Sermon of the Week
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)
"A Half of Cup"
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. 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.
Introduction
We all have a cup to drink from. Even JESUS had a cup to drink from. In Matthew 20:20-22, the mother of the two disciples asked JESUS if her sons could sit at HIS right and left side when HE entered back into the kingdom, and JESUS asked the sons if they would be able to drink from the same cup that HE would have to drink from. Also, in the garden, JESUS speaks of the cup again as HE asked the FATHER for the cup to pass . . . but then HE went on to say, "Not as I will, but as thy will"
Now imagine you are holding your cup right now! You have a cup that can contain 8 ounces, yet you only have 4 ounces in the cup. This will leave you with "A Half of Cup" This 4 ounces represent you marriage, relationships, education, bank account, mortgage, etc. This half of cup represents everything you have and all that you are. Can you imagine your 4 ounce life in the 8 ounce cup? As you vision this . . . let me ask you a question! Do you see your cup as "Half Empty" or "Half Full"?
Half Empty Cup
Initially Paul saw his cup as half empty. He saw the thorn in his flesh as a setback and not a push forward. Paul pleaded three times with the Lord to take it away. The word "plead" in this verse would indicate that Paul spent a considerable amount of time trying to convince the LORD to take the thorn away. When we see our cups as half empty, we spend too much time pleading with the Lord and trying to convince HIM to remove what we see as a setback. You know when you say things like, "Lord, if you get my husband/wife to act right . . . then I can do better" GOD wants you to do better in spite of . . . not because of!
The arrogant thing about the half empty cup thinker is . . . they don't realize that they started with an empty cup and GOD has already given them plenty. In many cases, we will try to fill our own half empty cup with "Self" instead of leaving room to please GOD! We start adding our own knowledge, big house, expensive car, and large bank account! Some of the richest people are drinking from a half empty cup! Here is some good advice! Success is not the key to pleasing GOD . . . Pleasing GOD is the key to success! Matthew 6:33 tells us, "But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." And Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose." Some of us have not been able to answer HIS calling because we are living and drinking from the half empty cup!
Half Full Cup
After Paul spent a considerable amount of time trying to convince GOD to remove the thorn . . . GOD gave Paul an answer that should help change every half empty cup thinker! GOD said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness!" Paul was able to look at the same situation and realize that in GOD's sufficient grace . . . his cup was not half empty . . . it was a "Half Full Cup!" When we realize that GOD's grace is sufficient for us, we also see that our cups are half full! We can look at that same financial problem, that same relationship problem and say, "GOD's grace is sufficient and my cup is half full!" When we are drinking from a half full cup . . . the blessings will overflow! A half full cup thinker can realize that they started with nothing and GOD has given them everything they need. In Psalm 23, it says that our head is anointed with oil and our cups overflow! Your situation may be draining the very life out of you! You may grow weak and weary, but GOD told Paul that HIS power is perfect in weakness! GOD's power is perfect in your weakness! Let HIM fill your cup will joy, peace, love, and hope! And surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life!
Conclusion
GOD always want the best for you, but you must believe that the cup you drink from is half full! For many years I was living with a half empty cup . . . even when I was surrounded by positive and living examples of half full cup drinkers and thinkers! I was living a life with a "Failure Focus" instead of a "Faith Focus". Your "Half Empty Cup" is a focus of failure, but your "Half Full Cup" is a focus of Faith! When JESUS was in the garden praying, it was by the divine Holy Spirit that HE was able to see the full cup of salvation for you and me! And HE said to the FATHER, nevertheless . . . not MY will, but YOUR will be done! Will you let the LORD's will be done in YOUR life? Is HIS grace sufficient for you? Is your cup half full? If not . . . give JESUS a try! Let HIM give you a taste of the Living Water from HIS cup of love . . . so that you may never thirst again! Don't live a life out of a half empty cup! Live the life of a cup overflowing! Live a life of salvation through JESUS CHRIST!
Prayer
If this sermon has touch your heart to believe that GOD has a better cup for you to drink from, then pray for HIM to enter into your life and make your half full cup overflow!
LORD, we thank YOU for blessing us with YOUR Word and YOUR Truth. Thank YOU for a timely message such as this. Help us to live a life full of YOUR blessings! YOU said we would not lack for anything if we trust and believe in YOU! By JESUS living in the fullness of YOU, HE was able to feed five thousand with just two fish and five loaves of bread! We know that YOU are the same GOD yesterday, today and forevermore, so we believe that YOU can and will do the same thing for YOUR children today! Help us with our doubts and renew in us a hope and faith that is pleasing to YOU!
Salvation
Read of GOD's Love: John 3:1-21
Read of JESUS' Love: Matthew 27:27-31; Matthew 27:41-50; Matthew 27:54
Read of Salvation: Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; Titus 2:11
Read of Acceptance: John 14:6; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Peter 1:8-9; 1 Peter 2:2
Read of the Holy Spirit: John 14:25-27; Acts 4:31; Acts 10:47; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Once you accept JESUS as your Savior and Lord . . . no one or nothing can take it away! It is not by the baptism of water that you are saved . . . it is by your faith being justified in CHRIST that you are saved. Don't wait until you are perfect before you accept GOD's Plan of Salvation! Accept Salvation in HIS perfection only! JESUS said, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through me"
If you have any questions in reference to understanding GOD's Plan of Salvation, speak to your local pastor or feel free to email us at nhishand@comcast.net
No comments:
Post a Comment