God’s Will: Deliverance or Dependence?

(How to be strengthened in an ongoing trial)

2 Cor 12:7-10

Stuart W. Scott

Introduction:

1. We should ____________ that God’s goodness to us is the soil in our lives where either humility or pride can grow. Humility is the only mindset that magnifies Christ.
2. God always has the perfect ____________ to guard us from our potential uselessness and fruitlessness. He knows what we need to be more conformed into the likeness of Christ.
3. The most common, natural and understandable response to a painful trial is to __________ deliverance from the Lord. We don’t always know what will magnify Christ more, so there is nothing wrong per se to request deliverance.
4. Often, God’s _________ to our petitions may be that ongoing dependence on Christ for strength is his good, acceptable and perfect will. Often, ongoing suffering is God’s way to magnify Christ in our lives.
5. Our ________ by God’s continuing grace is to be one of embracing God’s Will with joy. We resolve to magnify Christ by relying on “his strength” in our “weakness.”

Conclusion (Intentional Meditation):