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This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on the fact that “God’s Grace is Sufficient.” Although Paul was not one of the original 12 Apostles, you can make the argument that he made the greatest impact. God used Paul to leave a tremendous legacy. Paul wrote over half the New Testament, went on five missionary journeys, started churches, served as a Pastor to Pastors, and his life has served as an example to countless throughout the annals of time. But Paul’s great success did not come without great opposition. The following is Paul, in his own words, telling us of some of the challenges he faced:
“I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?” (2 Cor 11:23-29 NLT)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God has given you the grace to fulfill your assignment. Your assignment may not be as big as Paul’s, therefore the opposition you will face along the way may not be as ardent, but one thing is sure: God has given you all the grace you need to fulfill your life’s assignment. Everything you need to be successful is available to you. Pray for it, ask for it, believe for it, receive it by faith… it is yours by grace!
2. The attack is against the assignment. Of all the Apostles, Paul come up against the strongest opposition, because he had the greatest assignment. I remember when my son Joshua was attacked while he was in my wife’s belly; before he was even born. I prayed about it and the Lord told me, “The greater the assignment, the greater the attack.” Satan doesn’t really care about you, but he will attack you in hopes that you will give up before completing what God assigned you to do. Satan does not want you to make the impact in this world you were born to make.
3. God has already given you grace for what you are facing. No matter what you are facing this morning, you would not be facing it if God did not trust you with it. God is not going to give you the grace to face it, He already did; it’s already in you. You have the grace to keep going!
4. Understanding God’s grace will keep you from giving up. When you get an understanding that God has already given you sufficient grace to face and overcome whatever you are facing, you are able to resist every thought of giving up, and you find the strength (deep down inside) to keep going!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace. You thought of me before the world began. You made plans for me before my mother met my father. You carefully designed my purpose by Your grace. As You reveal to me all the things I am divinely assigned to do, I pursue those things by faith, knowing You have already given me the grace to accomplish them. However, I know I have an adversary. I know satan is not going to idly sit by while I maximize my purpose and potential. I know satan is concerned about my divine assignment and he will attack me, in hopes of forcing me to give up before I complete what You have assigned me to do. But like Paul, I have the grace to keep going. No matter what I face, no matter how hard it gets, and no matter how many obstacles are lined up in my path, I declare by faith that I will not give up, cave in, or quit. In my own strength, I would have given up a long time ago. But in Your strength Father, by Your grace, I can keep going. I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life. I will complete my divine assignment. I will die empty; getting out of me all You have placed in me. I will keep going, and I will do it by Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
