Faith When God Says No
Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
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.
Summary: Having faith even when God says no, is a confidence in God that is cultivated as we experience his faithfulness during a lifetime of walking in obedience with him through the trials of life.
Lesson One: Overwhelmed
2 Corinthians 12:7, Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Lesson Two: Overruled
2 Corinthians 12:8, 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.”
Deuteronomy 33:25, As thy days are, so shall thy strength be.
Lesson Three: Overjoyed
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 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.
Faith that says, even when God says no…
Is built over a long period of time
Is cultivated by walking with God through the trials of life
Is firmly rooted in the character of God
Daniel 3:14-18, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
And this is their response, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, —we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.