Review

• DNA is a molecule that resides in each of the hundred trillion cells in your body and each strand of DNA contains the blueprint- the genetic instructions- that enable your body to live, develop, and function.
• Charis: unearned(not pay), unmerited (didn’t do anything to deserve it), undeserved( actually deserve the opposite) favor and blessing of God.
• Favor is God’s attitude  toward you,
• Blessing is God’s resulting action toward you.
• God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
• Physically we received our DNA through our parents, but spiritually, our human spirit has been born of God and re-generated by His Spirit. As we grow and develop spiritually, we will express more and more of his nature and his character that we received in our new birth.
• As we mature we have to grow in RECEIVING AND EXTENDING GRACE.
• Saving grace, Sanctifying grace, Strengthening grace, Sharing grace, Serving grace.
• The law is not something we live up to, it’s something we live out.

for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
Romans 2:14-15 NKJV

Strengthening Grace

The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
Exodus 15:2 NIV

The joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart.
Psalm 27:1, 14 NKJV

The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 NKJV

As we move into the New Testament, the Lord continues to impart strength to His people. He has an ever-present and abundant supply of His might for us. No doubt many believers, when faced with the drain and the weariness life brings, have personalized Philippians 4:13 and declared with the apostle Paul,

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Here is the context in which he made this statement. I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am nor disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).
Philippians 4:11-13 AMP

Some have the idea that if a person has faith and is in the will of God, they will never face problems.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NLT

The Bible clearly says that Paul went through times of feeling weak and tired, and yet he overcame them through God’s strengthening grace.

For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.
Colossians 1:29 AMP

That last verse provides rich insight into Paul’s incredible endurance and amazing accomplishments. How could someone face so much hatred and abuse, so many beatings and imprisonments, and so many horrible conditions and deprivations? Paul was not oblivious to the physical and emotional toll that such hardships took on him, but he was also keenly aware that he was not carrying out his ministry by the limitations of his own natural resources; he was “striving with all the superhuman energy Which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.” Paul had learned to receive the constant infusion of the strengthening grace of God.

The Learning Process

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 me, lest I be exalted above measure. 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.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
II Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV

Def: exalted- to lift up (not in pride/bad translation) we should translate not interpret.

Def: above measure – beyond the mark I. E. Beyond the usual level of the life of humanity.
How? Through the abundance of revelation! — with every revelation in the Word there is the power raise you up and throw you beyond the usual mark!

Def: infirmities- weakness; inability to produce results
– the only people that can tap into His strength are those that admit they can’t do it.

Paul’s thorn, AS DEFINED BY SCRIPTURE , was a messenger FROM Satan sent to BUFFET him BECAUSE God had given him an abundance of revelation.
-By this revelation Paul had the opportunity to be lifted and thrown beyond the usual mark for a human. Satan was trying to lessen His impact in the world.

Def: buffet- blow after blow
– Not a sickness. The only blow after blow in Paul’s life is when he enters a town and the Jews would raise up against him again and again and again.

Def: thorn in the flesh – a Hebraism used in both testaments to represent personalities that become a hindrance.
(We would say pain in the neck, pain in the rear).

know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
Joshua 23:13 NKJV

And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 28:24 NKJV

For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]. If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose], But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and stay by you all, to promote your progress and joy in believing,
Philippians 1:21-25 AMPC