sufficient Archives – Sonshine's Journal

October 15, 2016

Contentment is a Learned Exercise

contentment2 I have struggled with what Paul wrote to the Philippians when he wrote: “I have learned to be content in any circumstance…I have learned the secret of contentment.” How does one “learn” contentment?

I think I found the clue here in 2Corinthians 12. The background: Some spiritually proud “super apostles” sought to lead the Corinthians astray. Paul knew what they were saying behind his back; he is not becoming in appearance and he isn’t eloquent. What they had not known, and up to this time Paul had not shared, was that 14 years prior to this he had (for lack of better words) an “out of body” experience. Consider this; these so-called super apostles often boasted about their so-called revelations, but, Paul did not. In fact it was not until he had heard enough that he shared what had transpired to keep him humble.

Paul is saying “fast forward” now 14 yrs later. Let me share with you what happened ‘after’ my experience. I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to keep me from spiritual pride; unlike these who had infiltrated the church. It was real; it was painful. I sought at least 3 times to have it removed but Christ said emphatically “no;” I have given you my grace of supernatural enablement.

And now Paul explains the secret of his contentment. He learned that a no answer is not the end but the beginning. A no answer meant that Christ would be his sufficiency in times he would need it most. It meant that the grace he had received was not ‘just enough’ but ‘more than enough.’ It is like the miracle of the loaves and fish. When in need, Christ provided not just enough but abundantly and that is what Christ did for Paul. And that is what Christ will do for you and for me.

The lesson for me, and perhaps you, is that Christ will provide just what I need at just the right time. Contentment is not a one time exercise but an on-going step by step, daily exercise. His grace is truly sufficient.

October 16, 2013

Holy Halo or Humble Thorn? 2Cor 12

Have you ever met or heard of someone who seems to wear a holy halo? They are known by their superfluous adjectives or with a long drawn out face about their recent God encounter. Jesus warned the disciples to beware of these Pharisees who roam about in long robes and utter long drawn out prayers on the city street corners not for street evangelism but so that others would think they were the holiest men of all.

It is not the encounter but their boasting about it publicly for the world to see that is so counter to how Paul felt about sharing his. In his humility, meekness and gentleness in Christ Paul finally broke down and wrote about the one vision that so changed his life that we read about in chapter 12. In fact, Paul only shared the briefest of details of this encounter and only after 14 yrs had passed and further only because of the false teachers who were casting aspersions about Paul. You can almost hear Paul saying under his breath “enough is enough!” And so in this chapter Paul shared not only his God encounter but the afflictions that he received as a direct result.

Principle: Paul wants his audience to realize that God allowed afflictions require dependence upon God alone so that He alone gets the glory.

As the Corinthians read this chapter they could visualize in their minds Paul’s thorn. It was something that touched his very person, it was a messenger of Satan, and it was troubling. As Jesus prayed three times in the Garden for the cup to be removed so Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed. God did not remove the cup from Jesus and He did not remove the thorn from Paul.

Principle: “The man who is being most blessed of God is being the most buffeted by the devil” [Redpath].

Through this thorn we learn of his ability through supernatural power and wisdom to experience and be successful in the trial that lay before him. What was this thorn? Paul does not tell us therefore where the scriptures are silent we are as well. What we do know is that it was “something which frustrates and causes trouble in the lives of those afflicted.” (Kruse) Paul lived by taking his own advice: “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.” [Phil 4]

What we do know is that Paul had an insight from the Lord “My grace is sufficient/enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Note the progression:

My = It is the grace of God, not ours.

Grace = The favor and love of God in action.

Is = Present tense; it is on going.

Sufficient = It is complete and fully adequate for the need at the moment.

For you = This means for not just Paul but for you and me!

“This sufficiency is declared without any limiting words, and therefore I understand the passage to mean that the grace of our Lord Jesus is sufficient to uphold thee, sufficient to strengthen thee, sufficient to comfort thee, sufficient to make thy trouble useful to thee, sufficient to enable thee to triumph over it, sufficient to bring thee out of it, sufficient to bring thee out of ten thousand like it, sufficient to bring thee home to heaven . . .” [Spurgeon]

Are you being buffeted today? Take heart and claim this promise from God “My grace is sufficient for you”

August 2, 2013

Chasing Sleep…for the Umpteenth Time.

Last night was one of those nights in which I chased sleep. If you have never had insomnia then you can forget Psalm 77 but if you are like me or you have ever spent a night chasing sleep, you might want to stop and think about what Asaph is teaching us through his experience.

Insomnia is defined by the dictionary as an inability to obtain sufficient sleep, especially when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep; sleeplessness. This what Asaph experienced and I do quite often. Why is that? What is the cause? For some it is the worry syndrome, a sin for sure since we are commanded to not worry. For some it is a metabolic imbalance and for others it is being wired due to some exciting news. No matter the cause the results are the same: bone weariness upon arising.

In Ps 77 Asaph tells us what he does in those times. Note vs 1,2, 3, 5 and 10. He cries out to God, He recalls God and His attributes, He prays all night long, He consider a possible cause, and finally comes to the conclusion that if he verbalizes his frustration at the lack of sleep and its cause this too will pass. What do you do at times like this?

But more importantly than verbalizing his state of mind he begins to consider the character of God and how although himself has become a vagabond, God has been there even in the silence. He questions God’s character but then in vs. 10 realizes how futile an exercise this is because God is “Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen? It is when Asaph realizes this that he changes from “oh woe is me,” to “How Great Thou Art!”

George Rogers once wrote: A good man cannot rest upon his bed until his soul rests upon God. That is a truth we need to remember when we have nights when we are chasing sleep.