HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH…ALL THE TIME!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
[Start with video clip, “Thriving”—2 minutes]
This morning is my last sermon in the series from 2 Corinthians—and, I must tell you, I’ve been looking forward to preaching on this passage of scripture. Words found in this text have come to be tremendously meaningful to me personally, and so I’ve been anxious to share with you how the Lord has spoken to me and continues to speak to me through these words.
You see, like the fallen tree, most of us understand what it is to have been knocked down in some way. The Apostle Paul understood that quite well, and, amazingly enough, he had come to find meaning even in his struggles. Turn with me to—
[Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV]
If anyone tried to convince you that life is easy as a Christian, don’t believe them! Don’t get me wrong—it’s the best way to live! But we have no assurance that it will be easy.
Take Paul, for example. What he had written about in the 11th chapter of this letter to the Christians in Corinth makes it clear that his life of devotion to Jesus Christ was not a piece of cake. Listen to his words, beginning at verse 23—
[Read 2 Corinthians 11:23b-29]
My goodness! And yet clearly God had worked through Paul’s life in marvelous ways, for which he was so grateful. In the early part of chapter 12, Paul tells about a vision he had experienced 14 years earlier—early in his years as a disciple of Christ. It was evidently something that Paul had not spoken of publicly until this time—and something about which Paul was careful not to become spiritually proud. He actually tells about the vision in third person as though it had happened to someone else—but biblical scholars all agree that Paul was describing his own experience here. And even though he did not fully understand it himself, the one thing Paul was sure of was that he had been in the very presence of God.
And Paul had come to realize that this was not something about which to take personal pride, but rather that he needed to safeguard himself from allowing such pride in his own life. In fact, he recognized that to protect him from becoming proud, God had allowed Paul’s life to be inflicted with “a thorn in [his] flesh,” what Paul actually calls “a messenger of Satan, to torment [him].” Paul seemed to believe that the “thorn” was given to him to keep him from being excessively proud of the revelations he had received from God—and thus to keep him fully dependent upon the Lord. It wasn’t necessary for him to explain what the “thorn” was because either the Corinthians already knew or he felt it was not essential to the point he was making.
Of course, human curiosity has gotten the best of us throughout the years, and many have tried to speculate on what this “thorn” was! Most common has been the thought that it was some sort of physical problem, and scholars have suggested epilepsy, malaria, tuberculosis, or a serious vision problem. Others have felt that it was more spiritual in nature—possibly a nagging doubt or a persistent temptation. Still others believe it was his constant exposure to persecution or vicious criticism. But one thing is sure: we really don’t know what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was! But, you know, if Paul had told us, Christians throughout the ages who lacked that particular problem would have tended to find Paul’s experience irrelevant. And as it is, countless believers have been able to identify with Paul’s reference to the thorn in his flesh.
Paul does tell us that he gave himself to earnest and repeated prayer that the thorn would be taken from him. But instead of removing “the thorn,” God gave Paul the reassurance of His grace and the reminder that His strength—the strength of the Lord—was “made perfect in weakness.” Paul never came to feel that the thorn in itself was a good thing, for he considered it “a messenger of Satan.” But he did come to the place in his life where he could see how God’s grace could transform what was bad into something good in his life.
That was the very principle Paul stated in Romans 8:28—
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
He wasn’t saying that everything that happens in our life is good. Lots of bad things happen to good people! And he wasn’t saying that everything that happened was necessarily what God had purposefully willed to happen. But out of experience Paul learned that God can take our weaknesses and use them to demonstrate His power. Paul affirmed that there is nothing that can happen to one of God’s children that, if we turn to Him with it, He cannot take and use for good in our lives. God clearly does not build a wall around us to isolate us from the risk of harm, but He does surround us with a grace that enables us to transform anything that happens to us…just like that tree thriving though lying on its side.
The Lord’s words to Paul have had great meaning to many Christians throughout the ages—
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
And it was just over seven years ago that the Lord wrote those words on my heart and life, with a promise of grace and strength that would clearly come from Him.
At the time I had been serving a congregation in Northern Ohio for over nearly 11 years. I loved the people of that church deeply, and I believe they loved me too. Our first couple of years there had been challenging because of strife that existed before we arrived, but our years there had been marked with significant growth in the church and a new and fresh spiritual vibrancy that had clearly been the work of the Holy Spirit. Our kids grew up in that church—and we loved the people even more for loving our kids as they did.
But by the fall of 2001, I had a clear sense that God was preparing me for transition. It had been a growing awareness over a couple of years—an unsettledness that I had concluded was from the Lord. The church had just completed a $2 million expansion project, purchasing additional houses around us and putting a whole new front to the church. It was an exciting time for the church—and a good time in most every way. All was going well…but within me I knew that God was preparing me for change.
Within those last couple of years, I had turned down multiple opportunities to interview at other churches. For one reason or another, I never sensed God’s nudging that any of them were right. But early in the fall of 2001, I sensed God was telling me that I was not to turn down any more interviews. It wasn’t that I heard His voice declaring this to me, but there was an inner sense that this was His prompting, and it was sustained across weeks and months.
One Thursday afternoon I was scurrying around the office to get things done so that I could pick up my daughter Kara from school and head with her to Olivet Nazarene University on a college-scouting trip. Our twin daughters were in their senior year of high school and trying to make decisions regarding where they were going to go to college. I think this was the last of four college visits I was to make with one of the two girls in a six-week time period. As I was scurrying around, I got buzzed from one of our secretaries that I had a phone call. Would I take it? It was from some man named Keith Wright.
I knew Keith Wright. It was the District Superintendent of the Kansas City District. He had called me about a church or two in the past, and I assumed that perhaps he was calling me about another church. I liked the guy and had always felt that he’d be a good District Superintendent. As we began to talk, I could tell that he was indeed calling about a church, but I had no clue what church he was calling about. When he told me that he was working with Kansas City First Church in their search for a pastor and asked if I’d be willing to be considered, I was absolutely floored. Honestly, I was probably trembling. The pastor of Kansas City First Church had just a few months before been elected as one of our new General Superintendents in the denomination. I was there when it happened. I knew that KC First Church was open, but it never crossed my mind that Keith Wright was calling me about that church.
We talked about a half hour, and when I emerged from my office to the secretary’s office that Cindy then shared with the secretary who had taken the phone call, Cindy immediately wanted to know what Keith Wright was calling me about. She had heard the other secretary trying to screen Keith Wright’s call as if he were a pesky salesman, but Cindy knew who he who too.
Now one thing you need to know about Cindy is that she doesn’t like change. I’m not sure she’s ever felt the Lord preparing her for a transition—for she’d probably rather take a personal beating than make a move. It’s torturous for her! But when I told her that the call was about Kansas City First Church, there was almost a look of panic in her eyes.
What was the big deal about Kansas City First Church? Kansas City is the location of denominational headquarters—now called our Global Ministry Center. It’s also where Nazarene Publishing House is located—the publishers of our curriculum and the largest printer of books in the Wesleyan holiness movement. Our seminary, Nazarene Theological Seminary, is located in Kansas City, as well as one of our universities, MidAmerica Nazarene University. Simply put, it’s the “Mecca” of our denomination, and Kansas City First Church has historically been considered by many “the mother church.”
Oh, it hasn’t really been that for a few decades now, but many there still think it is! It’s a place where many of our denominational leaders as well as our seminary community worship. From one Sunday to the next you never know who will walk through those doors! And it’s the kind of church that most sane pastors would not aspire to pastor—because of the spotlight and the pressures that go with it. It was certainly not the kind of church I wanted to pastor!
But I had heard what I had concluded was a clear word from the Lord—that I was not to turn down any interviews from that point on. And so when Keith Wright asked if I was willing to be considered, I said something like, “Normally I would tell you that I need some time to pray about it, but I’ve recently concluded that the Lord was telling me that I was to turn down no interviews, and so, in an act of obedience to the Lord, I need to tell you that I am willing for them to consider me in their search for a pastor.” He explained that I was on a shortlist of three, but honestly, I felt it very unlikely that they would end up choosing me—though I was certainly unnerved by the whole conversation! He explained that he would be meeting with them again in a few weeks and that he would keep me posted of what was happening.
One week to the day later, I got another phone call from Keith Wright. They had narrowed their search to me and wanted us to come for an interview. While he had wanted us to come in about two weeks, I couldn’t be gone at that time, so we settled on a date three weeks out. A few minutes later the phone rang again, and he asked if there was any chance we could come out the following week—which would mean flying out in four days. I turned to Cindy as she began to sob (I told you she didn’t like change!)…she wasn’t much help in that moment! We got on a plane headed for Kansas City four days later.
It was all such a whirlwind—with only about 3½ weeks time from the initial telephone call to the day the congregation elected me to become their new pastor. Word seemed to spread quickly, even during the process—and it was something about which many had strong opinions. Some saw it as a great “promotion” for me…but I wasn’t looking for a promotion. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not how ministry works. The view of others was best expressed by a pastor friend who said candidly, “You’re an idiot! What do you think you’re doing?!” And honestly, I was scared to death—as was Cindy. I didn’t consider myself the kind of pastor that church would want…but it seemed to be happening anyway.
And early on a Sunday morning during that process in the privacy of my office at the church in Bedford, I began to once again pour my heart out to the Lord, seeking His guidance and direction in this matter. And acknowledging the vast array of opinions and perspectives about the matter, I vividly remember asking the Lord, “What do You make of this?” And immediately the words came to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
It was as if God was saying to me, “Okay, let’s just get this settled right now. You’re not adequate for this task…but I am. And if I open the door for you to pastor that church, I will go with you and help you to be all that I need you to be.”
We began the second Sunday in January, 2002. The installation service was dramatic—feeling almost like a coronation! Several of my predecessors and wives were present—several of which have distinguished themselves as leaders in our denomination. The church was packed. And in my first message to that crowd I held up the program put together for that day which contained the list of former pastors of that church. I told them that I had just seen that list for the first time—and it was like reading from the pages of our denominational history. I said, “I know that my name will never rightfully belong on the same list as these great men, but, in God’s providence, I also believe that He has led us here.”
Our six years in Kansas City were the most challenging years of our ministry. There was never any honeymoon! Some of the most marvelous people I have ever known are in that congregation—but all-in-all, it’s the most difficult pastorate we have ever encountered. I often felt like such a misfit—and in confessing that to a fellow pastor, he said, “You probably are…and that’s probably why the Lord has you there.” And I believe God did have us there for a purpose.
I guess I never felt I had the “aura” about me that one might expect for such a leadership position. I’m not tall enough! I’m not scholarly or dignified enough! I recall meeting one of the pastors on the district for the first time. We were hosting at our church an event for the district pastors. He asked what church I was from, and I told him. Then he asked, “Are the associate pastor?” And I said, “No, I’m the senior pastor.” His eyes got big in amazement, “You’re the senior pastor here?!” To which I said, “It’s okay. I was as surprised as anyone else!”
But throughout the six years, God kept reminding me of His word to me early in the process of going there—
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
God’s promise sustained me. I wasn’t adequate for the job…but He was! And what I came to experience over those years was the depth of grace God pours over us when we are obedient to Him despite our own inadequacies! When we get humbled by our own inadequacies—by our weakness, we’re forced to “get out of the way” and let God do in our lives and in the lives of others what only He is capable of doing! His strength is made perfect in our weakness! And sometimes our obedience to the Lord forces us into situations where our inadequacies are all too obvious…and that’s when He steps in to do what we humanly are incapable of pulling off. And over and over again, in our six years in Kansas City, that was what we experienced.
It forced me to a greater dependence upon the Lord than ever before and a deeper trust in Him. And you know what? He was faithful! That’s just Who He is! He is faithful God! He can’t be anything less than that! His grace was more than sufficient! His power was made evident in my weakness! And He was faithful to do what He said He would do.
Why have I bothered to tell you this story today? Because the very same God will put you in situations that are bigger than you, too. Just this week I talked with several people who find themselves in over their heads in life. They’re facing circumstances that they never would have chosen! And God’s Word speaks powerfully to us in just such moments in life—
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
He is Faithful God! He’s not going to leave you stranded! You can depend upon Him! You can lean hard on Him—and He won’t let you down!
You may feel like that fallen tree in the video. You may not understand why you’ve gone through all that you have. It may be all too overwhelming! But as long as you stay grounded in your faith, in your dependence upon the Lord, you can still flourish—just like that tree that was still sprouting leaves. The truth is that the Lord uses the most difficult experiences of our lives to mold and to shape our character to make us more and more like Him—and He will do that in your life too if you will simply lean on Him.
