Easter Dawn

Easter Sunrise

March 31, 2002

John 14:19

“Life Has Meaning Today”

Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 

There is an emphasis on life on life now and life at Easter. Because He lives life has new meaning for each of us. Because Jesus lives we have the hope and promise of life here and now. Because He lives life is worth living.

I.  Life has meaning

A.   Jesus’ death and resurrection confirm His message.  Jesus said “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly. His death and resurrection confirm this reality. Jesus proved that He ment business by going to the cross to suffer and die for all of your sins. But He proved that your sins are truly forgiven by coming back to life again on the third day.  It’s one thing to say that you have the keys to forgiveness and life. Jesus proved Himself trustworthy in the bloody cross and at the empty tomb.

B.   His message gives life meaning for us now and into the future. Jesus said: “Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” We will see Jesus in the future. We will see Him in glory. He gives us life now for this world. He gives us the promise of eternal life in the future where we will live and reign with Him in glory.

C.  Because Jesus is alive we have a future; now and forever.  Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. He will always remain with us. Never are we alone. Our destiny is secured. We have this glorious hope which can not disappoint us.

II.  Life now makes sense.

A.  Jesus’ resurrection ties us into another world.  The last hymn of our hymnal reads “I’m but a stranger here heaven is my home” How true that statement is. We are connected to a world, which we can not see, a world that we have not yet experienced, a world that is waiting for us to experience.

B.    It is necessary for life to make sense. That is the problem with living in this world now. Sometimes life does not make sense. Bad things happen to good people. Innocent folk suffer. Terror can strike at any moment. We live in an age in which men’s hearts fail them because of fear. Our fears are relieved because Jesus, the author of life is in control of our life. He is the only one who makes sense out of this chaotic world. Life now makes sense because He has promised that we will see Him again in another glorious world, a world that can not end.

III. Life now has ultimate worth.

A.   If in this life only then we are to be pitied…” is how Paul put it. If we are living only for this world we are to be pitied. If we were only to live for this life, why look to the future? Why give up on so much now if this is the only life that we live?  But we have this guarantee that life will not stop when we leave this world. Death for us is not the end. We do not eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Death for us is not the end…it is only the beginning; the beginning of a more glorious life, and life which will not end.

B.   Life has eternal value.  We cherish each day. We live life to the fullest for we make an impact on this life only to live life again in glory with Jesus. Life is limitless. Life is eternal. Life is endless. Life is permanent.

This is our purpose for living; life, real life, abundant life; eternal life. Life with Jesus forever. Now that’s a future we can all look forward to living! A blessed Easter! Amen!

Easter

Easter

March 31, 2002 

The Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer

Introduction:  The kingdom remains forever with Jesus!  We come now to the conclusion of this much loved prayer: “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever Amen”

Yes! The kingdom remains forever with Jesus! It is a powerful kingdom.  It is a glorious kingdom. It is an eternal kingdom.  Why do we pray? Jesus has given us plenty of reasons why we should pray. In the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer we find three good reasons for asking all these things from Jesus.

Jesus alone is King, from whom we seek help. On this Easter let us remember that there is no such thing as a dead Christ. The German philosopher Nietzsche declared that God is dead. Unfortunately for Nietzsche he died and met a living Christ! Because of Easter you and I can come to Christ with our faults and our fears, with our cares and our concerns with our triumphs and our trials, with our disasters and our dreams and know that He will hear every single one of them.

This not so with the false gods of this present age. They are only the cheap imitation of man’s own imagination. They are utterly worthless. David reminds us in Psalm 115: “Why do the nations say, where is their God? But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; They have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell; They have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.” (vv.2-9) Man left to his own devices is powerless and ineffectual.

But because of Easter God is alive and hears every prayer. That’s why we can say with David in Psalm 110: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may be terrified no more” (vv.17-18).

Because of Easter Jesus alone has the power to grant us our petitions.

Jeremiah the prophet of old reminds us “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good” (v.15)

Dumb idols remain silent. They can not help. They can not hurt. A prayer offered to a false god is like speaking to the wind. Not so with Jesus.  He has the power to grant our petitions because He is alive. As the child once put it “He can’t be dead…I spoke to Him this morning!” Every petition, every request is answered by Him because he is alive forevermore.  

Because of Easter Jesus alone shall have all glory and praise for all that he has done for us. 

He is the eternal God deserving of our prayers and our praise. The writer to the Hebrews put it this way: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will. And may He work in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever Amen (13:20-21)

Conclusion:  So what else is there to say other then the Amen! What is meant by the word Amen? ‘That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen, that is, yea, yea it shall be so. A blessed Easter! Amen.

Good Friday

Good Friday

March 29, 2002

The 7th Petition

“But Deliver Us From Evil”

Introduction:  Quite possibly Luther has saved the best for last. In the 7th petition we pray: “But deliver us from evil” Luther writes: “We pray in this petition, as the sum of all, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil of body and soul, property and honor, and finally, when our last hour has come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself in heaven”.

In this petition we ask God –

I.        To keep every evil from us.

The Lord promises us in Psalm 91 that He will keep us safe so that no harm or evil will overcome us. “If you make the Most High your dwelling –even the Lord, who is my refuge then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent” (vv.9-10) “God is our refuge and strength an even present help in all kinds of trouble” says David. (Psalm 46:1)  Thus we are called to have a triumphant confidence, a fearless trust in God.

The devil and sin would threaten our very existence - yet God in Christ has done something about our sin and the devil’s might. He dealt with our sins on a hill called Calvary when He suffered and died for our sins and the sins of the entire world. That’s why we have been taught to pray: “but deliver us from evil,” or as some put it, “but deliver us from the evil one”.

II.    In this prayer we ask God to take from us or to help us bear and turn to our benefit the cross with which He afflicts us.

Returning from Antioch Paul “Strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith” (Acts 14:22) Those early Christians were tempted within and without. There were many crosses and temptations, challenges and persecutions placed “in their road”.  Yet, the Lord by His Word and Spirit kept them as they remained true to the faith.  To this day the Lord does this in your life and in my life as we pray with the hymn writer:

“Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies

Hea’vn’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

                    [TLH #552 stanza 8]

No matter what might befall us Christ remains with us.  In the book of Job, chapter 5, verse 19 we are told: “From six calamities He will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you” Though many trials may come to us Christ will see us through.  We can trust that these promises will be kept because Christ kept the greatest promise ever made when He went to the cross on a day called Good Friday. He suffered in our place so that we could receive forgiveness, life and salvation.

III. We pray in this petition that our dear redeemer would deliver us from all evil and finally lead us to a blessed end.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy: “The Lord will rescue me from every attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (v.18) When we know the Savior and are assured of His protection you and I can pray with Simian of old: “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace as you have promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of Your people Israel” (vv.29-32)

We toil here on this earth where we are bombarded by the forces of the devil, the world and our own flesh. Our ultimate goal is to be with Jesus in glory.  That’s what St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians. Chapter 1 “I’m torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (v.23)

And that’s why today is called Good Friday. Christ has conquered and gained for us the victory. Hidden under the shadow of the cross we wait for a new day when we will be with the Lord. Until that day comes we can be assured that He will continue to deliver us from every form of evil. Yes you are covered and protected by the Savior.

Pilgrims here on earth and strangers
Dwelling in the midst of foes.
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In Thine arms may we repose
And, when life’s sad day is past,
Rest with Thee in heav’n at last.

                    [TLH #553 stanza 2]     

M Thursday

Maundy Thursday

March 28, 2002

The 6th Petition

“Lead Us Not Into Temptation”

Introduction: on this holy night, when we remember that the Savior endured temptation for us we are brought into remembrance that He Himself allowed Himself to suffer. He prayed in the garden “Father, not My will, but Thine be done” and then allowed Himself and permitted Himself to be crucified.

Tonight, we look at the sixth petition: “and lead us not into temptation” Luther in his small Catechism reminds us: “God indeed tempts no one…” Well, if that is the case, what then do we ask in the sixth petition?

              I.      We ask that the Father would guard and keep us, so that the temptation to evil may not come upon us.

Paul writing in 2 Thessalonians 3 reminds us: “But the Lord is faithful, and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (v.3) Here Paul places the faithfulness of God in sharp contrast with the lack of faith in people.  “No temptation has sized you except what is common to man” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10. “ And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand under it” (v.13) 

Temptation in itself is not sin. Jesus Himself was tempt4ed. Yielding to temptation is sin. Through God’s battling for us we are able to resist temptation to sin and stand up under it.

           II.      God also promises to strengthen and preserve us when He permits temptation to come.

            Why, pray tell, would the Father allow His children to be tempted? You might ask.  The Father allows temptation so that in the end we may overcome and obtain the victory.  Paul reminds us to be clothed with Christ’s protection.  In Ephesians 6:13 he writes: “Therefore put on the full armor of god, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”. (v.13) 

           Withstanding temptation is the end result.  God by these words assures us that he will give us the means by which we can withstand temptation. Those means are His Word and the Sacraments, which are connected to God’s Word and promises.

            To help guard and keep us the Savior has given us His Supper. This meal is an everlasting testament in which the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is given to us.

            Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him took the time to offer for us His Supper. This meal is offered to you and to me that we may withstand temptation, that we may overcome, that we may gain the victory.

Lord, I believe what Thou hast said,
Help me when doubt assails me;
Remember that I am but dust
And let my faith not fail me.
Thy Supper in this vale of tears
Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.
[ TLH #306 stanza 6]

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

March 24, 2002

Matthew 21:1-11

“A King Comes Riding”

Introduction:  Palm Sunday is an easy scene to recreate. We’ve all heard the story over and over again. It is so very familiar to us but what really is going on here as we see a king comes riding on a colt.

I.        There were issues at hand to be sure.

A.     The Land was occupied

1.      Romans despised Jews and made life for them extremely difficult.

2.   The Jews, on the other hand, hated the Romans; harboring a grudge and they were subject under them.

B.     There were messianic expectations among the people.

1. This was promised throughout the Old Testament that in due time a Messiah would come to deliver the people from their oppressive leaders.

2. Thus the people were wondering if in fact a true deliverer would at last come. What better time then this for a true savior to come?

C. Finally, Lazarus had just been raised to life.

1.      His being raised to life had just recently taken place, within a few weeks.  Everyone was talking about these events.

2.      This news was well known by all. People were starting to question; could this be the promised Savior? Could the messiah be at hand? Could this Jesus be the one?

3.      This simply brought things to a head. The leaders felt threatened. It was determined by a consensus of the leaders that this Jesus must die. “It is expedient that one man should die for the sake of the nation”

II.     The Intention – why did these things happen?

A.     It was not just to fulfill prophecy.

1.      Things didn’t happen just for that. We can not simply say that it was fate that the events of Psalm Sunday escalated as they did.

2.      The events prophesied were being fulfilled in the people’s hearing. God was beginning to act. Events in the world were beginning to unfold and God was at the center.

B.     Christ takes control of His own destiny.

1.      He deliberately precipitates a crisis.

a.      Fate or luck has nothing to do with it. 

b.      Jesus takes matters into His own hands.

c.      He forces the issue. People will now have to take a stand. What will we do with this man Jesus?

2.      Brought events to God’s timing.

a.      The whole matter is in the hands of God

b.      This becomes the crucial event for the people of Jerusalem but especially for you and me today what do you do with Jesus?

III.   The Identifications

A.     Actions of Christ

1.      Sets self forth as the true Messiah

2.      The colt shows what sort of Messiah He will really be.

B.     The responses to Him

1.      The leaders completely missed the point. They ask him to quiet the crowd.

2.      But the people, they too, no less miss the point also.

a.      They linked Jesus to the Psalms

b.      They should have linked Him to the rest of the Old Testament.

C.     Explanation of the crowd.

1.      They were fickle. Today the flock to Him. By Friday they will ask for His blood.

2.      They expected a political Messiah, a bread king.

a.      He showed He was not such “My kingdom is not of this world”.

b.      They became disillusioned.

IV.  Implications

A.     God is in control of every timetable.

B.     Beware of “protestations of praise”

C.     People want a kingdom on their own terms.

1.      Health, wealth, prosperity: view wants that king of kingdom (a kingdom of glory)

2.      Those who want him as Savior but not as Lord

3.      Those who want salvation some other way.

If Christ should come riding into your town today how would people respond?

5th Petition

March 20, 2002

The 5th Petition

“And Forgive Us Our Trespasses”

Introduction:  What does it mean when we pray for forgiveness? How do I know that my heart is in the right place? Is there a process I must go through before forgiveness becomes a reality?  Let’s see what Luther would say to us in the Catechism as we pray “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"

I.        When we pray this petition

A.     We ask that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins. This is what Peter asked when confronted with his sins. He cried: “Depart from me for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8) The point is clear. The nearer one comes to God, the more he feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness.  

Such was the case of Abraham when he pleaded for the city of Sodom. “Not that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord though I am nothing but dust and ash” (Genesis 27:1) Job cried: “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6) Isaiah replied “Woe to me!  I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5) No wonder Peter went out and wept bitterly when he denied even knowing the Lord Jesus. (Luke 22:62)

B.     We pray that our heavenly Father would graciously, for Christ’s sake, forgive our sin. We follow the example of the tax collector, standing at a distance “He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said “God have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13) He did not plead his own good works, but the mercy of God in forgiving his sin.  Thus the church prays: “Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us…Kyrie Eleison! Lord, remember me when You enter into Your kingdom!” (Luke 22:42)

II.     There is a reason why we should ask for forgiveness.

A.     We are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them.  Thy hymnal is ripe with verses that describe this reality. “Not the labors of my hands, could fulfill Thy Law’s demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow.  All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone. (TLH #376 stanza 2)

B.     The point is clear. For we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment.  Jacob prayed; “I am unworthy of all of the kindness and faithfulness You have shown to Your servant” (Genesis 32:10) Thus the prodigal son pleaded to his Father: “Father I have sinned against heaven and against You. I am no longer worthy to be called Your son” (Luke 15:21) 

III.   Forgiveness comes at a price – the price of god’s own Son.  Thus we must promise that we will also heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us.

A.     In the Gospel of Matthew we hear these words: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, now many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?  Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” 70 x 7.  The point is clear. We forgive with time without numbers!

B.     Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, abandoned and left for dead, did not hold his brother’s sin against them rather, he forgave them.  God had used the brother’s act, out of personal animosity toward their brothers Joseph to save lives. Mark his words closely: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:19-20)

IV.  Why must we forgive?

A.     We must forgive because he who would not forgive his brother will not obtain forgiveness from God.  Forgiveness runs in two directions. Forgiveness is a two way street. If we refuse to forgive we will in this petition call down upon ourselves the anger of God

B.     Jesus tells us in Mark 11 “And when you stand praying, if you ho9ld anything against anyone, forgive him, so Your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (v.25)

Conclusion:  This in this petition we are called to forgive. Graciously you have been forgiven – graciously you are to forgive. Be compassionate, as God has had compassion on you.

4th Petition

March 13, 2002

The 4th Petition

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”

INTRODUCTION:  I’ve seen it on the table at my grandparent’s house. I’ve seen it in the kitchens of so many homes here at Friedheim. A wooden bowl with the words inscribed “Give us this day our daily bread”

What are we talking about when we pray these words?  Luther, as he wrote the Catechism helps us understand what it means to pray these words.  What does this mean? “God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

What is meant by daily bread?  “Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home field, cattle money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. Three questions pertain to this particular petition.

I.                    Question One: Why does Christ our Lord tell us to ask for daily bread, even though God gives it also to those who do not ask for it?

A.        Jesus, our Lord and Savior, tells us to ask for daily bread in order to teach us that our daily bread is a gracious gift of God. Our Savior has showered down upon us so many great and wonderful blessings. Every blessing, each gift has been touched by God.  We are called by this petition to recognize this as such.

B.                 We are thus encouraged to receive these blessings with joy and thanksgiving.  David writes in Psalm 145:15-16:  “The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time. Thou dost open Thy hand, and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.” And then in Matthew 5:45 we read: “for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and {the} unrighteous.”

II.                 Question Two: Why do we say “our” bread?

A.        We say “our” bread because we should ask for only that bread which is honestly ours.  Dishonest goods acquired dishonestly are ill gotten gain. We pray that the Lord would bless that which is acquired honestly and we work for it honestly. If we acquire bread and good dishonestly we can not expect God to bless our efforts.  

B.                 As we pray for “our” bread we must always remember that we are connected one to another. As we give “our” bread we pray for our neighbor and share with him when he has need. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us with these words: “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is will pleased” (13:16)

C.                 Giving is sometimes a sacrifice. That’s what the writer to the Hebrews tells us.  What a tremendous example you have been –giving above and beyond what you are required. As we support those who are in need especially with those who are in need – we have this promise that God is well pleased with our giving and our sacrifice.  In short, we support others with "our" bread so that they might have theirs.

III.               Question three: Why are we to say “daily” and “this day”?

A.        We are to say “daily” and “this day” because we should be satisfied with what we need each day.  Each day has its own challenge. Each day has its own needs. Yet, we are encouraged to be satisfied with what we need each day.  You and are Easter people. We live under the shadow of the cross and by the power of the empty tomb. If God in Christ has in fact forgiven us our sins and granted us salvation and life we know that we can be satisfied with what we need each day for He will provide. 

B.                 We pray “daily” and “this day” because it is foolish and sinful to worry about the future.  We can cut it any way we want.  We can call it concern – but when we obsess about the future this can become troublesome.  Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (v.8) God wants us to be satisfied and content with what we have. A question: Are you content with what you have?  

            Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount explains to us what it means to be content as He begins with our first priorities: “Now your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”

CONCLUSION:  The Father has promised to provide.  All we need to support our body and life. He will provide. We can be content all things come by the gracious hand of God.

3rd Petition

March 6, 2002

The 3rd Petition

“Thy Will Be Done”

INTRODUCTION:  “It’s God’s will!”  Ever hear that little phrase? How do we use this phrase? Do we use it as an excuse? Have we ever caught ourselves saying: “well, it must have been God’s will” Do we use this phrase to help us explain the unexplainable or to make sense of what simply does not add up?  What is the good and gracious will of God?

I.    There are enemies whose counsel and will are opposed to the will of God. In this season of Lent as we focus on our need and the Savior solution we pray that God would break and hinder every evil will.  To be sure, the counsel and will of the devil, the world and our flesh are all opposed to the will of God.

A.  The devil is actively opposed to the will of God. Peter reminds us “be alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devout” (5:8) When Adam and Eve fell they were lied to and betrayed by the devil. 

B.   Not only is the devil actively opposed to the will of God.  The world also stands hostile to the Savior.  John writes in his first epistle “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (v.17)

C.   Then there is the flesh – which is also diametrically opposed to the will of the Savior. Paul reminds us in Romans 7: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature…” (v.18) 

TRANSITION:  So, what is it that we should pray for when we ask that God’s will be done?

II.    We ask –

A.   That God would break and hinder the evil counsel and will of the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 16:20 “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” Notice what Paul tells us – the god of peace will crush Satan.  That happened on a hill called Galgatha when the Son of god on a cross cried out “it is finished” 

There, at the cross, Jesus crushed Satan – And “under your feet: daily He breaks the devil’s power through the power of His Word and Spirit. So we can say with Paul in Romans 8 “we are more then conquerors through Christ who loves us”

B.   We also ask that God would strengthen and preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end, so that we may at all times do His will gladly as the angels in heaven also gladly do His bidding.  

Peter reminds us how the Lord protects and guides us when he writes that we are destined for glory.  He reminds us that we have: “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5)

It is by the Word that we are directed and protected. In Psalm 119 David writes: “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it”

C.   We ask that God would in all suffering keep us faithful to our end.  It is through the cross and suffering that you and I are brought into the kingdom of glory.  We are tempted at every turn. Our faith, at times, is battered and weak. We can become frightened and worried. How do we know that we will remain faithful unto the end? Listen to what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12 “and (the Lord) said tome, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” Then Paul goes on to explain what that means to him personally – “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (v.9)

CONCLUSION: St. Paul writes: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape. That you may be able to bear it” (v.13). Consider Job, the Lord was challenged by the devil that he would break if temptation and heartache came his way. But God would not allow the devil to destroy him.  So it goes with you.  God knows your limits and will not allow you to be pushed beyond the brink. God will perfect in you His good and gracious will.