OUTLINE:

Wisdom On Grace (2Co 12:9-11)
- v12:9 - the greater the weakness, the brighter the grace
- v12:10 - perspective is everything; we embrace weakness
- v12:11 - remember where we’ve come from (humility)

Living Out God’s Grace
Being born again, and becoming a fruit bearing tree (ala Mt 7:18) is a permanent grace gift.

Not Quitting
Temptation, and even faltering for a time, is not the same thing as quitting; we call that stumbling (e.g., Job).

Forgiveness
A forgiving heart is a godly one. It’s impossible to fellowship with another person if we persist in unforgiveness. Imagine if God’s forgiveness were incomplete - how would we ever fellowship with Him for all of eternity???

Ro 3:23-24
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

The Sphere of Love
Unity suffers when unforgiveness persists. Peace is fleeting and we distance ourselves from love,  grieving the Spirit.

If you lack forgiveness in your heart, you lack peace.

Mt 18:21-35
Satan despises forgiveness. It’s one of the reasons why he has rejected God’s salvation, himself. In the realm of spiritual death, there is no notion of forgiveness. A forgiving heart is a godly heart, something Satan hates. (ref: Jn 8:44)

“Forgot” how to love?
Remember the Cross. (Is 53:5)

Foolish Hearts
Human beings are so deceived that they actually believe that holding a grudge is somehow holding another person in their grip. That is a lie.

2Pe 2:19
…for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

Slaves To Evil
When’s the last time you met a person who’s simultaneously stirring up strife and is themselves content and peaceful???

Foolish Hearts
Human beings are so deceived that they actually believe that holding a grudge is somehow holding another person in their grip. That is a lie.

Entertaining Doubts
Cast it off immediately. Wash your hands of it, for doubts are like a virus - the longer we “play” with a virus, the more likely we are to become infected by it.

“schemes of the devil”
“The devil has various stratagems - discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error. He knows our weakest point and aims for it. If he cannot disable us by one method, he will try for another.” - MacDonald

“that your faith may not fail”
The emphasis should not be placed on the potentiality of failure, but rather the effectiveness of the Lord’s prayer, “but I have prayed for you” (v32). Peter’s imperfect faith did fail at times, but it was never fully eclipsed - he always “turned again”.

Jesus’ Role In Salvation
Jn 18:9b “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” Throughout scripture, Jesus is depicted as having a very active role in our salvation, both in the Gospel call (“My sheep hear My voice” - Jn 10:27) and daily (“I ask on their behalf” - Jn 17)

Web of Lies
Think of our 3 enemies in this life: the world, the flesh, and the devil... lies from without, lies from within, and liars called evil spirits whispering in our ears.

Web of Lies
The world will tell you that your “enemies” are those trying to thwart your flesh’s best efforts to “get ahead”. But that’s just a lie to entice you into a battle on the wrong playing field (see blog titled, “Take Me Out To the Ballgame”).