05.15.2016 Finding the Balance Between "Resourcing Insufficiencies" vs. "Trusting God"

May-15-2016 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Today is Pentecost – thus – red flames – Jeff talked about the Holy Spirit last week – and referred to Pentecost – and there are many things we think about – we know the Holy Spirit came – the tongues of fire – and the Spirit lives in us now. Another thing – all races and ethnicities were joined together – brought together into God’s kingdom – some can focus on the Tongues, but the real focus is on the joining of all peoples into Christ.
Lord, today as we focus on Pentecost, we focus on the joining of the nations – and how the Spirit compels us to spread the gospel, so that every nation can come to You and be saved and be forgiven for our sins. Thank You that You live within us – and we have Your presence with us. There is a deep intimacy we have with You – help us to learn to experience and appreciate that intimacy – that that would be our normal experience – not something unusual, but normally experiencing the presence of God in us.
We are looking at 2 Cor. 12:
This boasting is an important part of the Corinthian letters – again, used more than 30 times –
This is Paul’s “Boasting” – he is rebuking, using some sarcasm – backhandedly making a point by emphasizing his mode of communication.
12 It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 4 was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.
What is that all about? Most believe that Paul is talking about himself – but hiding it – not mentioning himself – and they realize it is himself – but he is making a point – and that point is the problem of boasting and how foolish they sound – these false leaders boasting about their spirituality. He is making fun of them in a Christian apostolic way! There is no other way of looking at it!
The way it relates today – it is amazing how often Christians boast in their spiritual experience. We do it in unique ways – maybe it is boasting in having the right theology. Read Christian blogs or books – they all have the right theology. Some boast in their growth – their numbers – their buildings, ministries. Some boast in their character – we don’t have the building – but we have people of great character! As if all the others don’t. We can be just as guilty today of this.
Twenty years ago I made a commitment to be involved with other churches and pastors for the sake of unity in this community and area. I got to know a lot of pastors and still meet with some to this day. They are from varied denominations and varied practices of following Christ. There are so many diverse ways that people love Jesus just as much as I do. What it does is gives you an appreciation – that – eh – my way is not really any better maybe – it is just an expression. There is not a right way to do that! There may be some wrong ways to do it – but what Pentecost teaches is that there is enormous variety and God loves the differences. As you experience other Christians from diverse groups – learn to appreciate the differences rather than saying what is right and wrong.
In Corinth – they are
5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
I’ll boast about this ‘fictional guy’ – but not about myself – except my weakness. The thing they think is my weakness – being weak – is my strength.
When he talks about his weakness – what is he talking about?
2 Cor. 11: 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.
So here, what Paul says – when he is boasting in weakness – he is not boasting in his sin. He is not saying he is the most angry man in the world. He is not a negative nelly – instead he is boasting about his struggles – frailty – limitations – insufficiencies – because of the ministry he is involved

6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant.
The super apostles were claiming spiritual privilege – and Paul is saying – if anyone could claim privilege – it would be him – but with his ‘privilege’ comes great spiritual troubles – with great spiritual privilege comes great opposition and struggle.
If we see a person with great spiritual opportunity and privilege – and they do not have special opposition and obstacles – there are two things going on – either it is built on sand – or they are becoming conceited. Because only – when you are given spiritual opportunities – the only thing that can keep you from becoming conceited are opposition and obstacles. I think that is why big ministry ministers fall – the reason – those great opportunities and privilege create pride.
Paul was good at his ministry – and to protect him – God sent this opposition. Paul’s visit to the third heaven is accompanied by a visit from hell! Be prepared – if God gives you a great spiritual opportunity where you touch the heart of God – that is wonderful – but be prepared for what comes next.
8 I asked the Lord three times (not really three – but a phrase of completeness – he thoroughly sought God on this issue – he did all he needed to and all he could – we don’t know what this is – there is a lot of speculation – and there is never anywhere that tells us what the thorn in the flesh was) - about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
God answered Paul’s prayer request – by making his grace available to Paul – not by removing the thorn.
So often, that is how God answers our prayer requests – by making his grace and power available. God says His grace is sufficient – it is all he needs. God – basically says – you don’t need this removed from you – it is okay you have this thorn – as my grace is all you need. You receiving my grace is much more important than me removing this thorn. We tend to see power in the removal of the thorn. We think God really worked when He removes the thorn – but the power is seen when God gives grace and leaves the thorn!
Emotionally – I can say for myself – I want the thorn gone. Sometimes He takes it away. Sometimes that happens. But sometimes He says – My grace is enough – that is all you need.
Let’s bring this to us.
When we encounter thorns in the flesh – living in our culture – and encounter obstacles, insufficiencies and limitations – we look to resource them. That is the American Way. We have a limitation – we resource it! We strengthen our weaknesses and compensate for our inadequacies. In general, that is good. When you think of your inadequacies – get more education – get a better job – get a better budget – and in this world – it is important to resource our limitations – HOWEVER – there is a point – at times – when it comes to our faith and walk with God in ministry – that that attitude is a bad thing. Here is what I mean. It is something we have to unlearn as Christians. God’s work must be done by God. Did you get that? God’s work must be done by God. That is an enormous statement. I think – No, I have to do God’s work – I have a friend – who used to say – I believe in God, and it is not me. God’s work must be done in God’s way in His strength. For some unknown reason, God chooses the weakest of people to do His work. We think that is insanity – there are superstars You could choose!
In our attempt to resource every insufficiency or limitation – we replace God’s strength with our own. We do it because we are impatient and God’s way is usually the long way, right? We do it because of pride. The attitude I am talking about has nothing to do with being lazy or inactive. We are to be resourceful – God calls us to that –
I am what I am by the grace of God – but His grace did not prove vain because I labored more than all of them! I worked really hard at His work – and there is a balance.
So I will help you find that balance. Instead of asking or seeking – how do I resource or strengthen my weaknesses – instead, first ask – how can God’s grace be shown in my weakness? How can God be seen through this? Let me give an example:
I have shared this before – I, as a child and teenager – was extremely shy. I had a huge fear of public speaking. At age 18, God called me to become a preacher, as they used to say. Okay – how in the world does this work? Well, here is what happened. One day – I just stepped out. The opportunity came up and I stepped out. I did not want to do it – I argued and fought – but I felt compelled – and I just spoke in front of a crowd – and God filled me with his grace. Wow! That was unique! I have never experienced anything like that before! And it came again – the same argument – stepped out – and sometimes I didn’t step out – but when I did – I recognized God’s grace.
Since recognizing my calling – I have worked hard to be trained at what I do. But it starts not with us – but with us first receiving God’s grace in that limitation.
Let me give you more – first, an assignment – spend this week talking to God – ask Him to help you discover your insufficiencies – be diligent and honest and thorough – not for the purpose of resourcing these things – but just discover what they are. There are resources – strength finders – and they are good – but what is necessary is a weakness finder – so we can discover how God can display His power through them – not to be a lousy this or that.
Take our building – we are trying to develop a plan. This building has limitations. We know that. And we are working on it. Within the next 3-6 months – we’d like to present those – it is taking longer than we hoped. But have you ever asked – how can God’s power be demonstrated through the limitations of this building – to be honest – in preparing this message I came up with this and I felt convicted! Do we put our own solutions before God?
Maybe you are financially under-resourced. That doesn’t mean you don’t look for a job or budget better – but ask, “How can God’s grace or power be displayed?” Maybe it is a health issue. That doesn’t mean you don’t go to doctors – but sometimes things just aren’t fixed the way we want them to be fixed – but we need to ask –
God’s power is demonstrated most fully in our limitations and weaknesses. That is where.
Christ’s power dwells in our insufficiencies.
Do you delight in weakness? No! They should take this verse out of the Bible!
What is boasting? Turning attention on us. When Paul talks about boasting about weaknesses – we are to turn the attention to God – and God gets the attention when His power is seen in our weakness. In order to do this – we need to be able to honestly see our limitations – and then when we recognize them – to acknowledge even the smallest of Graces God gives us. God is giving grace – but we are unwilling to acknowledge our limitations – and then we are unable to see the grace He does give.
We were in Columbus this week – I was back and forth – but Cindy stayed there.
We took Pey out for lunch – she is from the Philippines – and down the street – there is a Vietnamese restaurant – and they got big bowls of Pho – they went in with the newborn – the epitome of weakness – and boy, did we have her full attention – all because of that tiny little baby – we had the best service anyone can imagine. When we are weak, we are strong.
Lord, thank You – help us not to be afraid of acknowledging our limitations. We have them. Everyone else knows we do – help us to know it too that Your grace and power might be known in us.