Paradoxes of the Bible
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Tonight we will began a study through some “Paradoxes of the Bible”. The titles and scripture come from a book written by Warren W. Wiersbe entitled Truth on Its Head.
What is a Paradox? A paradox is a statement that attracts attention because it seems to be contradictory,. For example, “Less is more,” or “It was the beginning of the end”.
This arouses our curiosity and yet we are puzzled. But as we meditate on the statement, we go deeper into some important aspect of life and learn something new. Warren Wiersbe says, “Paradoxes are marvelous instructors in the scriptures”.
Text 2 Cor. 12:7-10
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (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.
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.
The paradox here is that “Strength is made perfect in weakness”, or “When we are weak we can be strong”
Background;
Paul had kept a secret about a health issue in his life for 14 years [vs. 1-4]. The only reason Paul shared it now was to defend his ministry. He was being attacked by troublemakers in the church at Corinth, people who questioned his apostolic authority. Paul had gone to heaven and come back and had never told anybody about it!, [ref. Acts 14:19].
To keep Paul from getting proud of these remarkable experiences, the Lord gave him “a thorn in the flesh.” Nobody knows what this thorn was—and it’s futile to speculate. The important thing is to know how God dealt with Paul because this is the way He might want to deal with us.
Wiersbe, W. W. (2016). Truth on Its Head: Unusual Wisdom in the Paradoxes of the Bible (pp. 10–11). Lexham Press.
1. Thorn in the Flesh; 7
1. Thorn in the Flesh; 7
To keep Paul humble from the extraordinary revelation he had in heaven, God gave him a “thorn in the flesh.”
Thorn- the Greek word skolops {skol’-ops} which means “a sharp stake or splinter.” Sometimes criminals were impaled upon a sharp stake. Paul’s pain was like the pain of a sharp stake. This thorn indicates a savage pain and a picture of intense suffering. Some have suggested that it was malaria, epilepsy, migraine headaches, chronic arthritis, or a disease of the eyes.
Messenger of Satan- inflicted pain, torment [ref. Job]
Would you believe that Paul had a “pride” issue?
Paul before salvation;
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul after salvation; [2 Cor. 11:16-33], Paul was boasting about how God had used him in ministry to defend the ministry. He didn’t do it to exalt himself, but the Lord’s work! But knowing that Paul could get a little full of himself [as would we if we had been to heaven and back] God put a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble.
Pauls “thorn” was not to hurt him, but to keep him humble, useable and dependent upon the Lord. And give Paul the opportunity to glorify Christ through difficult circumstances of life!
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
It’s easy to praise God when things are going well. It’s a little different when things are all out of whack!
2. Unanswered Prayer; 8
2. Unanswered Prayer; 8
Paul prayed [pleaded] on three occasions for this thorn to be removed or depart from him.
I told you the other day that God answers prayer in one of two ways, “Yes or No.”
When we have a prayer that seems to be unanswered, we can keep on praying or realize that God has answered, but maybe not like we would want!
Paul was a praying man. He began his christian life in prayer [ref. Acts 9:11], and continued in prayer to the very end of his christian life [ref. 2 Tim. 4].
It was natural for Paul, as it is for us to go to God in prayer for help or to remove problems in our life. Matter of fact the scriptures tell us to do so!
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
But remember, “The purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done on earth, but to get God’s will done on earth through us”.
3. The Power of Christ; 9
3. The Power of Christ; 9
The Lord did not remove Paul’s thorn, but He gave him the unlimited power of Christ to turn his burdens into blessings!
“My grace is sufficient for you”. God’s grace is God’s love in action, meeting every need and using every circumstance to grow us and to glorify Jesus.
Sufficient- enough, contended
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
“My strength is made perfect in weakness”.
My Strength- the strength of the Lord is optimal in our life when we are dependent upon Him instead of self.
When we are strong in our abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own, and that can lead to pride, false hope and failure. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with His power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own.
Our weakness not only helps develop Christian character, it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we simply affirm God’s strength.
When Paul realized this, he said he would rather boast in what he can’t do so the power of Christ would rest on him, or take up residence in his life!
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
4. Strength through Weakness; 10
4. Strength through Weakness; 10
God never intends us to be weak christians. He actually calls us to be bold/strong in our faith.
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
But for us to possess spiritual strength like Paul did, we often must be weak and even persecuted in our flesh. Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because they were for the sake of his Savior!
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Suffering for the sake of Jesus makes us more like Him!
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Close;
Joni Eareckson Tada struggled with the issue of not being healed physically for a long time. As she recounts in her book Joni, she sought physical healing of her quadriplegia. She prayed and fully believed that God would heal her. In her words, “I certainly believed. I was calling up my girlfriends saying, ‘Next time you see me I’m going to be running up your sidewalk. God’s going to heal me’” (quoted in an interview with Marvin Olasky, January 17, 2013). Yet Joni is still in a wheelchair today. Forty-five years after the accident that left her paralyzed, God has still not healed her. Her perspective is one of great faith: “God may remove your suffering, and that will be great cause for praise. But if not, He will use it, He will use anything and everything that stands in the way of His fellowship with you. So let God mold you and make you, transform you from glory to glory. That’s the deeper healing” (quoted on Grace to You, October 16, 2013).
