Grace & Truth: Threat and Response
Pastor Kent Landhuis
THEME - We are finite, God is infinite.
TEXT - 2 Chronicles 32:1-23.
1. “I can do it myself.” (Verses 1-8)
a. Fight.
b. Flight.
c. Freeze.
d. Faint. (Flop)
2. TRUTH: “You can’t do it yourself.” (Verses 9-19)
a. You are weak.
b. Nobody can do it.
c. The enemy is cruel, cunning, well-equipped, and determined.
d. 2 Kings 19:15-19
3. GRACE: “I am weak, but God is strong.” (Verses 20-23)
a. I am weak.
b. Jesus did it.
c. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. (2 Chronicles 32:7-8a)
NEXT STEPS
1. Celebrate your weakness and God’s power in The Lord’s Supper.
2. Celebrate your weakness and God’s power by praying, “God, I am threatened by _____ But you alone are God.”
REFLECT
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 12:9
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15