Conversations With God
When God Says No!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
April 24, 2016
We’re in a series called Conversations with God. Today is part 3, and we're going to talk about something that's a little bit more difficult than our discussion 2 weeks ago . . . the joy of Lazarus coming back to life. In the story about Lazarus, our theme was when God seemed to show up late. The good news was that God did what Mary and Martha hoped He would do. Lazarus got to live. God just seemed late. All turned out fine! But waiting is no fun!
Today's message is not as much fun. We're going to look at a time when God said NO, when He doesn’t give us what we want and seems uncooperative. Times when we believe God could do something, and then He doesn’t. I believe this will help us better understand the God and learn to trust Him even when God says NO.
Have you ever lost something? Something like your car keys . . . they’re gone. You know they’re somewhere because your car is there, but you can’t find the keys. Maybe you’re at a store and after an intense search -- nothing! No keys.
Finally, you get this crazy idea in your head. I’m going to pray about it. God, help me find my keys. I’m freaking out and I need to find my keys. Thanks God! Then it hits you, you put them down when you were checking out the tomatoes. You go over there and WA! LA! There they are.
You may say, "Well, it was just a coincidence." Maybe or . . . Amazing, God, wow God. I can't believe He did that. That's awesome.
Now fast forward to prayers for a loved one who has cancer or a terminal illness. We pray passionate prayers . . . we thank God for what He’s going to do, but nothing gets better.
Here's my point - - - God, why in the world would you do something seemingly so insignificant in answering a prayer for keys, and why do I hear a NO when I’m praying for healing. God, that doesn't make sense to me.
We all have some version of that story in our lives. God gave you the parking spot at the mall, but won't take away your migraines. Or, you're praying for your marriage, or for some ongoing pain, or challenge, or a job. Whatever it is, we believe - - God, you can do this!
I want to look at one specific story in the life of the Apostle Paul - - - and give some thoughts about prayer which may help. The first one is this, prayer isn't about getting our way, it's about surrendering our will. It's not about getting God to do what we want, it's often surrendering our will to what God wants.
Remember this is exactly how Jesus prayed in the garden, before going to the cross when He said, "Father, if there is any way, would you remove this cup of suffering from me? Nevertheless, God, not my will, but your will be done."
When Jesus taught us to pray, He said ~ "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." We ask God again and again, but ultimately, we’re called to surrender our will to God’s. Paul would discover this. And if there’s anyone who deserved a YES to prayer, it was Paul.
Paul grew up Jewish and was a scholar. He was being groomed to be a high priest. You could say - - he was very Jewish! And Paul hated Christians. He hated them so much, he had them killed. Then Paul had a miraculous conversion where his whole life was changed and he went from hating Christians to being one of the most effective Christians in the history of the world. This guy was amazing, passionate, on fire for Jesus in everything he did.
He wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. He went on missionary trips to tell others about Jesus. He healed people. He raised the dead. He had visions. He risked his life, was whipped and beaten 5 times - - each whipping lasting for 39 times. He was imprisoned numerous times. Stoned for his faith, ship wrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, beaten with rods and left for dead. He paid an incredible price. And endured more than you could imagine.
What was his reward? If I’m God, I’m saying to Paul ~ “You've done all of this. I'm going to make sure your retirement is better than your earlier years . . . because that’s how good a God I am.”
We’re going to read from 2 Corinthians. Paul was writing his 2nd letter to this church in Corinth. We’re nearing the end of the letter and Paul wrote ~
7 "Therefore in order to keep me from becoming conceded, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me."
In other words, satan brings something into Paul’s life. God allows it. God not only allows it, but God is going to use it. God uses it to keep him from becoming conceded. Now, what was this thorn? We don't know. Scholars have debated for years, and everybody has their guess.
Translating the word torment helps us to see Paul’s pain. It means - - - to hit hard with the knuckles, to make the blow sting and crush . . . OR it’s the idea of striking with something sharp and painful, sticking deeply in the flesh so it remains there. Whenever the Romans would kill a person by running a stake through their body, that's the word they used. It was agonizing and that’s how Paul felt.
Most scholars believe it was some kind of physical ailment. Headaches or malaria or recurring epilepsy or a speech impediment. Some argue it was poor eye sight. Whatever it was, Paul said, "This was given to me. God allowed it. It tormented me, and God used it to keep me from becoming conceded."
Many of us have some thorn in our lives. We have some challenge. Your thorn might be a person, it could be family, it could be your boss, or friend.
It may be a health issue. It’s something you’re praying to be relieved of, and it’s not leaving. You look at it and say, "God, would you please change this," and God isn't changing it.
Remember prayer isn't just about getting our way, often times it's about surrendering our will and saying, "God, even though I really wish you would do this, and you're not, I'm choosing to trust you."
Remember from week 1, that passage from Proverbs 19:21 ~ Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. That’s so true, and something for us to hold onto. Hold onto God’s plans.
The second thing I want to point out, is the fact that prayer reminds us we're not in control, and it keeps us close to the One who is. Prayer reminds us, "I’m not the captain of my ship." Prayer reminds me I can't control all situations.
Then Paul added, 3 times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me
God, please, I'm begging you. I'm pleading, I’m crying out . . . take it away!!
Now, when Paul said, "I did this three times," you may think, that’s it? Three times and you’re out? Literally, it means Paul prayed for 3 significant seasons of his life in a very intentional focused prayer, asking for this thorn to be taken away.
Paul prayed - pleaded - fasted - sought God’s answer ~ "Please take this away."
Some of you may be there right now. God, please save my marriage, God, please take away this pain, take away my baby’s pain, God help me find a job so I can support my family. . . . God . . . please!
Whatever it is, you’re praying, you're pleading. This is what Paul did. "God, I trust you. I'm seeking you. Please take this away. I'm only asking you to do what you’ve done through me. You’ve done this for others. I've seen it, God."
If I'm God, I'm going, "Sure, no problem. Of course, you're Paul. You've endured so much for Me. In fact, I'm going to give you a 25% raise on your next pay check." That's what I'm going to do. ‘I'm God, I can do anything!’
Think about it. Through Paul, God performed miracle after miracle. So, of course, God can do this. "God, please, would you just do this one thing? I could serve you so much more effectively if you would do this." What happens ~
9 But God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
God says, "No, not on this one. My grace is sufficient for you, Paul."
What? What does that even mean? Think about it. What grace . . . and . . . Isn't grace what brings forgiveness of sins? We're saved by grace. Yet, grace is so much more than that.
The word that is translated as grace in the Greek is used 156 times in the New Testament. The word literally means unmerited or undeserved favor - - GRACE! But it means so much more than that. It’s also defined this way - - - “Grace is when God freely extends Himself, leaning and reaching to us, because He is disposed to bless and be near us.”
What is grace? God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people. Why? "Because He is disposed to bless and be near us." It's the leaning in of God. It's the, "I'm here for you." It's God wanting to reveal Himself to you. God leaning in to show us His presence.
On the other hand, we tend to say - - - "God, this is what I need. This is what I want. If you'll do this, then I'll have what I need." God says, "No, this is not what you need. In this case, I am what you need. I am sufficient. My grace is what you need." It's the leaning in presence of God. I could do what you want. I've done it before. But in this particular case, you're going to experience me in ways you couldn’t if I did what you wanted me to do."
It's the leaning in, reaching, presence of God. It's something so hard to explain you just have to experience it. It's God's grace. "How did you make it through this?" "I don't know. I received this special grace form God." How in the world are you surviving what you're doing?" "Well, I'm not really even sure. It's the grace of God." It's the presence of God which is enough.
Prayer isn't just about getting our way, sometimes it's surrendering our will to God. God does not exist to serve us. We often think that’s the case. We are here to serve Him. Sometimes we think, "If God doesn't do this for me, I'm out." Well, who are we? When did we become God? With that thinking, we then miss out on the future blessings He has for us. We're here to serve and glorify Him.
We are to continually seek after God, season after season. Through the good seasons and the difficult seasons. "God, I'm seeking you. I'm believing, I'm trusting! God, even if you don't do this, I will continue to trust you."
The third thing is that prayer isn't just asking, it's trusting. It's not just asking for what you want, it's trusting God knows what's best. And that’s not easy to admit, is it? Now, if you come to me and you say, “I've got a disease," we're going to pray in the name of Jesus and believe you will be cured. We believe that the name of Jesus is bigger and better than any other name. We believe God heals. We believe God provides. We believe God performs miracles.”
We ask, we ask and we trust at the same time. James said, "We have not because we do not ask." So, we’re going to ask. We believe in miracles, and we’ve seen miracles, but there are going to be times when God says, "No." And we are then called to trust in His plan. This is what Paul did.
Here he is years later and Paul's looking back on this thorn which he never got rid of. And Paul was able to see things differently. He had a different perspective.
Remember God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God’s grace, God’s undeserved favor given to Paul. God leaning - - reaching in close to Paul. Think about when your child is scared at night, when they cry out and you go and comfort them. You go in and lay in bed with them. You lean in and let their body lean against yours, and they find comfort, security, peace, power! That’s the image we have. God’s grace is sufficient!
Now, listen to what Paul wrote about this thorn he so desperately wanted to get rid of ~ SLIDE9 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Paul now had a different perspective on that thorn. Paul’s saying, ‘That thing that tormented me, God used to keep me from exalting myself from being conceded.’
Because of the thorn, because God did not remove it - - - Paul experienced Christ's power in ways he never would have. His ministry was blessed, it was more powerful. He was able to demonstrate the power of Christ, because of that very thorn he wanted removed. So Paul then added,
10 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.
Did you catch what Paul said? He said what?!?!
I delight in weakness.
I delight in insults.
I delight in hardships.
I delight in persecutions.
I delight in difficulties.
Who here wants to embrace those 5 ways of living?
WOW! WHY? HOW? Because when I am weak, then I am strong. I delight in these things - - - - I would never ever choose them - - - YET - - - - because I’ve experienced the presence and the power of God - - - - it’s OKAY!!
It's not the number of conversions that makes me closer to God. It's those times when I can't do anything but depend on God that helps me to know Him in an intimate way. Paul’s ministry is more powerful because God didn't do what he wanted Him to do. For when I was weak, I experienced His power in a way that I would never have experienced if I was healed.
What if we changed our perspective? What if we went from, "I hate these headaches – – TO I hate them, yet I delight in these headaches. I delight in them because they teach me to trust in the presence of God in a way I couldn't otherwise."
"How do you make it through?" "I don't know; it's the grace of God."
"I delight in my search for a job right now. Because - I’ve learned to depend on God in a way that never would have happened. He continues to meet all my needs."
"I delight even though I feel lonely. Because He is Emanuel. God with us, God with me - - - God leaning and reaching out to me - - - and He is what I need."
Over time, Paul's perspective changed. As he looks back, and that’s true for all of us. When we look back, we see life much more clearly. We say ‘time heals all wounds’ but that really isn’t true. We could name a few folks who are still angry and bitter years later. Time is not necessarily the great healer.
The real healing comes because with God’s presence and power available to us, healing is now available in ways we could never have imagined. God heals us.
We all have things in life we don’t like, things we would like to change - - - situations, circumstances, and people!
I believe with God’s presence and God’s power not just available to us, but here’s the catch . . . because you know His power, His strength, His courage, His presence - - - - do you know what? It’s always available for us.
Here’s the catch. Here’s the key . . . it’s available . . . BUT . . . we need to be open to receive what God offers us. Remember "Grace is when God freely extends Himself, leaning and reaching to us, because He is disposed to bless and be near us." It’s God’s nature and character. It’s who God is!
I don't know what it is right now, and I don't want to down play it, because what you're going through is unique and painful to you, but what I do know is no matter how bad this moment is, the goodness of God is even better. If God doesn't do exactly what you wanted Him to do, it doesn't make God any less good or God.
We continue asking. We believe and pray for miracles, and we're going to trust because prayer isn't just getting God to do what we want, but prayer is surrendering our will to God. "His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
"Here's what I want, God, but not my will. Your will be done."
We're going to keep praying, and anytime there's something difficult that we don't understand, we're going to remember we’re not in control, and it keeps us close to the One who is, and so whatever that thorn is - - - - some day down the road we can say . . . "Wow, I certainly didn't like what happened. I didn't understand it, but God used it." Because even when life doesn't feel good, our God still is good. He's always good. He can't be anything but good. We serve and worship a good God
