My Grace Is Sufficient

    And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn (in the flesh) was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet (beat) me, lest I be exalted above measure. II Corinthians 12:7

    This answers the age-old question, "Can a Christian have a demon?" obviously, he can because one of the greatest Christians in the New Testament did! Because of pride Paul was given a demon to keep him humble. There is much conjecture over the nature of Paul's thorn, but nonetheless it was there!

    Remember Lucifer, God's shining arch angel was overcome with pride which got him expelled from Heaven along with a third of his angelic brothers. Pride poisons the soul with selfishness and self-centeredness exalting the person above others until he becomes possessed with arrogance and opens many doors to the devil!

    Humility is the only remedy for pride, to repent of exalting yourselves and confessing before God your sin is the only path to freedom and deliverance! Many a preacher has fallen from grace being exalted by his followers and put on a pedestal above the flock!

    Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. I Peter 5:6,7

STRENGTH IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS

    Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:8,9

    There are many questions when it comes to why we are sick, afflicted or have some malady that perplexes us. Is it sin, did God give it to me, or did the devil? Good question which begs an answer! In Paul's case we know that pride caused him to have a demon to humble him, so sin is one way we become afflicted.

    Did God give the thorn? I believe God approved it because in the case of Job, Satan asked permission to afflict him. The third question, did the devil do it? The devil comes to rob, kill and destroy, he is God's delivery boy that we should always be on the alert for! In any case the grace of God is always sufficient whether we get an answer or not.

    The remedy for all that afflicts mankind is humility and honesty of heart, in that we should always be transparent to God in everything, confessing our faults with Him and turning away from evil.

    For the grace of God, that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Titus 2:11,12

HUMBLE YOURSELVES

    Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. I Peter 5:6-9

    Humility is a divine virtue and heavenly characteristic of those who know and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, although it usually doesn't manifest until one endures the trials of life. The word tells us to count it all joy when we encounter various trials for the testing of our faith.

    The apostle Paul did just that: being stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, snakebit and persecuted until at the end they executed him. Paul praised God through every ordeal and through it all he was humbled to the point of death. Humility comes at a great price but those who obtain it yield the fruitful gift of righteousness and peace!

    If we don't humble ourselves the devil will help us as we see in the life of Paul and his thorn in the flesh. So, pay now or pay later, either humble yourself or wait for the trials of life to do it for you! In any case it is better to suffer now rather than later in order to obtain humility and the Divine grace of God's mercy! AMEN!

    But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen. I Peter 5:10-11

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ