TEXT: II COR. 12: 9 – 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.
This week we would be looking at who needs God’s grace. Simply put it is the weak that need the grace of God. You may not need His grace if you are self-sufficient. If we look at grace as been favour, mercy and blessings that we obtain that we would not normally have qualified to get without his supernatural touch then we would understand that grace is not needed by those who feels they are able to meet all their needs. Brethren you need His grace when you are weak; when you are afraid; when you are sick; when you are poor; when you are rich; when you are tempted; when your expectations are been delayed; and so on.
In our passage, we see Paul been assured by God to be strong inspite of his weakness because of His grace that is sufficient for him. What is it to be sufficient? Sufficient can be described as adequate or enough. So it means that His grace is adequate for our inadequacies. From my little experience about life, no one is adequate in every aspect of life. For instance, it is possible for you to be adequate in most areas and be inadequate in some few areas. It is in the area that you are inadequate that you need His grace. If you would recall, Paul in II Cor. 12: 7-8 informed us about how he prayed so much that the thorn that he was been tormented with should go. But rather than God answering by taking it away, the answer he received was that His grace would be sufficient for him in that situation. That would lead me to ask you what is that thorn that you are battling with that has refused to go despite all your prayers, fasting, laying of hands, etc. You may need to change your prayer to Father Let your grace be sufficient for me from Father let this problem go away. That is why you need to ask God what He is saying in your own situation. If you can hear Him, then it would make it easier for you to know when to change the pattern of your prayers from God, let this cup pass over me to God, let your grace be sufficient for me.
Beloved, there are times when you may even need His grace in certain areas that you think you are adequate. The bible says in I cor.10:12 “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (ESV). This tells us that we should be careful not to take His grace for granted as the very strong can fall. I am sure you remember the case of Apostle Peter (the rock on which the church is built) denying Jesus Christ in the presence of a little girl. If he can fall, then it means you can fall as well. That is why you need His grace. What made Peter to be able to retrace his steps was the prayer from Jesus Christ. Our lord Jesus Christ told Peter that as strong as Peter was, his faith would be shaken and challenged; but would be strengthened through His prayer. In Luke 22: 31-32, the Lord said “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (NIV).
One of the most impressive attributes of Paul the apostle is his humility. Inspite of what he accomplished for the lord through his ministry, he was always acknowledging the grace of God in all of this. For instance, in I Cor. 15:10, he says “but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (NIV). Brethren, in what do you boast? Do you boast in your abilities? Is your boast in your wisdom; intellect; educational accomplishment; secular or ministerial positions; earthly connections or positions?
One thing I know that I know is that whatever I am today is by His grace. When I look at where I am coming from, I am convinced beyond any iota of doubt that it could only have been God. That is why I am also persuaded that my tomorrow would be alright by His grace and that His grace is sufficient come what may. In my lack and inadequacies, I am convinced and encouraged in His grace. I am able to rely on Him because I have tasted His grace and know that His grace is abundant and ever present. What about you. Do you feel the same?
I extend the invitation of the psalmist in Psa. 34:8 to you today “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him” (NIV). Dearly beloved, I say blessed is the man whose only confidence and boast is in His grace.
May His grace be sufficient for you.
Shalom.
Dr. Yinka Okude
Pastor-In-Charge
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampton
