Praying with Paul: Boasting about Weakness

Intro:

2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Tonight, we will continue [Praying with Paul]. The subject of my message is [Boasting about Weakness].

Who has ever been around someone who likes to boast?

Who has ever listened to them and thought, surely it couldn’t have been as good as they are saying?

In High School, there was a guy a grade above me. We all learned to disregard anything he said as nonsense. He would boast, but he would exaggerate so much, it was obviously unbelievable!

For instance, we all got back from spring break, and we share what we did. None of us did anything that spectacular until this guy spoke.

He informed us that his dad flew him to Uganda, a country in East Africa. Where he went rally racing.

In the course of the race, his car flipped over, but it was okay because he got out of the car, flipped it back the right way, got back in and managed to win the race.

I felt a spirit of boldness come on me as I informed him, no one believes a word you are saying!

That was a sever exaggeration, but we have all been around people who do that. Paul had to deal with the same type of people, expect their boasting was meant to cause Paul harm.

In ancient times, people would often boast about how great they were so that they could get more people to follow them. This was a problem in Corinth.

False apostles came to minimize Paul’s ministry by boasting about their success. Paul had no choice but to address the topic in his letter to the Corinthians.

Had he not, the Gospel would have been perverted had they believed their lies. So Paul did boast, but not in what he did, instead he focused on what God did.

When he did boast about himself, it was about his weakness.

Why was this Paul’s attitude? He was a man of prayer.

People of prayer are people of humility.

When we live a life of constant prayer, our attention and affection will focus on Jesus, not on us.

Though Paul focused on his weakness, God used him in strong and mighty ways. I want to look at three strengths of Paul that came about because of his willingness to identify his weakness. [Strong Vision], [Strong Vulnerability], and [Strong Victory].

Let’s begin

1. Strong Vision

2 Corinthians 12:1–4 NKJV

1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

The false teachers in Corinth attempted to minimize Paul’s standing by questioning how “spiritual” he was. They felt their gifts, skills, and lifestyle was stronger than everybody else.

Some in the church were getting swayed by this, so Paul had to do what was uncomfortable. He shared a spiritual encounter he had with the Lord.

Because Paul was uncomfortable in boasting, he spoke of the event as though it was a friend or someone else.

It is similar to when people say, I am calling for a friend who has a questions, or, someone wanted me to ask. Normally the friend or someone is the person speaking.

Paul recounted an encounter he had with God. In a time of prayer, God took Paul to the third heaven. Let’s look at what it means to go to the third heaven.

In the Bible, there are three levels of the universe: {the heavens}, {the earth}, and {below the earth.} Remember Genesis 1:1, God created the HEAVENS, not heaven.

Paul and the Corinthians understood the heavens could be divided into three categories: the first, second, and third heaven. According to one author:

· the first heaven- clouds and atmosphere, what we can see with the naked eye.

· the second heaven- the planets and stars

· the third heaven- where God dwells, angels and other spiritual matters.

Paul was taken to a place in God very few people get to go and still live. His encounter with heaven took place at an early part of his ministry.

He was alone, it was before his acclaim as a famous apostle. In fact it was a time of weakness. The Christians in Jerusalem were not interested in him yet and the Jews wanted to kill him.

In a time of weakness, the Lord gave him a sign and wonder that would transform his live. He showed that it is often in the hard time and difficult seasons, where we feel our weakest, the Lord does something supernatural in us.

2 Corinthians 12:5–6 NKJV

5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

Paul did not brag about this encounter. Instead, he kept silent on the issue for fourteen years. He could have capitalized on this event, instead, he remained humble before God.

Instead of foolishly displaying his spiritual exploits, he chose to boast in his weakness. He chose to let God preform signs and wonders through Him when God wanted it to happen.

When we realize our weakness before God, He will preform signs and wonders through us!

2. Strong Vulnerability

2 Corinthians 12:7–8 NKJV

7 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. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

Unlike the false teachers who loved to brag about what they had in regards to God, Paul was less interested in boasting about the wonders. He was vulnerable about his weakness.

Vulnerability is defined, the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Why would Paul become so transparent that it could cause him to be harmed?

He knew the importance of supernatural visions and experiences with the Holy Spirit. But as great as the vision are, he did not want them Corinthians to be deceived, times of weakness will occur.

We have all been there as Christians. I love times in God’s presence.

However, we understand the sting of disappointment, the sorrow of rejection, and the throbbing pain that accompanies what Paul called the thorn in the flesh.

Three times he asked God to remove the thorn. Three times God did not answer. Many have tried to figure out Paul’s thorn. I am not too interested in what it was.

I am happy he left it unsaid. Had he said my thorn is poor eyesight, as some scholars think it was, than those with good eyesight could think, well this doesn’t apply to me.

Had he said, the thorn in my flesh is being unmarried, I have never been able to find a wife. We might think, well, I am married, so I will not have to worry about thorns in the flesh.

Instead, Paul used his personal example to teach us, there will be times of weakness in our walk with God.

Weakness in our walk does not mean something is wrong with us.

Paul had a strong vision, but he also had strong vulnerability, but that lead to...

3. Strong Victory

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NKJV

9 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. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul was vulnerable in sharing his vision of heaven and his thorn in the flesh, but look at Paul’s focus, was it on the thorn in the flesh or the grace of God?

Too often we will focus on the thorn. Some might excuse a life of temptation with the thought, we all have a thorn in the flesh. Others might complain and tell EVERYONE, I have a thorn in the flesh.

But Paul emphasized that when he asked God for his help, the Lord spoke:

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

God’s grace is sufficient. What is God’s grace?

When we think of God’s grace, we should think of something or Someone we did not deserve. It is God’s unmerited favor.

I also find it fascinating that these words are in red, meaning they are the words of Jesus. They are not found in the Gospels, only here, which means Jesus spoke them directly to Paul.

What was Paul’s victory then?

It wasn’t the vision of heaven, although others would have boasted about it and made a lot of money.

It wasn’t about the thorn in the flesh, although others would have boasted about that as an excuse to now have to do anything.

Instead, His victory was in the grace of Almighty God.

I love the song lyrics that say:

when the temper brings confusion

And I don’t know what to do

On my knees I turn to Jesus

For I know He’ll bring me through

Then despair is changed to victory

Every doubt just melts away

And in Him there is hope for every day

The grace of God is our victory. His grace supplies all we need.

Everything we have is an act of God’s grace:

Salvation

Healing

Spirit-baptism

Revelation

His presence

His grace is our victory!

Close:

Boasting about weaknesses does not make much sense. But for Paul, it made perfect sense.

2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we thought of his weaknesses in light of God, he realized, when I am weak, then I am strong.

I remember the first time this truth made sense to me. I was visiting First Assembly in Rolla on a Wednesday night. The associate pastor spoke and he used this passage as his text.

He explained that there is actually strength in weakness. I don’t remember much of what he said, because that is what I needed to hear!

I was facing a hard time. I was in a transition in life and in ministry. I had never felt what I was feeling. I thought something was wrong with me. But then, I felt His strength in my weakness.

It was within a year that God allowed me to move to Vulcan. He proved that He is strong in my weakness.

Prayer gives us a proper perspective on weakness.

Weakness is not a liability or threat. It serves as an opportunity for God to do His best work in and through us!