Finding Delight in Weakness

Intro

Text - 2 Cor 12:7-10

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NASB 2020

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Background

Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”

thorn in the flesh was a metaphor to describe something else

2 Corinthians 12:7 NASB 2020

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!

a messenger of satan - an evil spirit

to torment me - persecute, stir up trouble and create confusion

to keep me from exalting myself - cause (Paul) to think humbly of himself

Paul’s weakness

weakness - grk. astheneia - incapacity

There are different kinds of weaknesses -

the sin that we tend to commit the easiest (not int he Bible)

the weakness of the spirit

the weakness of character - which we must overcome and grow out of

this weakness - the incapacity to come out of a situation

The thorn was not Paul’s weakness, but his inability to take it away and the suffering it caused him

he cannot get away from it, and God would not remove it!

2 Corinthians 12:8 NASB 2020

8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.

the evil spirit went wherever he went, to stir up people against him

Main Subject

Like Paul there are “thorns” in our lives that we cannot overcome or run away from.

These thorns make us weak, that’s why we want to get rid of them.

Some weakness are not meant to be overcome, but to be endured

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 NASB 2020

8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Our weakness is God’s opportunity to work in us!

God wants to demonstrate the sufficiency of His grace

grace - favor, goodwill, delight

sufficient - to be adequate

Paul felt insufficient to take things under control

the Lord is “my grace is sufficient!”

God wants to demonstrate His power

Paul felt powerless to stop the messenger of satan

the Lord says - “my strength is made perfect in weakness”

Some weakness should be a reason to delight in the Lord

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NASB 2020

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

“I will rather boast in my weakness...”

Paul was being pressured to boast in his revelations by circumstances

2 Corinthians 12:5–6 NASB 2020

5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

“I take pleasure in weaknesses...”

weaknesses - here includes

reproaches or insults

needs or difficulties

persecutions

distresses

Conclusion

Samson - the strong man who was weak

Judges 14:4 NASB 2020

4 However, his father and mother did not know that this was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. And at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

Song - Give Thanks