1.15.22 Outlines

Outline 1

Welcome/Intro

Options:

Who is stronger? - The Rock vs. John Piper

Who do you want in a street fight?

Who do you want in a spiritual fight?

Which was is more pressing?

1 Tim 4:7-8 “ bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way...”

How do you measure success? (strength)

Kingdoms of this World vs. Kingdom of God

Paul in Phil 3 — Pharisee of Pharisees

“The suprassing worth of knowing Chirst”

Bible

We will bein in 2 Cor 12.

Pray

Isa 60:1-3.

Body 1

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)

9 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This makes a great coffee cup verse right?

but what does it really mean to us day to day?

Let’s look at Why Paul is saying this.

Context

Paul is pleading with the Lord in v. 8.

2 Corinthians 12:8 (ESV)

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

What is he pleading about?

2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

7 ...a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

Why does Paul need to be kept from pride?

The revelations he experienced

2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

What revelations is he talking about?

Paul visited paradise / the 3rd Heaven

2 Corinthians 12:2–6 (ESV)

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

Why is Paul sharing this?

He is boasting (in the Lord)

2 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Why is Paul boasting?

The Context of 2 Cor 12 is 2 Cor 10-13.

And here Paul is defending his apostlic authority and minsitry against the so-called ‘Super Apostles” (2 Cor 11:5, 12:11)

The Super Apostles

Who were these super apostles?

1. They Exploited the Church

They were men who were exploiting the church

Demonstrating worldly power and pomp to take money from believers

2 Corinthians 11:19–20 (ESV)

19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.

2. They were false apostles/teachers

(2 Cor 11:4)

They preach another Jesus

From another Spirit

And a False Gospel

He calls them False apostles (2 Cor 11:13-15)

3) Examples: Self-Glory

In that day, not unlike our own, there were skilled orators who would go and give speeches to entertain and charge money for it.

it was about entertainment, what is the newest idea? How eloquently can he speak? How well was it presented?

Not only that, these super apostles - were evidently performing signs and wonders — mighty works of ‘god’

In our day

This could be aking to the propserity preaches of health, wealth and success.

Or it may just be the latest ‘ted talk’ or youtube video on the latest technique for self-help

Or the latest technology that promises peace, prosperity and health.

4. Conclusion

So Paul, is battling against the spirit of the age in his day, which isn’t so different from the spirit of the age in our day.

Power, Prestige, Influence, Wealth, Reputation, Status

These are the things to be sought after

The things that give significance

The things that promise satisfaction, fulfillment and meaning in life.

And these things aren’t bad in and of themselves.

But their source is wrong —

The Spirit of the Age is that these things are found in our own abilities

our own powers

The American Dream

The can-do attitude

But these are the ways of the World

We boast in our strength! In our abilities! In our successes!

But that is not the way of Christ.

That is not the way of Paul, a disciple of Christ.

Paul’s Boasting

Paul gives a very different picture of a follower of Christ.

He does say he came with the marks of a true apostle:

The True Jesus, the True Spirit and the True Gospel.

Signs and Wonders — miraculous works that accompany the gospel

2 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Even Heavenly Visitations (2 Cor 12:1-5)

Visions and Dreams, Revlations of things he is not permitted to speak.

He saw the glories of paradise

But Paul then boasts of another true sign of an apostle

But here is where the turning point happens:

These False aposltes were swelling with Pride and Arrogance

Dependent on their own ability — their own power— not the power of God.

But not so with Paul.

This is the true mark of an apostle // and of every follower of Chirst.

Humility

It means we are not self-dependent but God dependnt

humility looks like: God’s power perfected in our weakness

in fact, it may be precisely bc of our weakness that the power of God flows.

Paul’s Example

Paul has this amazing visitation to heaven

then look — here’s God’s love.

2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

God graced Paul with this amazing experience

But God loved Paul so much that he permitted this ‘thorn in the flesh’ — this messenger of satan

to keep him humble

to keep him from conceit/pride/arrogance

to keep him from becoming self-absorbed in self-glory in the experiences and authority he had.

Does that sounds like God’s love?

The Thorn

This is hard to grapple with.

We don’t know the exact nature of this thorn in the flesh:

many think it was a physical weakness — like illness, or some kind of disability Paul recieved, perhaps b/c of all the persecution.

But we do know it was a messenger of satan

meaning some level of demonic activity

probably at least the voice of the enemy accusing Paul or reminding him of his weakness

My grace is enough

Paul pleads with the Lord — in persevering prayer.

God’s answer: my grace is suffuicent.

My favor/my empowering presence/my coming alongside of you

that will be enough — sufficient enough for the task.

In that my power/holy spirit/presence — is made perfect — or complete.

meaning:

Suffering well in a fallen and broken world demonstrates my power in your life.

Palu so experienced and believed this that he actually will boast in this:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)

9 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

He says I am content — literally — well thought of — pleasing or delighting in

Paul says — I am actually ‘delighted’ in my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamaties

b/c he finds his strength in God’s love and presence — that is the power of God

to suffer well.

Example of martyr who converted people in his death.

Application:

So what does this mean for you and me?

Is this kind of extraordinary life and faith only for Paul?

i don’t think so.

We see three things here:

This is the pattern for Christ and the Christ follower.

Christ submitted to ‘weakness’ and died on the cross

But lives by the power of God / the power of the resurrection

2 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

Therefore we should expect what Paul experienced, what Christ experienced:

weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, calamities

But we should also expect God’s presence and power to show up.

We too can demosntrate the power and preimencne of God in our lives when we face trials.

We must press into God in our weaknesses and trials

through prayer and community — thorugh the Word of God

We must ask for strength

We can wrestle honestly as Paul did — pleading with the Lord

but in the end — let’s his presence and power flow through your weakness

Accept dependance on God

this is what he is after — he is growing his relationshisp with you.

it is precisely through your struggles that do’s power can be manifested.

Extra

Paul’s Persecutions:

2 Corinthians 11:23–30 (ESV)

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;

26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;

27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.