWER to be at work in our lives.
The word “Power” comes from the word dunamis—meaning God’s Miraculous Power—for Marvelous Works.
“In conclusion, be strong IN the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.” (Ephesians 6:10 AMP)
PRAYER
Dearest LORD Jesus,
Thank you for Your Grace-which is an unending supply to meet EVERY single need-even BEFORE we know the need ourselves. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit-whose Power is Beyond human comprehension. Forgive my doubt and my times of unbelief. I’m so thankful for Your Word that is a constant encouragement to bring new life and new revelation. I look to the future with exciting expectations of Your Power working IN my weakness—and all the more to Boast in You and Your Love and Glorious strength manifest In me. Here I am Lord, send me.
Tina L Kudelka
Psalm 34 - 4.5.23
Scripture
Psalm 34:8
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Observation
King David wrote this when he was on the run (literally) from his enemies. If you read through the whole Psalm, although David was not in great circumstances, he did a few things.
He praised and glorified the Lord (verses 1-3).
He sought the Lord and declared God’s power and goodness (verses 4-8).
Then in verses 9-22, he started encouraging outwardly.
Application
Encourage yourself in the Lord and turn that encouragement outwardly to others who need it too!
Are you in a rough place? Believe me, you are not alone. However, what we do in these seasons truly matter. Are we going to allow the enemy to bring us down a dark spiral or are we going to press in deeper into the Lord, worship, His Word and community?
If you haven’t heard Pastor Levi’s sermon from last Sunday called “Press In”, I highly recommend that you watch it. Here’s the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/ORgWAQpo_Wo
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I want to be like King David and even in hard circumstances, be able to encourage myself and others out of it through You. Thank You for being such a bright light in dark places and that Your light cannot be overcome. Your strength is made perfect in our weaknesses, so I pray we continue to press into You every day for strength and encourage others to do the same. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Isaiah 38 - 4.4.23
SCIPTURE: Isaiah 38:1-6 "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, Lord, how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in Your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly."
"THEN the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears: I will add fifteen years to your life...".
OBSERVATION: God heard Hezekiah's prayer, and He answered it by allowing him to escape death and live another fifteen years! He who was on the brink of death, got grace from God, and his prayer was miraculously answered!
APPLICATION: This portion of Scripture inspired me to once again realize the incredible power of prayer! WHEN we depend on God and WAIT on Him to answer our prayers, we are able to rest assured that He will do what He knows best, and at the proper time He will move on our behalf. So, what was the key to Hezekiah getting his prayer answered? 1) He loved and obeyed God, and he had a powerful prayer life. 2) He trusted the Lord. 3) He depended on GOD'S results.
The moment Isaiah brought Hezekiah the bad news about his impending death, Hezekiah didn't wait to go to God. He IMMEDIATELY turned to God in prayer!
I love what Pastor Levi taught last Sunday; After we pray, God either causes the situation to change, OR the situation remains the same while God changes us! Well in Hezekiah's case, God miraculously changed the situation!
PRAYER: Oh Lord, There are so many testimonies throughout history of how You have answered countless prayers. When the bad news comes my way, I pray that my first response will be to run to You first. I desire to be like Hezekiah - Yeah, he had his faults and human weaknesses, but he was a man who loved You and trusted You. He held fast to You, and didn't stop following You, and his complete dependence on You was rewarded by a miraculous answer to his prayer!
- Robin Orefice