June 1, 2025
God’s Answer: No #
2 Corinthians 12
Introduction
On Wednesday nights I have been preaching on prayer. We have talked about the Potential of Prayer, the Person of Prayer. There are many NT verses that tell us to ask great things of God. There are many times in my life I have asked great things of God, and God has not provided what I asked for. Matter of fact, there are times that God has just flat out denied my request.
I have always been told that God always answers prayer. Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he says wait, and other times he says no. God is never wrong, so we must manage our feelings no matter the answer God gives. It can be challenging to ask in faith, knowing God may say no.
The question was given, on dealing with God saying no. God placed this passage on my heart, and we are going to look at this as a singular response, and time when God clearly answered a prayer no.
In our passage, the apostle Paul (who in my opinion was the greatest christian to ever live). He was greatly used of God, and dedicated to God. He was stubborn, I wouldn’t disagree with that. His prayer was denied! God simply said no.
2 Cor 12:7-10
I. Request (7-8) #
A. Problem #
1. Never explained in Scripture #
2. Description: “thorn in the flesh” #
3. Description: “the messenger of Satan to buffet me” #
1Pet. 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
- Jesus said:
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
B. Prayer (2 Cor 12:8) #
1. Paul went to God, “that it might depart from me” #
2. Paul asked “thrice” #
II. Reply (2 Cor 12:9) #
A. “My Grace is sufficient for thee” #
1. God was not removing Paul’s affliction! #
2. God expected Paul to trust HIM, in the affliction! #
B. “My strength is made perfect in weakness” #
1. This was a debilitating problem for Paul #
2. Paul was made to trust God #
C. Without saying no, God said NO. #
III. Reasons #
A. Pride (7) “lest I should be exalted above measure” #
1. Paul was greatly used of God #
Philippians 3:4-6
Prov. 29:23 ¶ A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
B. Provision (9) “My grace is sufficient for thee” #
1. We have a desire to do it ourself! #
2. God wants us to be dependent on him, and provide for us! #
C. Power (9) “that the power of Christ may rest upon me” #
1. When you do everything, you don’t experience the power of God in your life! #
2. I have literally watched God provide for our needs over and over again! #
D. Pleasure (10) “I take pleasure” #
1. Paul learned the struggles, hardships, pains in life, is when God moves and works. #
2. Paul learned to enjoy (not the pain and hardship) but watching God work! #
3. God’s greatest works are done in our hardest times #
Psa. 23:4-5 - 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.