Spiritual Intimacy: Into-Me-You-See
Intimacy
with the Grace of God
Lesson #4
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Lesson
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Hebrew/Greek Definitions of Grace:
Hebrew: Chen -- pronounced: {khane} Subjective
(kindness, favor) or objective (beauty): -- favour, grace(-ious), pleasant,
precious, (well-)favoured.
Greek: Charis -- pronounced: {khar'-ece}
Graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal,
figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and
its reflection in the life; including gratitude): -- acceptable, benefit,
favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).
The Message:
Grace in the Old Testament is primarily described as an act
of kindness, directed at humanity by God. In the New Testament a fresh twist is
developed with grace being a free gift of God to man. Although grace is always
a gift of God, New Testament grace comes with a qualitative difference. The
grace of God even becomes more intimate under New Testament divine theology.
In the first ten Old Testament books of the Bible (Genesis
through 2 Samuel), the term grace occurs twenty-six times. In each instance it
is described as grace found with divine God or an attempt to find grace with
carnal man. Below are passages of grace found with God:
Ø
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the
eyes of the LORD.
Ø
Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the LORD,
See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know
whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou
hast also found grace in my sight.
Ø
Numbers 32:5 Wherefore, said they, if we
have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a
possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
Ø
Judges 6:17 And he said unto him, If now I
have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
From Ezra through Zechariah the language of grace is
elevated to an even higher level of intimacy:
Under New Testament scripture, the concept of grace reaches
maturity and absolute intimacy. The New Testament concept of grace spans from
the gospel of Matthew to the apocalyptic Revelation of God given
to John. We observe eleven instances before moving into our text.
- Acts
4:33—Grace was upon all the apostles.
- Acts
11:23—Grace was seen by Barnabas.
- Acts
13:43—The Jews were persuaded by Paul and Barnabas to continue in grace.
- Acts
14:26—Grace was recommended.
- Romans
1:5—Grace was received.
- Romans
5:20—Grace abounds.
- Romans
5:21—Grace reigns.
- 2
Corinthians 4:15—Grace is abundant.
- 2
Corinthians 8:1—Grace is bestowed.
- 2
Corinthians 9:14—Grace is exceeding.
- “And
not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us
with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same
Lord, and declaration of your ready mind” (2 Corinthians 8:19). As we will extrapolate upon
later, in this passage we find the intimacy of God’s grace, traveling with
the Christian. How much of a blessing it is to not only know that God’s
grace is upon us, recommended, received, abounds, reigns, and exceeds. It
is also always with us in travel.
Lesson Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7 And
lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan
to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The relationship that Paul had with Christ typifies the
intimacy, love, and power in the grace of God. When the details of this
experience are critically investigated, the concept of grace as a free gift is
evident. Paul wanted God to annihilate a trouble in his life. However, the
response of Christ was, “…My grace is sufficient…” In other words, the free gift that God had
already given to Paul was enough to sustain and keep him. The salvation, power,
forgiveness, Holy Spirit, faith, love, mercy, truth, and restoration that God
had already granted Paul was sufficient. Therefore, not only is grace abundant
and bestowed, it is sufficient.
Because of the intimate relationship Paul had with Christ,
he realized and accepted the sufficiency of God’s grace and ceased from his
request. Because of their close relationship, once Paul understood the grace of
Christ which operated in his own life, he began to appreciate his personal
affliction and realized it allowed the glory and grace of God to rest upon him.
All Christians today are blessed because of God’s grace.
Because of our intimate relationship with the Shepard, Cross, and Covenant, we
appreciate and understand God’s grace because without it we would die miserably
in our sins. God did not have to save us and God does not have to remove our
troubles because His grace is sufficient and travels with us daily. His grace
is the free gift to the world, and those who accept it become members of His
church.
Ø
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ø
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus:
Ø
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ø
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Ø
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in
hope of the glory of God.
Grace is a consistent theme throughout the Bible and life of
the Christian. Therefore, God’s children must maintain an intimate relationship
with His grace. We are who we are, have what we have, and live the way we
live because of the grace of God. Paul said, “But by the grace of God I
am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but
I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God
which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Eight Looks at Gods Grace:
- When
God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden as opposed to killing
them, His grace was in operation (Genesis 3:24).
- When
God placed a mark on Cain to keep others from killing him after he killed
his brother, His grace was in operation (Genesis 4:15).
- When
God saved humanity through Noah, His grace was in operation (Genesis
7:1).
- When
God guided the path of Israel even during their disobedience, His grace
was in operation. Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by
day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar
of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not
away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from
before the people.
- When
God allowed David to become a king and maintain his life despite his
adulterous affair, His grace was in operation (2 Samuel 12:13).
- When
God allowed Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, His grace was in operation (Book
of Nehemiah).
- When
Christ refused to call twelve legions of angels to rescue Him, the grace
of God was in operation (Matthew 26:53).
- When
Jesus hung on the cross and said, “…Father forgive them for they know not
what they do” His grace was in operation (Luke 23:34).
It is because of the sacrifice of Christ that Christians can
have an intimate relationship with Him today. “For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Become
intimate with God and His grace today!
God has paved a way to save you today!