Today we continue our new series entitled, “Press through it!”
We have been looking at the following passage for a few days. Let’s go back to it again this morning. The Apostle Paul said:
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
(2 Cor 12:2-10 NIV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. There is purpose in what God permits.
a) Paul asked God to remove his ‘thorn in the flesh’ three times. God refused to do so. Instead, God reminded Paul that He had already given him the grace to deal with it.
b) The reason why God did not remove the demon was because the presence of the opposition was keeping Paul humble. Without humility, Paul would not be a conduit of God’s glory in the earth. So while Paul wanted the demon gone, God knew that without the demon Paul was going to cross over into pride, and once he did, he would no longer be useful in the Kingdom.
c) God can prevent and He can permit. If God permitted it, it is because there is purpose wrapped up in it.
d) God is more concerned with His purpose than your comfort. Paul wanted to be comfortable. God wanted Paul to remain purposeful.
2. Be thankful that God does NOT always give you what you ask for.
a) If God had given Paul what he asked for, and removed the demon, we may not be reading about Paul today. In God’s Kingdom, purpose trumps pleasure every time.
b) It’s very easy for us, as humans, to live in the moment. We often pray for God to give us whatever we desire in the moment or for God to remove whatever is troubling us in the moment. But God is not caught up in the moment. When He looks at us He sees the entire span of our lives. He also sees our children. He also sees our children’s children. So when God is dealing with us He is not moved by the emotions of the moment. He is only moved by His divine purpose; a purpose that spans three generations.
c) Through your life God wants to impact (at a minimum) 120 years on this planet. He wants to impact you, your children and your children’s children. Remember that when you pray. You are praying about what is in front of you. But when God responds, He responds based on what He placed IN YOU!
d) If God had given Paul what He asked for, Paul’s pride could have wrecked his life. It may have derailed him from his destiny. Thankfully God did not give Paul what he asked for. I can say the same. I have asked for things that, in the moment, were the most important thing in my life. Only to find out later that it was not important at all. Thankfully God did not give me what I asked for. I am sure you have had similar experiences with God.
e) God is not moved by your pain. He is only moved by His purpose. I know we don’t like to acknowledge it, but God is not even moved by your tears. He only moves with and for a purpose.
*** Thinking about all we covered today, I will close with the following thought. If you prayed for God to remove it and He did not, then it is serving a purpose. You think it is happening TO you, but it is actually happening FOR you!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for making plans for me before the world began. You sent me to this planet at the right time and for the right reason. I was born on purpose and for a purpose. You are tirelessly committed to the plans and purposes You established for my life. Thank You for that. Even when I pray for something I think is huge, or something that is causing me much pain, You are not moved by my cry. You are only moved by my purpose. Thank You Father for being more committed to my purpose than I have been in the past. Thank You for not always giving me what I asked for. Thank You for looking at the big picture. So when You say, “NO”, I accept it. I trust You. I know You have my best interest at heart. I embrace the grace to overcome whatever You refuse to remove and I continue to press forward, knowing that Your blessing is on me, my children and my children’s children. My life will impact 120 years on this planet! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
