TRUTHFULLY MICHELLE presents
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
D I S C O V E R I N G G O D ' S G R A C E
T H R O U G H F A I T H D E V O T I O N A L S E R I E S
BIBLE STUDY
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I would not consider myself a negative person - for the most part, I'm pretty optimistic, and honestly, probably more than I really should be! But there are certainly moments when I let those tears fall wondering whether or not God can feel the physical ache my heart feels. It is in these moments where I am so grateful that I know God's truths. But knowing God's truth and actually feeling it and believing it from the bottom of your heart is two completely different things.
There is nothing that quite excites me than to hear God's voice and to see His plan unravel. I love being able to witness the glory and the splendour that He has for everyone He calls His own. And it is at these very moments when I feel His presence so deeply in my life.
Nobody ever said that being a Christian was easy. In fact, it probably makes life a lot harder than the average person because God's standard is infinitely higher than the world's standard. But the beautiful thing about this is that God absolutely loves His imperfect children who strive to be holy like Him but ultimately fall short.
INTRO
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
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In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about a 'thorn in his flesh' given to him by Satan to keep him from being conceited. This 'thorn' continues to bother him greatly, to the point where he just cries out in prayer begging God to take it away from him. Paul desired healing, but God actually gave him something so much more powerful - something greater and more beautiful. He gave Paul the gift of God.
The Story of Paul
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
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Bible Study
God replies to Paul's weakness by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". This promise is more powerful and meaningful than any healing. God's grace will sustain our spirits even when everything around us has failed us. His loving grace will be the constant reminder that the crosses that we have to bear is just the crown of the victory that we have already won.
Paul knew from the very beginning that God had the power to remove the darkness that lurked in him because of Satan, and that if He so wished, God could very easily deliver Paul from this pain. However, He gradually realised that this thorn was in fact a necessity to keep him humble.
Being a child of God who was intended for a blessed life in His kingdom, He could very easily become spiritually prideful.
He soon comes to realise how this 'thorn' was actually a blessing in disguise when he says, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
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Bible Study
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." He is forced to look beyond the pain that he is facing and cast his glance towards the glorious fruit that God was gifting him with. He realises that it was through his weakness that God could stay next to him and allow him to truly experience His strength.
As sinners, we are never truly strong, even if everything goes well and we are happy. So the lesson learned by Paul in this passage was that it was actually in those moments when he was weak, he was made strong. When we come across a rocky passage and don't know how to cross those high, stormy seas, we recognise exactly how weak we are and flee to the Rock that is exalted higher than ourselves.
It is in those moments when we are so content with our own strengths, gifts and abilities that we do not feel like it is necessary to have God's strength backing us up. However, it is humbling to be reminded that "My strength is made perfect in weakness".
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
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Bible Study
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
REFLECTION TIME
1) What 'thorns' can you identify in your life?
2) How might these 'thorns' be bringing you God's glory and power?
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Bible Study
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
3) Knowing all this, how will this affect the way I live my life?
4) Read Psalm 119:67, 119:71, 119:75 and talk about your thoughts on these passages.
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Bible Study
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10
I hope you enjoy this little Bible Study! Every single passage in the Bible is a living word breathed by our Creator and that's super awesome! But really digging deep and trying to understand the word of God so that we don't try and create meaning into text that already has meaning is definitely a journey! So unless it comes from scripture directly, test everything that you read (even on my blog and resources) and keep only what is good! I pray that you will continue to be blessed and have His guiding hand over you as you keep being a girl after truth and seek after the One who calls you by name!
xo Michelle Ling
THANK YOU!
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