Thorns, Storms, and the Power of Weakness
Pastor Laurie Polich
September 20, 2024
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Main Topics Discussed
Introduction
Theme introduction: The power of God in our weaknesses and thorns.
Understanding Jesus' Presence and Power Through Three Stories
Story 1: Jesus in the Storm
How Jesus represents God's presence in the storms of life.
Story 2: Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man
Jesus first forgives the man’s sins, teaching us that sometimes the story doesn’t unfold the way we expect.
Story 3: Jesus Post-Resurrection
The story of Paul and the transformative power of encountering Christ.
Paul's Journey – From Persecutor to Apostle
Paul's Background:
Initially, Paul persecuted Christians and was present at Stephen’s death.
The Damascus Road Experience:
Paul’s encounter with Jesus transformed him dramatically.
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh:
Found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
Paul pleaded three times for God to remove his thorn.
God’s response: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Lesson: Sometimes, God answers prayers by not answering them in the way we expect.
Three Observations from Paul's Thorn Experience
1. God Answers Our Prayers by Not Answering Them
God always responds, but sometimes it's not in the way we hope.
Challenge: Do we trust God even when the answer is not what we want?
2. God’s Ultimate Goal Isn’t Our Comfort, but His Glory
Personal example of praying to be a wife and mom, but God’s answer was different.
The journey was not as planned, but God used the story to impact others.
Quote: “Sometimes God withholds what we want so He can give us what others need.”
We often have to face hard things to reach others powerfully.
3. God Uses Our Weaknesses to Display His Strength
Paul’s greatest ministry emerged from his weakness – writing letters from prison.
Sharing our pain and weaknesses enables others to see God’s strength.
Personal Application and Story
Sharing how God used personal thorns and weaknesses:
The experience of getting married at 49 and not having biological children.
How God answered the prayer in unexpected ways: mothering in various capacities.
God’s power shines brightest through our brokenness.
Key Quote for Reflection
“If we expose our pain before it's resolved, it has the capacity to reach others with a power nothing else can touch.”
Invitation to Respond
Challenge to the Congregation:
Invite those who are carrying thorns, storms, or weaknesses to stand.
Encourage them to offer their pain and weaknesses to God for His glory.
Collective Reflection:
Recognize the pain and suffering represented in the room and the potential for God to use it all for His purposes.
Conclusion and Encouragement
Emphasize Paul’s conclusion: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Encourage the congregation to embrace their weaknesses and allow God’s power to be displayed through them.
Prayer
Pray for courage, strength, and faith for everyone facing their own thorns.
Ask for God to use each person’s pain to bring hope, healing, and transformation to others.
Closing
Reaffirm the message: God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness.
Biblical References
Philippians 1:12
`"Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel."
Context: Paul wrote this while he was in prison, emphasizing that his imprisonment served to spread the gospel more effectively.
Acts 9:3-6 (Summary of Paul's Conversion Story)
"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied."
Context: This passage describes Paul's dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, which led to his conversion.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
"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."
Context: Paul speaks about the thorn in his flesh and how God used it to demonstrate that His grace is sufficient, and His power is perfected in Paul's weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:10
"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."
Context: Paul concludes that in his weakness, Christ's strength is made evident, and therefore he can rejoice in his hardships.
Reflection Questions
What “thorn” or weakness in your life have you been asking God to remove, and how might He be using it to reveal His strength and grace?
In what ways have you experienced God’s presence during a “storm” in your life, and how did it change your understanding of His power and love?
Reflect on a time when God answered your prayer differently than expected. How did this experience help you trust in His plan and timing?
How can you use your personal story of pain, weakness, or struggle to encourage and connect with others who are going through similar challenges?
What comfort or desire might God be asking you to surrender in order to fulfill His greater purpose for your life and the lives of others around you?
Daily Activities
1. Journaling Your Thorn
Activity: Spend 15-20 minutes each day journaling about a specific “thorn” or challenge in your life that you wish God would remove. Reflect on how this weakness has impacted you and how God might be using it for His purpose.
Application: As you journal, pray for God to reveal how His grace is sufficient in this area. Allow yourself to see how He can use your weakness to strengthen you and others.
2. Encouragement Letters
Activity: Write a letter to someone who is facing a difficult time, sharing your own experiences of how God’s grace has been sufficient in your life. Offer encouragement and empathy, using your own struggles to connect with their pain.
Application: This activity helps you see how your pain can be a source of comfort to others, turning your weakness into a testimony of God’s strength.
3. Gratitude Walk
Activity: Take a 20-30 minute walk and intentionally focus on expressing gratitude to God for the thorns and weaknesses in your life. As you walk, think of how each challenge has drawn you closer to Him or how it has shaped you.
Application: This practice helps you shift your perspective, teaching you to see God’s hand at work even in your discomfort and pain.
4. Thorn Sharing Circle
Activity: Gather with a small group of friends, family, or peers, and create a safe space where each person can share a “thorn” or area of weakness they are struggling with. Pray for one another and encourage each other to find God’s strength in the midst of these challenges.
Application: By openly sharing your weaknesses and hearing others’, you’ll experience how God’s power is magnified in our shared humanity and brokenness.
5. Scripture Memorization and Meditation
Activity: Memorize 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "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."
Application: Meditate on this verse daily, especially when you feel overwhelmed by your weaknesses. Let it remind you of the truth that God’s power is perfected in your weaknesses, and allow it to reshape your mindset toward your struggles.
