Strength in Weakness

Introduction: The Paradox of Power

In our world today, strength and power are often seen as the ultimate goals. Society teaches us to admire those who are physically strong, mentally tough, and professionally successful. From athletes who dominate their sports to business leaders who build vast empires, even politicians who seem to have made it to the top, we idolize those who appear invincible. Social media amplifies this by showcasing the highlights of people's lives, reinforcing the idea that to be strong is to be flawless and self-sufficient.

But the gospel turns this concept upside down and inside out. In stark contrast to the world’s view, the gospel presents a paradox: true strength is found in acknowledging our weaknesses, and real power comes from depending on God. This counterintuitive truth challenges our deepest assumptions and calls us to embrace a radically different perspective on strength and power.

Today, we will explore how this paradox is beautifully illustrated in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, where the Apostle Paul reveals that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. Through Paul’s experience, we will see how embracing our vulnerabilities can lead to a deeper reliance on God and a more profound experience of His grace. Let us journey together through this passage and discover the transformative power of embracing our weaknesses in the light of the gospel.

I. The Context of Paul's Thorn 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

2 Corinthians 12:1–2 ESV

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. 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.

First thing you notice as your read this is a something strange Paul says the third heaven. What is that? First off it makes me a bit cautious to get this right for there are teachings by certain heresies that that there are three levels of heaven. Usually they take this passage and one out of the book of Revelation, twist it it bit and put in their own interpretation to make their theology fit, all in order that you will be obedient and do enough works to earn your way to the highest level of heaven.

This as we know is all non-sense and does not fit with the rest of the biblical account, nor does it fit with the typical first century understanding. In the Jewish tradition that Paul would have been well aware of, along with his audience here in Corinth would have understood this as the highest heaven, what you have is the heaven that is the place between the ground and the atmosphere, then the second level would be from the outer atmosphere of the earth to the moon, stars and sun. The third heaven would refer to the place where God resides, heaven, where it may or may not be a physical location as we understand a physical location, but a reality beyond that which we can see and observe.

2 Corinthians 12:3–4 ESV

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— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

It is typically thought here that Paul is actually talking about himself in third person as a way of disconnecting or as a means of humility. Not wanting it to be about himself or people to begin to think there is some sort of hidden knowledge that could be obtained from such a vision, rather any true vision from God will emphasize the gospel, will reveal to the person the truth of God’s word. It will neither give new works that you need to do, nor will it impart some sort of new mystery that has never been revealed to mankind before such as the date to when Jesus will return. Anyone who says they know is an immediate red flag.

This however Paul says he heard things that cannot be uttered by man. It has to remain a mystery whatever that was for in doing so may setup an event what those of us who are into science fiction would understand as a butterfly effect. For those who may not know, it is an event that effects all future events that potentially changes the course of the world. There are hints of this in the book of Revelation 10:4 in which the angel tells him to not write down what the seven thunders said. Somethings do have to remain a mystery until the time comes for their revealing in order that the course does not change by the knowledge of that event coming.

Here is now where he is getting to the point as should we that even to have this knowledge, or hearing these things are not something we can boast in. Here is another lesson to pay attention to, if someone says they have a had a secret vision, that they have been given some insight by God, and they are boasting about it, then they really haven’t. The fact that they have to tell everyone is a clear indication they are self serving and false prophets. Even Paul is saying here whether it was himself or he is really speaking of another person he cannot boast about it at all, rather the only thing we can boast about is our weaknesses for they point to Christ and how he is brought forth when we put ourselves out of the way.

II. The Thorn in the Flesh 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

2 Corinthians 12:7–8 ESV

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

Here is why I can safely say that not true prophet will ever boast about himself or the vision he recieved, for even Paul makes it clear that not only did he himself use caution but the Lord sent an evil spirit and messenger from Satan, a demon another words to harass him, in order that he wouldn’t even attempt to become conceited.

A thorn in the flesh, this is again what we call the burden of the gospel, that once you hear it, once you know it, you cannot help but share it, and yet there often we are best with weakness and in that weakness Christ becomes the focus not the person.

Today this is a big problem I see in the church, just go on any social media, I see it in many mega-churches, turn on the TV on Sunday morning and watch the services of one of these. You’ll notice they all look eerily similar, the pastor or speaker will often be in a t-shirt, sometimes a baseball cap, they will pace around, talking in a certain way, and if you listen closely you will really who they really talk about. I am not saying these in of themselves are bad in anyway, for there are some who are faithful, but what I am saying is that it seems today the culture is influencing the church more than the church is influencing the culture. To the point where the emphasis is not on Jesus, but on you and what you must do in order to be saved.

Charles Spurgeon wrote an essay I read years ago called “Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats” it is a short read and one I would recommend you look up yourselves, but in it he says “the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired.” In other words conversions through entertainment often do not to develop into disciples, but just mere consumers who like to entertained and will flee to the next gimmick when it arrives.

It would have been easy for Paul to use this event this revelation to entertain people to boast about what God has shown him, to become the superstar of the Christian world, yeah even possibly a pope had it been a thing of his day. True humility though, that is what is necessary for the gospel, Matthew 23:12

Matthew 23:12 ESV

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus own words remind us of this and he even tormented Paul to keep him from falling into the trap of self gain, conceit if you will.

Three times it says Paul pleaded with God to take this away

III. God’s Response: Sufficient Grace 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

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.

Again the gospel has a way of turning everything upside down, what the worlds sees as strength and power all fail in comparison to knowing Christ, in fact they are mere rubbish. God’s grace is sufficient for you, for his power is perfected in weakness.

Often times we can look back on our lives and see this how God uses trials, temptations and even our own selfish desires to bring about and show our weaknesses. I have told this many times but even for me to be standing here today is a testimony to this, for it is only in Christ, only because of the changing power of the gospel that I was led to pursue the ministry. I failed my speech class in high school because I dreaded speaking in front of people so much. God grace however is made perfect in weakness, even my inability to speak in front of crowds only strengthened my resolve, and the burden I felt to share the gospel with others was so strong that could not see any other path. I still remember the look on Karen’s face when I told her I was going to pursue the ministry and become a pastor.

I can only boast in my weakness for it is the strength of the gospel and anyone who thinks they are unable to do something, remember that all to often that thing you think you are weak in is the very thing that God could use in order to bring about his glory. To show the power of Christ.

IV. The Power of Weakness 2 Corinthians 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

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.

No matter what we face, even our own sins, our own doubts, our own insecurities, whatever it is that you are facing, hardships, insults, persecutions and even calamities, they all have one thing in common the world sees them as weakness, but God uses what is weak in this world to show his strength through the gospel.

This is exactly what the power of the Cross is, the most humiliating, painful way ever devised to kill a person is the cross. It is a slow agonizing method of execution. Where not only do you endure the pain of nails being driven through your hands and feet, but as you are raised up your arms are lifted above your head where breathing becomes very difficult. Your bodies attempt to stay alive is the real torture for you will push up with your feet to catch a breath and keep doing so until weakness sets in and you can no longer push up, then you suffocate. Thus the reason they break the other two guys legs next to Jesus, to speed up the process.

Drawing the body to the point of weakness until death ensues, it is at that point the glory of God is revealed, for the power of the Cross wasn’t death, but that three days later after they laid Jesus in the tomb, he resurrected from the dead, coming back to life, he defeated the humility of the cross, overcoming death by death, and now raising back to life he lives forever.

To be in Christ now is to live forever, that even if we die, we shall rise again knowing that Christ power is shown in weakness, even in the weakness of death. For when I am weak, then the strength of the gospel shines through. This is the power of Christ that lives in you that even when you seem like you cannot do anything else, when you cannot accomplish it, when the only thing left is weakness, that is where you will find the true strength of the gospel, setting side anything we can do, and leaving it all in the hands of Jesus. This is the gospel message that we are not string but he is, we are not powerful, but Christ is so powerful that even death could not hold him, that even if we die, we will live because he lives. Amen