- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.
By C H Spurgeon
“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” (2 Corinthians 12 v9).
Paul, when he was attacked by a messenger of Satan addressed his prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to the heavenly Father as he usually did. This is remarkable, but it is clear from the passage that he pleaded three times with the Lord. We see he refers to the Lord Jesus, for the next verse reads, “That Christ’s power may rest on me”. In the prayer he desires the power of the Lord Jesus to rest upon him.
It is proof of our Lord’s divinity that He can be addressed in prayer and this also shows us that we may boldly present our requests, not only to the Father, but also to His Son. We can see the importance in praying to Jesus. Paul’s temptation came from Satan and because the Lord has endured temptation himself, He knows how to help those who are tempted. Christ came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. In His lifetime Jesus displayed special power over unclean spirits, and constantly cast them out from those who were tormented. It was one of His few rejoicing notes, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”. It was by the name of Jesus that devils were cast out after Christ had risen into Glory. “Jesus I know,” said the spirits in Acts 19 verse 15. Devils felt the power of Jesus, and therefore it was natural that Paul turned to Jesus when troubled by Satan.
This prayer was not only addressed to Jesus but was offered in the same manner as the prayer of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostle prayed three times, just as our Lord did when He too was attacked by the powers of darkness. Paul met with a similar answer as his Master, for our Lord was not permitted to put aside the cup of suffering, but an angel appeared to Him strengthening Him. In Paul’s case the trial was not taken away from him, but he was strengthened by kind, assuring words, and by being led to see that God would be glorified by him enduring the trial. We can see the Lord Jesus reflected in His servant Paul with the three-times repeated prayer, the cup that was not removed and strength given in the time of weakness.
We must note that it is the Lord Jesus who says in the text, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness”. This truth offers light upon the words, helps us to interpret them and gives us great comfort. In the text even the most casual reader notices a promise of GRACE ALL-SUFFICIENT. In the case of our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit was totally sufficient for Him at all times. The man Christ Jesus was continually strengthened during the most terrible temptations and the most bitter suffering, allowing Him to complete the work which His Father had given Him to do. In death He was able to exclaim in the words, “It is finished”. The Lord here assures any Christian that it should be the same, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
Let us look at the text again and this time highlight the word “sufficient”. Paul, you are attacked by an evil spirit, but “My grace is sufficient for your present need,” says the Lord. “You have been beaten, stoned and shipwrecked, and in all these My grace has been sufficient, and now I tell you I am able to meet this present trouble. My grace is sufficient for you in this also.” It is easy to believe in grace for the past and the future, but to rest in it for the current issue of life is true faith. Believer, it is NOW that grace is sufficient, even at this moment of time it is enough. Do not say this is a new trouble, but if you do, remember the grace of God is always new. Do not complain that something unusual has happened to you, or if you do, remember blessings are provided by grace to meet these difficulties. Do not fear because the thorn in the flesh is so mysterious, for grace is mysterious too, and one shall be met by the other.
At this moment, and at all times between now and glory, the grace of God will be sufficient for you. This is declared without any limitations, and I understand the passage to mean that the grace of our Lord Jesus is sufficient to hold you, to strengthen you and to comfort you. It is sufficient to enable you to triumph, sufficient to bring you out of it and hundreds of other trials like it, and it is sufficient to bring you home to heaven. Whatever could harm you, then His grace is sufficient to avoid it. Whatever you desire, His grace is sufficient to give you it, if it is good for you. Whatever you need to avoid, His grace can hide you from it by His wisdom.
Oh child of God, I wish that it was possible to put into words this total sufficiency of Christ, but it is not. I am glad that it cannot be put into words, for if it was then it would be limited, but since we will never be able to express it, glory goes to God. Your duty is to personally take to heart the promise, for no believer should be in fear, for the grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for you.
What was Christ's power? His power was in His weakness, His humiliation, His dependence upon God, His faith in God and His perfect commitment to the Father. Paul says that He suffered in weakness and that this power of humility rested in Him so that God would be glorified.
Brothers and sisters never ask the Lord to make you strong in yourselves, never ask Him to make you anybody or anything, but be content to be nothing and nobody. Next ask that His power may have room in you, and that all those who come near you may see what God can do with nothings and nobodies. Live with this desire, to glorify God. Sometimes when God honours us in His service a great “I” stands in the Lord’s way. When tempted with pride we should say, “get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God” and, if God gives you great grace, you will go more and more into the background, and lie lower and lower before God. If you once feel yourself to be great and good, either a fall will happen, or else the power of God will withdraw from you. Even the best of us are flesh and blood who have no power except what God lends us. Therefore, do not exalt others nor exalt yourselves, but plead with the Lord to make and keep you weak, so that in you His power may be displayed. God allows this, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
From ‘Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 22’.