My grace is sufficient
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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In this study we will cover a lot of scripture that people have misunderstood or have been taught wrong. This can be a blessing to those who have an open mind and desire to grow in God.
Many have misunderstood and been taught wrong concerning what Paul said and what it means when Paul described his thorn in the flesh and the answer God gave Him.
2 Corinthians 12
1. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
The first heaven is the one we can see. It is where the sun, moon and stars are, based on what Paul said above. The third heaven is where God is. The second heaven, between God and mankind, is where Satan is, and it also explains how he comes between God and us. At this point Satan has not yet been cast down to the earth.
Paul is referring to the time that was stoned and those who followed him laid hands on him and prayed and he came back.
2 Corinthians 12
3. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
He is talking about moral frailty, weakness of the soul and spirit. We should not try to be in control or so haughty minded that we do not allow God to work through us. In such weakness we allow God and His glory to shine through. We are weak so He can be strong in us. We decrease in pride, ego, and delusions of knowledge to allow Him to give us true understanding and knowledge.
Strong's Ref. # 769
Romanized astheneia
Pronounced as-then'-i-ah
from GSN0772; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:
KJV--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
2 Corinthians 12
6. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or
that he heareth of me.
Paul is letting us know that our own desires, knowledge (not from God), pride, and ego all work against us and against God in us. That we have to be humble, meaning willing and knowledgeable even with all we know and have done, is nothing compared to what we could know and do with God working through us.
Philippians 4
13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
What we must learn is that there are three elements of Jesus and we must grow into each. We are not automatically part of all three when we are saved. This idea, that when we are saved we are also of the church and Christ, is a lie straight from Hell. Proof in point is by Jesus’ own words.
Matthew 7
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The way to destruction is wide because the majority of people are on it. The way to God is narrow because so few are on it.
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus will not know the many because the many are following the ways the world teaches about God. Many fall for the lie that when we are saved we are immediately of the church and Christ. They believe the lies that if we are not baptized in water we are not saved and once saved, always saved. These are the lies that make up the fabric of the church today of this world that many follow down the wrong path to destruction.
Jesus tells us in Revelation 1-3 that out of the seven churches He addresses, only one is of Him; the rest are not. You might want to notice that there are seven continents on the earth. Most of the population lives on six; the seventh has very few living there. Just as many follow the wrong church and only a few follow the true church. You can get offended or think this is a lie and wrong all you want, but it does not change what Jesus said or what is the truth. The only way you can ever know the truth is not by listening to or following man, but by listening to and following God and God only.
Did you know that the only way to worship God is in spirit and truth and that the truth can only be found in the spirit not man?
John 4
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 15
26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Offense comes when the lie in us is presented as the truth. How I have discovered the lies in me is when ever I get offended I first look at what offended me and then I ask God to reveal the truth about it so I will not be offended by it again.
Those who think there is righteous offense that we should have about sin, Satan, etc is wrong. We should never be offended because offense will lead us astray. We should be aware of sin, Satan, etc, but we should also pray for those who are involved in them and understand we are no better than they except for who we have in us. Before we were of God, in His eyes, we were just as bad.
1 Corinthians 1
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
We need to look at church in order to help you understand the differences between salvation, church, Christ, and why we are not of all three when we are first saved. Before we do there is a question or two we need to discuss such as, "Is the Bible God's breathed word?" and "Should we take it as such?" The answer to both is yes, but only in the Hebrew and Greek because when translated to English it loses a lot. The translators did not write for present day English. If you understand the differences in English between the UK and the US then you understand the problem. Example: Lift in UK means elevator in the US. Solicitor in UK means Lawyer in the US.Tthere are many more I could show but this gives you the idea. Now add 400 years to the mix - the King James Bible was translated in 1612 AD and the English language between those of the UK in 1612 and today in the US is even more different than just between the UK and US today. It does not mean the King James is wrong, actually I have only found two words that were not translated incorrectly. The difference came about as the language changed between 1612 and today.
Matthew 16
15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
In verse 18 above the word Peter in Greek is Petros. It only means Peter as far as a proper name, but Simon was already called Peter before this. If you read verse 16 you read that they were already calling him Peter. Petros means literally "a piece of the rock"
When you read verse 18 again with "a piece of the rock" instead of Peter, the verse finally makes sense.
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art a piece of the rock, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus said, "I will build MY CHURCH on this rock." He was referring to a revelation in verse 17 when Jesus said, "For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." God REVEALED to Peter who Jesus was as the Son of God and the Christ. This was a spiritual revelation, not one of the physical (flesh and blood), not by reading, nor hearing a man, but a revelation from God. Hearing from God about who Jesus is makes us a piece of the church.
The word church means community. So when God TELLS US (that means we have to hear from Him) who Jesus is we are a piece of the community of those who are hearing from God and believe in the Lord.
We are to be taught all things not just the things of God, but all things by God.
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
You read above in Matthew 7 about false prophets and leaders.
Remember that Satan the enemy is real and he has had thousands of years to perfect his lies, deceptions, and ways to manipulate us. He uses any of those he can who will reach the most people. We listen to those we trust, and we trust in those who have gone to school, have been educated, and/or are older and seem wiser.
Matthew 15
14. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 23
13. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
We are not any different today; there are many that are like the Pharisees of old.
1 Corinthians 1
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
In verse 12 above replace Paul with the name of your church.
If this is all true then what is church supposed to be and how should we have church and worship?
2 Corinthians 10
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
First we must believe and accept Jesus into our life. Then we must take control of our thoughts. Understand that Satan forces his ideas on us while God is waiting to share His with us. The problem is if we do not understand that our thoughts are not our own then when we get a thought we, more than likely, will accept it, make it our own, and act on it. This explains how so many commit such violent acts.
At the same time we need to be seeking to hear from God, actually hear His voice so He, not man, can guide us. The main reason why so many people resist hearing from God, especially in the leadership, is fear of losing their positions, power, and notoriety.
We do not even pray correctly because we pray as we were taught to pray by man. So why have you not noticed this about prayer and worship before? That’s mainly because, when we read the Bible, we read it a book or chapter at a time, not a verse at a time. We allow mankind to explain rather that asking God to explain. Think of two people that read a book and both get different meanings from it; then one day they meet the author and discover they were both incorrect.
Matthew 6
5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
All Satan had to do was get a few people who were thought highly of, who would reach the most people, and plant his ideas in them over and over until they decided that the thoughts must be theirs since the ideas kept coming up over and over again.
Satan had to keep us from the knowledge that we can hear from God, or else we would learn the truth and be free of the devil. He had to keep us out of the spirit for the same reason. It was necessary to suppress faith or else he would have a problem with the truth getting out. So he only had four jobs to do to keep us from God.
With these four he controlled and manipulated us.
Here is proof - there are a few leaders whom I respect, somewhat, but they have accepted and perpetuated a lie because they looked up to the one who originally told it to them and they never would consider that he could have been wrong. So they never verified its truth and just taught the lie as if it were true. The lie is that Satan was cast down in Genesis 1:1-3 and it is based on one word in verse 28.
Genesis 1
28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
This false teaching started many decades before the computer, and as such meant to research words in Hebrew and Greek would take hours instead of the mere minutes it takes now. So this man read replenish and thought he understood what it meant and seemingly had no reason to look it up. He subsequently accepted it and then built a teaching (false) around it to explain why it is there.
In his mind replenish meant that the earth had been filled with life previously and something catastrophic happened to destroy it all, so Adam and Eve were created to replenish that which was before and was no more. Basically the false teaching is that we are all part of a second creation. If he had looked up the word in Hebrew, he would have discovered the word was fill. In 1612 AD replenish to them was the same as fill is to us today. All because one who was looked up to by others was wrong, many have fallen for a false teaching.
Below you find another example of how a verse read in 1612 AD was understood differently than today and what they read and understood was correct but what we read and understand today is not.
Job 1
8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
In Job 1:8 it appears that God is pointing Job out to Satan, to have Satan test Job. Many pastors have used this verse to teach that God does test us. The problem is it is the only verse they can use for this purpose. Personally, I teach that if you can not find it anywhere else in scripture, either it was added and did not belong as with Matthew 17:21 or is not understood properly. What God was doing here was asking Satan what Satan was considering doing with Job. This was not to have Satan test Job, but questioning Satan about the nature of his intentions for Job.
8.
|0559| And said
|3068| Yahweh
|0000| to
|7854| Satan,
|7760| Have you set
|3824| your heart
|5650| on My servant
|0347| Job?
|3588| For
|0369| not is {any}
|0000| like him
|0776| in the earth,
|0376| a man
|8535| perfect
|3477| and upright,
|3373| revering
|0430| God
|5186| and turning away
|7451| from evil.
I mentioned above that Matthew 17:21 was not part of the original text, that it was added. Like Job 1:8, it is a verse which many pastors use to keep their members in line or explain what they can not, because they are not listening to God.
Matthew 17
21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Verse 21 was added to explain why so many could not cast a demon out with one try but needed time to do it.
Matthew 17
20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Read verse 20 above carefully. Jesus talks of faith, not prayer or fasting. Jesus says it all in verse 20, that if you have the faith of a mustard seed you could do this and more. So why in the world would He come back with, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting"? He would not, and when you look at the original Greek it was not there and in many versions there is a space between verse 21 and 22 to show something had been added.
Those who will not believe and call this a lie are those who use it for their purposes or have spent an entire life believing it and it is hard to stop now. What astounds me is that most pastors who use it, do so for anything and everything. One who told me this said that he had it drilled into him that almost everything we do requires much prayer and fasting. I told him, "Even if the verse were true it only dealt with casting out demons, nothing else."
So why have I spent 8 pages covering everything but what the title is about? Because you need to understand that the only way you will ever understand the word, know the truth, and be of Christ is if you are listening to God.
2 Corinthians 12
7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Satan saw a way to mess with Paul due to a possibility of pride Paul may have had due to his experience and revelation.
2 Corinthians 12
8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God's grace is sufficient I would say, "More than sufficient." It is more than we will ever need. If we are of Christ we are of the power and wisdom of God, the same power that created everything in the universe.
1 Corinthians 1:24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
If we believe we are of Christ just because we are saved, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall. Believing and being of Christ are two different things.
Physically - Grace is the time between Jesus’ life here and tribulation. Jesus said this would be the last generation. A generation in the Bible is 40 years. Jesus lived 33 years and tribulation is 7 years; 33+7=40; everything in between is grace. If you have a bill that is due on the 1st but it is not counted as being late till the 5th that means you have a 5-day grace period.
Spiritually - Grace is divine influence and the power of God. To be of Christ one must first be saved, part of the church (community of God), baptized in the Spirit, and hearing. When I mention hearing I mean actually listening to God’s voice for direction. When we are listening to Him, we have at our disposal all of the power and wisdom of God and there is nothing Satan has that can even get close to that.
9.
|2532| And
|2046| He said
|3427| to me,
|0714| Enough
|4671| for you
|9999| {is}
|3588| the
|5485| gracious love
|3450| of Me.
|3588| the
|1063| For
|1411| power
|1722| in
|0769| weaknesses
|5048| is perfected.
|2236| gladly
Strong's Ref. # 5485
Romanized charis
Pronounced khar'-ece
from GSN5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):
KJV--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).
2 Corinthians 12
10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
When we are weak, He is strong. John said it best; "I must decrease so He can increase".
John 3
30. He must increase, but I must decrease.
As we decrease, the Spirit, God's wisdom, and power increase in us. So in what must we decrease? Pride, ego, knowledge of this world, our efforts to control everything, the influence of flesh over the Spirit all must diminish.
Matthew 10
What was the cross as far as Jesus was concerned? It was death to this life of sin and the world. The one thing we must do, that God does not do for us, is live life without sin. As Jesus said to those of the law, "Go and sin no more." Jesus would never tell anyone to do something they could not actually do. This was told to someone of the law, not grace. So how much more than those of law should we be able to do since we are of Grace?
John 8
11. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
The thorn was Satan trying to use the possibility that Paul would get into the flesh, pride, or ego due to his experience and abundant revelations. As happens to so many when they think they know something that no one else knows, pride comes first. As Satan's messenger tried to get Paul into the flesh, Paul sought God's help to eventually learn that, in Christ and grace, he already had everything he needed to overcome these attacks.
Revelation 3
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
What must we overcome in life?
Sin in all its shapes, sources, and levels must be overcome. That which cuts us off from God is sin. That which exalts itself against the knowledge of God is sin. Any one sin is as bad as another is. Only man has made one sin worse than another might be. With God all sin is the same no matter whether it is, so called, harmless gossip or premeditated murder.
We are to overcome the lies. As we listen to God and control our thoughts the truth prevails over the lie in us.
We are to overcome the flesh and the desires and lusts of the flesh.
Mark 4
9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
How was it that they were to know the mystery of the kingdom of God? By Jesus’ telling them, explaining it to them so they would have understanding.
So, do we have this today? Yes, we do.
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Christ in English means anointing. In Luke 4:18 Jesus said that He was anointed with the Spirit of God. So since He is the Christ (the anointed one and His anointing) then those of Christ are of the anointing. When a sponge is dripping wet with water it is anointed in water.
1 John 2
27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
We are not to be taught by man, but by God alone.
There could still be a problem with listening if you do not have the necessary knowledge.
1 John 4
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Satan can still mislead those who hear and listen but do not verify whom they are hearing from. There are so many interpretations of the word of God, but there is only one understanding and that comes of God and not man. Just like the tithe; so many think of it as just part of the Old Testament law and not of Grace, but it preceded the law by many hundreds of years. It was not a commandment of God, but done out of love and faith in God from Abraham. Originally it was given to the order of Melchizedek, which Jesus was a Priest of and of which we are to priests as well.
Genesis 14
18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Hebrews 5
5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
So if you can not even tithe (something so small) how can you expect to know and understand God at all.
Revelation 1
6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Tithing requires faith, and the only way we are saved is by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
The only way to please God is by faith.
Hebrews 11
6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Satan has people tied up in work, career, and getting us so rushed that we do not have time (at least we do not think we have time) to learn about God, to have knowledge of Him.
Hosea 4
6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Satan has so many either tied down, stuck in their past, or planning and thinking about their future that they miss the present all together. It is in the present that we are saved, grow, and are blessed.
Matthew 6
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
You can continue as you have and hope for your next life, or you can change and know for sure what your next life will be.
Romans 8
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
It was not until I heard God call me His child that I knew no one could ever get me to doubt my salvation ever again.
God will call us to Him; unfortunately some confuse this call to Him for salvation or to be part of the church as a call to be in the ministry. This is one of two reasons why so many fail and so many churches close. The other reason is not listening to God. They are so busy doing His work (so they say) that they do not have the time to listen.
We accept the call and welcome Jesus in then we are saved and we have the Spirit in us. Then we can start listening to and hearing from God even better because we have a direct connection to Him in us. From listening we realize that we need to be baptized in Him, in His spirit. Then we have the Spirit in us and on us but we are still divided, the flesh is in the middle.
We continue to hear from Him and we grow and He tells us who Jesus is as His Son and the Christ and we become a piece of the church (community). In time we learn that we need to grow into Christ and we start. When we are of Christ we have the Spirit in us, on us, and all the way through us. When this happens we have the power, wisdom, great understanding, and knowledge. The truth sets us free. Peace comes and the fruit of the Spirit are all evident in us.
The Son of God (John 3:16) saves us; Jesus is the head of the church; and Christ is the Spirit of God not just in us, or on us, but all the way through us making us one in the Spirit with God.
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